Car sales figures - worldwide and up to date

[chrisc]

You can find the latest statistics for almost any country in the world by following this link:

http://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2013/02/27/uk-january-2013-nissan-juke-in-the-top-10-for-the-first-time/

[RichardA]

Some Jazz UK sales stats attached.

Source: 2012 Honda Jazz press pack.

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[guest3858]

What i can't understand why people buy p.o.s like a ford or worse a vauxall my dad just bought a spanking new volkswagen up just the basic model plus 500 pound of optional total 8500 pounds!!!i paid 9000 pounds for my Jazz but is loaded with optionals and the only difference is that my dad car tax is 20 pound my jazz is 100 pound a year my insurance is only 30 pound dearer a month than of my dad the mpg beetween the jazz and up is only 5 per cent of difference he's got 60 bhp i have 100 bhp!!!

[monkeydave]

i wouldnt go back to vw if you paid me after the two i had and they were both new, utter garbage luckily for me the residuals are the only thing good about them so i got rid without loosing much

[guest1232]

My Polo used to break down all over town, it just used to stop and wouldn't start again for half an hour. The VW dealer put it onto diagnostics but nothing showed up. Heap of rubbish.

[chrisc]

You get good models and you get bum models.  Our rep has been driving a VW Jetta 1999 model for 12 years.  The only serious fault was the alternator which stopped working this year.  Now let me tell you about the Renault Kangoo LDV we have.... 

Its sole redeeming feature is that the seats are comfortable, provided you don't try and adjust the driving position too often.  I have never known a car which exhibits ongoing problems all the time.

[RichardA]

What i can't understand why people buy p.o.s like a ford or worse a vauxall my dad just bought a spanking new volkswagen up just the basic model plus 500 pound of optional total 8500 pounds!!!i paid 9000 pounds for my Jazz but is loaded with optionals and the only difference is that my dad car tax is 20 pound my jazz is 100 pound a year my insurance is only 30 pound dearer a month than of my dad the mpg beetween the jazz and up is only 5 per cent of difference he's got 60 bhp i have 100 bhp!!!

Maybe people still perceive Ford and Vauxhall to be 'British'? The former hasn't made cars here in over a decade. Or maybe it's the dealer discounts that drive people to the showroom? Maybe people are still frightened of the unknown and keep going back to the same each time? Ford and Vauxhall have a strong market penetration despite the early 90s Ford Escort and the first Vauxhall Vectra models that were mauled in the press. BMW survived the backlash over Chris Bangle's flame surfacing design language and the whole run flat tyres issue from a decade ago. I think some brands are (relatively) indestructible and have strong customer loyalty.

That said though, look at Peugeot - why buys them these days? The taxi drivers traded in the 406's for Skodas,and Renault, VW, Honda and Ford have taken over the hot hatch market. When I was in my late teens and early 20s, most of my peers bought Peugeots like the 106 and 206, but this age group now seem to want Polos and Corsas.

VW enjoy a blue-chip image for reasons I cannot understand. Aside from the Polo & Golf GTi/R models and the Scirocco I find the cars rather dull - basically just like a German Toyota.

[guest1521]

Marketing, advertising and sales experts would say that most people buy cars 'on emotion then justify with logic.' Heart rules head. For many people, their car is an extension of the clothes they wear. It projects their 'image'... and they buy accordingly.

However if you want economical, everyday transport capable of transporting family - or 4 adults and their luggage - in *adequate* comfort short or long distance, Jazz 'fits your bill' better than any other.

But only if you truly use your head as you compare with other car makes/brands. Can you name another new car which provides as much *useful* accommodation for passengers and cargo for the money?

Personally, I admire Jazz's engineering as well as its all round versatility. It actually feels as though there's  a passion for engineering deep in its DNA. 

     

[chrisc]

My wife is quite keen on a Suzuki SX4.  Sort of "grown-up" Jazz with 4 wheel drive.  I tried to persuade her to get a Civic, but she says they are too bland

[guest2662]

much better than a honda, you only have to look on this foram, to se the problemes they r.

[culzean]

My wife is quite keen on a Suzuki SX4.  Sort of "grown-up" Jazz with 4 wheel drive.  I tried to persuade her to get a Civic, but she says they are too bland

the new Civic is quite bland (and the back is ugly) but I wouldn't go past one and buy a Suzuki, for reasons too numerous to mention here.    Some people will always look at cars as a fashion accessory, but they end up paying heavily for it if they keep the car more than a couple of years.  Older people buy Honda because they can see past the 'badge snobbery' flash and hype of other makes and they know that the heart of any car is its engine and its everyday space and useability - and no-one makes better engines than Honda (or uses the interior space more effectively). Some people just won't be told and they go on making expensive mistakes when they buy cars.

[chrisc]

It is a pity the Honda range is not more "exciting".  The Jazz is small (suspension clonks alarmingly on gravel roads and it is a bit noisy), the Civic is bland, the Accord too large and the CR-V, well, you are straying into 4x4 territory and I don't like those.

The Suzuki comes with a 5 year motor plan and 6 year/200 000km guarantee, nearly as good as Hyundai.  I did get the impression driving the Suzuki that the engine was not as refined.  Anyway, I have not bought it yet, one drawback is that the boot is quite small.  I see there is a new model out this year anyway, which is possibly why the current ones are being discounted a fair bit.

[culzean]

here is an interesting 'insight' into Honda Jazz hybrid design

http://ae-plus.com/vehicle-development/honda-jazz-hybrid/page:1

[John Ratsey]

here is an interesting 'insight' into Honda Jazz hybrid design

http://ae-plus.com/vehicle-development/honda-jazz-hybrid/page:1

That article says a bit more about how the Eco mode works than I've previously read. There are aspects of the hybrid where more could have been done to improve real-life economy. One would be to figure out whether the car was going up a hill before switching from Assist to charge. One of my dislikes is the habit of my hybrid  of doing that switch with the battery still half full.

There's also a lot more about the hybrid system that the article doesn't mention such as the motor / generator being instead of the flywheel.

John