Jan. '17 sales vs Jan. '16 sales
02-01-2017, 07:29 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Jan. '17 sales vs Jan. '16 sales
Down almost 16%. Pretty much confirms what we all knew. Demand is down and supply is up. The great deals available now on new C7s makes it a great time to buy one if you have been on the fence.
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2017/...orvette-sales/
http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2017/...orvette-sales/
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ttay3 (02-01-2017)
02-01-2017, 08:50 PM
#2
Nothing at all surprising
Next time we'll see a YOY increase will be the C8
Next time we'll see a YOY increase will be the C8
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 02-01-2017 at 08:55 PM. Reason: No need to re-quote the OP, especially if you're the next person posting.
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02-01-2017, 08:57 PM
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St. Jude Donor'15
It's Winter....I didn't expect anything different.
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02-01-2017, 09:43 PM
#5
January 2016 was Winter also...
C7 is experiencing the usual decline the other generations have had. It will continue until the C8.
C7 is experiencing the usual decline the other generations have had. It will continue until the C8.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 02-03-2017 at 10:13 AM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
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Rebel Yell (02-02-2017)
02-01-2017, 10:39 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
^^^ Exactly. At some point there will be a mid-cycle update, ZR-1, etc and sales will pickup and then decline until the C8. With typical GM fashion we will continue to see incentives to boost sales.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 02-03-2017 at 10:14 AM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
02-01-2017, 11:14 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Have to trickle out the news slowly so the rich guys will keep on dumping their latest toys so they can buy the newest and greatest.
02-01-2017, 11:27 PM
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02-02-2017, 06:59 AM
#10
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C7 sales in January......there is a trend.
January 2014..........2221
January 2015..........2127
January 2016..........1501
January 2017..........1263
These numbers are actual Corvette sales to retail customers by the Chevrolet dealers.
Btw, the first four January's of the C5 and the C6 did not show such dramatic decline in sales as has the C7
Last edited by JoesC5; 02-02-2017 at 07:12 AM.
02-02-2017, 08:26 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
^^^ Couple things.
As much as people want all this new technology, and more power, etc it drives the cost up. To the point where it is hard to consider the Corvette "affordable" for very many Americans anymore. And this is true for cars like the 911, GT-R, etc. The MSRP of a base Corvette (M7 with zero options and shipping) is $56,500K. Throw in registration and taxes and most people are paying $58-61K easy.
The GT-R is worse. It debuted in the US in 2008 with a base MSRP around $78K. MSRP for a base model now is $110K! Porsche 911 is easy to push $100-140K+ with options. Crazy..
For most people incomes are not going up that fast especially when you factor in increased cost of living (housing, food, healthcare, etc).
Sports cars are a novelty for most people and are becoming increasingly out of reach for the general population. The fact that Corvette still moved just shy of 30K Corvette's last year tell me that they are doing fine considering the car is aging but I suspect we will see the number be in the low to mid 20K unit sold range this year and the incentives may even get better
As much as people want all this new technology, and more power, etc it drives the cost up. To the point where it is hard to consider the Corvette "affordable" for very many Americans anymore. And this is true for cars like the 911, GT-R, etc. The MSRP of a base Corvette (M7 with zero options and shipping) is $56,500K. Throw in registration and taxes and most people are paying $58-61K easy.
The GT-R is worse. It debuted in the US in 2008 with a base MSRP around $78K. MSRP for a base model now is $110K! Porsche 911 is easy to push $100-140K+ with options. Crazy..
For most people incomes are not going up that fast especially when you factor in increased cost of living (housing, food, healthcare, etc).
Sports cars are a novelty for most people and are becoming increasingly out of reach for the general population. The fact that Corvette still moved just shy of 30K Corvette's last year tell me that they are doing fine considering the car is aging but I suspect we will see the number be in the low to mid 20K unit sold range this year and the incentives may even get better
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 02-03-2017 at 10:14 AM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
02-02-2017, 08:37 AM
#12
Team Owner
^^^ As a rebuttal, the Corvette was just as expensive in the first four January's of the C5 and the C6's years as the C7 is now(adjusted for inflation). In fact, in 1997 I had to pay Bill Clinton's "luxury" tax on my C5, which the C7 purchaser down not have to pay.
The first three years of actual sales of the C5 and the C6 were very good, and did not decrease each year as has sales of the C7.
In fact, in the final year(2004) of the C5, sales were just as good as the first full year(1998) of the C5.
The first three years of actual sales of the C5 and the C6 were very good, and did not decrease each year as has sales of the C7.
In fact, in the final year(2004) of the C5, sales were just as good as the first full year(1998) of the C5.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 02-03-2017 at 10:14 AM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
02-02-2017, 09:16 AM
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St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
^^^ 
I think you've got a good point. The list on my 2004 C5 was right at $50K for a SB2 base coupe. Adjusting for inflation, that's equivalent to $63.5K today which would be the MSRP of a A8, 2LT base coupe with transparent roof panel. Not much difference over the C5.
Joe, consider that younger generations are not as car oriented as the older generations were. I think that's contributing to the decline in C7 sales.
I think you've got a good point. The list on my 2004 C5 was right at $50K for a SB2 base coupe. Adjusting for inflation, that's equivalent to $63.5K today which would be the MSRP of a A8, 2LT base coupe with transparent roof panel. Not much difference over the C5.
Joe, consider that younger generations are not as car oriented as the older generations were. I think that's contributing to the decline in C7 sales.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 02-03-2017 at 10:15 AM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
02-02-2017, 09:22 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
As a rebuttal, the Corvette was just as expensive in the first four January's of the C5 and the C6's years as the C7 is now(adjusted for inflation). In fact, in 1997 I had to pay Bill Clinton's "luxury" tax on my C5, which the C7 purchaser down not have to pay.
The first three years of actual sales of the C5 and the C6 were very good, and did not decrease each year as has sales of the C7.
In fact, in the final year(2004) of the C5, sales were just as good as the first full year(1998) of the C5.
The first three years of actual sales of the C5 and the C6 were very good, and did not decrease each year as has sales of the C7.
In fact, in the final year(2004) of the C5, sales were just as good as the first full year(1998) of the C5.
I think the other factor here is that many millenials are not as in to sports cars as previous generations. So the Corvette, Porsche, etc buyers are pulling from a smaller pool than in previous generations.
Some interesting data (again from 2015):
Who Are The New Car Buyers?
62% of all new cars that are purchased in the United States are being bought by Baby Boomers. In 2001, this age group was responsible for just 39% of all new cars that were sold.
Since 2001, the percentage of new auto registrations in the 18-34 age demographic has been nearly halved, falling from 24% to just 13% of the market.
Just 1 in 4 new vehicles will be purchased by those in the 35-49 age demographic.
62% of all new cars that are purchased in the United States are being bought by Baby Boomers. In 2001, this age group was responsible for just 39% of all new cars that were sold.
Since 2001, the percentage of new auto registrations in the 18-34 age demographic has been nearly halved, falling from 24% to just 13% of the market.
Just 1 in 4 new vehicles will be purchased by those in the 35-49 age demographic.
Last edited by thill444; 02-02-2017 at 09:23 AM.
02-02-2017, 09:35 AM
#15
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I think you've got a good point. The list on my 2004 C5 was right at $50K for a SB2 base coupe. Adjusting for inflation, that's equivalent to $63.5K today which would be the MSRP of a A8, 2LT base coupe with transparent roof panel. Not much difference over the C5.
Joe, consider that younger generations are not as car oriented as the older generations were. I think that's contributing to the decline in C7 sales.
GM was ready to pull the plug in 1992. The much superior C5(and it was cheaper to manufacture than the C4) saved the Corvette. If the C7 drops into the low or mid 20's as one poster predicted; that will surely kill the Corvette. GM won't keep the Corvette in production if it's losing money for them. Tadge said that when the C7 was announced in 2013. It's all about sales, and profits and GM can't continue on giving the ridiculous high rebates on the C7 to move them out of their dealer's showrooms. That is cutting into profits.
I think GM seriously misjudged the market for the C7. It was clearly designed for the youngsters, but they aren't buying after the pent up demand for a Corvette was met(because no one was buying in the last years if the C6 because of the economy).
People can say that the Corvette has to be geared towards the youngsters, but it's the oldster's that have the money.
02-02-2017, 11:15 AM
#16
Le Mans Master
^^^ Joe5 that is exactly it. Millenials make up a bigger population than babyboomers but have far less disposable income than previous generations.
I guess I don't see C7 sales being bad. They have been very solid when you consider the overall market for high performance real wheel drive 2 seaters. I think Chevy will have to take a page out of the Porsche book and offer more custom options (that means more profit) and more frequent model updates (limited release colors, options, etc).
If you look at Porsche 911 sales they are about 1/3 what Corvette sales are. What Porsche does do well is offer a million and one options and combinations to let you personalize your car and then they charge you for each one. They sell fewer cars, but they make more money.
If Chevy truly wanted the Corvette to be accessible to younger buyers they need a wake up call because the younger buyers cannot afford $60K 2 seat rear wheel drive sportscars. I fall into this demographic and that I consider the Corvette a toy and still need a second car that has a backseat and I can drive it all year in New England.
Now I love cars and am passionate about them and I am lucky to make enough to afford one, but most of my friends are buying SUV's and family haulers.
I guess I don't see C7 sales being bad. They have been very solid when you consider the overall market for high performance real wheel drive 2 seaters. I think Chevy will have to take a page out of the Porsche book and offer more custom options (that means more profit) and more frequent model updates (limited release colors, options, etc).
If you look at Porsche 911 sales they are about 1/3 what Corvette sales are. What Porsche does do well is offer a million and one options and combinations to let you personalize your car and then they charge you for each one. They sell fewer cars, but they make more money.
If Chevy truly wanted the Corvette to be accessible to younger buyers they need a wake up call because the younger buyers cannot afford $60K 2 seat rear wheel drive sportscars. I fall into this demographic and that I consider the Corvette a toy and still need a second car that has a backseat and I can drive it all year in New England.
Now I love cars and am passionate about them and I am lucky to make enough to afford one, but most of my friends are buying SUV's and family haulers.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 02-03-2017 at 10:15 AM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
02-02-2017, 12:25 PM
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I agree, but I also believe that young people think of the Corvette as an old man's car. I know there are some young Corvette owners, so you young guys don't jump on me. Just sayin'.
02-02-2017, 01:30 PM
#20
I don't care what anyone says the C7 for me is still the cats pajamas!
