Honda and Toyota shut out of May 2011 top-10 best-seller list

[ifcar]

The best-seller of one of those automakers was the No. 12 Camry, though the Camry, Corolla, Accord and Civic remain on the top 10 YTD. Full Top 20 lists, May 2011 and year-to-date through May:

http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-national/top-20-best-selling-cars-of-may-2011-honda-and-toyota-absent-from-top-10

[Vinsanity]

Crazy. I can't even recall a prior time that all of the big 4 (Camry, Corolla, Accord and Civic) to get shut out of the top 10. Wierd that the tsunami's effect on the supply chain was this far delayed, though.

[ifcar]

Crazy. I can't even recall a prior time that all of the big 4 (Camry, Corolla, Accord and Civic) to get shut out of the top 10. Wierd that the tsunami's effect on the supply chain was this far delayed, though.

We've probably seen the cars that were already built selling at the regular pace. Now we're at the point where production issues have caught up to the dealer inventory level.

[Vinsanity]

That makes sense. I also assume that most of the Altima's supply chain is within the N.American continent? That's a pretty impressive gain for a car that only received a midlife facelift.

[ifcar]

That makes sense. I also assume that most of the Altima's supply chain is within the N.American continent? That's a pretty impressive gain for a car that only received a midlife facelift.

It's been going up and down pretty wildly. And to be clear, my supply chain hypothesis is only that -- there could be any number of factors. (With the new Civic, though, Honda has specifically said it wasn't going to be able to build as many as it wanted.)

[sportyaccordy]

What the hell is going on here

[SVT32V]

Too bad it can't be people are coming to their senses and passing on corollas for the much better competition.

[Mustangfan2003]

USA, USA, USA!

[GoCougs]

Too bad it can't be people are coming to their senses and passing on corollas for the much better competition.

When others build a better car than the Corolla it will happen. Until then, well, good luck to them.

[Mustangfan2003]

Another thing I noticed is that Lincoln sales continue to decline.  Ford needs to either ditch them or figure out that rebadged Fords aren't working for them. 

[SVT666]

When others build a better car than the Corolla it will happen. Until then, well, good luck to them.

The Corolla is a piece of shit.  It is the worst compact car on the market.

[SVT666]

Another thing I noticed is that Lincoln sales continue to decline.  Ford needs to either ditch them or figure out that rebadged Fords aren't working for them. 

No kidding.  Ford needs to pull a Cadillac or cut it loose.

[Mustangfan2003]

Jaguar/Land Rover North America has more sales than the Lincoln brand, looks like they ditched the wrong luxury cars. 

[MX793]

When others build a better car than the Corolla it will happen. Until then, well, good luck to them.

The Corolla is seriously outdated and sells largely on its name and past reputation.  And because all of the running gear is quite old, it's proven and reliable.  Then again, it's seriously outclassed by newer competitors with 5-6 speed automatic gearboxes, better chassis, more feature content, nicer interior appointments, more available features, and better fuel economy for similar money.

[ifcar]

The Corolla is a piece of shit.  It is the worst compact car on the market.

It is an inexpensive compact car that is naturally inferior in some ways to pricer competitors.

[Mustangfan2003]

Toyota starting to look like the old GM with their current lineup. 

[ifcar]

The Corolla is seriously outdated and sells largely on its name and past reputation.  And because all of the running gear is quite old, it's proven and reliable.  Then again, it's seriously outclassed by newer competitors with 5-6 speed automatic gearboxes, better chassis, more feature content, nicer interior appointments, more available features, and better fuel economy for similar money.

Not better fuel economy, not more feature content for similar money. Often less space and confusing ergonomics, too.

[3.0L V6]

It is an inexpensive compact car that is naturally inferior in some ways to pricer competitors.

I LOL'd at this. You should be in PR writing and delivering speeches.

[GoCougs]

The Corolla is seriously outdated and sells largely on its name and past reputation.  And because all of the running gear is quite old, it's proven and reliable.  Then again, it's seriously outclassed by newer competitors with 5-6 speed automatic gearboxes, better chassis, more feature content, nicer interior appointments, more available features, and better fuel economy for similar money.

The current Corolla is MY2009 that went on sale in 2008, so nearing the end of its current generation but not outdated; newer than the Civic for example.

The things that count in the class; comfort, fuel economy, space utilization, price; the Corolla is at or near the top (especially comfort). It also has the best reliability track record, which pretty much seals the deal. This class couldn't care less about 5sp AT vs. 6sp AT or available navigation.

[ifcar]

I LOL'd at this. You should be in PR writing and delivering speeches.

....it's true. Not every compact car needs to move upscale.

[ifcar]

The current Corolla is MY2009 that went on sale in 2008, so nearing the end of its current generation but not outdated; newer than the Civic for example.

The new Civic went on sale in April.

[Eye of the Tiger]

....it's true. Not every compact car needs to move upscale.

My Accent is more upscale than your precious Corollna.

[Tave]

Jaguar/Land Rover North America has more sales than the Lincoln brand, looks like they ditched the wrong luxury cars. 

IIRC, Ford sold them because they were the only subsidiaries worth a hoot. Ford needed money and no one wanted Lincoln.

[GoCougs]

The new Civic went on sale in April.

Nah, at best it's a mid-cycle update. Sat in one yesterday during my oil change - it's even less updated than pictures and specs led me to believe.

Honda takes a major risk in abusing the brand (i.e., a la Escort, Ranger, Taurus) by not coming out with an all-new Civic.

[Vinsanity]

The Corolla is seriously outdated and sells largely on its name and past reputation.  And because all of the running gear is quite old, it's proven and reliable.  Then again, it's seriously outclassed by newer competitors with 5-6 speed automatic gearboxes, better chassis, more feature content, nicer interior appointments, more available features, and better fuel economy for similar money.

Bingo. The Corolla may be objectively outclassed by its competitors, but to its loyal fan base, the Corolla has never failed them, nor given them a reason to look elsewhere. After I brought my car to the shop so I could get screwed on the repair bill, I borrowed my sister's Corolla for the day. $40 worth of gas covered 300 miles of around-town driving, and motor oil still looked fresh (and at its full level) 6,000 miles after its previous service.

[Mustangfan2003]

IIRC, Ford sold them because they were the only subsidiaries worth a hoot. Ford needed money and no one wanted Lincoln.

They could've saved money by ditching Lincoln.  

[3.0L V6]

....it's true. Not every compact car needs to move upscale.

It was the way you responded to Hemi that amused me so. I should have been clearer when I made my original post - your response was very calm and collected as compared to his "piece of shit" comment. I don't know why that struck me as amusing, but it did.

[ifcar]

Nah, at best it's a mid-cycle update. Sat in one yesterday during my oil change - it's even less updated than pictures and specs led me to believe.

Honda takes a major risk in abusing the brand (i.e., a la Escort, Ranger, Taurus) by not coming out with an all-new Civic.

Just because it looks similar doesn't mean it isn't different. If you're going by the metric of "I think it looks the same," the Corolla came out in 2003.

[ifcar]

It was the way you responded to Hemi that amused me so. I should have been clearer when I made my original post - your response was very calm and collected as compared to his "piece of shit" comment. I don't know why that struck me as amusing, but it did.

I see.

[3.0L V6]

They could've saved money by ditching Lincoln.  

I'd suspect that Lincoln, despite its low volume, makes money for Ford. They are essentially rebadged/slightly differently styled Fords with more chrome and $10k on the sticker price. It increases their volume, lets Ford maintain a luxury brand (pretty much required for any large automaker in North America) and since there aren't many standalone dealers to keep happy (most dealers can get by with other Ford-branded sales), they don't need to dump mega-bucks into a clean sheet platform to keep up with BMW, Mercedes and Cadillac.