March 2015 Camaro Sales Figures (and vs. Mustang & Challenger)

[titanfan]

Originally Posted by el ess A

Well, let's see...

there's a big picture here that most people here miss. Camaro5, and however many other Camaro fan sites combined certainly didn't amass 1/2 million 5th gen Camaro sales. No way. So people buy them for reasons only known to them. We're just a rabid Camaro-fan sector. A very small chunk (and very vocal part of it) of the Camaro Nation.

A few points about what motivates sales and human nature were made in this thread, some with merit, some, perhaps not as much about facts but emotional pleas.

One can only speculate what draws buyers to the Mustang, Challenger, or Camaro.

To wit: Camaro is basically unchanged in the last 10 years (if you count the prototype and pre-production years). Mustang got a new style, yet still looks like a typical Mustang with Camaro cues (Ford CAN learn it seems). Challenger got a new refresh a little, so a bump in sales for the next "new" thing is typical. Happens all the time.

So it is understandable the Camaro FINALLY loses a little steam and starts to struggle. Nothing to be ashamed about. You're using mainly the same car for that long, market saturation only goes so far. Hey, look at the NY Yankees. They're always in the mix, but not always on top. Yet they have a zillion fans. Some are fair-weather fans, some are pinstripe tattooed. Same thing here.

PART of the Camaro sales figures is that the 2015s aren't fire sale prices yet. And yes, SOME people are not buying yet waiting on the 6th gen.

If the 6th gen is accepted wholesale, the 2015s will hit basement bargain prices. If not, you'll see people scrambling to get the last "good" generation Camaro off the lots. It'll be interesting to see what happens after 5/16. If buyers simply see the 6th gen as a smaller 5th gen, sales won't hold past the initial surge of "gotta have the new thing first" crowd.

Challenger numbers, although better than expected, are pretty dismal as pointed out in comparison to the "old" 5th gen. As we move forward, we'll see Challenger numbers drop off as well.

Mustang? Hard to say. All the cars in the hunt are sold far more than to us website forum junkies. Global products/marketing/availability and importantly, pricing, have a huge effect on sales. But remember, sales don't always mean happy or return customers.

My prediction- by fall, Camaro will be back on top.

All good points, but based on the information I've seen, the 2015 5.0 Mustangs are a much smaller percentage of total sales than many would think for a pony car. Also, I don't see any Camaro styling influence on the new Mustang. What exactly are you referencing?

[68fbjjz109]

I expect the number to continue to drop. Honestly if you paying any attention to the Camaro in any way, and the fifth gen doesn't have a special place in your heart why would you buy one.

The 6th gen represents a notable leap forward, it will be a competitor and likely a leader depending on where the weight loss happened in many normal offerings not just augmented packages.

It will likely be enough of a performance leap to more than justify the relatively small increase in price, even in comparison to the discounted fifth gens.

[*007]

That RED sales line for Mustang looks like it's headed to the stratosphere! Enviable results no matter how you look at it! How are the disciples hanging in there?

[doc7000]

This time around won't be like the last time around, basically you had an old Mustang that got a redo on the old platform. For 2010 model year lacked the power in GT form and lacked some of the basic creature comforts of the Camaro. The Camaro had a hot new design which got everyones attention and really moved metal, this time around the Camaro will be facing an all new from the ground up Mustang. I actually think that it will be a fair fight this time around (honestly it really wasn't last time) will be interesting.

[RLHMARINES]

2015 will be mustangs year to lose but 2016 will be the year of the Camaro, Alpha will rein supreme in the pony car wars fort sure. I see more mustangs on rental lots and big cash on dealer lots plus ford has been pushing sales with ads while we have been relegated to one ZL1 national ad from 2 years ago. GM is getting more with less for now.

[chain777]

Originally Posted by doc7000

This time around won't be like the last time around, basically you had an old Mustang that got a redo on the old platform. For 2010 model year lacked the power in GT form and lacked some of the basic creature comforts of the Camaro. The Camaro had a hot new design which got everyones attention and really moved metal, this time around the Camaro will be facing an all new from the ground up Mustang. I actually think that it will be a fair fight this time around (honestly it really wasn't last time) will be interesting.

This point is overlooked here a lot. I keep hearing how the 6 year old Camaro can't compete with a brand new Mustang, but that's exactly what happened back in 2010 when the 6 year old Mustang had to compete with a brand new Camaro. How do you think the 5th gen would do if it had to go on for another 5 years?

This time the playing field is even. Both of these cars are on excellent platforms. Subjective styling tastes aside, I think power-trains will be what will stand out as the major difference with this generation. I'm waiting to see what GM has in store to bridge the gap between the LT1 and the LT4.

[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by ztwentypoop

I just can't seriously consider the opinion of anyone who states, "I just seen...".

Lmao.... Well who said that ppl take you or your opinion serious at all on here? Nobody was talking to you . So please........ Have a great one!

[Q'smuscle]

Originally Posted by Criticalmass

The Challenger doesn't appeal to many women. Hence, less sales. Ask yourself when was the last time you saw a woman driving a Challenger? It's rare.

I see women all the time driving a challenger and I know a couple of women who drives a challenger too. I saw this one woman in my favorite challenger it was a 392 inaugural addition and it was a manual. My jaw dropped. Lol....

Originally Posted by doc7000

This certainly is a Camaro Mustang fight at this moment, with the Mustang really taking sales away from the Camaro. I just don't see the current Challenger being a competitor to the Camaro and Mustang (meaning people who buy a Challenger generally aren't looking at the Mustang or Camaro).

On the other hand rental sales and incentive spending also have an impact on sale performance.

While the Mustang has been pushing around 25% fleet sales I don't expect early sales to be to fleet customers (at least not many). The Mustang is just the newer car, and it is dramatically improved (though some on here do not like the design, seems to correlate with success more then failure).

I honestly expect to see the Mustang peak this year at around 15,000 units in a month before tapering off to a more sustainable rate.

I don't know because back in 2012 when i was looking at Camaro's and challenger's . The salesman told me that she notice ppl that come in for one of those cars usually looked at the other too. And I have seen ppl on the Challenger forum saying that they was looking at both cars but the space of the Challenger won them over.

[Iroc Drew]

Originally Posted by Red2014SS

I think Challenger sales are doing well because out of all three manufacturers, Dodge has really stuck to the retro look styling. Sometimes I have to do a double take when I see a new Challenger to make sure it isn't an old one. Chevy began to drift away from retro with the '14-'15 update, and I think the '16 will be worse.

The new Mustangs are so far away from the original look, they are almost starting to look Japanese. I think Ford can get away with it because so many kids developed brand loyalty with the Fox body Mustangs in the past. Ford never really stopped making the Mustang, so they didn't lose a whole generation of buyers.

Chevrolet is in a unique situation with the Camaro. Personally, I feel they will do best if they stay retro. 1st and 2nd Gen cars have huge popularity, and seeing modern remakes really excites a lot of people. I don't think that will happen though... I think Chevy will chase those Mustang sales with a more modern Camaro. I hope it works out ok.

I have never owned a Dodge in my life. I will tell you one thing though.... If they were to do a good remake of the 1968 Charger, I would be first in line to buy one. Dodge is missing the boat by ignoring that car.

I would be second in line for a remake of the Coke Bottle designed 68-70 Charger retro mobile. Make mine in Bullitt Black.

[Red2014SS]

Originally Posted by Iroc Drew

I would be second in line for a remake of the Coke Bottle designed 68-70 Charger retro mobile. Make mine in Bullitt Black.

Deal! .. I'll take General Lee orange. The 68 Charger is a classic. I cringe whenever I see one destroyed in a movie. It breaks my heart.

[GAFreddy]

Eh, just proves my theory correct that there are more idiots than intelligence in this country!

[Beardface]

Originally Posted by Red2014SS

I think Challenger sales are doing well because out of all three manufacturers, Dodge has really stuck to the retro look styling. Sometimes I have to do a double take when I see a new Challenger to make sure it isn't an old one. Chevy began to drift away from retro with the '14-'15 update, and I think the '16 will be worse.

The new Mustangs are so far away from the original look, they are almost starting to look Japanese. I think Ford can get away with it because so many kids developed brand loyalty with the Fox body Mustangs in the past. Ford never really stopped making the Mustang, so they didn't lose a whole generation of buyers.

Chevrolet is in a unique situation with the Camaro. Personally, I feel they will do best if they stay retro. 1st and 2nd Gen cars have huge popularity, and seeing modern remakes really excites a lot of people. I don't think that will happen though... I think Chevy will chase those Mustang sales with a more modern Camaro. I hope it works out ok.

I have never owned a Dodge in my life. I will tell you one thing though.... If they were to do a good remake of the 1968 Charger, I would be first in line to buy one. Dodge is missing the boat by ignoring that car.

The fact that Camaro is selling as well as they are is impressive considering the reputation of both the Mustang and the Camaro over time. Mustang has always been the more mainstream vehicle with the better reputation, and the fact that the Camaro caught up to and passed it is really telling on how much Chevy truly dominated the refresh movement at the end of the decade.

Mustang has momentum right now. There is a very logical reason for this. The Mustang is running a next generation refresh with a rebuilt body and inner workings. Camaro is still selling new vehicles that were essentially designed 6 years ago, however announced a couple quarters ago they are releasing a brand new design this year. That design hasn't even been unveiled, yet. Sales-wise, had Chevy kept the whole thing under wraps and made a surprise unveil next month, you would still see steady Camaro sales, but the way in which they did it, people who were looking to buy new are going to wait until the unveil to see which model they would prefer, which is going to stagnate sales for a while. Once the unveil happens, expect Camaro sales to pick right back up and net out the losses you have seen over the past few months, dominating Mustang sales in the short term before normalizing back to what we've seen as a trend over the last few years.

That being said, if the C6 is a dud, all that hypothesis is out the window.

[Red2014SS]

Originally Posted by TexasTex

Eh, just proves my theory correct that there are more idiots than intelligence in this country!

How does idiocy equate with liking the '68 Charger? Please enlighten me, Obi-Wan-Kenobi..

[GAFreddy]

Originally Posted by Red2014SS

How does idiocy equate with liking the '68 Charger? Please enlighten me, Obi-Wan-Kenobi..

Who said anything about a 68' Charger? Please enlighten me, Obi-Wan-Kenobi..