Small cars all the rage as petrol price rises

[act2617]

Small cars all the rage as petrol price rises
By Ian Porter
May 4, 2006

CAR buyers continued their hot and cold run last month, with the traditional seasonal slowdown exacerbated by the combination of Easter and Anzac Day in the one month.

Average daily sales were down from the March level but still ahead of the previous April as large cars, sports utility vehicles and light commercials continued to lose market share to the fleet of small and light cars flooding in from overseas.

Buyers drove away 3120 new cars each trading day last month, 4.8 per cent fewer than the 3277 bought each day in March. Sales of Ford's Falcon, Toyota's Camry and Holden's Commodore all dropped at least twice as fast, although Ford's Territory and Mitsubishi's 380 both sailed through last month virtually unscathed.

But while they might have been stable, sales of the 380 were still travelling at only half the rate Mitsubishi planned when it launched the car last year.

The company last week revealed a dramatic repositioning of its range of local and imported cars.

It cut list prices across the board and led with a 19 per cent reduction in the base price of the 380, which now starts at $27,990.

All the action was in the light-car classes, with Ford's Fiesta and Holden's Korea-sourced Barina taking some market share from established sector leaders, Toyota and Hyundai.

Ford had an excellent month, with both its European models, the Fiesta and the two-litre Focus, which both markedly boosted their shares of the light and small segments respectively.

While Hyundai lost a little ground in light cars, it more than made up for that with gains in small cars and in the medium sector, where its Sonata gained share in the falling market.

The Korean maker lifted market share for the first four months of the year to 5.3 per cent, enough to move past Mitsubishi and into sixth place.

It was the only brand in the top 10 to lift sales over the four months.

The latest Vfacts figures show it was not just cheap small cars that were selling well. Buyers may well be switching to smaller cars to reduce the effect of surging fuel prices, but owners of large luxury cars are switching to small luxury cars.

DaimlerChrysler was pleased with the sales of its Mercedes-Benz A and B Class models last month. The cars took a combined 31 per cent of the segment for small cars worth more than $40,000.

Audi's A3 models also posted greater sales than a year ago, gaining on the segment leader, BMW's 1 Series. Sales of the 1 Series and BMW's Mini Cooper model both eased under the onslaught from the other German brands.

Sports utility vehicles have taken the biggest hit so far this year but the segment leader, Ford's Territory, registered a steady 69 sales a day last month.

[chevypower]

I think at the moment, all car sales will suffer... When can most people afford to ENJOY their cars now? People are doing the bare minimum driving now, so getting a car they can enjoy driving is not going to happen as much until the consumables are replaced by something cheaper and stable in supply - I still cant understand why natural gas never really took off

[coyote]

[QUOTE=chevypower - I still cant understand why natural gas never really took off[/QUOTE]

The tank required is too large and heavy (from a distant memory the gas will not liquify and needs substancially more gas for same range)

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by chevypower

- I still cant understand why natural gas never really took off

BHP and or Mobil Exon are just getting ready to set up site in Bass straight where a massive amount was discovered in 1986. Apparently even been conservitave, there is enough to supply a city of a million people for 15 years.

[Steffo]

The thing I don't understand is, alot of people are jumping out of a larger car (Falcon 4.0, Commodore 3.6/3.8, Magna 3.0/3.5, Camry 3.0/Avalon 3.0 etc) into something smaller (Corolla 1.8, Pulsar 1.8, Astra 1.8, Focus 2.0, Mazda3 2.0 etc) but they're just giving themselves a loan to repay which is more $ then their petrol would have been anyway, plus the cars aren't necessarily more economical.

Small cars only really excel in city driving. Any slightly longer distance stuff, or very hot weather and they crumble. They cruise high RPM - bad for fuel economy. They need high RPM to do manouvres that bigger cars don't - bad for fuel economy etc.

It's not bad enough yet (IMO) to be jumping out of Falcons etc into Fiestas.

[rob_o]

Originally Posted by Steffo

The thing I don't understand is, alot of people are jumping out of a larger car (Falcon 4.0, Commodore 3.6/3.8, Magna 3.0/3.5, Camry 3.0/Avalon 3.0 etc) into something smaller (Corolla 1.8, Pulsar 1.8, Astra 1.8, Focus 2.0, Mazda3 2.0 etc) but they're just giving themselves a loan to repay which is more $ then their petrol would have been anyway, plus the cars aren't necessarily more economical.

yeh I been thinking about that too. People spend loads on an "economical" car to save a few bucks here and there.

[joshf2]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Small cars only really excel in city driving. Any slightly longer distance stuff, or very hot weather and they crumble. They cruise high RPM - bad for fuel economy. They need high RPM to do manouvres that bigger cars don't - bad for fuel economy etc.

It's not bad enough yet (IMO) to be jumping out of Falcons etc into Fiestas.

i beg to differ

on a highway cycle, we get 6L/100km, and my combined economy has usually been about 8L/100km, which is about 50/50 urban/extra urban

and thats a crock of crap about high rpm being needed to do manourvres that bigger cars dont? just for how long are you overtaking?

[XR_Strider_GuY]

Originally Posted by joshf2

i beg to differ

on a highway cycle, we get 6L/100km, and my combined economy has usually been about 8L/100km, which is about 50/50 urban/extra urban

and thats a crock of crap about high rpm being needed to do manourvres that bigger cars dont? just for how long are you overtaking?

Yes i agree, my car will never match your figures specially on city runs. Though highway i can get 8-9L/100km.

However my theory is this, if petrol goes up (same goes for diesel) everyone feels the pinch whether you ride a moped or drive a GT40. If Joe boring average drives his corolla if fuel prices go up he will pay the same % increase than a Falcon driver.

Originally Posted by XR_Strider_GuY

Yes i agree, my car will never match your figures specially on city runs. Though highway i can get 8-9L/100km.

However my theory is this, if petrol goes up (same goes for diesel) everyone feels the pinch whether you ride a moped or drive a GT40. If Joe boring average drives his corolla if fuel prices go up he will pay the same % increase than a Falcon driver.

I'll back that claim up Gaz. I managed 803km and still had 41km till empty in the Turbo on one drive to the NSW south coast.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by joshf2

i beg to differ

on a highway cycle, we get 6L/100km, and my combined economy has usually been about 8L/100km, which is about 50/50 urban/extra urban

and thats a crock of crap about high rpm being needed to do manourvres that bigger cars dont? just for how long are you overtaking?

most cyls at 100km/h sit on 3000rpm- Falcons and Commodores with the 4 auto sit on 1800rpm, and the 6 speed auto Falcon sits on 1500 rpm, with 5:1 final drive ratio on 4 cyl cars it's not surprising you feel some level of response, I certainly did in my Laser when i had that, but yes they like to rev

I average about 3L per 100km more with my 5.7 than i did with my 1.8
a 4L would probably be somewhere in the middle

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by joshf2

i beg to differ

on a highway cycle, we get 6L/100km, and my combined economy has usually been about 8L/100km, which is about 50/50 urban/extra urban

and thats a crock of crap about high rpm being needed to do manourvres that bigger cars dont? just for how long are you overtaking?

I had a fiesta loan car once and got a sore *** driving from home to the shops in it... Enough said about that...

My XLS work ute does close to 1000 kays on the open highway with 84 litres, so really considering i have double the power you have and triple the comfort im no worse off...

The only small car id buy would be a Focus XR5 Turbo, which would probarly use just as much petrol as a BF XR6 Six Speed Auto NA.

As for little cars, try overtaking a Roadtrain in a Fiesta isnt an easy task, specially not if you value your life.. Big cars with lots of torque dont have to rev to speed up, i can drop either of my BAs to 3,000 revs from 100 kays and in a matter of no time im doing 120 - 130, to do that in a fiesta youd have to just about cut a hole int he floor and start pedaling yourself like freedy flinstone.

Little cars serve a purpose, not for all of us however.

[joshf2]

Originally Posted by ShockWaveXR6na

I had a fiesta loan car once and got a sore *** driving from home to the shops in it... Enough said about that...

As for little cars, try overtaking a Roadtrain in a Fiesta isnt an easy task, specially not if you value your life.. Big cars with lots of torque dont have to rev to speed up, i can drop either of my BAs to 3,000 revs from 100 kays and in a matter of no time im doing 120 - 130, to do that in a fiesta youd have to just about cut a hole int he floor and start pedaling yourself like freedy flinstone.

you sit behind the steering wheel, not next to it.

and at the risk of sounding like one of those kids who say "i munched a modified wrx the other day", the fiesta has ample acceleration above 130. granted it wont be as fast as said BA, but my initial reference point was to fuel economy.

i can spell it out in crayon though if you would like

[Smoke Pursuit]

Originally Posted by joshf2

you sit behind the steering wheel, not next to it.

and at the risk of sounding like one of those kids who say "i munched a modified wrx the other day", the fiesta has ample acceleration above 130. granted it wont be as fast as said BA, but my initial reference point was to fuel economy.

i can spell it out in crayon though if you would like

ergh lookout....

:

All im saying is not everyones going to want to buy a Fiesta... I wouldnt feel safe in one travelling the roads i do on a regular basis...

No need to get narky...

[Bucknaked]

Originally Posted by joshf2

i beg to differ

on a highway cycle, we get 6L/100km, and my combined economy has usually been about 8L/100km, which is about 50/50 urban/extra urban

and thats a crock of crap about high rpm being needed to do manourvres that bigger cars dont? just for how long are you overtaking?

Steffo just quotes what he reads. My Focus I filled up today and it took just on 48 litres of fuel. I reset the OD which was reading 627.2 k's since my last fill. The focus (Man 1.8) went to Port Macquarie on a little over a tank from Canberra. My small car is great on fuel around town and on the highway. Around 110 in 5th, i'm doing around 2800 rpm. My old 4 speed V8 holden used to do that in 4th gear.

And I think its a no brainer. Little car needs to do more work than a big car. Its fairly obvious.

I have my focus for the economy and the reliabilty. I have my falcon when I feel like burning a hole in my finances.

[MrSparkle]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Small cars only really excel in city driving. Any slightly longer distance stuff, or very hot weather and they crumble. They cruise high RPM - bad for fuel economy. They need high RPM to do manouvres that bigger cars don't - bad for fuel economy etc.

That's news to me! I better go and tell my turbo diesel Golf to become a high RPM cruiser that crumbles on slightly longer distance trips or very hot weather, and is bad on fuel and economy, and needs high RPM to do manouvres that bigger cars don't. Or maybe mine is just some kind of magical, mystical small car, that has been enchanted to do things that apparently no small car is capable of!

I've said it before and I'll say it again - PLEASE keep these sort of posts coming! You are one of the most brilliant comedians I know, and arguably the most talented one on these forums! :

[jspec_sti]

Put your foot down in a V8 and find out :

[trick_xd]

I cant wait till people want to get rid of there XR8s I will put up my hand . they can have a I6 on gas as a swap.
That way they can save money and i can gain a new car .

[Poetic Justice]

I dare say that I wont get another V8 in the future unless I can really afford it. Back to a smaller car - but hey I'll see what happens for the next year or so ;)

[Falcon_Phill]

Id still rather be in a big roomy car then a small crouded death trap. 30 or so more cents a litre isnt much to ask when you can drive the car you want, feel confident in it, enjoy it etc etc.

[joshf2]

Originally Posted by Falcon_Phill

Id still rather be in a big roomy car then a small crouded death trap. 30 or so more cents a litre isnt much to ask when you can drive the car you want, feel confident in it, enjoy it etc etc.

well, i'd rather see 550km out of 40L from my fiesta than 350km out of 65L from the BA XR8 i'd like to have.

the thing is, i still fit quite comfortably in my well built, low NVH, little car, and insurance is about a third of the XR8

[OzJavelin]

Hate to say it, but well built, modern small cars aren't anything like the old buzz boxes most of us like to think they are. Old, tired, mid 80's Lasers and whatnot aren't really a reflection on the modern breed .. even some of the Korean stuff these days.
People are worried about travelling high mileage at high speeds in small, 4-cyl cars .. but I'd be more worried about travelling low milage, at low speeds like MOST people drive in the cities. Driving long distances on highways is easy work for any modern car. My '03 SV8 has just cranked up 100,000 in three years - mostly highway driving - and it's need a lot less work on brakes,tyres, etc, etc 'cos it always gets warmed up properly and gets to blow the cobwebs out. I'd be more worried doing that 100,000km in 5years of city driving like most small cars tend to do ..
As the current owner of a Dodge Phoenix and a Plymouth Fury, I'm not worried about travelling in most modern small cars (especially European ones), it's just wether they are interesting or not, and can't say I find a bog-stock BA XT interesting .. but a VM Golf Sti!!!

BTW: Personally I think we need to start looking at smaller cars, but with "interesting" engines .. eg. something measurably smaller than a Falcon, but with RWD 3.5-4.0L V8? Supercharged? Turbo'd?

[coyote]

Originally Posted by joshf2

well, i'd rather see 550km out of 40L from my fiesta than 350km out of 65L from the BA XR8 i'd like to have.

the thing is, i still fit quite comfortably in my well built, low NVH, little car, and insurance is about a third of the XR8

Gee that must be hard diving in the XR8 My Gt gets better than that, getting an average of 430 per tank and have never put more than 58 L in it (and I have never been accused of being a granny driver) even got 530 km on a run to Tamworth recently. (55 L an average of 10.3 L/100Km) Not bad for a 290 Kw guzzler eh.

1/3 of $745 (my Gt insurance, so I think an XR8 would be cheaper) $248 , thats pretty good value for comp insurance on a new car even a little fiesta

Ps I think the tank capacity on Falcons is 68 L

[Deadman]

I spend 80% of my time on the road at over 100km/h. I've toyed with the idea of a SP23 or even a Focus XR5 Turbo, but at those speeds I think a new XR6 with the 6sp Auto would be close to just as economical (reving at around 1700rpm on cruise), not to mention far less stress on the engine. I just would worry about a 4cyl car doing 250,000km over 5 years with 200,000km of that being around the 110km/h mark...

[coyote]

I would rather have a falcon on gas than a 4cyl

Better yet drive the GT and not feed the kids for a week LOL

[Full Spectrum]

My sister drives a Proton Gen-2 5 Speed, The car gets on average 7.5L/100km. Runs only on 95octane 50 liter tank.
Now for overtaking being a 1.6lt engine it does need to be shifted into some high rpm to motivate the car, Now it's not powerless by any means it's just when you want power it does need the catch the higher revs to achieve them, slap some fattys in the car and it's trouble,
Now lets get into summer, Being a smaller 4cyl engine in the summer time as of last year it was very hot some days the A/C had to be on full. This really made the car sluggish and jerky, And fuel consumption jumped very high compared to it's normal, You expect it to rise with the A/C on but they do drain smaller engine more then a 6, She was getting 9.8L/100km. Lots of freeway driving couldn't get it down.

Compare that to a VY V6, They return about 500-550 per tank average, My brothers BA gets him about 450-550 depending on how much highway travel. And for big 6's the fuel economy is very impressive so i don't know why so many are scared into 4cyl cars. Going to Bathurst in the Territory we got average going up 12.5l/100km, And back 12l/100km. My brother went to Queensland last Xmas got a best of 770km on 1 tank and was over the moon with that. My mates old VR Berlina gets 500km just about every week and thats with one highway travel per week. We wont talk about my car:P
I just think people are being scared into something they wont enjoy later down the track.

[ED Classic]

There are options for buyers who want economy. VW 2litre Turbo Diesel Golf 6 Auto can get {If driven conservitavely} nearly 1000km out of the 55 litre tank. Not bad for 0-100kmh in 8.5 secs and so much useable torque. I see Ford is now considering a Diesel Focus too.

[old_mate]

eseries owners need to covert to t5

my fuel consumption has gone from 16L/100 to 10L/100k, 85% city driving


my missus has a 92 laser 1.6 3spd auto. Its good at low speeds only. Put the thing on a highway/80kph zones and its nothing fantastic economy wise. a 3rd pedal would help it no end but she cant work both feet at one time lol

[Aeron]

I dont car what price petrol is, im not going to trade fuel economy for performance and power When i fill up, i dont even look to see how much it is per litre.