TSX69

Acura Announces Sept Sales

10/01/2008 - TORRANCE, Calif. -

In a challenging financial marketplace, Acura September sales totaled 9,997 units, down 27.5 percent versus last year, based on the daily selling rate*. Year-to-date vehicle sales totaled 115,828, down 15.3 percent** versus 2007, Acura announced today.

The MDX luxury SUV is again Acura's best-selling vehicle, with September sales of 3,669 units, while the TL was Acura's top selling luxury performance sedan with sales of 3,017.

TSX recorded sales of 2,144 units and the RL totaled 259. September sales of the turbocharged RDX crossover SUV were 908.

For media information and high-resolution photos of Acura vehicles, please visit www.acuranews.com. For consumer information, please visit www.acura.com.

*The daily selling rate is calculated with 24 selling days for September 2008 and 25 selling days for September 2007.
**Year-to-date sales based on 230 days for both 2008 and 2007.

TSX69

For reference, the Lexus GS sold only 977 units so it was bad for everyone.

robarsan

I wonder how many of the RL's sold were the '09's?

Great buyer's market right now.

neuronbob

I think part of the RL's low sales may be that dealers are not stocking many at all in order to test the waters with the 2009. I believe that's a good move in a tough economy.

CL6

If you aren't upside down and can get a loan.

robarsan

If you're upside down and can't get a loan, your not a buyer, you're a dreamer.

kirbyflorida

Everyone is down big time, may get worse.

vas25tl

Right now is definitely a good time to keep the cars you purchase....no more flipping every 6-24 months. This is also the reason why I always buy used cars and never go over the $16K mark....The most you'll ever lose is a few grand. On my 99 GS400 I lost $50 in 8 months

CL6

"And you're not the only one..."

I guess I didn't mean both conditions at the same time. I've been getting a lot of people who are badly upside down and don't have the 5-9 grand required to buy a car. For those without these problems it's a great time to buy a car. At my old dealer 05 RLs are selling for less than 05 TLs.

TampaRLX-SH

I've been reading today on MSNBC that industry reports are expecting 1 in 5 dealerships to close due to a dramatic market change responding to fuel costs, credit constriction and plummeting resale values on most vehicles. Acura had 30% drop, where as Honda NA was about 20% down. Not as bad as Toyota up in the 30% dropoff range, nearing Big 3 numbers.

Yes, if credit is not an issue, fuel efficiency is not a priority and you are not trading out of a vehicle with any equity expectations, yes this is a good time to buy. The same parallels are in the housing market. Foreclosures are actually shown on guided tours and a bargain IF you don't need to sell your house or need a mortgage with a less than 800 FICO score and 20% down.

Reported on the local news last night was a trend of auto loan defaulters who are simply dropping their cars at the bank & credit union parking lots and leaving the keys in the night deposit. The local banks and credit unions are holding an expo in a local stadium. My local branch had an 06RL with 15k miles for $18K in the parking lot (with 11 other vehicles!)

I am supposed to attend a TL launch party tonight at my dealership. I am having second thoughts. I already know tha the new TL is not appealing to me. Last time I stopped in the dealership, I could hear crickets chirping.

I think if I attend the launch party, I may be talking to myself? Despite the occaisional bickering with sales reps out here, I certainly feel for them....and many, many people blindsided in our economic fiasco.

CL6

the housing boom probably allowed many dealerships that shouldn't have been in business to stay in business... inefficient, too close to the same brand, etc. It is good to thin out the herd. The credit crunch is not hurting too much at Mercedes-Benz although we are seeing a lot of people who are upside down badly and can't get unburied or who are not buying the S550 or the GL450/550. Also a big issue is the fact that leases have increased in cost a lot and many don't want to bump up $200 to $300 a month to lease another car so they are buying used Benzes or going to other brands like Acura. I had one person who went to a TSX because the C300 lease would be too much for them.

I don't think anyone should feel 'blindsided' because you don't have homes doubling in value every 10 months and not know it will come crashing down. I can't tell you how many Acuras I sold to people who did refi on their homes and shouldn't have been buying a TL or MDX or RL.

People don't complain when their 401k doubles or they see their home go up in value by 25% in 2 months.

vas25tl

Just saw a 05 RL with 65K on it for $16,990

Chas2

The other day I heard on the news that last month Japan had a 50% decline in exports with the US, which is unprecedented. In fact it was so large that for the first time that anyone can really remember, Japan actually had a trade deficit with the US for that month. How crazy is that!?

neuronbob

Don't hurt 'em too bad, Tampa, when they ask you what you think of the styling.

If you start talking to yourself, I have a nice syringe of haloperidol and a SWEET padded room for you.

Seriously, have fun and give us a report.

club_euro2

I have heard that Acura has cut production of the new RL. I saw the new TL in person yesterday It is one ugly car.

470hpGS400

iTrader: (1)

Good News! Will further increase the uniqueness of the RL. One of the reasons I chose it over the Infinity.

geronimomoe

I know you meant "Infiniti"..

geronimomoe

Saw the new TL 2-3 weeks ago.. The back end is "butt ugly", pun intended...

TampaRLX-SH

I just returned from my dealer to get a new battery (yes, the intermittent memory loss to telescoping steering wheel was noted a few weeks ago ).

They had one 09 RL (demo) and about a dozen new 09 TLs. TSXs were numerous but RDXswere scarce. I only saw a handfu of MDXs. VERY low inventory for this dealership, who when I bought my RL, had 2 offsite lots full of inventory. I am told those lots are virtually empty.

There were no shoppers, even being a Saturday. I inquired about the TL launch party they had a few nights ago (I skipped) and apparently about 100 people attended. The buzz is the customers (potential customers) are very polarized. One rep I have known for some time felt the <30 crowd was excited, whereas the >30 crord was...(his words, not mine) 'dazed and confused'.

I did look over the new TL, but did not drive it. I have to say, as much s I hate the styling direction Acura is taking, I did like the proportions of the TL overall. I'd hack off the schnoz and get that booty on a treadmill, but it does have a nice overall shape and is taller, wider and longer. The interior did impress me with nice style, and much better assembly, fit and finish than the 3rd Gen TL. The materials are no where near the caliber of the RL and it seemed to be just a hint below par with the TSX assembly and materials (the cabin). Still there are a few areas of cheap plastic and leather detail that reminds me why I still love my RL.

I also asked if there was a recent shift in customer demographics. For what it is worth, I got 'Yeah, people who formerly leased Mercedes and BMW cannot get good deals nor can they buy those brands at those prices'. He also admitted Acura never had great lease deals, so they hope to see buyers of former leasees of Tier 1 brands. Take it with a grain of salt....but I chuckled inside thinking we have been saying that on this forum for some time. And in my opinion, bowing to the styling desires of the <30 crowd is not wise when the vehicle costs $35K-$43K ??? Only dreamers with cash can support that initiative.

I do see a change in Acura. A risky one in my opinion given the state of the economy and car business in general. Even if it does pay off, I cannot say the current styling initative will have me return to Acura, unless it changes & matures by the launch of the 3rd Gen RL.

robarsan

I drive by my dealer just about every day and only recently saw an iflux of the new TL's and a few RL's. This is the closest I have been to the real thing and I drove by slow to get a decent look. Still not impressed with the styling. I'd be afraid to park one near a miniature golf, people would be trying to putt thru that grille to win a free round

At first, with the MMC RL, I thought Acura would realize the new front end wasn't a big hit and abandon the look. After seeing the new TL, it seems Acura has adopted that new design for the long term. I won't be a return customer.