Yaris sales have completely tanked

[thebarber]

Im a little late to the discussion, but:

1. Americans don't like hatchbacks
2. The yaris uses the same (essentially) powertrain that was in the echo in 2000MY

[roxy1]

Originally Posted by thebarber

Im a little late to the discussion, but:

1. Americans don't like hatchbacks
2. The yaris uses the same (essentially) powertrain that was in the echo in 2000MY

id go more with the yaris being a really bland design, boring to drive, and still (imo) having the cheapest and noisiest interior of anything in its class.

Americans are buying plenty of hatchbacks. the Honda fit is selling 4500-5000+ per month and it is in need of an update. the tiny fiat 500 has been selling around 4000 per month and that is with a tiny dealer network (about 130 dealers in the whole country).

the reliability gap between the least reliable cars and most reliable cars has closed dramatically so the yaris being reliable isn't enough.

[Flipper_1938]

Originally Posted by roxy1

id go more with the yaris being a really bland design, boring to drive, and still (imo) having the cheapest and noisiest interior of anything in its class.

Americans are buying plenty of hatchbacks. the Honda fit is selling 4500-5000+ per month and it is in need of an update. the tiny fiat 500 has been selling around 4000 per month and that is with a tiny dealer network (about 130 dealers in the whole country).

the reliability gap between the least reliable cars and most reliable cars has closed dramatically so the yaris being reliable isn't enough.

4,000-5,000 per month sales...SUCKS!

That is only like 10 shifts worth of production from a large car factory on the manufacturing end. (3 shifts x 6 days a week x 4 weeks = 72 shifts a month in a busy plant)

On the sales end, that can't be many sales for each dealer in the coutry....hard to pay the mortgage on the dealership with those kind of numbers.

[roxy1]

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

4,000-5,000 per month sales...SUCKS!

.

not for models that do not occupy the main production focus...which are the compacts and midsized car. ie corolla/camry, civic/accord, fiesta/fusion. those cars take up a dramatically more production resources. every model cant sell 25,000+ units per month.

American are buying more subcompacts than ever, and much of that is increased choices and amenities in small cars.

[Flipper_1938]

Originally Posted by roxy1

not for models that do not occupy the main production focus...which are the compacts and midsized car. ie corolla/camry, civic/accord, fiesta/fusion. those cars take up a dramatically more production resources. every model cant sell 25,000+ units per month.

American are buying more subcompacts than ever, and much of that is increased choices and amenities in small cars.

Actually, smaller cars need more volume to make money since there is not as much profit built into the price of the car. The car still requires the same amount of tooling to manufacture the car (same number of unique stamping dies required to stamp out panels). Flexible weld cells can help spread assembly equipment costs to other vehicles, but nobody is making any money on small cars at these volumes.

[roxy1]

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

Actually, smaller cars need more volume to make money since there is not as much profit built into the price of the car. The car still requires the same amount of tooling to manufacture the car (same number of unique stamping dies required to stamp out panels). Flexible weld cells can help spread assembly equipment costs to other vehicles, but nobody is making any money on small cars at these volumes.

true, subcompacts make much less profit for the automakers, but they make some money. for some its about building the brand and meeting certain standards. as attitudes shift, most of the automakers are well prepared to take on the ever increasing demand for these smaller cars.

Toyota is one of the few that seems to have lost interest in this segment.

[Flipper_1938]

Originally Posted by roxy1

true, subcompacts make much less profit for the automakers, but they make some money. for some its about building the brand and meeting certain standards. as attitudes shift, most of the automakers are well prepared to take on the ever increasing demand for these smaller cars.

Toyota is one of the few that seems to have lost interest in this segment.

They only make SOME money if the factory is running efficiently. If the factory (tooling and labor) was running at 100%, they can make some money. If the tooling is only being utilized 20% or so, they aren't making money.

FYI... I have worked in the auto industry for 20 years.

[yougojay]

Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

4,000-5,000 per month sales...SUCKS

No, 747 units a month SUCKS - 4,000-5,000 units is great, especially nowadays when everyone is BROKE & the economy is garbage.

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by roxy1

Americans are buying plenty of hatchbacks. the Honda fit is selling 4500-5000+ per month and it is in need of an update.

The Fit isn't a hatchback. It's a mini-minivan.

[yougojay]

Originally Posted by Altitude

The Fit isn't a hatchback. It's a mini-minivan.

Exactly! I looked at the Fit, it was exactly a mini-minivan & I could not stand it.

I REALLY wanted to see a Scion iQ in person when I went to the Toyota/Scion dealer where I ended up buying.
They had ONE iQ that was there for 200 & something days, they finally sold it. I also wanted to see a Yaris there, they had ONE 5 door in Black Sand Pearl - I was pretty set on getting a Toyota by this point.

I am glad the iQ was gone, was looking at the cute factor, but as I thought about it was not keen on NO spare (that could be taken care of, tho) The CVT Transmission seemed iffy, but I am easy on cars...hmmmm

I was dead-set on fuel economy & a reliable point A to point B car. We walked over to the Yaris and the salesguy got the key. Looked it over for quite awhile, saw how easy it was to change the oil & tranny fluid, filters, etc. Really loved the simple interior and especially the dash - the seats were/are great. Test drove it a bit, yeah, this will work.
I realized this is a decent sized small car, sheesh, I wonder how small the iQ would have looked compared to this? I was hooked, lets get a red 2 door automatic basic 'L' model, perfect!

He got a 3 door coupe in absolute red from another dealer in NC, and we picked up the car in 2 days.

The more I drove it the more I fell in mad love with this little car. I had read about the proven engine/transmission combo on this car, it was a Toyota, it will be awesome.
I joined the forum here the day we decided to get it, my birthday April 9 and the more I read here, the more I knew it was the right decision

We looked at a Fiesta, read about all these problems it had - big turn-off
I love the looks of the new Fiat 500, but it's a FIAT. Went to the Fiat 500 forums on the web & sure enough - problem after problem after problem!
Electrical issues, paint issues - no way, not getting sucked into this car with the fun to drive cute factor that will hit me.
I am sure a lot of folks have had good luck with their 500s, that is great, not going to take that chance here.

VERY glad we got this Made in Japan Toyota Yaris. I am not concerned whatsoever aboth the decision - it will last forever. The way it runsthe way the controls workthe way it shiftsthe way it engine brakesthe way the wiper worksthe way the stereo jams

Seriously thinking about getting a 2nd 2013 Coupe as a 'spare' before it's too late!