Comments on: Car sales drop again in April http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/ Resource for Car Reviews, News, Advice, Road Tests, Green Cars, Hybrids Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:56:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: The confused student http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-132575 The confused student Fri, 15 May 2009 02:16:26 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-132575 I'm confused so why do car sales fall in the month of april every year?? is it really due to the fact that there are less trading days or something totally different. I know that sale increease in June each year due to the end of financial year sales but dont really understand why they slump in april and january. Cheers I’m confused so why do car sales fall in the month of april every year?? is it really due to the fact that there are less trading days or something totally different. I know that sale increease in June each year due to the end of financial year sales but dont really understand why they slump in april and january. Cheers

]]> By: Forza M http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131709 Forza M Sat, 09 May 2009 10:37:59 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131709 why do people who drive CRVs actually read websites about cars? why do people who drive CRVs actually read websites about cars?

]]> By: Andrew M http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131490 Andrew M Thu, 07 May 2009 10:40:03 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131490 Fair enough Jason, thanks. If they are only 15K to buy out right, and if mazda resale is anything like it is here, you would still be better off buying out right me thinks. I suppose the down side to having cheap cars and houses is not having any money to buy them. No matter what the market, prices will be relative to wages As for house prices, i think I know why they are so cheap..... I saw on the news that they are bulldozing brand spanking $400K houses because they just cant sell them. If you were gonna invest in their property I would say one would have to be prepared to sit on them for a while as i couldnt see their prices recovering any time soon. But hey, with prices that low, you could probably afford to..... Fair enough Jason, thanks.
If they are only 15K to buy out right, and if mazda resale is anything like it is here, you would still be better off buying out right me thinks.
I suppose the down side to having cheap cars and houses is not having any money to buy them.
No matter what the market, prices will be relative to wages

As for house prices, i think I know why they are so cheap…..
I saw on the news that they are bulldozing brand spanking $400K houses because they just cant sell them.
If you were gonna invest in their property I would say one would have to be prepared to sit on them for a while as i couldnt see their prices recovering any time soon.
But hey, with prices that low, you could probably afford to…..

]]> By: Jason Smith http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131379 Jason Smith Wed, 06 May 2009 07:07:00 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131379 As I mentioned, this is something I saw in the US. The Mazda3 sells for about US$15,000 there. As I mentioned, this is something I saw in the US. The Mazda3 sells for about US$15,000 there.

]]> By: Andrew M http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131378 Andrew M Wed, 06 May 2009 07:02:57 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131378 Oh and doesnt that make the car only worth about $14K??? Oh and doesnt that make the car only worth about $14K???

]]> By: Andrew M http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131377 Andrew M Wed, 06 May 2009 07:01:50 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131377 Fair enough then, thanks for that. How long were they asking you to lease tham for??? Fair enough then, thanks for that.

How long were they asking you to lease tham for???

]]> By: Jason Smith http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131374 Jason Smith Wed, 06 May 2009 06:58:21 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131374 Andrew - it's a lease - there's no payment at the end. You hand the car back and get a new one. I did read the fine print and it did say that $3500 was due up front (which works out to nearly 25% of the car's cost). However, on the Lexus lease the up-front payment was only $1500. Andrew – it’s a lease – there’s no payment at the end. You hand the car back and get a new one. I did read the fine print and it did say that $3500 was due up front (which works out to nearly 25% of the car’s cost). However, on the Lexus lease the up-front payment was only $1500.

]]> By: Andrew M http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131372 Andrew M Wed, 06 May 2009 06:53:47 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131372 Well the low US house prices are partly a result of the homeowners handing back keys to the bank and walking away. I'd also be watching the fine print on the $99/month car loans. Watch for a massive balloon at the end. Well the low US house prices are partly a result of the homeowners handing back keys to the bank and walking away.

I’d also be watching the fine print on the $99/month car loans.
Watch for a massive balloon at the end.

]]> By: Jason Smith http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131355 Jason Smith Wed, 06 May 2009 05:49:36 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131355 Watch Hondas sales plummet. The Jazz and City are both overpriced for cars coming from Thailand. The CR-V is overpriced, underpowered, and ugly. The new Accord and Accord Euro are both bland (and underpowered in 4-cylinder form). I have only ever owned Hondas - my first car was a CR-V, and 3 years later, I bought another. However, I'm going to be looking to another brand for my next. Watch Hondas sales plummet. The Jazz and City are both overpriced for cars coming from Thailand. The CR-V is overpriced, underpowered, and ugly. The new Accord and Accord Euro are both bland (and underpowered in 4-cylinder form). I have only ever owned Hondas – my first car was a CR-V, and 3 years later, I bought another. However, I’m going to be looking to another brand for my next.

]]> By: Yianni http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131344 Yianni Wed, 06 May 2009 05:16:30 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131344 What the hell are Honda smoking! They put up prices yet again across the whole range. Car sales continue to fall yet some manufacturers think it's ok to put prices up in this climate? Can't they say that in times like this price is number 1 for the majority of buyers? All they have to do is look at Hyundai to see how much price matters right now. You failed Honda. What the hell are Honda smoking! They put up prices yet again across the whole range.

Car sales continue to fall yet some manufacturers think it’s ok to put prices up in this climate?

Can’t they say that in times like this price is number 1 for the majority of buyers? All they have to do is look at Hyundai to see how much price matters right now.

You failed Honda.

]]> By: lazybones http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131334 lazybones Wed, 06 May 2009 04:01:19 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131334 Jason, keep in mind the US has far larger buying power than Australia. You only need to look at new car prices in the US compared to the equivlent models sold in Australia. I lease my company car and totally agree that ownership of a car is financially pointless. Millatime, ACA did an episode of an Aussie bloke buying up foreclosure homes in Detroit. The prices are shocking, just check some of these out:- http://www.bankforeclosuressale.com/list/mi/county163/detroit.html Jason, keep in mind the US has far larger buying power than Australia. You only need to look at new car prices in the US compared to the equivlent models sold in Australia. I lease my company car and totally agree that ownership of a car is financially pointless.

Millatime, ACA did an episode of an Aussie bloke buying up foreclosure homes in Detroit. The prices are shocking, just check some of these out:-

http://www.bankforeclosuressal.....troit.html

]]> By: Jason Smith http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131332 Jason Smith Wed, 06 May 2009 03:50:49 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131332 Millatime - it's not just 1 house that's $25,000... there are a ton of houses for that price, all over the US. You just have to be willing to settle for an older style home (from the 20s thru to the 50s, for example). Not that there's anything wrong with that - it's probably no worse than a house in Melbourne from that era (which would sell for 10-20 times as much). Doesn't seem to be letting me post a URL :( Millatime – it’s not just 1 house that’s $25,000… there are a ton of houses for that price, all over the US. You just have to be willing to settle for an older style home (from the 20s thru to the 50s, for example). Not that there’s anything wrong with that – it’s probably no worse than a house in Melbourne from that era (which would sell for 10-20 times as much). Doesn’t seem to be letting me post a URL :(

]]> By: Millatime http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131328 Millatime Wed, 06 May 2009 03:27:40 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131328 Jason Smith Off topic but just curious, could you post a link of that $25000 house, and let us know where it is? Cheers Jason Smith

Off topic but just curious, could you post a link of that $25000 house, and let us know where it is?

Cheers

]]> By: Jason Smith http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131327 Jason Smith Wed, 06 May 2009 03:24:42 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131327 When I was in the US, I saw brand-new 2009 Mazda3s advertised for $99 per month. Not per week, but per MONTH! That's about $1200 a year (or $1700 Australian). Why on earth would you BUY a car when you can rent (i.e. lease) for less than the cost of depreciation each year? If you looked at the cost of doing the same here in Australia, it would probably cost $5,000+ per year for the Mazda3 - 3 times the price. I also saw Lexus IS250s for $250/month ($58/week!). When I was in the US, I saw brand-new 2009 Mazda3s advertised for $99 per month. Not per week, but per MONTH! That’s about $1200 a year (or $1700 Australian). Why on earth would you BUY a car when you can rent (i.e. lease) for less than the cost of depreciation each year? If you looked at the cost of doing the same here in Australia, it would probably cost $5,000+ per year for the Mazda3 – 3 times the price. I also saw Lexus IS250s for $250/month ($58/week!).

]]> By: Bret http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131308 Bret Wed, 06 May 2009 01:07:20 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131308 Sorry, forgot to add that the reason for the poor govt. sales of Australia's only locally built 4 cyl car (Camry) is because it is such a poor performer economy wise. Fleets just find them too expensive to run, and prefer the smaller, imported cars if it has to be a 4 cyl car. Sorry, forgot to add that the reason for the poor govt. sales of Australia’s only locally built 4 cyl car (Camry) is because it is such a poor performer economy wise. Fleets just find them too expensive to run, and prefer the smaller, imported cars if it has to be a 4 cyl car.

]]> By: Bret http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131306 Bret Wed, 06 May 2009 01:04:14 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131306 max Says: May 5th, 2009 at 6:59 pm From an article at drive; “... government purchases of the Commodore have increased by 8 per cent, .... By contrast, state and federal government purchases of Australia’s only locally-built four-cylinder car, the Toyota Camry, are down by 16 per cent. What the hell is going on?" Max, Most of those numbers are infact th SA Govt supporting it's local manufacturing industry. A very significant order for Focus, Corolla and Astra was cancelled in favour of the locally built (for SA) product. All of the Commodores ordered to replace the 380's are LPG (duel fuel). A duel fuel Commodore is cheaper to run than a Camry. max Says:
May 5th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
From an article at drive;

“… government purchases of the Commodore have increased by 8 per cent, …. By contrast, state and federal government purchases of Australia’s only locally-built four-cylinder car, the Toyota Camry, are down by 16 per cent.
What the hell is going on?”

Max,
Most of those numbers are infact th SA Govt supporting it’s local manufacturing industry. A very significant order for Focus, Corolla and Astra was cancelled in favour of the locally built (for SA) product.
All of the Commodores ordered to replace the 380’s are LPG (duel fuel). A duel fuel Commodore is cheaper to run than a Camry.

]]> By: The Salesman http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131302 The Salesman Wed, 06 May 2009 00:08:53 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131302 Fear seems to be the biggest factor in market direction. First fuel prices went up; at one point official reports were telling us to expect to pay up to $2.00 a liter by Christmas 2008, as we know it got close but dropped significantly back before Christmas. Along with rising interest rates this delayed most private and domestic car buyer’s decisions to replace any stock. This had several effects to the market, six cylinder cars became less desirable due to running costs and whole sale values dropped. Four cylinder cars increased in sales. Because less people were trading in for new cars, used car dealers found stock very difficult to come by. But the market adjusted as people became used paying more for fuel and higher interest. Next blow to car sales is of course the global credit crisis and retreat of GMAC and GE again putting the fear of the unknown into the industry and forcing a national slow down. My point is every time the market changes it adjusts and recovers. I remember when GST was first introduced, consumers did not understand it and therefore feared it, sales slowed for several months after but soon recovered. Car sales are among the first to benefit or suffer from economic shifts and need to adapt quickly to changing market trends in order to remain profitable. It makes sence dealers are expecting the market to recover over the next few months because we have seen this trend so many times before. Just looking at my personal sales since December 2008 each month has seen an increase on the month before. Fear seems to be the biggest factor in market direction. First fuel prices went up; at one point official reports were telling us to expect to pay up to $2.00 a liter by Christmas 2008, as we know it got close but dropped significantly back before Christmas. Along with rising interest rates this delayed most private and domestic car buyer’s decisions to replace any stock. This had several effects to the market, six cylinder cars became less desirable due to running costs and whole sale values dropped. Four cylinder cars increased in sales. Because less people were trading in for new cars, used car dealers found stock very difficult to come by. But the market adjusted as people became used paying more for fuel and higher interest. Next blow to car sales is of course the global credit crisis and retreat of GMAC and GE again putting the fear of the unknown into the industry and forcing a national slow down. My point is every time the market changes it adjusts and recovers. I remember when GST was first introduced, consumers did not understand it and therefore feared it, sales slowed for several months after but soon recovered. Car sales are among the first to benefit or suffer from economic shifts and need to adapt quickly to changing market trends in order to remain profitable. It makes sence dealers are expecting the market to recover over the next few months because we have seen this trend so many times before. Just looking at my personal sales since December 2008 each month has seen an increase on the month before.

]]> By: Lukaas http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131294 Lukaas Tue, 05 May 2009 23:53:56 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131294 Roflmatic.. Having access to cheaper food. Access to a much more varied media of entertainment.. Having access to cheaper home.. cars.. things.. Canada, USA isnt too shabby to live in in comparison to Australia. I lived there long enough.. dont get me wrong Australia, Melbourne has its charms, love this city but, USA/Canada are very very nice to live in also. crime sucks and a lot of arrogant people but still nice depending where you are situated. Roflmatic..

Having access to cheaper food.
Access to a much more varied media of entertainment..
Having access to cheaper home.. cars.. things..

Canada, USA isnt too shabby to live in in comparison to Australia. I lived there long enough.. dont get me wrong Australia, Melbourne has its charms, love this city but, USA/Canada are very very nice to live in also. crime sucks and a lot of arrogant people but still nice depending where you are situated.

]]> By: Lukaas http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131291 Lukaas Tue, 05 May 2009 23:46:17 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131291 Australian cars and houses "premiumly" priced in comaparison to other westernized nations? No shock there. Australian cars and houses “premiumly” priced in comaparison to other westernized nations?

No shock there.

]]> By: Jason Smith http://www.caradvice.com.au/30389/car-sales-drop-again-in-april/#comment-131267 Jason Smith Tue, 05 May 2009 14:56:59 +0000 http://www.caradvice.com.au/?p=30389#comment-131267 "ROFLmatic" - don't bring opinion into this. I'm stating facts. “ROFLmatic” – don’t bring opinion into this. I’m stating facts.

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