Cars that never sold well
Discussion
RobM77 said:
saw one once in Bournemouth 
It was sat next to me in a traffic queue for ages. I like the fact that it challenged the idea that expensive luxury cars need to be enormous - surely not every millionaire wants a tank? Does anyone know how rare they are?
Aston had projected total sales of 4,000 but go nowhere near it in the two year production period, but there is one on the market for £30,000. That's a hell of a lot of money for a Toyota IQ in drag. It was sat next to me in a traffic queue for ages. I like the fact that it challenged the idea that expensive luxury cars need to be enormous - surely not every millionaire wants a tank? Does anyone know how rare they are?lowdrag said:
RobM77 said:
saw one once in Bournemouth It was sat next to me in a traffic queue for ages. I like the fact that it challenged the idea that expensive luxury cars need to be enormous - surely not every millionaire wants a tank? Does anyone know how rare they are?
Aston had projected total sales of 4,000 but go nowhere near it in the two year production period, but there is one on the market for £30,000. That's a hell of a lot of money for a Toyota IQ in drag. It was sat next to me in a traffic queue for ages. I like the fact that it challenged the idea that expensive luxury cars need to be enormous - surely not every millionaire wants a tank? Does anyone know how rare they are?
The most expensive iQ was £14k. I guess that tells us a bit about how much the fittings in an Aston cost, which is no surprise given what new Astons cost. Autocar quote the differences between Cygnet and iQ as:Autocar said:
For the extra money you get a proper Aston Martin paint job, a superb hand-fitted and bespoke interior (with as many leather hides in it as are needed to trim a DB9), a series of body mods that give the Cygnet its own visual identity (including a superb extruded aluminium grille from the same supplier as does for the £1million One-77)
Off topic: I've often wondered what certain expensive cars would cost without optional extras that I have no interest in. This also applies to 'packs' you can spec on a new car - for example I much prefer BMW's M Sport suspension to the standard suspension, but have no interest in the styling differences, bigger wheels and fatter tyres that you have to have at the same time. My parents specced a new Merc at £45k and asked for it with sports suspension but without those extras and Mercedes wouldn't do it, even if it meant losing the sale.RobM77 said:
Off topic: I've often wondered what certain expensive cars would cost without optional extras that I have no interest in. This also applies to 'packs' you can spec on a new car - for example I much prefer BMW's M Sport suspension to the standard suspension, but have no interest in the styling differences, bigger wheels and fatter tyres that you have to have at the same time. My parents specced a new Merc at £45k and asked for it with sports suspension but without those extras and Mercedes wouldn't do it, even if it meant losing the sale.
Given that almost everything is customisable these days, it does seem odd not to offer it.Podie said:
RobM77 said:
Off topic: I've often wondered what certain expensive cars would cost without optional extras that I have no interest in. This also applies to 'packs' you can spec on a new car - for example I much prefer BMW's M Sport suspension to the standard suspension, but have no interest in the styling differences, bigger wheels and fatter tyres that you have to have at the same time. My parents specced a new Merc at £45k and asked for it with sports suspension but without those extras and Mercedes wouldn't do it, even if it meant losing the sale.
Given that almost everything is customisable these days, it does seem odd not to offer it.lowdrag said:
Aston had projected total sales of 4,000 but go nowhere near it in the two year production period, but there is one on the market for £30,000. That's a hell of a lot of money for a Toyota IQ in drag.
They sold 150 in the UK & 300 globally (allegedly), and were less of a dressing up exercise but more about lowering Aston Martin's average CO2 level!Vauxhall Monterey - I believe it was outsold by the Isuzu Trooper that it was based on. To put this into context, I think Isuzu had one of the smallest shares of the UK car market.
Third generation Mazda 121, a rebadged Fiesta even made in Dagenham. Why you'd rebadge one of the best selling cars in the country and think it's going to sell is incredible, even if you were a staunch Mazda/Jap fan surely you'd see through it, three year warranty or not!
Following on the same theme as the Citroen C6 and Honda Legend, Hyundai had a stab with the XG300. I remember back in the day a Hyundai dealer diplomatically stating that it 'Isn't within our customer base' when I bought it up. Legend has it that Hyundai UK were forced against their will to import it by the Korean HQ:
Third generation Mazda 121, a rebadged Fiesta even made in Dagenham. Why you'd rebadge one of the best selling cars in the country and think it's going to sell is incredible, even if you were a staunch Mazda/Jap fan surely you'd see through it, three year warranty or not!
Following on the same theme as the Citroen C6 and Honda Legend, Hyundai had a stab with the XG300. I remember back in the day a Hyundai dealer diplomatically stating that it 'Isn't within our customer base' when I bought it up. Legend has it that Hyundai UK were forced against their will to import it by the Korean HQ:
BMW's 8 series certainly didn't sell as well as BMW hoped, but probably doesn't qualify for this thread on that point.
However, I do enjoy the proportion of facelift RHD 840ci that are manual vs automatic. Total number sold between '95 and '99 is 1,473. Number of manuals? 3.
It's only when I found that out that I stopped looking for a manual...
However, I do enjoy the proportion of facelift RHD 840ci that are manual vs automatic. Total number sold between '95 and '99 is 1,473. Number of manuals? 3.
It's only when I found that out that I stopped looking for a manual...
_Marvin said:
BMW's 8 series certainly didn't sell as well as BMW hoped, but probably doesn't qualify for this thread on that point.
However, I do enjoy the proportion of facelift RHD 840ci that are manual vs automatic. Total number sold between '95 and '99 is 1,473. Number of manuals? 3.
It's only when I found that out that I stopped looking for a manual...
This is one of 32 "Dakar individuals" nearly 20 year's old now but it still has presence about it...one car I'll never sell... funniely enough it's booked in for it's MOT today @ 66,700 miles about 150 more than last year..!However, I do enjoy the proportion of facelift RHD 840ci that are manual vs automatic. Total number sold between '95 and '99 is 1,473. Number of manuals? 3.
It's only when I found that out that I stopped looking for a manual...
RobM77 said:
Podie said:
RobM77 said:
Off topic: I've often wondered what certain expensive cars would cost without optional extras that I have no interest in. This also applies to 'packs' you can spec on a new car - for example I much prefer BMW's M Sport suspension to the standard suspension, but have no interest in the styling differences, bigger wheels and fatter tyres that you have to have at the same time. My parents specced a new Merc at £45k and asked for it with sports suspension but without those extras and Mercedes wouldn't do it, even if it meant losing the sale.
Given that almost everything is customisable these days, it does seem odd not to offer it. !!!Jimmy Recard said:
...... Insignia V6 Turbo. Anyone who wanted to spend that much on a thirsty, high tax Insignia just went for the full VXR. And that wasn't all that many people
I'm one of those people who drives one - just one previous owner who factory-ordered it, drove it a few k each year for a few years then part-ex'd it for a new car, but shortly after they traded it they got the dealer to ask me if they could have it back!From what I can deduce, only about 180 were put onto UK roads, many of them being dealer demos in metallic grey with cream leather interior, dating back to 2008-2010 due to being the 'warmest' Insignia prior to the VXR arriving around 2010. The non-VXR V6 was discontinued about four years ago, replaced by the front-drive-only 2-litre 250PS 4-cylinder.
I like my cars to be fairly quick, family-friendly and discreet which is contrary to the attention-craving Youtube/Facebook 'look at me; I need attention' culture of today.
I've had 'recognisable' cars in the past and they draw too much attention from people who want to race (although I'm up for a bit of fun if I don't have family aboard). I've had 'raw' cars in the past and the wife moaned about the lack of comfort and harsh ride - or lack of rear doors!
This one's drive has the approval of all who have been in it - wife, kids, friends, in-laws.
The Insignia V6 looks just like any other Insignia unless you can get close enough to read the small badge on the boot or notice the two tailpipes so most people don't notice it which is the way I like it.
Out of rush hour traffic the mpg isn't too bad. It never tried to pretend to be low-emissions so it actually matches the official figures and on long A-road runs it'll reach 40mpg, or about 30mpg on the motorway. £535 road tax. About £300/yr to insure for 10k miles.
The Hyundai Grandeur
None currently for sale on Autotrader. I think they sold about 8 or so a year in the UK, and one of those was to Hyundai's UK chairman.
I don't suppose their current version, the Genesis is doing too well either, £51k and available only with a 3.8 V6 petrol from memory.
None currently for sale on Autotrader. I think they sold about 8 or so a year in the UK, and one of those was to Hyundai's UK chairman.
I don't suppose their current version, the Genesis is doing too well either, £51k and available only with a 3.8 V6 petrol from memory.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Only about 40 of these ever sold in U.K, 3.2 busso manual, superb cars, so much nicer than the usual suspects. Beautiful styling in and out.
Only about 40 of these ever sold in U.K, 3.2 busso manual, superb cars, so much nicer than the usual suspects. Beautiful styling in and out.
Edited by ITP on Monday 17th July 20:18
jamespink said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Vauxhall Signum.
City Rover or whatever it was called.
Audi A2 never sold very well did it?
The A2 was a brilliant car and in many respects is far better than anything Audi offers now. The issue was they were "witheringly expensive" when on sale. They were almost all alloy, rode well and very economic. I think they still look good... just Audi's greed stopped them selling.City Rover or whatever it was called.
Audi A2 never sold very well did it?
I don't necessarily think Audi were that greedy as they still made a loss on every A2 sold. The "ASF" as it was amusingly called (Audi Space Frame) must have been expensive to build, they also built a specific factory to just make the A2 and A8 which were both aluminium bodies.
My 2002 1.4 diesel Sport would have been about 16K list when new, witheringly expensive is spot on.
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