Jinks,
Sadly, I don't think $130K is even going to move these cars.
Today, I had one of the most insightful conversations with a sales rep at a local dealership. I've bought a number of new cars from him and he is a genuine car enthusiast. I've repeatedly purchased vehicles from him due to his honestly and willingness to work with me on price. During our discussion of the NSX, he felt that it was a sales disaster. He admits that having the units at the dealership does increase foot traffic and people taking pictures, but few, if any, real buyers call or pursue discussions about purchasing the car. He did state that the car is fast but not enthralling, overall the speed of the car is more than many can handle. His take was that two key factors really turn-off buyers.
1) Price. From his perspective, at $120K the car would be an easier sell. The $200K car on his showroom floor is priced in a category where other cars that have are more visceral and exciting exist. He did not believe that there would be any immediate incentives that would bring the price down to a level that would entice buyers. When I inquired whether there would be a glut of 2017 models still lingering around in 2018, he felt that the odds were pretty high.
2) Hybrid drivetrain. Like others, he thought that the car's ICE could have been tuned to a point where it could have provided similar performance as what exists in its current incarnation with the hybrid drivetrain without the added weight, complexity and cost. One aspect that I wasn't aware was that he believed that in the used marketplace, the hybrid drivetrain would diminish its desirability.
Sadly, I don't think $130K is even going to move these cars.
Today, I had one of the most insightful conversations with a sales rep at a local dealership. I've bought a number of new cars from him and he is a genuine car enthusiast. I've repeatedly purchased vehicles from him due to his honestly and willingness to work with me on price. During our discussion of the NSX, he felt that it was a sales disaster. He admits that having the units at the dealership does increase foot traffic and people taking pictures, but few, if any, real buyers call or pursue discussions about purchasing the car. He did state that the car is fast but not enthralling, overall the speed of the car is more than many can handle. His take was that two key factors really turn-off buyers.
1) Price. From his perspective, at $120K the car would be an easier sell. The $200K car on his showroom floor is priced in a category where other cars that have are more visceral and exciting exist. He did not believe that there would be any immediate incentives that would bring the price down to a level that would entice buyers. When I inquired whether there would be a glut of 2017 models still lingering around in 2018, he felt that the odds were pretty high.
2) Hybrid drivetrain. Like others, he thought that the car's ICE could have been tuned to a point where it could have provided similar performance as what exists in its current incarnation with the hybrid drivetrain without the added weight, complexity and cost. One aspect that I wasn't aware was that he believed that in the used marketplace, the hybrid drivetrain would diminish its desirability.
