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Old 04-07-2009, 06:05 PM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,515

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 52.48 mpg (US)
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How did Hyundai/Kia & Subaru escape March 2009's sales disaster?

According to March sales numbers in the US, those 3 brands were the least affected. Where others are down 20, 30, 40, even 50%+ compared to last March, they're hovering around the same sales volume from a year ago:


source

And in Canada, where the recession hasn't hit as hard, 2 of the same 3 "top" brands in the US are bucking the trend with convincing sales INCREASES. Some of the luxury brands (Audi, Mercedes) are posting surprisingly healthy sales figures too, but the "middle of the road" marques are all suffering. (Are the well-off less spooked by the economic situation than the average Joe Chevrolet and Jane Toyota?)


source

Ignoring the blip in luxury car sales in Canada, what are Hyundai/Kia and Subaru doing right that the others aren't?

Anyone else know of any bright sales spots within a manufacturer's model lineup that are bucking the trend, the way the 2009 Fit was, initially at least, for Honda last month? (For Feb 2009 sales: Honda Sales Down 34.9%, Fit Sales up 2.3% | Hypermiling, Fuel Economy, and EcoModding News - EcoModder.com)

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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