Automakers Blame Slumping Sales On Lack Of Amenities In Smaller Models

It took them this long to understand that they should have had small engined fully loaded Vehicles available ?

You can get a Fully Loaded A3 with a 1.8TFSI producing damn near 200hp and it has much better interior quality than the 08 Escalade i rented in April.

I guess there is also the "It looks so small" reason for the slow pick-up of sales on Smaller Vehicles.

Weird how in the UK I feel Cool driving an RS4 Cab but in the USA Same car is considered A Chick Car.

— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 11:24:03 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Well then when you load up the car you have to load up the price and I highly doubt people want to pay premium for a slow car with alot of gadgets.

— DexDiamonds (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 12:42:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Who is wanting to see what is going to happen to the "gas" price? ITS GOING UP! THE END!

— MadibaP (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 2:06:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You say 9 months ago we could all have prius'. So really what your saying is people 9 months ago were not even really looking at these cars. Now people are all upset because there are not enough small cars with what they want on them when a year ago they would not even think to look at these cars. Remember the makers are going to sell what people want. So everyone wants SUV's. Lets make them and sell them. No one wants a small car. Fine we wont make them. Everyone goes oh why didn't they see this coming. Well they probably did. But could you tell GM Ford or Toyota hey I know its 2003 right now but in 5 yrs gas is going to hit 4 bucks a gallon. I know I couldn't. And to come up with a build a brand new design takes a few years.. just doesn't happen overnight

— austintyson (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2008 9:23:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

In Europe you can spec most small engined cars to the exact same level as bigger engined ones. An A8 3.0 can be specced to the exact same level as an A8 W12.

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 7/7/2008 5:30:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Smaller cars with no options were primarily built for people who wanted something cheap or couldnt afford otherwise. Hence the lack of expensive options. If I had to choose between a loaded small hyundai for 20k or an Accord with some options for around the same price, I would go with the Accord. Now, because of gas prices, if the Kia returns in the 30's mpg... I might have to think twice about my choice.

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 12:24:50 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I think its already past the time that all cars (special exceptions made for small runs) should be no more that 1200 kg and have a top end of no more than 130km/h and get no less than 6 liters per 100km at max!

We are in trouble here, its worse than we think and we have to cut down our oil consumption rapidly.

— MadibaP (View Profile)

Posted on 7/8/2008 2:11:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Sounds like their own fault.

— JudasLease (View Profile)

Posted on 7/10/2008 12:55:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1