June '15 Yaris Sales: Up

[428CobraJet]

Oh jeez...just where was that?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by 428CobraJet

Oh jeez...just where was that?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

Not near Houston (I'm still in California right now, although coming back to Texas at the end of the month to do my '14 Yaris registration, take care of an issue with my HOA, and some other things). This Corolla was at an otherwise great dealership (I had the previous 5k service done there as well)...Ronnie Lott's Tracy Toyota (he also has other former players as partners....Keena Turner, etc). I'm a lifelong 49ers and Raiders fan, so I love all the memorabilia that is placed around the dealership.....49ers and Raiders jerseys...pictures at the Hall of Fame...pictures of all the Super Bowl trophies....a picture of players hoisting Eddie D off the ground, etc. Great service staff . Very courteous, know their stuff, and great attention to detail.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

We sold a whopping......0 Yaris last month. I can't even remember the last time we sold a Yaris. With all of the incentives that Toyota has, initial shoppers for the Yaris end up either getting a Prius c or a Corolla. That, and Toyota has neglected the Yaris with updating it to keep up with its competitors...like really!? Keeping it a 4-spd automatic!? With the weight that's also been added to the latest refresh (airbags and growth in dimension), Toyota either needs to bump the hp and/or offer better transmissions (4-spd really makes the acceleration suffer).

[ABSPLASTIC]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

We sold a whopping......0 Yaris last month. I can't even remember the last time we sold a Yaris. With all of the incentives that Toyota has, initial shoppers for the Yaris end up either getting a Prius c or a Corolla. That, and Toyota has neglected the Yaris with updating it to keep up with its competitors...like really!? Keeping it a 4-spd automatic!? With the weight that's also been added to the latest refresh (airbags and growth in dimension), Toyota either needs to bump the hp and/or offer better transmissions (4-spd really makes the acceleration suffer).

Bro! How you been?! Sorry to threadjack, but I have not seen your screen name in ages! lol

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

We sold a whopping......0 Yaris last month. I can't even remember the last time we sold a Yaris. With all of the incentives that Toyota has, initial shoppers for the Yaris end up either getting a Prius c or a Corolla. That, and Toyota has neglected the Yaris with updating it to keep up with its competitors...like really!? Keeping it a 4-spd automatic!? With the weight that's also been added to the latest refresh (airbags and growth in dimension), Toyota either needs to bump the hp and/or offer better transmissions (4-spd really makes the acceleration suffer).

How many Yari do you have in stock ?

[nookandcrannycar]

^^^^^ I imagine either very few that are 'stuck' re price (no incentives, as you mentioned.....and possibly with a PAC sticker)....or zero.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

A few days ago I took my '14 in to a Toyota dealer for one of the factory paid for 5k services for the first 25k miles. The waiting 'room' is really a 'space' (part of the showroom, rather than an adjoining 3 or 4 sided room). There was a loaded '15 Corolla S Premium on the showroom floor, so I sat in in the driver's seat. Has the same seats as your SE, except with leather. Also, it was the only (or perhaps one of only a few) current model S versions with an automatic that I've seen. The final factory sticker (including destination) was $24,509. The car also had an added dealer PAC sticker with 3 items on it --- 1. Aftermarket tires and wheels (nothing very special) --- 2. A sway bar. --- 3. A minimal body kit.......the total added amount of the PAC sticker.......$7,000.00 (okay, $6,995.00 ). So, the total with the PAC sticker was $31,504.00. Good luck .

I wonder if they think the buyer won't know what a sway bar is or what it does ?

That's absolutely nuts. You can get a much nicer car for that money than a Corolla. Hell, I'm thinking for not much more you could get a nice new Tacoma. My decision is between the Yaris and the new Tacoma next July when I trade in the Avalon.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

That's absolutely nuts. You can get a much nicer car for that money than a Corolla. Hell, I'm thinking for not much more you could get a nice new Tacoma. My decision is between the Yaris and the new Tacoma next July when I trade in the Avalon.

Do you have any issues getting around during the winter in the (non AWD ?) Avalon ?

One thing I learned from the factory sticker....I didn't know where the Corolla is assembled....it is assempled in Tupelo, MS.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Do you have any issues getting around during the winter in the (non AWD ?) Avalon ?

One thing I learned from the factory sticker....I didn't know where the Corolla is assembled....it is assempled in Tupelo, MS.

No, I get around pretty good. It's front wheel drive. It's a heavy car. Beautiful inside and out, but too fancy for me. I want simple and basic. Tired of the $600 payment too. But the heated front and rear seats is nice. I'll miss that feature the most. I also live in South Dakota and we get a lot of snow and ice. AWD is preferable around here. But front wheel will also do the job for the the most parts.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

No, I get around pretty good. It's front wheel drive. It's a heavy car. Beautiful inside and out, but too fancy for me. I want simple and basic. Tired of the $600 payment too. But the heated front and rear seats is nice. I'll miss that feature the most. I also live in South Dakota and we get a lot of snow and ice. AWD is preferable around here. But front wheel will also do the job for the the most parts.

I guess I haven't combed the feature sets of extremely feature laden vehicles in enough detail.....I didn't know heated REAR seats even existed as a feature! I've only spent one winter LIVING in a 'harsh' winter climate, and I didn't drive. As such, this likely wouldn't have grabbed my attention as a feature...but I can see how it would for those who live and drive through winters in those conditions.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by ABSPLASTIC

Bro! How you been?! Sorry to threadjack, but I have not seen your screen name in ages! lol

Been alright. Yeah, I stopped posting well before I traded in the Yaris. lol

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

How many Yari do you have in stock ?

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

^^^^^ I imagine either very few that are 'stuck' re price (no incentives, as you mentioned.....and possibly with a PAC sticker)....or zero.

We have one, and it's been there for a long time. We don't do addendums on our cars like other dealerships. We may have a couple that have aftermarket leather in them, but we need to have something in stock to show what that would look like.

[Thirty-Nine]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

We have one, and it's been there for a long time. We don't do addendums on our cars like other dealerships. We may have a couple that have aftermarket leather in them, but we need to have something in stock to show what that would look like.

I don't have to tell you, but there isn't much profit in a Yaris for the dealership. Not much incentive to move it, eh?

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

I don't have to tell you, but there isn't much profit in a Yaris for the dealership. Not much incentive to move it, eh?

Yeah, when I recently tried the only dealer in Phoenix that has a White 2015 Yaris SE (automatic) available, they wouldn't budge off of MSRP, offer a few cheap accessory incentives, or anything. The salesperson was robotic to the point of being comical and seemed to care less whether I bought the Yaris or not.

I will post a rundown of my White 2015 Yaris SE purchase journey in about a week or two, after I receive shipment of the car from out-of-state.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

I don't have to tell you, but there isn't much profit in a Yaris for the dealership. Not much incentive to move it, eh?

Pretty much the same way with any economy car. But you already know that. I'm sure it's the same way with the Versa Notes, and Chevy Sparks.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

Yeah, when I recently tried the only dealer in Phoenix that has a White 2015 Yaris SE (automatic) available, they wouldn't budge off of MSRP, offer a few cheap accessory incentives, or anything. The salesperson was robotic to the point of being comical and seemed to care less whether I bought the Yaris or not.

I will post a rundown of my White 2015 Yaris SE purchase journey in about a week or two, after I receive shipment of the car from out-of-state.

I've had no problem finding an influx of automatic SE versions, but a manual, and white is harder than hell.

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY

I've had no problem finding an influx of automatic SE versions, but a manual, and white is harder than hell.

Last I checked carguru.com & Autotrader.com only had TWO white 2015 manual SE models listed for the entire USA - one in CO & one in CA.

The good news is that I snagged the one in CO this week & it will be delivered to me here in AZ in about a week or two. I ditched a really good deal on a white SE automatic at the last minute this week to get it. I figure this will likely be my last chance to enjoy a manual before age will begin to make it impractical (I'm 50 now). So, assuming my new Yaris doesn't outlive me, my next car will be an automatic.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine

I don't have to tell you, but there isn't much profit in a Yaris for the dealership. Not much incentive to move it, eh?

Nope. Profit margin is probably 500-600 bucks? And since we discount all of our car already, my dealership only makes 100-200 bucks on a Yaris.

Toyota had incentives on the Yaris two months ago, iirc. Still, no one bought.

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by Kaotic Lazagna

Nope. Profit margin is probably 500-600 bucks? And since we discount all of our car already, my dealership only makes 100-200 bucks on a Yaris.

Toyota had incentives on the Yaris two months ago, iirc. Still, no one bought.

In the U.S. Market. the Yaris is just stuck in a tough niche, and it doesn't help that Toyota treats it like "a red-headed-stepchild". Plus, many consumers have fallen for the fallacy that "latest tech" (such as a CVT) is better, despite the fact that it tends to lead to less reliability and/or more-expensive repairs -even if it might squeeze out an extra 1-3 MPG .

People in this segment shopping on a price/value basis, tend to head to the Nissan Versa. People shopping in this segment on a hype/recognition basis, read the fawning, biased reviews of the Honda Fit, and head in that direction (despite numerous recalls, super-ugly design, Mexico-origins, etc.). People looking for "hot hatches" tend to gravitate towards performance versions of the Ford Focus or certain European offerings. Toyota shoppers in this segment are herded towards the Corolla or the lower Prius models at nearly the same price-point as the Yaris after incentives.

The Yaris ends up being an completely overlooked sleeper, and it doesn't help probably that Toyota refuses to 'update' the automatic transmission in the USA to match some of its offshore versions of the car, or that they use the same 106HP engine in the SE, when something as simple as a 125-135hp engine would give it a LOT more buzz/interest among those people looking for a "sporty hatchback".

It just all boils down to a tough segment of the Market, and the fact that Toyota (or Mazda for that matter) isn't willing to put subcompacts like the Yaris (or Mazda2) into this market with the same level of commitment and attractive features as they are in other countries (or in Japan itself). We are an afterthought market when it comes to subcompacts and Japanese manufacturers in general, and it probably doesn't help that most Americans simply do not like really small cars, or hatchbacks in general (without something adding into the mix like high hybrid MPG numbers).