The economy has a lot to do with it, it's back to "needs and wants". The 370Z arrived at a bad time, right in the middle of a Global economic crisis. 2 seat sports cars are not practical for most people. When people loose jobs or have no faith in the economy they scale back and only buy what is needed not what they want. The bad press about dangerous brakes and over heating oil did not help either.
The end of '09 was horrific for the 2 seat sport car market. Winter was on the way for most States, the economy was boiling over and car companies were dumping huge incentives to unload unsold 2 seat sport cars. It's not the 370Z either, numbers are down for everyone. At the end of '09 Porsche was dumping all cars for 23%-25% off MSRP and cut NA allocations by 40% for '10-'11. Miata always had huge discounts at the end of the year, about $6K off. Mazda dealers were calling back offering about 22% off MSRP. 15% off Corvettes.
A interesting thing about the Tsunami. It and the economy created a "perfect storm" in the car market for some people. New supply was reduced after May due to the tsunami. There was almost no production. Demand for used cars went up. I know someone who bought a brand new left over '09 Z in late '10 for huge money off invoice because of the economy. They just sold the car private party for $500 less then what they paid for it brand new after driving it for 14 months! That will never happen again.
Mustangs and Camaros have rear seats so that helps with their sales and base prices are lower.
Last edited by autopc25; 10-21-2011 at 10:04 AM.
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