Cars that never sold well

[Podie]

JohnStitch said:

mhurley said:

I'll start
MK 6 Golf R Convertible

Don't think i have ever seen one

I was parked next to one at work the other day - Didn't realise they once did a convertible version and wondered if the owner had just modded it with a bunch of 'R' bits. Looked quite smart actually, and I don't normally like convertible Golfs, they just don't look right to me.

Must admit I didn't realise they had made them.

[typical PH comment]
Clearly not avilable on the cheap lease deals
[/typical PH comment]

[Shakermaker]

How are we quantifying "didn't sell well" in this thread?

Are we just saying number sold, or should it be proportion sold? Or should it be proportion built/sold vs original predictions by the manufacturer?

[Dr Interceptor]

Shakermaker said:

How are we quantifying "didn't sell well" in this thread?

Are we just saying number sold, or should it be proportion sold? Or should it be proportion built/sold vs original predictions by the manufacturer?

I'm guessing mainstream cars that never sold in big numbers. Not limited run models, and not things like a Lotus which may sell 12 a year.

[GuitarTech]

VW Jetta VI: In the five years I owned mine, I only ever saw two others. And one of those was on dutch plates, which I saw in Holland as I was in Amsterdam (I live in Germany)
And when it came to getting rid of it, I had terrible trouble selling it at all: no dealer wanted to take it in PX as they reckoned it was unsaleable.

[Dabooka]

I've only ever seen one Nissan QX (Maxim?) out in the wild, probably around the turn of the century when their numbers 'peaked'.

I guess they were decent motors too.

[Ultrafunkula]

MG ZT V8, don't think I've ever seen one in the flesh...

[alorotom]

Renault Wind
Vx Cascada
Fiat Tipo (new one - doesn't seem to be very popular)
Evoque convertible
Qashqai / Rogue convertible
Renault Twizy


- there maybe a theme developing!

Didn't know they'd ever made a mk6 golf R cab, never seen one or heard of one mentioned

[ambuletz]

Mitsubishi Colt CZT / Ralliart. I always thinked it looked nice. the facelift looked essentially like a baby evo so I don't know why more people didn't get it.

[Leins]

What happened Mazda's Xedos range - seem to remember seeing a few about in the early 90s, but presume poor sales killed it off?

Truckosaurus said:

Alpine A610, was praised by the press (including being Top Gear's Car of the Year) but a quick google shows they only made 67 RHD cars.

Also well featured in Eldorado

[anonymous-user]

After Lexus managed to get established as a challenger for the Germans with its decent LS400 they then decided to have a crack at Mercedes SL, which utterly dominated the "classy GT/convertible" market.

Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you the new Lexus SC 430 with folding hard-top.

https://lexusenthusiast.com/2014/06/12/updated-saf...

It was a horrid thing from planet horrid. A few buyers jumped in when it was first announced, optimistically riding on the back of the successful LS400. But as soon as people saw the car, sales collapsed. Just so wrong.

[Jonmx]

I know Rover were surprised that these didn't sell better, forcing them to 'upgrade' it after a couple of years before canning it altogether. Turd of a car.

[TIGA84]

Vauxhall Meriva VXR

I worked at a Vauxhall Dealership for nearly 2 years and never saw one, either physically/on any stock sheet or on any order form despite them being in the current range.

And this was group with about 10 different branches.

I've still never seen one either.

[ukaskew]

TIGA84 said:

Vauxhall Meriva VXR

I worked at a Vauxhall Dealership for nearly 2 years and never saw one, either physically/on any stock sheet or on any order form despite them being in the current range.

Looks hilarious, I almost want one...

http://www.motors.co.uk/car-45708221/?i=1&m=sp

[Joe5y]

Wills2 said:

e60 M5 touring

I'd have one over any other car.

[Lotobear]

Levorg - seriously looked at one as I loved my previous Legacy Tourers.

Liked it a lot and wanted to be persuaded but not with a 1.6 petrol turbo and CVT tranny. Bought an Octavia VRS230 instead.

I think I've only seen one on the road since and that is the local dealer's demo car!

[cerb4.5lee]

Joe5y said:

Wills2 said:

e60 M5 touring

I'd have one over any other car.

I've always loved them too...Although I'd have to move to America to afford the fuel bills!!

[Shakermaker]

Jonmx said:

I know Rover were surprised that these didn't sell better, forcing them to 'upgrade' it after a couple of years before canning it altogether. Turd of a car.

Funnily enough my friend had one of these, which she used as a winter shed/stable car to go to the horses. She sold it and I still see it all the time

But that only counts for one of them I guess.

I only ever see the Meriva VXR at the annual Vauxhall show, never see them in the wild until you then see half a dozen or so of them in one place.

[Plate spinner]

generationx said:

In the UK: Renault Avantime (famous only for a lengthy appearance on Top Gear) - around 250.

Total built (according to Wiki): 8557

Once again Renault do something interesting and the majority of potential customers look the other way.

Well maybe Renault provided an answer to a question very few people asked...

[Dazed and Confused]

Leins said:

What happened Mazda's Xedos range - seem to remember seeing a few about in the early 90s, but presume poor sales killed it off?

Truckosaurus said:

Alpine A610, was praised by the press (including being Top Gear's Car of the Year) but a quick google shows they only made 67 RHD cars.

Also well featured in Eldorado

The A610 was a bit of a minger and a bit dated compared to the GTA.

[NickCQ]

alorotom said:

Evoque convertible

I see far too many of these, sadly.