VFACTS - May 2024

[prydey]

It would be interesting to look at global inflation and compare pricing to other countries.

I don't think car prices have risen that much above inflation.

We are an island. Everything that comes here, comes by boat or plane. How's transport costs these days?

While some may have an issue with the stories the govt told about the benefits of losing the auto industry (an oxymoron) the fact remains it wasn't sustainable without govt subsidy and tarriffs. If Australia still had an auto industry (making cars that is) I very much doubt we'd be any better off.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Pretty sure Ecoboost Dragon has wet belt drama, then they 'fixed' the timing belt but put the oil pump drive on a wet belt setup

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

While you’re waiting for Franco, I found this article recently that ranks EcoBoost engines and mentions the known issues. It is US focused and there may be subtle differences in the engines produced in Europe.

https://www.slashgear.com/1358832/ev...engine-ranked/

Thanks for that, with the oil pump on wet belt you'd have to be careful with the oil & often with it too. I found a couple of vids explaining it, it actually looks like a great little motor - am I missing anything else catastrophic? It has both port and direct injectors so you won't accumulate a carbon collection on the intakes (new Corolla ditto).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qGmEXKPKYw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qGmEXKPKYw

Been looking out for a Focus wagon around town to no avail, saw 2 recent Ford SUVs - an absolute crying shame they didn't sell into the SUV Grand SuperCycle boom of the last few years and have been canned. I can also see that the Small EU Ford fans have lost something special, just as us Aussie Dinosaur Ford fans did many years back.

Focus wagon continues in the UK for now, petrol option is 1.0 3cyl Ecoboost with a hybrid but I think the lot is gone in 2025. So they can't get the 1.5 either. Bronco Sport and Escape in US have it still I think.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Now that they have snared a sizable slice of the market, the Chinese are now cashing in by bumping prices up.

".................the base price of the MG 3 rising from $18,990 drive-away to $23,990 before on-road costs."

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...cluding-hybrid

"We are pretty confident we will still be number one in this segment,” MG Motor Australia CEO Peter Ciao told CarExpert.

“We try our best to provide a better spec, better technology, and more safety for our customers. We also aggressively control our costs.

“Even when we provide a much, much better spec vehicle for our customer, we are still very confident we keep our offer… we are the best value."

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-new...y-mazda-suzuki

All your base are belong to us.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prydey

It would be interesting to look at global inflation and compare pricing to other countries.

I don't think car prices have risen that much above inflation.

We are an island. Everything that comes here, comes by boat or plane. How's transport costs these days?

While some may have an issue with the stories the govt told about the benefits of losing the auto industry (an oxymoron) the fact remains it wasn't sustainable without govt subsidy and tarriffs. If Australia still had an auto industry (making cars that is) I very much doubt we'd be any better off.

Mind you all the countries with car manufacturing industries heavily subsidise them, in the form of anti competitive legislation or handouts

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Problem is, what Mazda or Toyota are you going to buy at that price point now.

But but but, cars will be cheaper when Australia no longer makes cars?

The 2 kicks off at around $26k. At that price, for the sake of a couple of thousand dollars I’ll stretch it. I just noticed the Yaris is over $30k now! The Picanto is around $20k from memory. We had an MG3 as a loan car, previous gen aside, it was a truly awful car. I doubt the new one could be that much better. I’ll pay an extra couple of grand to avoid it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

The 2 kicks off at around $26k. At that price, for the sake of a couple of thousand dollars I’ll stretch it. I just noticed the Yaris is over $30k now! The Picanto is around $20k from memory. We had an MG3 as a loan car, previous gen aside, it was a truly awful car. I doubt the new one could be that much better. I’ll pay an extra couple of grand to avoid it.

The boss hired an MG3 a few weeks ago. Totally not a car guy, but even he noted how horrendous it was. Wandered at speed, gearbox sounded like it was seconds away from disaster. They sound like a bargain, no wonder they sell so many. Or is it people are stupid?

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Mind you all the countries with car manufacturing industries heavily subsidise them, in the form of anti competitive legislation or handouts

And currency pegs set at favourably low levels, tariff walls, tax incentives for manufacturers, state co-investment, consortiums of domestic manufacturers to save automakers (like BMW was circa 1950), WTO cases defending against foreign dumping (hellos EU, US vs China currently) national industry policy that is supportive, throwing OH&S to the wind, throwing enviro to the wind - basically if you want it, nurture it.

The future trend is reshoring, it's begun.

[Trendseeker]

These are global figures, not Australian.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/tesla-...ling-car-2023/

Tesla Model Y overtakes Toyota Corolla as world’s best-selling car

Months after the Toyota HiLux lost the top sales spot in Australia to the Ford Ranger, the Toyota Corolla has lost its global sales crown – and for the first time, an electric car has taken the top spot.

After almost two decades, the Toyota Corolla has been dethroned as the world's best-selling car.

The Tesla Model Y has taken the top spot on the sales chart, outselling the Corolla in 2023 as the world's most popular passenger car – the first time in history for an electric car.

According to data released by Jato Dynamics, Tesla sold a total of 1.22 million Model Y vehicles across the globe in 2023 – an increase of 64 per cent year-on-year.

While the Corolla is believed to have held the title consecutively since 2005, this year saw sales of the small Toyota fall by 19 per cent, to end up in fourth position.

Further solidifying the worldwide trend of buyers preferring SUVs, the Toyota RAV4 took second place, with 1.08 million sales, while the Honda CR-V took third overall with 846,000 vehicles sold.
Global
Ranking Model 2023 Sales
1 Tesla Model Y 1,223,000
2 Toyota RAV4 1,075,000
3 Honda CR-V 846,000
4 Toyota Corolla 803,000
5 Toyota Corolla Cross 715,000
6 Toyota Camry 650,000
7 Ford F-150 623,000
8 Toyota HiLux 605,000
9 Nissan Sentra 534,000
10 Tesla Model 3 508,000

Rounding out the top 10 were the Toyota Corolla Cross, the Toyota Camry, the Ford F-150, the Toyota HiLux, the Nissan Sentra, and the Tesla Model 3 in 10th.

In Australia, a total of 28,769 buyers chose the Tesla Model Y last year – enough for the car to take out sixth position in the local top 10 – but data showed it was actually the number one choice for private buyers, once vehicle sales for businesses, fleets, rental cars, and governments were taken out of the equation.

The Toyota Corolla first snatched the global sales title from the original Volkswagen Beetle in 1997, but it was 2005 when the Corolla would eventually reclaim and hold onto the top sales spot – a crown it then held for 18 years in a row.

In Australia, the Toyota HiLux was also dethroned as the country's best-selling vehicle after seven years in a row, with the Ford Ranger taking the top spot for the first time.

However, it wasn't all bad news for Toyota, with the Japanese car giant being the world's number one-selling car brand globally for 2023 – as well as taking out five of the top 10 for individual model sales.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/2024-k...medium=partner

In Australia, “The Model Y was priced from $65,400 plus on-road costs at the start of April, but within a month had dropped to $60,900 – and by 1 June was $55,900, a 15 per cent reduction in two months.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

And currency pegs set at favourably low levels, tariff walls, tax incentives for manufacturers, state co-investment, consortiums of domestic manufacturers to save automakers (like BMW was circa 1950), WTO cases defending against foreign dumping (hellos EU, US vs China currently) national industry policy that is supportive, throwing OH&S to the wind, throwing enviro to the wind - basically if you want it, nurture it.

The future trend is reshoring, it's begun.

Won't happen here though, just dig more shit up out of the ground and sell it to China,

Particularly interesting is China's flourishing relationship with Afghanistan/the Taliban, which is on one of their borders and has the worlds largest reserves of lithium.

Won't be long before they shift from purchasing lithium from us to Afghanistan when we upset them again.

Taliban also has some weird tourism campaign going on attracting western tourists to come visit the country and being very warm and welcoming

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

These are global figures, not Australian.



Tesla Model Y overtakes Toyota Corolla as world’s best-selling car

Months after the Toyota HiLux lost the top sales spot in Australia to the Ford Ranger, the Toyota Corolla has lost its global sales crown – and for the first time, an electric car has taken the top spot.

After almost two decades, the Toyota Corolla has been dethroned as the world's best-selling car.

The Tesla Model Y has taken the top spot on the sales chart, outselling the Corolla in 2023 as the world's most popular passenger car – the first time in history for an electric car.

According to data released by Jato Dynamics, Tesla sold a total of 1.22 million Model Y vehicles across the globe in 2023 – an increase of 64 per cent year-on-year.

While the Corolla is believed to have held the title consecutively since 2005, this year saw sales of the small Toyota fall by 19 per cent, to end up in fourth position.

Further solidifying the worldwide trend of buyers preferring SUVs, the Toyota RAV4 took second place, with 1.08 million sales, while the Honda CR-V took third overall with 846,000 vehicles sold.
Global
Ranking Model 2023 Sales
1 Tesla Model Y 1,223,000
2 Toyota RAV4 1,075,000
3 Honda CR-V 846,000
4 Toyota Corolla 803,000
5 Toyota Corolla Cross 715,000
6 Toyota Camry 650,000
7 Ford F-150 623,000
8 Toyota HiLux 605,000
9 Nissan Sentra 534,000
10 Tesla Model 3 508,000

Rounding out the top 10 were the Toyota Corolla Cross, the Toyota Camry, the Ford F-150, the Toyota HiLux, the Nissan Sentra, and the Tesla Model 3 in 10th.

In Australia, a total of 28,769 buyers chose the Tesla Model Y last year – enough for the car to take out sixth position in the local top 10 – but data showed it was actually the number one choice for private buyers, once vehicle sales for businesses, fleets, rental cars, and governments were taken out of the equation.

The Toyota Corolla first snatched the global sales title from the original Volkswagen Beetle in 1997, but it was 2005 when the Corolla would eventually reclaim and hold onto the top sales spot – a crown it then held for 18 years in a row.

In Australia, the Toyota HiLux was also dethroned as the country's best-selling vehicle after seven years in a row, with the Ford Ranger taking the top spot for the first time.

However, it wasn't all bad news for Toyota, with the Japanese car giant being the world's number one-selling car brand globally for 2023 – as well as taking out five of the top 10 for individual model sales.



In Australia, “The Model Y was priced from $65,400 plus on-road costs at the start of April, but within a month had dropped to $60,900 – and by 1 June was $55,900, a 15 per cent reduction in two months.

Wouldn't it be great if your balloon payment dropped as new price dropped...I know its a case of "buyer beware" but I'd be angry if half way through a finance deal and say having aa balloon on 20 or 30%...wonder if I should change my mindset and think I'm lucky MB raised their van prices considerably since 2021 for my last purchase...think I'm $10K ahead of the full payout vs current avg trade in evaluation...then again if Ford Aust. offered the AWD Custom (imagine towing 2500kg in a FWD van up dirt roads) instead of limiting model choice I wouldn't have to buy another Vito...

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

In Australia, “The Model Y was priced from $65,400 plus on-road costs at the start of April, but within a month had dropped to $60,900 – and by 1 June was $55,900, a 15 per cent reduction in two months.

That’s a bigger burn than what Holden did to its VT1 V8 Customers when it released the LS1 after 18 months.
Any dissatisfaction within Tesla circles amongst owners who paid $65k a few months ago?

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Taliban also has some weird tourism campaign going on attracting western tourists to come visit the country and being very warm and welcoming

The queers for Palestine could go over for a look. As long as they don’t rely on Joe Biden to charter a plane for their escape when the SHTF.

[jpd80]

Drove past my local Ford dealership today, loaded with Rangers and Everests on the forecourt,
front parking bays and in the rear holding yard. Looks like they received a big shipment this week,
hopefully gets all the deliveries done by end of month, fingers crossed for another big number for Ford.