An angle on slow sales

[spenceaz]

https://www.wsj.com/economy/consume...4a571?st=QhZ7gy&reflink=article_copyURL_share

I think we see this born out in car sales where the $50,000 Nissan Z and Toyota supra struggle while Porsche and Ferrari are as profitable as ever and have waitlists. The ability of the middle class and upper middle class to afford toys just isn’t what it used to be, which is sad

 

[5amp5on]

They are making too many of this car for the market demographic. It's not that the car is "unpopular", it's just out of the price range of a "toy" car for most people.

This car is the most impractical car that my family could have purchased. But we are in a position where we can blow $50+k on what is really a toy. Was not always so. The demographic that can do that is smaller than the amount of vehicles being produced in that price range. It's a narrow income range that can do it and not go up a couple levels to the super cars.

I have not had a single negative comment and had lots of heads turn and thumbs up from people when I'm out in the Z. We love this thing and are so happy we were able to get it. I hate that they may be overproducing it and devaluing it some.

 

[Thefunk]

Especially now the MSRP has dropped, the value of everyone's used Z has tanked, that could also be a factor of slow retail sales.

My Z is worth about $35k now, so I'm married to it until it dies or I wreck it.

 

[Kbl911]

I remember an R&T article a while back that pointed this out specifically as it pertained to sports cars and it's only more accurate now.

Income Inequality Is Killing Sports Cars

I'm in the position wherein I have no need for more than two chairs in my vehicle but that's not the common condition, even for millennials. $50K is quite a bit to ask for what is generally a second car that is ostensibly purchased by someone not in the Porsche income bracket.

 

[Lvckv99]

Just remember that most people sell their 2 seater sport car once they start having a family. The Z is limited as it is. My friend traded in his '23 911 for a '25 Range Rover P530 SE. People just live different life's ya know.

 

[jdm-rhd]

another factor to me is that younger people don't care about sports cars like past generations. it doesn't seem to be near as popular to own one.

they just see vehicles as a way to get from point a to point b. they would rather spend money on tech, eating out or pokemon cards...

 

[Thefunk]

another factor to me is that younger people don't care about sports cars like past generations. it doesn't seem to be near as popular to own one.

they just see vehicles as a way to get from point a to point b. they would rather spend money on tech, eating out or pokemon cards...

No of course they don't, they can't be bothered to drive anywhere, they need to be chauffeured everywhere because they are all princesses. Also the young people that do like cars are buying used clapped cars then rebuilding them, not new cars. I bought my Z new because I'm having a mid-life crisis!

 

[TheMarkedOne]

No of course they don't, they can't be bothered to drive anywhere, they need to be chauffeured everywhere because they are all princesses. Also the young people that do like cars are buying used clapped cars then rebuilding them, not new cars. I bought my Z new because I'm having a mid-life crisis!

People in my generation can't afford . Let alone a new car. The pokemon comment was real though, these people be spending copious amounts on gacha not just pokemon cards.

 

[takemorepills]

Pokemon, seriously, I can't believe "adults" still care. We had Garbage Pail Kids. All of us grew out of those by 13.

Not only is it tough to sell a 2 seater car, freaking trucks piss me off. Everything is short bed crew cab because people trade out the Camry for a Tacoma because it's "cool" and they still need to haul the family and fit in the garage. Now the market is flooded with sissy trucks.

I'm on my second Titan crew cab, my son is about to go to college and we no longer need a 4 door truck. I'd like to get a king cab truck with a normal bed, but they're getting harder to find.

I gotta think at some point we'll see more 2 seaters, but like y'all said, the new customers seem to look at vehicles like an appliance. Heck,, it seems baked-in tech is more important than reliability and performance these days.

 

[indio22]

Especially now the MSRP has dropped, the value of everyone's used Z has tanked, that could also be a factor of slow retail sales.

My Z is worth about $35k now, so I'm married to it until it dies or I wreck it.

I don't have a Z partly because in 2023, my long lost Ford Bronco 2-door manual trans order suddenly rose from the dead and got picked up for a build, after nearly two years in COVID hangover limbo. Nissan was still dragging with Z availability, and I couldn't pass up the Bronco for a price protected $28K. (My last Caravana email stated my Bronco is now worth $32K.)

I'd still like a Z, but am having trouble finding even one legit online photo of a 2025 model in the new Vibrant Red. I've only seen one Z briefly in the wild. Maybe instead I'll have to pick up a used Z some day. I got lucky with my used BRZ, it was not thrashed by the prior owner, and has been a lot of fun and (knock on wood) reliable.

 

[staying_tuned]

Heck,, it seems baked-in tech is more important than reliability and performance these days.

Most new vehicles are built more like a large mainstream disposable phone that happens to be driving you around while transferring all liability to the person using & paying for it. It's such a shame. Passion ($$$) is allocated toward R&D and iteration on the firmware and OTA platform, hard parts go off to the lowest bidder or are grabbed form the parts bin.

The Z is tough because you can pick up 2 very gently used coyote mustang track/perf. pack GTs for the price of one gently used Z. I'm genuinely surprised at the volume they are pushing out but we have no regrets. They are very rare on the street which gets folks talking about cars again. I don't see the streets becoming saturated in 5 years time with sub-$20k used Zs. On paper its a pretty horrid deal now, that won't change which is a good thing for those who value the Z beyond the surface stats. I suspect they will stay quite rare to see.