July 2013 Auto Sales Thread
Most of the ATS's problems lie internally much with the CUE infotainment center. Otherwise the car itself looks great (IMO) (I had to do a double take on the freeway the other day - some sexy black one was cruising by me), and the cars suspension at least in highest form that magnetic ride control is one of the best in the business. It's also one of the lightest in class. A 8-Speed auto could probably also help with acceleration and fuel economy too.
I agree
Pole Position
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,602
Likes: 89
From: Singapore
Sounds like the ATS would work better as a coupe than as a sedan considering all the feedback about the near un-useable rear seating.
An ATS-V coupe with an improved CUE could be an unbeatable combination.
An ATS-V coupe with an improved CUE could be an unbeatable combination.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 3
From: Canuckistan
I was mainly referring to the 3.6L option when I said new engine. CUE needs an overhaul, with real buttons. The transmission in the ATS is just not great, needs an 8 speed. And the interior in terms of materials and execution still lags the top dogs in the segment. All these areas are where the ATS has been dinged in comparison tests.
I recommend you watch this video:
I recommend you watch this video:
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 20,206
Likes: 253
So much for ATS bringing it up for GM.
Let the discounting begin.
It is not easy to get people to buy luxury vehicles... for instance, i have been going around German showrooms with best buddy to get him into one of the cars there, and he is looking at 1. brand, 2. interior and exterior looks/feel.
We have been talking about cars for a while now and he is looking to spend 80k on one, and we still have to drive single car.. it is all about sitting down and feeling things for him.
I have been trying to get him into BMW instead of Audi, but both 3 and 5 series have relatively poor interiors are mid-option levels compared to the FWD A6 thats also mid spec.
Let the discounting begin.
It is not easy to get people to buy luxury vehicles... for instance, i have been going around German showrooms with best buddy to get him into one of the cars there, and he is looking at 1. brand, 2. interior and exterior looks/feel.
We have been talking about cars for a while now and he is looking to spend 80k on one, and we still have to drive single car.. it is all about sitting down and feeling things for him.
I have been trying to get him into BMW instead of Audi, but both 3 and 5 series have relatively poor interiors are mid-option levels compared to the FWD A6 thats also mid spec.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,585
Likes: 24
From: Washington
Near-unuseable is a grand exaggeration. The size is around that of an E46/E90, which was "fine" like 2 years ago. Cadillac made the mistake of ignoring its competitors' moves to bigger sizes for rear seat space and now it's paying for it.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
From: CA
The ATS' biggest problem is that it's incredibly tiny. Way smaller inside than a 2IS or last gen 3 series. Wouldn't bother me since I'm in the driver seat, but I can see why some complain about the size. I've sat in the back, and even I felt a little crunched in. Someone bigger than me would have real problems. Seeing how GM benchmarked a 14 year old BMW in dimensions, I'm not surprised.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Not sure how a car winning or faring well in comparos and selling pretty decent considering its a small caddy could need what people are saying here.
It's a great first effort. It's pricey which was a bold move by Caddy.
The ATS is a great car.
It's a great first effort. It's pricey which was a bold move by Caddy.
The ATS is a great car.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 254
Likes: 2
From: Irvine, CA - Madrid, ES
Russia and Ukraine in Europe, China and Taiwan in Asia and Australia in Oceania. Besides, Mark Templin said that starting from late 2013 we might see the ES in other right hand drive markets as well so Australia might not be the last market and they might approach the South East Asia region.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,418
Likes: 10
From: NC
Fleet
The Detroit 3 slashed fleet sales in July, but Nissan North America, Hyundai-Kia and Toyota Motor Sales picked up the slack with huge gains.
Domestic-brand fleet activity dropped by 15,300 units last month, down 36 percent at Chrysler Group, 9 percent at Ford Motor and 6 percent at General Motors.
But 3 automakers made up for all but 1,700 units of the Detroit 3 decline. Fleet sales surged 87 percent at Nissan North America, 43 percent at Hyundai-Kia Automotive and 34 percent at Toyota Motor Sales.
So overall, July fleet volume for the 7 biggest automakers fell 1 percent to 143,800, while retail volume rose 16 percent to 983,000.
Industry fleet volume usually declines in the 2nd half of the year. But July was abnormally low at just 13 percent of total sales, compared with 15 percent a year earlier. That was enough to cut the major automaker fleet mix a point, to 19 percent, from 20 percent through the 1st 7 months.
For the most part, July exaggerated broader yearlong trends.
So far this year, Detroit automakers have trimmed their reliance on fleet sales and boosted retail. Chrysler leads this trend, increasing sales through dealers 16 percent while reducing fleet 8 percent. GM fleet activity through 7 months was flat but retail was 12 percent higher. Ford was up 8 percent on fleet and 15 percent on retail.
Despite July's surge, Toyota was down 6 percent on fleet and up 10 percent on retail through the 1st 7 months. Nissan was balanced, up 8 percent for fleet and 9 percent for retail.
Hyundai-Kia sales were flat overall through 7 months, but only because a 62 percent fleet spike offset a 7 percent retail drop.
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Retail vs. fleet sales
Estimated retail and fleet volume for July 2013 vs. July 2012
Retail July 2013 retail sales July 2013 % retail July 2012 retail sales July 2012 % retail July % change
General Motors 189,100 81% 153,500 76% 23%
Toyota Motor 184,600 95% 158,400 96% 17%
Ford Motor 151,000 78% 126,800 73% 19%
American Honda 138,600 98% 114,600 98% 21%
Chrysler Group 125,700 90% 103,600 82% 21%
Hyundai-Kia 98,200 85% 98,400 89% 0%
Nissan N.A. 95,800 88% 91,300 93% 5%
Top 7 983,000 87% 846,600 85% 16%
Fleet July 2013 fleet sales July 2013 % fleet July 2012 fleet sales July 2012 % fleet July % of change
General Motors 45,000 19% 47,700 24% –6%
Ford Motor 42,700 22% 47,200 27% –9%
Hyundai-Kia 16,800 15% 11,700 11% 43%
Chrysler Group 14,400 10% 22,500 18% –36%
Nissan N.A. 13,300 12% 7,100 7% 87%
Toyota Motor 8,800 5% 6,500 4% 34%
American Honda 2,800 2% 2,300 2% 21%
Top 7 143,800 13% 145,000 15% –1%