Movers and Losers: January 2009

It’s been a while since we cracked out the Movers and Losers list, mainly because of the disruption of the economy and auto market, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t hot cars out there. In January, when most of the market was flat, certain luxury and sports cars did just fine. We track how many days it takes to sell a car from the moment it hits the lot until the buyer drives it off. The average for January was a whopping 127 days, including new 2008, 2009 and 2010 models. That’s by far the longest since we started keeping track. In September, the average was 73 days.

January’s losers were a bit of a surprise, including the once-hard-to-get Pontiac G6 convertible, but we excluded 2008 models because typical leftover vehicles skewed the results, and many models have already gone to 2010 model years. However, we do realize some current models haven’t shifted to a 2009 model year at all yet, like the Saturn Astra. Still, seeing which 2009 vehicles took so long to sell was surprising, and may prove helpful if you’re looking for a deal. We should also note that some of the top movers — especially the luxury nameplates — might have moved so quickly because of large discounts and because buyers with money in a down market were looking for deals on big-ticket items.

Comments

You could save all us time by listing under "Losers", "General Motors" and "Chrysler".

HappyDance, it looks like the real loser is Mazda.

the loser numbers were really skewed because of all the 2008s not changing over and still sitting on lots. Mazda just happened to have the most 2009s out I think, but no, the numbers still aren't good. The company is having a tough time despite good new product to sell.

HappyDance, if you actually looked at the graph you would know that only three of the cars on the list are from domestic automakers.

Mazda is its own company now, but still shares some components with Ford.

Given the 3 models that Mazda has on it's list this is not bad news. The RX-8 is a sports car and not a core product. The Tribute is a rebadged Escape so there's probably zero residual investment that needs to be recouped. The CX-7 had a inferior engine and that's now been addressed. I'm not a Mazda fan, in fact I'm smart enough to only buy Toyota's or Honda's - after GM burned my family one too many times 15 years ago. I haven't looked back since. If Subaru can survive so can Mazda.

I think the Murano would sell better if Nissan would break up those big expensive option packages. It's a nice rig, but its competitors are fierce now- Edge, Santa Fe, Venza, etc; and they are easier to option the way you want them.

Broq

Murano needs to start from the grill.
It probably drives better then my 2.7L Highlander but my car is bigger, better on gas, more comfortable, and cheaper. Watch. 2.7L highlanders are going to fly off the lots.

Good to see the Venzas are selling pretty well, I was afraid that the Venza would be DOA because of its sticker price and the current economic climate would doom this gorgeous piece of engineering.

I'm still disappointed in those who buy foreign brands. My parents immigrated from Europe and would never buy anything foreign (that's how proud they are to be here). Now, the more recent and spoiled American-born generation has completely received what it deserves by buying foreign products: no jobs at home for way too many Americans.

Sure, your Toyota or Honda or Nissan may require less repairs than a Ford, but now many of you collectively have weak job security. It's only going to get worse as you keep buying any foreign product, thus sending all our dispensible careers out of the country, thus leaving too many people that our dwindling U.S.-based companies don't need. What happens to all these people? Scary.

Is there a link to the full list of cars?

Drew, don't blame me for the problems of the economy because I am driving a Lexus. If the greedy retards at GM and Ford knew how to run a business they would have not been living off credit for so many years while the CEO's make millions. Now they are bankrupt and you want to blame people who don't drive American? GM and Ford sell MILLIONS of cars. It is not the consumers fault, it is the company who does not know how to run itself.

Drew: HAHAHAHA! you're so retarded. The mentality that you have is the reason why the Big 3 are about to become the Big 0. They counted on "Buy American Only" consumers like you to purchase their cars hence they had little motivation to make good, quality cars. Now, they are in a rut. You're "Buy American" mentality is comical. If you're so into buying ONLY American, then don't buy anything that's foreign. Let's see.....now you won't own a cell phone, tv, computer, microwave, dishwasher, refridgerator, washer/dryer..well...pretty much anything considering that there is NOTHING that's simply 100% make and built in America.

I have too agree with Hobbes and nic,you can't blame every other car company for the mess that GM Ford and Chrysler are in,they should have seen the writing on the wall years ago and look where it has them now!!I beleive that there own narrow mindness put them in the place they are today...i remember a GM dealer saying too me about 15 years ago that a company like Hyundai would never survive,and he laughed about it...who's laughing now??

Drew,
we're here already passed that stage when we discussed "Buying American". It is obvious for anybody that in todays Global market it is may be better to buy non-american then American. For example, if I buy American-made Accord, I do better for our country then Mexican-made Fusion. Not only Ford took away jobs but also, sinse they have losses, they don't pay as much taxes as Honda USA.

So Drew, you sound like... old guy. When your parents came here the US and the world were different. If you don't adapt fast enough...
And what are you saying? If all will follow your mentality, the Ford, GM and Chrysler would disappear by now because the only reason they still exist-foreign sales. If people around the world will stop buying them...

I think, you've got the idea.

I'd like to correct Drew on the requiring less repairs statement. Lets please seperate them into the individual brands that they are. Ford has demonstrated that it can build cars that are extremly reliable, whereas Chrylser hasn't and GM is somewhere between them, but closer to Chrysler. Drew, your statement would have been true 15 years ago. Still, there is some truth to it. I know people who will not buy anything "american" because of stuff that happened to someone they know of years and years ago- yet they have no problem putting their faith in a Hyundai- which, if you ask me, started really improving it's reliablity around the time Ford did. Repeatedly, you will see people mention Hyundai in the same breathe as Honda and Toyota in these Forums.

Basically, everyone needs to realize that the people that built the crappy car that you heard about 15 years ago are not there anymore. The factories, computers, design standards are new. You don't have to buy only american- Just stop being dead set on not giving a Good American car (I don't think all the brands are good) a chance based on some old story or old ass car. And before someone calls me a domestic fanboy- I'm replacing my car in march and of the three cars I'm considering one is American and Two are German.

Broq

well said Broq.

The purple Lexus Nic, Tony and Hobbes drive in the gay pride parades is just fabulous! A pink triangle just won't look the same on a Ford. It's sooo liberating to know that the youth of America can express themselves freely. You go boys! And don't forget to wear a condom!