Movers and Losers: July's Top Sedans

This time we’ll admit it: The numbers are misleading. That’s mainly because of the start of the 2009 model year, meeting the outgoing 2008s. The quick-sellers are mostly 2009s, and for some — like the Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Pontiac G8 and Cadillac CTS — that explains the short time on lots before they sell, since they’re just arriving for the first time.

For the most part, they still see an improvement in overall sales from last July, with the exception of the in-demand hybrids and the Legacy (we don’t quite understand that one).

Top 10 Movers

• 2008 Toyota Prius: 5 days / -15% / 14,785 units
• 2009 Lincoln MKS: 7 days / no 2007 data / 2,279 units
• 2009 Chevy Malibu: 8 days / +78.6% / 16,637 units
• 2009 Nissan Maxima: 9 days / +6.9% / 4,814 units
• 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid: 9 days / -39% / 2,645 units
• 2009 Hyundai Genesis: 10 days / no 2007 data / 619 units
• 2009 Cadillac CTS: 11 days / +37.6% / 5,262 units
• 2009 Pontiac G8: 11 days / no 2007 data / 1,472 units
• 2009 Subaru Legacy: 13 days / -9% / 1,748 units
• 2009 Ford Fusion: 16 days / +13.5% / 10,607 units

On the loser side are a bunch of niche luxury models, plus snoozers like the Lexus GS and Mercedes CLS550 that never lived up to their promise. Infiniti’s M definitely shows a weakness with its slow sales because it was recently refreshed. We’d expect it to get more power for 2009.

Top 10 Losers

• 2008 BMW M5: 165 days / no specific trim data
• 2008 Kia Amanti: 136 days / +24% / 339 units
• 2008 Mercury Sable: 128 days / -12.1% / 2,276 units
• 2008 Audi S4: 128 days / -0.5% / 3,479 units (entire A4 line)
• 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550: 121 days / -32.7% / 451 units
• 2008 Lexus GS 460: 112 days / -38.7% / 1,297 units (entire GS line)
• 2008 Ford Taurus: 109 days / -33.5% / 4,100 units
• 2008 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec: 102 days / +53% / 4,938 units (entire E-Class line)
• 2008 Audi RS 4: 102 days / -0.5% / 3,479 units (entire A4 line)
• 2008 Infiniti M35: 98 days / -42.1% / 970 units (both M35 and M45)

Comments

[DL]

hahaha, how likely do you think i'll get that "killer" deal for an M5 or RS4? too bad i don't have that much money anyway. what a shame. maybe i should start buying lottery tickets?

[ralphie]

Maybe people aren't willing to wait for the Prius as much anymore? Sure it's 5 days on the lot or in the country or whatever, but people are on the waiting list for these.

Also the drop in the price of gas has a certain psychological effect. The media certainly hyped the avg cost of a gallon dropping below $4 dollars, even though the price is still sell above the price the same time last year. Now that it's below the $4 barrier a hybrid might not be on their minds.

[Keith]

Dave T.,
Could you clarify the E-Class numbers since the text wraps to the next line. Is the entire line-up at 102 days or just the diesel? And if so, surprising since sales are up 53%.

[Anon]

It's disingenuous when you use phrases like, "...that explains the short time on lots before they sell...". What "lot" are you referring too when you report 16,637 Malibu's sold? As one of your poster's reported earlier, 1/3 of Malibu "sales" are to rental fleets. Is it too much to ask to do some due diligence and state the actual cars sold at the retail level v. an inflated number stuffed w/ fleet sales.

I have a '09 Malibu LTZ which I absolutely love, however I am not very happy with the numerous issues (minor) I've had in the first three months of ownership. The fact that GM is still dumping the new Malibu on rental fleets will only earn Honda a new customer the next time around.

[Dave T.]

Most manufacturers don't break up trim levels in their sales. Our "Days to sell" information does. Hence the difference. We only originally intended in reporting the days to sell.

So the Diesel is selling slowly, the rest of the lineup is not. the e350 is selling at 43 days and is most of the volume. Avg is 67 days.

[Dave T.]

Anon,
No, we're not going to delve into fleet sales. I didn't even want to delve into sales at all but was asked to do it.
In fact after all the extra work I think our days to sell, which is completely consumer oriented and has no impact from fleet sales, might be even MORE accurate. And I think we should go back to strictly that number. All the other numbers do is give some explanation but none of it tells the whole story for the # of days. This was just supposed to be a quick snapshot of what's popular. Not a report on the entire industry.

[Anon]

Now that you put it that way I understand. Keep up the great work I love the KickingTires blog!

[Cj]

Dave T. I think you should go back to the old format. By adding information you just make things more confusing for the average joe that comes here for info. I know there was a lot of whining and fussing about the days to sell thing, but now by adding information it's just confusing.

[D]

I guess that renaming the "500"- "Taurus" really did the trick, huh Ford???