June Yaris sales: Way Down ... again

[Yaris Hilton]

Originally Posted by centrysis

Which is uglier? The Versa or the old Aztek.

The Aztek, hands down!

The Versa's homely, but it's not big league ugly.

The Aztek is a top contender for the ugliest car ever.

[tomato]

They're selling really well around here. In my neighborhood every block has a couple (liftback mostly). I'm a little jealous when I see the nice, shiny new paint jobs on the latest ones, and of course, the 4 doors.

[bkndacn]

I think that the problem is the advertising by Toyota .... I haven't seen a Yaris commercial in years literally!
Plus they are selling it all wrong ... at least around here... the dealerships would rather sell the much more expensive Priuses to make that money and they are using the gas mileage as their selling point .... I get a lil less milage but i didn't pay that outrageous price!! They've gotten to the point that they do not even have one single Yaris on the Toyota lot here! (GRRRR)

[Lewis]

Sort a a vicious circle going on with the Yaris IMO. It's produced in Japan which makes it cost a lot more than the Versa (equally contented) which keeps the sales numbers down. The low sales numbers makes it uneconomic to invest the capitol to set up production for it in the USA like the camry so that keeps the the price up and so on and so on.......

Toyota needs an offerring in this segment ( a growing one) so they sort of take it on the chin with the Yaris financially but our dealers take no such long view and don't stock them and try to move low end purchasers into a corolla.

So at some point Toyota will have to either take the plunge and move a redesigned Yaris production line over here (or Mexico) or settle for an extended period as an also ran in this segment. Their terrible experience trying to sell their Texas tundra trucks might influence them to be cautious before taking the leap I think.

[Kal-El]

Even the Fiesta is going to be built in Mexico. Hence why Ford will be able to offer one of the best small cars with the most features for a bargain price. It's extremely difficult to sell sub-compacts in America that are built in the US, Japan, or Germany where the labor costs are highest. It's part of the reason many companies have avoided even selling sub-compacts or made any serious effort.

Honda has the same problem with the Fit. Overpriced! Not many people are willing to pay $18K for a Fit Sport. You can just buy a Civic! But any less, and Toyota and Honda begin losing money on these cars. Someday, they may also need to move production to Mexico.

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

The Aztek, hands down!

The Versa's homely, but it's not big league ugly.

The Aztek is a top contender for the ugliest car ever.

I think the Pacer is still the heavy weight champion of the ugly contest.

[RikBakke]

I'm helping. Bought a new 2010 in mid April... It was totaled sitting quietly in a Parking lot on June 1st. We just picked up a carbon copy abs-red yesterday.

[RedHatch08]

^

Totaled in a parking lot? That sucks. How did that happen?

[frog13]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

I wasn't aware that the Versa was built in Mexico. That explains why Nissan can give them away!

Mexico's labor is far lower than Japan's of course. The Yaris costs much more to build (not just labor wise, but it is more expensively engineered). Which is why it is impossible to offer a $9,995 model like Nissan and Hyundai does.

So who cares if Versa beats Yaris sales, it's an uneven playing field. So many people look at one thing - bottom line pricing/biggest bang for the buck.

More expensively built...how so?(I believe Toyota puts extensive engineering efforts into their products---I'm confident that Nissan does too)

The wage and benefits one pays their workers will define the cost of the product.....hence Mexico & Korea.

[Damo]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

Toyota's image problem looks like its hitting Yaris sales hard: -51% vs. 2009. Down 40% for the year.

http://www.subcompactculture.com/201...act-sales.html

Id be interested to see Australian stats.
The whole branding/image hit due to faulst is largely not an issue here. In fact, many people still believe that Toyota make some of the most reliable cars out there.

Anyone have the sales stats on Yaris for Au last year?

[Yaris Hilton]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

I think the Pacer is still the heavy weight champion of the ugly contest.

Pacers are cool. But not in the summer sunshine!

[auxmike]

My brother has a Kia Rio rental. Compared to the Yaris it's kinda "disposable" looking. The interior is real cheapo. The engine looked dinky and frail compared to my car. I did like the black door mouldings and it IS a good looking little car (the 4 door).
The Yaris is really nicely put together.... The KIA looked unsafe, real tinny like.
The Versa has a more plush interior then our cars. I actually like the sedan version. It gets lousy gas milage, though it has good power. Also, the CVT tranny sounds awful and would drive me nuts. I want something that SHIFTS!
The fact it's Mex built is a deal killer anyways. I want a japanese car built in...
JAPAN!
I think I chose well and really love this car.
Toyota #1...........

[firemachine69]

The Kia Rio, up north in Canada, can be bought as a micro-sedan for $9999.


It only comes with a CVT, but having said that, the equivalent from Toyota (with an auto) is $16k - I know, because my friend just bought one (the Yaris Sedan). $9999 is the cheapest price ever heard of when it comes to a car not equipped with a standard transmission.


$6k is a HUGE amount of chump-change. If you're a decent investor, you can invest in some growth stuff, and just about when the warranty on your Kia expires, you can dump it, and buy a brand new one. Or give it to the kids. Or keep at it as a second car for the wife. Or... You get the idea.


Even with the Hyundai Accent 3dr LB, It's $9999, and the automatic adds about another thousand.

If you're financing through the manufacturer's credit arm, that could mean having your car paid off two-or-three years sooner.

Food for thought.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

I think the Pacer is still the heavy weight champion of the ugly contest.

I never thought the Pacer was ugly more like weird, you want ugly =
Geo Metro Convertible,
PT Cruiser convertible
VW Thing
Datsun F-10
Dodge Omni
Early 60's Plymouths like the Savoy

[bkrownd]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

The Aztek is a top contender for the ugliest car ever.

It has no chance against the "aero"/organic shaped version of the AMC Matador. ;)

[Billiam]

Originally Posted by jambo101

I never thought the Pacer was ugly more like weird, you want ugly =

VW Thing

What?! Why you.....

[Thai_Dang]

Yeah it sucks that after 4 years of being in the US, sales still suck. 30 dealers in my area had yaris, but only like 1-4 max/dealer. Compared to like the gazillion corollas/camrys. But its Toyota's fault. They're not selling well because they're priced too close to corollas/camrys, lol plus they look like weak, small, cheap interior compared to a corolla. I personally like weak, small, cheap and quirky cars, but most people would be turned off by that. If you're selling something strange, might as well give people a price incentive. Seriously, my friend just bought a used 2009 corolla S from a dealer for 12k. I think most people are like I'll just buy a corolla at this price, because some dealers in my area were asking 16.6k for a 2010 5 door HB w/power, and 14.5k for base. WTFudge?? My dad got a brand new camry for 16k, and of course that thing is fully loaded. They seriously got to drop the price on yaris, and not force people to roll up their windows or have no cruise, or have to argue with their dealers. Dude, 13k for 5 door LB w/power with room to bargain down would be awesome! I only got mines after I argued it down to a reasonable price. Seriously 16.6k, for a yaris, is nutso!

[Ryude]

I feel like the car manufacturers create a false price point, How come you can get a fully loaded Hyundai Accent for $13k but that's the base price for a yaris?