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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 689
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By NEIL McDONALD
THE Toyota Corolla became the top-selling Australian car last month, eclipsing Australian built large sedans including the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore. Separate sources have confirmed to GoAuto ahead of the industry VFACTS figures due out today that Toyota sold almost 5000 Corollas, blitzing the large-car results of Commodore with 4800 sales and Falcon with 3900 sales. The only other time Corolla came close to Falcon and Commodore sales this year was in June when it managed 5221 sales. This latest result could be due to a large fleet or government purchase. Whatever the reason, in a softening sales month for many car brands Toyota outperformed expectations after an ambitious across-the-board sales campaign and a strong fleet push. In a further blow to Ford and Holden, Toyota’s HiLux 4x2 utility outsold the Falcon and Commodore utes. The Corolla’s success comes just days after Toyota Australia’s marketing chief, David Buttner, told GoAuto the traditional notion of the country’s most popular vehicles were becoming outdated, particularly in the private buyer segment. “Anecdotal evidence we’re getting back from the field is that the fleets are beginning to look for alternatives to a big car for a big country,” Mr Buttner said. “Where size used to be the status symbol in the corporate carpark, recent trends suggest that this may not be the case for much longer.” His views support the latest VFACTs figures, which are expected to show a severe softening in large-car sales at the hands of high petrol prices and specialist leasing packages. Apart from the Corolla, other small fourcylinder cars to do well last month were the Holden Astra, which managed about 3000 sales, and the Mazda3, which racked up 2596. The new Ford Focus and ageing Nissan Pulsar achieved around 1000 sales. Such is the rush to smaller cars that Mazda Australia has revised upwards its 2005 forecast to 67,000, up 7000 on its estimates earlier this year. Mazda had a record September, selling 4931 vehicles as shipments of Mazda3, Mazda2 and Mazda6 provided a fi llip to sales. Even the new MX5, which went on sale late in the month, managed 90 sales. Mazda’s September result was up 1062 or 27.4 per cent on the same month last year. Mr Buttner said that although large-car sales were continuing to be sustained by fl eets, the market for private buyers had slumped with a shift to medium and small cars. He said the large-car segment still remained a hugely significant part of the market and a big player in government and rental agency fleet business. “If you look at year-to-date last year the passenger car market still represented 30 per cent,” he said. “This year it represents 26 percent – a decline – and that four per cent has gone to the small-car segment. The light and medium segments still represent exactly the same percentages.” However, there were signs of a shift and traditional family sedans are suffering from the growth of novated leases, he said. GoAuto (pdf) _________________
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#2 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 388
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I would say it has everything too do with fleets buying more
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#3 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northern Sydney
Posts: 1,908
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Fuel prices also would make the 4cyl Hilux range a non-concerned/non-enthusiast tradies friend!
Consider the impact that Kia Van has made on Hi-ace van sales - a lot of these guys don't care what car they drive for work. |
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#4 | ||
bring it on
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Praying....for you
Posts: 987
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a big worry for Holden and Ford. Even Mitsu releasing the 380 at this time. Could Toyota Aus have some problems down the track too? I mean the only real cars they BUILD or ASSEMBLE here are the Camry and Avalon right? How are they selling? If we're moving away from big cars then the Camry and Avalon could be in trouble to?
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#5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 13,374
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Even if the Camry isnt selling, if they are selling more in other segments then surely they would still come out on top right? Ie if Holden was selling less of the Commodore and Astra, and Ford was selling less of the Falcon and Focus.
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#6 | ||
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It has alot to do with Toyotas promotion of last month which consisted of fleet prices to retail customers. There were ads on all of September saying: "We don't care whether you buy 1 or 100 cars, you will get big fleet savings!"
The long term effect of this will be resale values as discounting only pushes resale values down even further. But all the same, good on Toyota as I'm sure Ford would love it if the Focus did the same. |
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#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,633
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My initial reaction was "good .. let the loosers buy Corollas!!", but if the trend continues, volumes of Aussie 6/8cyl sedans will deminish to a point where it's not viable to build anymore :(
Think I'll be hanging onto older cars again .. BA/VZ might be the last of a great breed for awhile .. |
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#8 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 13,374
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Isnt the BF falcon due out this month? Maybe people are just waiting for the newer model. Is the new Commodore due this month or next year?
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#9 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 689
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The adage has always been "A big car for a big country". I can't see that changing, high fuel prices notwithstanding.
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#10 | ||
Official AFF conservative
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Adelaide, SA
Posts: 3,549
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What's new... did Toyota not outsell both Ford and Holden last year anyways? Albeit with a predominantly imported stable...
Wonder if they'll hit their million??
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#11 | ||
V8 Powaah
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD
Posts: 1,994
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Yeh, big car a big country will remain. I dont see the death of the large car yet. Doing long distance trips at 100/110 kmh isnt exactly fun in a corolla.
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#12 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#13 | ||
XR5T - Sea Grey.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 858
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I feel sick!
Considering that a new model is coming, Ford (forget the red team) have only themselves to blame. They should have had the run out ads running about 4-6 weeks earlier than they did, get the BAs out the door at a loss or at cost price, and clear the frickin floor. Also, have 'double-whammy' ads that showcase the Falcon AND the Focus at once. Show the punters what is on offer. And show them why you dont need to buy elsewhere (and maybe attract a few new buyers). But what would I know, I'm only a customer who drives their products. EDIT: Before everyone jumps on me, I must publicly acknowledge Toyotas begain basement deals on new Toyotas, as well as their popularity with fleet buyers. That said though, no one is buying a Corrolla as a fleet car. Ever. These a deals for bargain hunters. Get the hint local boys (Ford & Holden). |
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#14 | ||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
Posts: 17,798
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If there was a shift to smaller cars I can see why the corolla won. I been in one and the room in the back is impressive for a small car.
Still I would never touch a small car, I like big sedans. Petrol will go down and Big sedans will sell again. Funny how the Camry has a four cylinder motor verson and it didn't sell to well seeing that it's a big car. (I use to drive the first of the wide body models and it had more room than the commodore). |
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#15 | |||
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Quote:
Consider this: Most used car buyers never consider a new car, but once these people get wind of all the discounting and how close the price of a 2004 used Corolla is to a new Corolla, the buying patern will shift. A case example is when last year we had a Toyota Corolla Ascent with 20000km which we sold for $18900. Had the customer checked the new car price they would have been able to buy a new one for about $21000. We payed a good trade-in price on it hence the high resale price in the yard. |
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#16 | |||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
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#17 | ||
Flat floor shifter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: swappers xing
Posts: 504
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You guys reckon good quality and customer service would have anything to do with it??? I know of a lot of people moving away from ford and holden because of poor quality and more importantly the after sales service when there is a fault. It takes a while but it catches up with you.
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#18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#19 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 689
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Quote:
Now if Toyota really had the best interests of the enthusiast at heart, they would develop affordable, RWD V8s... and then see their warranty issues skyrocket!
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#20 | ||
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You've hit the nail on the head SSBaby.
They are not taking those kind of risks. Toyota may as well be a whitegoods company. Also Toyota is good at putting cars together, they don't necessarily use the best materials. I haven't seen them get critisized about the fact that they use a live axle rear end for the Prado. Whereas Ford always get's the backsides kicked about anything that's remotely not quite what the media expected. |
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#21 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Northern Sydney
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Quote:
If you consider that say, for the equivalent cost of an FPV or HSV in Australia, is probably equal to, cost of living wise, the cost of a BMW M, Audi S or AMG d in Germany, then I guess the issue comes down to how much each manufacturer is willing to spend on development costs and quality control measures. I get a sneaking suspicion that in Australia, a lot of the quality control is done by the end user. But the build quality of a Camry for instance is better than any other Australian built car on the road - and I'm talking about panel fit, rattles, NVH and all those small issues that drive us all nutts with our Magnas/Commodores/Falcons, and the reliability of the 100 series cruisers and the 75 series are second to none. |
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#22 | ||
Official AFF conservative
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Adelaide, SA
Posts: 3,549
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Yes but if you expect the same quality as a BMW from a Falcon then expect to pay BMW prices. Im sure it's a valid business case for FoMoCO Australia - build the cars to a certain standard and make them affordable to as many people as possible... then fix/replace/whatever under warranty from there.
As opposed to increasing the level of quality and pricing themselves out of the target market. It might not sound "right" - but it means more falcons are more affordable for more australians. A few customers get burnt in the process. It's a tough game.
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#23 | |||
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Posts: 689
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Quote:
Look no further than FPV. They're putting in some very nice clutches... the AP twin plate clutch is one of the best units on the market... it comes at a price though... and that means Lexus territory. I don't think there is much difference in quality as far as fit and finish and general panel fit is concerned. The Japanese were ahead of the game but the other car makers have caught up, IMO. There's still some paint quality issues wrt Aussie manufactured cars that I read about but that's improving... Squeaks and rattles? Maybe you should have a ride in my wife's 2004 built Toyota Camry. Inferior in that regard to my solid SS. Another factor to consider is that the Japanese make world cars. They can ammortise the cost of components over hundreds of thousands/millions of vehicles. That's something that genuine Aussie manufacturers like Ford and Holden (who build unique cars for each region) don't have the luxury of. Don't forget, once Japanese products were considered inferior quality to Aussie made. Take a look at the Koreans. They're taking the same slowly, slowly approach to profitability... the same approach that is bringing considerable wealth to Japanese companies. What I'm saying is that, for starters, they take the cheap approach, build up their bottom line and slowly improve the quality... and build the reputation.
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#24 | |||
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#25 | ||
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sunshine Coast
Posts: 1,250
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Surely the fact that a new model falcon is on the way would slow new car sales.
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#26 | ||
buickman
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: eastern suburbs Melb Vic
Posts: 1,462
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[QUOTE=jmc-007]I would say it has everything too do with fleets buying more[/QUOTE
No Toyota had the deals going for private buyers getting the same deal as fleets ads in September. All the fleet cars at my work are Holdens,Fords & some Magnas. buickman |
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#27 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#28 | |||
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 689
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Quote:
But my clutch was sub-standard from the outset. It's been my only complaint really.. and still I continue to have clutch issues even though I have an aftermarket clutch. The other complaints have really been with the servicing department... like the time they dented my bootlid and failed to claim responsiblity. Changing dealers sure helped! Btw, I wonder if owners are experiencing problems closing the bootlid of their Camrys like we have. The taillight wiring loom is baulking against the bootlid. We asked the dealer to fix it. They claimed they fixed it. Guess what? Not fixed, Tony! See, guys who mod their cars are always going to want better than the factory item because the standard parts are inadequate. To rectify that problem, you fork out money that the manufacturer normally baulks at due to cost containment. Power costs money and Ford/Holden are fighting in the same division that Toyota doesn't want to enter.
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#29 | |||
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#30 | |||
Banned
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Quote:
What I'm referring to is the enthusiast who takes his Commodore/Falcon and upgrades the engine and takes his car to the track...
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