Movers and Losers: April Top 10

You’re reading the first in a new series of regular posts we’ll bring you ranking new cars according to the time they spend on dealers’ lots. The faster a car moves off the lot, the harder it typically is to find one for yourself. Hot models are also often harder to negotiate on because the dealer knows another buyer will be along shortly willing to fork over full price. Below are the top 10 hottest sellers, followed by a list of what isn’t selling so quickly. The industry average is around 65 days on a lot before selling.

In Top 10 Movers, we only list vehicles that pass a certain threshold of sales in order to weed out models that are being phased out, limited editions or other factors that might skew the numbers or otherwise inaccurately portray popularity. For the Top 10 Losers, we lower that threshold because low sales bolster the Loser claim, though they could also indicate other factors, like a model being phased out.

Top 10 Movers

• 2009 Acura TSX: 4 days
• 2008 Lexus LX 570: 9 days
• 2009 Subaru Forester: 13 days
• 2008 Toyota Prius: 15 days
• 2008 BMW 128i convertible: 16 days
• 2008 Jaguar XF: 16 days
• 2008 Pontiac G8: 16 days
• 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid: 16 days
• 2008 BMW 528xi: 17 days
• 2008 Cadillac CTS: 17 days

Top 10 Losers

• 2008 Jaguar S-Type: 189 days
• 2008 Honda Pilot: 174 days
• 2008 Mitsubishi Galant: 147 days
• 2008 Chrysler Pacifica: 146 days
• 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse coupe: 145 days
• 2008 Toyota Corolla: 139 days
• 2008 Toyota Matrix: 138 days
• 2008 Subaru Forester: 130 days
• 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix: 130 days
• 2008 GMC Canyon: 129 days

What the Numbers Say
The Top 10 Movers are almost all new or notable models that we’d expect consumers to be eagerly awaiting. Many might have been pre-ordered, leading to very short times on the lot. The most impressive is the Acura TSX, which we liked — though the staff had varying degrees of respect for it — but haven’t heard a lot of buzz about from readers. It’s a needed hit for Acura.

The Losers are somewhat predictable, as outgoing models like the Jaguar S-Type and Honda Pilot logically wouldn’t be hot sellers. Those models’ predictability, however, make cars that aren’t due for major revisions — like the Honda Ridgeline — look even worse.

Comments

[alex]

im not suprised that the ridgeline is on this list. As a honda salesperson and consumer reports reader, i know this is a good truck. But honda has done a POOR job in promoting this truck and the fact that honda wont put in a v-8 hurts this truck. Also its starting price is too high. I really think that if honda gives it a redesign and puts a small v 8 in it, and at the same time puts a re-fresh on it it could really sell. Another idea for Honda is to move the ridgeline up to compete more with the f150, silverado, and ram, and of course make it bigger and with the expeted v-8. Then honda could make a truck to compete with the tacoma in the low 20,000 range. Honda's name enough can sell these trucks if they are smart about it and i dont believe that the ridgeline will go away, just re done

[Dave T.]

alex
you're right we had some bad numbers in the post originally. My apologies. Lots of info to sort through. Revised bottom list is above. The Ridgeline has 111 days.

[Jay]

I can't believe the LX570 is on the "hot" list right now. I guess there are some people out there that "just-have-to" have a gas guzzler...

[woogie]

jay,

Just because it is moving off the lot quickly doesn't mean they are selling a lot of them.

They could have a very limited number produced. It was the Japanese that championed just in time delivery. Maybe Lexus produces just enough to get the vehicle on the lot and out the door quickly.

The lists might be more meaningful if they included number of cars produced vs sales figures. A 9 day lot cycle on a vehicle that only has a production run of 500 a month should not be held up as better when a vehicle that sells 10,000 a month has a 15 day lot cycle.

[Dave T.]

Jay,
the LX570 is a brand new model so it's "hot" despite the size. and luxury SUVs sell well.

[DL]

Boston Globe just had an article that i basically took to mean the rich people are doing better than ever, at the expense of the regular people (perhaps indirectly, but still).

i think the new iteration of the TSX is pretty ugly.

[Dave T.]

Woogie,
We do have a cut off so the top cars are selling "well enough" to make the list. The LX570 sold 770 vehicles last month. Which doesn't sound like a lot but at $80K that's pretty good.

Also we get sales figures from the automakers. The Movers and Losers information comes from other sources. I don't know if combining sources of information would be completely legitimate.