| daiheadjai |
06-13-2016 12:20 PM |
With the release of the Series Yellow BRZ and the face lifts, there is again chatter about what a sales flop the BRZ/FRS/GT86 is.
I responded to one such comment on Jalopnik after delving into some statistics from Good Car Bad Car - long story short, if the Toyobaru is a sales failure, then the Miata is an outright catastrophe.
The Toyobaru might not have maintained its sales trajectory (and few cars manage to do so), but for a niche car, it's done quite well.
Quote:
Quote:
http://jalopnik.com/as-for-the-lowly...-th-1781859739
Responding to user "Jack_Smith"
Quote:
As for the “lowly” Beetle, it is not a niche product the way a RWD sports car is.
|
Oh? Well ok, if you want to go that route, then explain this. How in the world could a Corvette, which has almost double the MSRP, sell at roughly 2 & 1/4 times the volume?
|
I should also point out, if you were really interested in apples-to-apples, you’d compare the first model year sales numbers.
The C7 Corvette debuted as a 2014 model. According to Good Car Bad Car, it sold 36,020 units in 2014 (the first full year of sales, Canada + US).
In comparison, the FRS and BRZ sold a combined 29,858 units in the first full year of sales (2013).
Hardly the 2.25x you’re calling for, although the C7 does outsell the Twins (and this shouldn’t be surprising given that the boomer population has the financial wherewithal to purchase a new car, while the Corvette is THE American sports car that boomers and those who want a somewhat-luxurious sports car gravitate towards).
More statistics:
The Miata NC debuted to 18,749 units in 2006 (the highest single year number). Granted, it is a 2-seater convertible (arguably making it more niche than a 2+2 sports car), but if the FRS/BRZ are sales flops, what would the Miata be? For reference, the RX-8 managed 25,808 units in its best year (2004).
|
|
