Performance Package on Automatic Brz

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

But that's exactly what they did so not sure I understand your point.

This means that these persons put it down as a "nice to have" option, no different than people that want red but pick white, want 6 cupholders but settle for 3, want manual windows but take the electric, or don't want a sunroof but take the car with one. (those last two are personal peeves).

So it wasn't a must have, and therefore isn't really a score keeping item either way.

I would also be willing the bet there are more people that "settle" for an AT than go in wanting an AT and end up taking an MT instead (or would be willing to take the MT). That would have impact on the "spec car" inventory on the lot and why manuals are harder to find just sitting there.

If the buyer REALLY wants an MT the dealer should be able to find one, or order it assuming the car still offers it. I've done that before on several cars, because I'm willing to wait for things I absolutely must have.

Even if the data was available just what would people expect Toyota/Subaru to do with it? They sold a car anyway. Let's say that they get data that 100 people a year (the number is probably closer to 10 but just for the sake of argument we will go more) bought ATs instead of MTs because that was all that they could get. Are the manufacturers going to run out and change the mix? Very doubtful since the transmissions were ordered 2 years ago. Maybe they would plan a 1% change in the mix for a future MY but it just simply would not be worth the costs to have a team analyzing data to see how many people may have bought a MT in one low volume model if there had been one on the lot. Between them Subaru and Toyota sold 12 million cars worldwide last year. They don't give a damn if 100 people didn't get the transmission they wanted because they were eager and didn't want to wait.

[Tristor]

Also, maybe more importantly, is how does it affect buyer satisfaction? I am happy with my car, and the fact it's an automatic doesn't bother me. It subtracts some scene points, but I can afford to lose some scene points because I'm over 30 and I don't care. Why does an auto maker care that I got an AT instead of the MT I might have preferred when the end result is I'm satisfied? If the AT was bad in this car I might be unhappy, but this car has a fantastic AT and I honestly think most people who bash it have never driven one.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

But that's exactly what they did so not sure I understand your point.

This means that these persons put it down as a "nice to have" option, no different than people that want red but pick white, want 6 cupholders but settle for 3, want manual windows but take the electric, or don't want a sunroof but take the car with one. (those last two are personal peeves).

So it wasn't a must have, and therefore isn't really a score keeping item either way.

I would also be willing the bet there are more people that "settle" for an AT than go in wanting an AT and end up taking an MT instead (or would be willing to take the MT). That would have impact on the "spec car" inventory on the lot and why manuals are harder to find just sitting there.

If the buyer REALLY wants an MT the dealer should be able to find one, or order it assuming the car still offers it. I've done that before on several cars, because I'm willing to wait for things I absolutely must have.

I understand your logic but people have a preference regardless of how high up the list it is and the manufactures have no way of tracking it. So for all they know there is zero interest when in reality there is.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Even if the data was available just what would people expect Toyota/Subaru to do with it? They sold a car anyway. Let's say that they get data that 100 people a year (the number is probably closer to 10 but just for the sake of argument we will go more) bought ATs instead of MTs because that was all that they could get. Are the manufacturers going to run out and change the mix? Very doubtful since the transmissions were ordered 2 years ago. Maybe they would plan a 1% change in the mix for a future MY but it just simply would not be worth the costs to have a team analyzing data to see how many people may have bought a MT in one low volume model if there had been one on the lot. Between them Subaru and Toyota sold 12 million cars worldwide last year. They don't give a damn if 100 people didn't get the transmission they wanted because they were eager and didn't want to wait.

The bottom line is they know that less people want a manual. Even if it was a 45/55 split the bean counters would say, okay then going forward we will make only an auto. Who knows, maybe they do track the people that settle and use it as a way to know how many people are willing to cave so they know when it's safe to make a switch to 100% AT production.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by Tristor

Also, maybe more importantly, is how does it affect buyer satisfaction? I am happy with my car, and the fact it's an automatic doesn't bother me. It subtracts some scene points, but I can afford to lose some scene points because I'm over 30 and I don't care. Why does an auto maker care that I got an AT instead of the MT I might have preferred when the end result is I'm satisfied? If the AT was bad in this car I might be unhappy, but this car has a fantastic AT and I honestly think most people who bash it have never driven one.

I don't doubt that you are happy but I've been happy with a lot of shit I've settled for but know damn well I could have been happier with the product I really wanted.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ermax

I understand your logic but people have a preference regardless of how high up the list it is and the manufactures have no way of tracking it. So for all they know there is zero interest when in reality there is.

Oh they know what people want. They spend millions in market analysis every year. The difference is that they are not going to bend over backwards for a group so small that as a percentage there would be nothing but a string of zeros after a decimal point.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Oh they know what people want. They spend millions in market analysis every year. The difference is that they are not going to bend over backwards for a group so small that as a percentage there would be nothing but a string of zeros after a decimal point.

I'd love to know how they "know what people want". How does this market research work? If it is based solely on sales then how would they know what I actually would have rather had? Do they have some sort of mind reading device?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ermax

I'd love to know how they "know what people want". How does this market research work? If it is based solely on sales then how would they know what I actually would have rather had? Do they have some sort of mind reading device?

How does any company compile their marketing data?
Focus groups.
Forums.
Sales stats (regional and worldwide)
Surveys.


They are not amateurs and know how to determine what the public as a whole wants.


None of their methods involve mind reading nor trying to gather data from 10 people that "settled" for one transmission over another.


Did you not do the two or three marketing surveys that they send out when you buy a new car? Oh wait... Your contribution to the data pool is indeed zero.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

How does any company compile their marketing data?
Focus groups.
Forums.
Sales stats (regional and worldwide)
Surveys.


They are not amateurs and know how to determine what the public a whole wants.


None of their methods involve mind reading nor trying to gather data from 10 people that "settled" for one transmission over another.


Did you not do the two or three marketing surveys that they send out when you buy a new car? Oh wait... Your contribution to the data pool is indeed zero.

So you got a survey when you bought your car that asked if you preferred manual or auto? Nice try there. I think you are seriously underestimating the number of people that settle for an auto. You can't really believe that only 10 people a year settle for an auto when buying a car.

[Busybee]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

How does any company compile their marketing data?
Focus groups.
Forums.
Sales stats (regional and worldwide)
Surveys.


They are not amateurs and know how to determine what the public as a whole wants.


None of their methods involve mind reading nor trying to gather data from 10 people that "settled" for one transmission over another.


Did you not do the two or three marketing surveys that they send out when you buy a new car? Oh wait... Your contribution to the data pool is indeed zero.

I completely agree with Tcoat.
I test drove almost all trims of the BRZ/86 and almost every time they asked me why MT or AT. The really professional salesman takes note. I don't know whether they keep this information just for my case or as a general survey. They ask these while they have both transmissions in stock. I don't believe they order cars without the general knowledge what people are searching for.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ermax

So you got a survey when you bought your car that asked if you preferred manual or auto? Nice try there. I think you are seriously underestimating the number of people that settle for an auto. You can't really believe that only 10 people a year settle for an auto when buying a car.

Yes I did. And so did anybody else that received the surveys. Even if they didn't the survey has a section where you can type in comments including what I would like to see.


When talking about this car then yes I believe the number that "settled" is as low as ten a year. To think it would be a much higher number would imply that there were no MTs available at all and every person shopping had to have the car that very second.

[krayzie]

Well I'm still convinced that the auto industry is trying hard to lead the younger generation of buyers into full electric cars in the soon future (2025 is just around the corner), and can't see them putting in a manual transmission into those.

[Jordanwolf]

Originally Posted by Tristor

Also, maybe more importantly, is how does it affect buyer satisfaction? I am happy with my car, and the fact it's an automatic doesn't bother me. It subtracts some scene points, but I can afford to lose some scene points because I'm over 30 and I don't care. Why does an auto maker care that I got an AT instead of the MT I might have preferred when the end result is I'm satisfied? If the AT was bad in this car I might be unhappy, but this car has a fantastic AT and I honestly think most people who bash it have never driven one.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Jordanwolf

I have that debit card! The wife and grand kids have been to many movies thanks to it. They bring popcorn home for me.