September Sale Figures
October 4, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Official sales figures for September released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that despite high interest rates, the upcoming election, and many other uncertainties, Australians are buying more and more new cars.
The bad news first, figures show a 10 per cent decline in the sales of small passenger cars and a 2.3 per cent decline for the passenger car market in general. However as a whole, sales grew by 3496 units or 4.4 per cent compared to the same month last year.
“The decline in passenger car sales last month was narrowly based and entirely due to slower sales in the Small car segment,” said the chief executive of the FCAI, Andrew McKellar.
The September figures put the year-to-date market growth at 8.3 per cent.
“The overall motor vehicle market remains very buoyant and it is notable that sales of larger vehicles such as SUVs and four-wheel-drive utilities are up significantly, suggesting that consumer confidence remains high.” Mr McKellar said.
Showing that small cars are not the saviour of the industry, the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) market grew by 2666 sales or 20.2 per cent over September 2006 (helped along by the new Toyota Kluger), meanwhile the Pick-up/Cab-chassis 4×4 segment was up 1305 or 23.3 per cent.
Once again Toyota was the bestselling brand last month with 18,358 vehicle sales, ahead of Holden with 11,632 and Ford third with 8818. So far this year Toyota is the top-selling brand with 174,866 – a lead of 62,563 over Holden.
Sales are expected to pick up with a whole range of new models set for launch at next week’s Australian International Motor Show.
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paul well yes in terms of fuel costs a family car on gas is actually cheaper.
in terms of purchace price it is not. thats the only place where it is really dearer.
so what are your thoughts on the NRMA theory Paul??
Andrew M… no use reasoning with these kids, apparently LPG Corolla can be purchased??????? News to me!!!!!
Paul, you like debate and analysis; lets work out the equation of my ute against your beloved Toyota Corolla – seriously now as I will indicate to you it more then stacks up and is not the HUGE gap many think!
Andrew M, fuel consumption in a LPG vehicle in much higher than its petrol equivalent, but this is countered by LPG’s cheaper cost. However, there is still only a $2-3/100km difference in fuel savings compared to its petrol equivalent. This puts it closer to the small cars, but not quite there. So, if you need a large car and do lots of kilometres, LPG makes sense. However, downsizing is one of the best ways to reduce fuel consumption. Comparing the same fuel types is the only way to compare fuel savings by downsizing. If a LPG Corolla was available, it would be more fuel efficient than a LPG Falcon, just like a petrol Corolla has better fuel economy than a petrol Falcon.
Klink, I also never said a LPG Corolla could be purchased. With respect to the fuel tank, there could be a large space where the current petrol tank is, or, like in Falcons and Commodores, the tank could go in the boot. The size of the tank would depend on the needs of the person. I am the first to say that a LPG Corolla would not be ideal, but if you can’t see that small cars are more efficient you arent’ worth my time.
You should also remember that the Corolla is by no means class-leading for fuel economy. There are much more frugal small cars on the road.
Iam for small cars!
Here is my breakdown costs:
~ My BA Falcon LPG ute gets me around 570kms at $46 tankful of brisk driving. Corolla will roughly cost $1.30lt by 45lt tank – $58.50per tank and lets work on 8lt/100kms average cycle – 563kms (as had 4cylinders to what would happen to brisk driving???). Per tank it would cost slightly more for the Corolla based on filling costs only (guess Corolla would be around 45lt tank?). Plus side I have is roomy as, further I go the more I save, cheap services, Aust parts, cheap rego, depreciates quick compared to Corolla admit. I paid $15900 for mine 2yrs ago and would get that back right now. That is why it favours me as if I got new it would be slightly less appealing a proposition! Many variables come into any comparison!!
Jbot, mate of course small cars are great and economical; I love the Echo and it shits all over the Fiesta in my opinion too. Corolla just as nice. i30 looks the goods. Plenty of great little cars out there!
If you have long arms and shallow pockets was my analagy earlier concerning the Phoon with you then great hero car! Hot as! Not so great to incur its running costs as your arms will be stuck in your pockets!
Iam thinking of selling my ute and looking at i30 diesel or be bold and get Landrover Discovery as we have 2 big cars (if new 5star safety top of list followed by economy, engine, inclusions). Like the Yaris but wee tad small and still to be sold on little car 5star saefty in real world situation! If I sell my car Iam in front of purchase price and in my case great! WORSE IF I GOT NEW CAR!
Haha now you’re bringing used cars into it to void the depreciation factor! You’re right, many factors come into a comparison, but to have a fair and balanced comparision, those factors should be a similar as possible (except of course the factor you’re comparing).
If it was new it would really favour Corolla only cause initial outlay higher. But the more years both cars would be kept would narrow it borderline extremely closer (if not in Ford’s favour). The Corolla new on road cost would be around the $21 versus the Falcon ute around $30 plus government incentive = will not take long for ute to close the gap!
Mate if you want to waste money then do so; great big hero car and you are not on the Autobahn makes tremendous logic! LOL! My scenario makes great sense as got with very low kms and under new car warranty, claimed the GST on very low price I got and run up heaps KMS and will sell for more then what I paid. HA HA LOL YOU CAN HAVE YOUR HERO CAR MATE!
Remember when I say brisk driving in ute I mean snappy acceleration and 105kms in 100kms zones, sometimes tailgate close to someone speeding around 120ish and stay close to avoid cops (which proved cannot be booked as the cop could not pinpoint exactly who speeded on reading). Do that in the Corolla and the gap closes much quicker. Also too, my ute has full load of tools, etc for Supervising home building, etc to check contractors works so dare say economy would improve too. Another feather in Ford’s cap was model after 2003 had better fuel economy (think it was 5-10% better). GAP IS REAL CLOSE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS GOVERNMENT REBATE APPLIED WHICH NARROWS GAP AND OVER A LONG PERIOD (5YRS @35K kms p.a) DARE SAY FORD EDGES IN FRONT!
Oops @ last post… do that speed in Corolla and the gap closes much quicker as economy gets much worse in Corolla. Dare say lineball real quick and over around 2.5-5yrs Ford ute is in front say on 35K kms p.a!
Jbot,
yes maybe the falcon gas is only say $4-$5 per 100k cheaper (its not $2 like you say) but you have to imagine that over at least a tank full. round figures your fuel bill will halve in a falcon on gas
dont forget that the corolla is only like $2.50 per 100ks cheaper than a petrol falcon too.
which means the falcon (e-gas) is cheaper to run (in terms of fuel costs anyway)
also tell us again where they put the gas tank in the LPG falcons??
for your information they go where the fuel tank void is NOT in the boot
Now that many car companies are offering diesel… Falcon vs a Hyundai i30 at 5litres per 100km? an even bigger gap.
Sales are down, interest rates are up… there are many contributing factors when you consider how much australia’s economy has changed since 2005.
I cant believe you blokes admit to driving a 4cyl camry. They are the most under powered pieces of shit on the road, the type of car an elderly hairdresser would think she looked pretty good in. Forget depreciation and think humiliation if you had to own one. Falcons are at least a little fun to drive, much better than a microsleep inducing camry.
firstly hairdressers are too sexy to drive camrys.
elantraelite,
thats right diesels do get consumption a lot lower but diesel is still quite dearer
a gas falcon would use 3 times the amount of fuel but diesel is 2.5-3 times dearer, so only now are we seeing a small car out do a gas falcon on fuel costs.
the margin is now buggerall so i would look at what you dont have in a small car……or what you lose
have to agree on the i30… that diesel has plenty of torque to keep up with the falcon, and will maul it for fuel ecconomy! If only the new government would reduce the excise on diesel so it was 30% cheaper than petrol like it is in Europe- no one would bother with petrol or lpg!
had an e39 BMW 525tds while I lived in the UK, and it would sit on 80mph all day returning 43mpg!