Need help selling FRS

[track junkie]

The FR-S is a low production niche vehicle, expect the demand for a used car to be proportional.
Be very patient.

[Whodunit]

Demand for auto just isn't the same as the manual for a fun sports car. Same will be true in 20 years.

Look how few people want auto miatas etc. It's basically the first thing you looked at in the ad. Same for e30's, supra, blah blah

[Mr.Impreza]

Originally Posted by Whodunit

Demand for auto just isn't the same as the manual for a fun sports car. Same will be true in 20 years.

Look how few people want auto miatas etc. It's basically the first thing you looked at in the ad. Same for e30's, supra, blah blah

+1

Yes, the FRS/BRZ/86 sell in auto when new because you have a different type of a buyer.
In some cases, a buyer who is leasing for 2-4 years, or someone who just wants a fun car for a little bit.

Once the car hits the used market, a big portion of buyers goes away (ones who lease or buy new only)

Once the car hits the used market you have 2 types of buyers for these types of sports cars.

1. The enthusiast who is generally after a manual
or
2. The person who just wants a cheap car to get to work with.

I believe, in 10 years, a manual will still be sought after because you will also have people who will want to make it a touge car, drift car, track car or just a weekend/daily fun car. The auto's will most likely be rusted out and worth barely anything anymore and just used as commuter cars.

I'm only saying this because when you look at used sports car, the automatics are never worth anything and always take a super long time to sell.

[Whodunit]

Originally Posted by Mr.Impreza

+1

Yes, the FRS/BRZ/86 sell in auto when new because you have a different type of a buyer.
In some cases, a buyer who is leasing for 2-4 years, or someone who just wants a fun car for a little bit.

Once the car hits the used market, a big portion of buyers goes away (ones who lease or buy new only)

Once the car hits the used market you have 2 types of buyers for these types of sports cars.

1. The enthusiast who is generally after a manual
or
2. The person who just wants a cheap car to get to work with.

I believe, in 10 years, a manual will still be sought after because you will also have people who will want to make it a touge car, drift car, track car or just a weekend/daily fun car. The auto's will most likely be rusted out and worth barely anything anymore and just used as commuter cars.

I'm only saying this because when you look at used sports car, the automatics are never worth anything and always take a super long time to sell.

Good point on the differences between the new and used market.

If anything I think in 10 years manual will be more sought after, because there be even less cars coming with it new than now, assuming they keep disappearing at the rate they are now. The people who like them won't go away but the cars will!

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Mr.Impreza

Yes, the FRS/BRZ/86 sell in auto when new because you have a different type of a buyer.
In some cases, a buyer who is leasing for 2-4 years, or someone who just wants a fun car for a little bit.

I'm not sure this is true. When I first went to test drive a BRZ in late 2013, the dealership had one manual (a base model) and six automatics on the lot. Every time they would get a Limited manual in, someone would buy it within a week, but the autos would sit there for months. With Subaru not really being a sports car brand, the salesmen were baffled as to why people only seemed to want the manuals. It was funny to hear them talk about it, because they really didn't get it at all. They thought it was because the automatic transmission cost more.

They were trying so hard to sell the automatics that they had the manual buried back by the fence behind several other cars. They wanted me to test drive an automatic instead to get a feel for the paddle shifters, since "It'll give you the same feel for the car as the manual." I laughed and said I wasn't interested, so they rounded up some drivers to move cars and pulled out the manual out instead.

Maybe the market is different now, but I doubt it has changed much. I suspect the manual is still in higher demand for the new models. And I doubt there's much difference in manual demand between new and used buyers, since there will be plenty of dads looking at this as a good first economical and relatively safe car for their teenage daughters who, when it comes to manual, just can't even. In other words, I think demand for an auto is low for new twins, but doesn't necessarily get any lower for used.

[billwot]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

I'm not sure this is true. When I first went to test drive a BRZ in late 2013, the dealership had one manual (a base model) and six automatics on the lot. Every time they would get a Limited manual in, someone would buy it within a week, but the autos would sit there for months. With Subaru not really being a sports car brand, the salesmen were baffled as to why people only seemed to want the manuals. It was funny to hear them talk about it, because they really didn't get it at all. They thought it was because the automatic transmission cost more.

They were trying so hard to sell the automatics that they had the manual buried back by the fence behind several other cars. They wanted me to test drive an automatic instead to get a feel for the paddle shifters, since "It'll give you the same feel for the car as the manual." I laughed and said I wasn't interested, so they rounded up some drivers to move cars and pulled out the manual out instead.

Maybe the market is different now, but I doubt it has changed much. I suspect the manual is still in higher demand for the new models. And I doubt there's much difference in manual demand between new and used buyers, since there will be plenty of dads looking at this as a good first economical and relatively safe car for their teenage daughters who, when it comes to manual, just can't even. In other words, I think demand for an auto is low for new twins, but doesn't necessarily get any lower for used.

Interesting data point:

Mazda projects that more than 50% of sales for new MX5 Miatas will be auto trannies.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by billwot

Interesting data point:

Mazda projects that more than 50% of sales for new MX5 Miatas will be auto trannies.

But that's because it's a "chick car." Yeah, I know guys build them out and race them. But it is and always will be a chick car to the masses. And daddies just don't teach their daughters to drive manuals like they should.

[billwot]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

But that's because it's a "chick car." Yeah, I know guys build them out and race them. But it is and always will be a chick car to the masses. And daddies just don't teach their daughters to drive manuals like they should.

Sorry, but that's just plain bullshit!

"Spec Miata is the most popular club-racing class in the country and the largest single class within NASA. Nearly one in six amateur race entries on any given weekend is a first- or second-generation Mazda Miata, and more than 3000 Spec Miata conversion kits have been sold to date. Just as the MG TC was the foundation of amateur racing in the postwar era, its modern, Japanese successor has been the savior of amateur racing today,..."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...es-in-america/

BTW, I taught 3 daughters, a 40 y.o wife, and my 13 y.o. granddaughter to drive manuals...2 914s, a Nissan Frontier, an MR2, and my FRS.

[OUGrad05]

Honestly, I think you're asking too much.

I paid 17k out the door from a dealer for mine with 19,500 miles on it when I bought it. That came with a 1 year warranty as well.

When I was shopping I found several with 50ish thousand miles priced between 14,900 - 17k. Most of the cheaper ones were CL or Autotrader from an individual like yourself. The paint looks like it has some swirls in it, which on a black car could be a problem...also its a black car in Phoenix and it's going to be hot soon...maybe partly bad timing?

I think to get a lot of interest you need to be priced more competitively given the miles and exterior condition. Something closer to 15.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by billwot

Sorry, but that's just plain bullshit!

"Spec Miata is the most popular club-racing class in the country and the largest single class within NASA. Nearly one in six amateur race entries on any given weekend is a first- or second-generation Mazda Miata, and more than 3000 Spec Miata conversion kits have been sold to date. Just as the MG TC was the foundation of amateur racing in the postwar era, its modern, Japanese successor has been the savior of amateur racing today,..."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...es-in-america/

BTW, I taught 3 daughters, a 40 y.o wife, and my 13 y.o. granddaughter to drive manuals...2 914s, a Nissan Frontier, an MR2, and my FRS.

You're the exception. And despite the racing, it's still a chick car.

http://jalopnik.com/the-mazda-miatas...-is-1564400029

[Th3rdSun]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

I'm not sure this is true. When I first went to test drive a BRZ in late 2013, the dealership had one manual (a base model) and six automatics on the lot. Every time they would get a Limited manual in, someone would buy it within a week, but the autos would sit there for months. With Subaru not really being a sports car brand, the salesmen were baffled as to why people only seemed to want the manuals. It was funny to hear them talk about it, because they really didn't get it at all. They thought it was because the automatic transmission cost more.

They were trying so hard to sell the automatics that they had the manual buried back by the fence behind several other cars. They wanted me to test drive an automatic instead to get a feel for the paddle shifters, since "It'll give you the same feel for the car as the manual." I laughed and said I wasn't interested, so they rounded up some drivers to move cars and pulled out the manual out instead.

Maybe the market is different now, but I doubt it has changed much. I suspect the manual is still in higher demand for the new models. And I doubt there's much difference in manual demand between new and used buyers, since there will be plenty of dads looking at this as a good first economical and relatively safe car for their teenage daughters who, when it comes to manual, just can't even. In other words, I think demand for an auto is low for new twins, but doesn't necessarily get any lower for used.

I was going to post something that alluded to the fact that more people want this particular car in a MT.

When I walk on the Toyota lot and the salesman asked me what I was looking for,the very first thing I said was that I was looking for a manual transmission and wouldn't even consider any automatics they had.He "told" me that they only had three,and one of them was the FR-S that I ended up buying.

I think the OP needs to lower the price significantly to generate more interest.Most people want this car in manual,but if the price is right,people might think twice and consider the auto.

[RichardsFRS]

Yep Miata is a chics car no matter what kind of racing it does.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Th3rdSun

I was going to post something that alluded to the fact that more people want this particular car in a MT.

When I walk on the Toyota lot and the salesman asked me what I was looking for,the very first thing I said was that I was looking for a manual transmission and wouldn't even consider any automatics they had.He "told" me that they only had three,and one of them was the FR-S that I ended up buying.

I think the OP needs to lower the price significantly to generate more interest.Most people want this car in manual,but if the price is right,people might think twice and consider the auto.

You guys really need to stop thinking that this forum (or any sportscar one for that matter) represents "most people". There are more ATs found for this car because like every other car in the US they imported more to start with. I do not have production numbers but would be willing to bet that even with the twins there are 4 or 5 ATs imported for every MT. It is a fact of the modern world. Keep in mind that even if every single person on this forum had a MT (which is far from true) that represents about 10% of the cars imported. The buyers here do not in any way represent the majority. That majority is held by the average person and with them the AT rules the road. This of course will make the MT more desirable down the road since there were far fewer to start with.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by RichardsFRS

Yep Miata is a chics car no matter what kind of racing it does.