Breaking News - Ferrari Ownership Isn't Getting Easier

We're accustomed to paying a little bit more for consumer goods than we did five years ago. We've all heard the stories from our parents who bought a Coke for ten cents when they were kids and then bought their first house for $25,000. For the gainfully employed, the annual differences - not the comparisons with 1970 - are annoying but generally manageable.

Then again, the teenager who loved the Ferrari F355 in 1998 and thought he could get a good tech job and save like mad and buy a new Ferrari in 2012 was terribly, outrageously, embarrassingly wrong. He's $58,000 shy of the total he needs. And yes, he had compensated for inflation.

The Ferrari F355 was priced at $121,495 in 1998. Who knows what Ferrari clients actually paid once they optioned their cars, but that's the USD price as Cars.com quotes it. Expecting the price of the F355's great-grandson to simply be $121,495 plus inflation proves to be silly. Inflation only takes the total up to $171,717. In fact, the 458 Italia costs $229,825, an 89.2% jump from the F355's price; a 33.8% jump above inflation.

Objectively, the 458 Italia is a far more impressive car. But we expect improvements from every new car introduction, so the 458's ability to accelerate faster than the F355, its ability to outcorner the 360 Modena, and its ability to outpretty the F430 aren't representative of something Ford hasn't also been able to achieve with the Mustang.

Speaking of which, Mustang GT prices have risen just 47.4% from 1998 to 2012. Adjusted for inflation, the 1998 Mustang GT's price would be $28,479 in 2012 dollars, just under the $29,710 Ford actually charges. And the 1998 Mustang GT sucked. It sucked so bad. 

Adjusted for inflation, the 1998 Mazda MX-5 Miata would cost $27,030 in 2012 dollars. The MY2012 MX-5 Miata only costs $23,470, just a 22.7% jump from the MY1997's actual price. The 2005 Miata would cost $26,067 in 2012 dollars, a veritable rip-off compared to the current car.

From the 1998 F355 to the 2000 360 Modena, entry-level Ferrari V8 prices jumped 13.8%. Understandable, maybe. The 2005 F430's price was 23% higher than the 360's, also understandable. After all, the Mustang GT's price jumped 18.6% during that period. But the mid-engined V8 Ferrari's base price jumped 35% in the next seven-year period, while Mustang GT prices climbed only 18.2% and MX-5 Miata prices moved up only 6.2%.

Ferrari's controversial FF is actually quite a bit cheaper than the 1998 Ferrari 456 would cost in 2012. Prices of the four-seat grand touring Ferrari V12 have only risen 35% since 1998. The 456 would cost $308,256 in 2012; the FF is priced from $295,000.

When it comes to the two-seat Ferrari V12 family, increases have been 458 Italia-like in their ferocity. Estimated to start at $330,000, the F12 Berlinetta will be 68.1% more expensive than the 1998 550 Maranello. That Maranello would cost $277,444 in 2012 dollars, the 2002 575M would cost $274,905 today, and the 599 GTB Fiorano of 2007 would cost $293,370. F12 prices are likely to be 25% higher than 599 prices from its first year on sale. 

Meanwhile, Porsche 911 prices have risen rather slowly by comparison. In 2002, the base price of a 911 was only 6.5% more than the base price in 1998. 2007 base prices were only 6.6% higher than the 911 of five years earlier. And the basic 911 of 2012 costs $82,100, just 28.8% more than the basic 911 cost in 1998. The gorgeous old school 1998 911, with its comparatively anemic 282-horsepower engine and atrocious 14-mpg city fuel economy, would cost $90,102 in 2012. The current 911 Carrera is priced from $82,100.

So with Ferrari's "basic" car being even more out of reach than it was 14 years ago, sales have likely dwindled to nothing, right? 

Very, truly, wonderfully wrong.

Ferrari doesn't release monthly U.S. sales reports like Honda or General Motors or even Porsche, so we don't have exact numbers. But Automotive News estimates that total Ferrari sales last year were the best on record. (Records go back ten years.) Moreover, AN estimates that Ferrari sales are up 6% through the first three quarters of 2012. The totals, shown in the table below, suggest Ferrari USA volume climbed 36.2% between 2002 and 2011. This is a period during which the overall market recorded a collective decline of 24.2%.

September 2012 YTD - All 265 Vehicles Ranked

The rich get richer, don't you see? And when they get richer, they buy more Ferraris. At the same time, you and I lose all hope of ever owning one. Because we all know our financial advisors would have encouraged us to spend $121,495 on an F355 in 1998 if only we'd had the money.

Year	ANDC Estimated Ferrari USA Sales Volume	Year-Over-Year % Change
2002	1204	n/a
2003	1350	+ 12.1%
2004	1176	- 12.9%
2005	1225	+ 4.2%
2006	1392	+ 13.6%
2007	1584	+ 13.8%
2008	1602	+ 1.1%
2009	1500	- 6.4%
2010	1440	- 4.0%
2011	1640	+ 13.9%
* 2012 YTD	1350	+ 5.9%

* January-September 2012 compared to January-September 2011

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Historical Monthly & Yearly Porsche 911 Sales Totals
Historical Monthly & Yearly Ford Mustang Sales Totals
Historical Monthly & Yearly Mazda MX-5 Miata Sales Totals
U.S. Auto Sales Brand Rankings - September 2012 & YTD

What Canadians Pay For A New 2012 Hyundai Veloster

The number of Canadians searching, and finding, the price of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster has been startling. This unique and inexpensive sporty hatch has caught the attention of a wide range of buyers. There's proof in the numbers:  Hyundai sold 997 Velosters in the first two months it was on sale in Canada. Four at the tail end of August, 568 in September, and 425 in October. 

The Good Car Guy will be spending some quality time in one of Hyundai Canada's Velosters next week, so now seems like as good a time as any to get down to the nitty-gritty of the Veloster's Canadian pricing structure. Hyundai is obviously gearing the Veloster towards a younger generation, a group of people unlikely to walk in and plop down $23,700 (including delivery, fees, and taxes) or $29,335 (for the top-of-the-line Veloster) in cash. 

Granted, swiping your points-registering Mastercard on a purchase of such magnitude would likely earn you 2000 AirMiles, but you probably don't have the coin. And if you do, with Hyundai's low interest rates, you're better off using your cash as a down payment on a home in Canada's healthy housing market.

Priced from $18,999 to $23,899, the Veloster lines up well against the $23,490-$24,290 Honda CR-Z and the pre-accessorized $20,490-$21,990 Scion tC. The price you pay for a car has as much to do with interest rates as it does with MSRP, however. So what will you actually pay to get a Veloster off the Hyundai lot and into your driveway?

For the purposes of this exercise we'll assume Nova Scotia's 15% HST and use www.HyundaiCanada.com's fairly faithful Build & Price calculator.

Starting with a basic Veloster and its 6-speed manual transmission, a 60-month purchase with zero dollars down nets you a $424.81 payment. Hyundai will gladly fit you in to a biweekly payment schedule, which would drop your payment to about $196 every two weeks. Hyundai's 60-month interest rate on the Veloster is currently at 2.9%

Now, if you want the basic Veloster but require Hyundai's DCT automatic, your monthly payment rises to $453.67. Paying over 48 or 36 months doesn't allow your interest rate to drop (at the moment) so the payment rises rapidly to $559.11 or $734.94, respectively.

With the Veloster's tech package and a manual transmission, 60 payments of $496.96 can be expected. Finally, expect to pay $525.82 for a fully outfitted 2012 Veloster with the tech package and the Ecoshift DCT automatic. 

Compare these payments with those for the CVT-equipped Honda CR-Z and you'll find that Honda's 5.9% interest rate drives the rare CR-Z up to $572.82 over 60 months. Equip the CR-Z with a manual transmission and the monthly payment drops by $17.74. Stick with the CVT but add the style package and the essentials package and the CR-Z's monthly payment shoots up to $650.72. The same CR-Z could be leased for 48 months at $473.03.

An automatic-equipped Scion tC will run you $496.38 with Toyota Canada's 3.9% 60-month rate. The $474.20 of the manual-tranny Scion tC is an easier pill to swallow.

Term	Veloster  6-Speed  Manual	Veloster Ecoshift DCT	Veloster 6-Speed Manual w/ Tech Package	Veloster Ecoshift DCT w/ Tech Package
36 Months	$688.19	$734.94	$805.07	$851.82
48 Months	$523.54	$559.11	$612.46	$648.02
60 Months	$424.81	$453.67	$496.96	$525.82
72 Months	$359.04	$383.43	$420.01	$444.40

Purchase payments are based on Hyundai Canada's current 2.9% rates, $0.00 down, and N.S. residency

Don't take these prices as nails in a coffin. Dealers may have room to negotiate, and rates (Hyundai's in particular) are likely to fall over time. For example, Hyundai's turbocharged Sonata 2.0T can be paid interest-free over 72 months.

It's a useful guide, however, and it goes a long way to explaining why the newest Hyundai has been so popular from the get-go. Though the Veloster accounted for just 4.1% of all Hyundai Canada sales in October, it was more than twice as popular as the Genesis Coupe despite the rear-wheel drive Hyundai's 31% year-over-year increase. The Veloster out-sold the Elantra Touring by five units. With 425 sales, the Veloster was responsible for 38.5% of Hyundai's 12.1% year-over-year increase. 

Moreover, the Veloster's 425 October sales were 208-units stronger than Chevrolet's Camaro total, 296 greater than Ford's Mustang total, and 344 better than what Chrysler managed with the Challenger. Scion sold 143 copies of the tC in September. Sales of a GoodCarBadCar favourite, the Volkswagen GTI, topped out at 160. Finally, another possible rival, the Fiat 500, found 405 buyers in September. 67 of those Fiat 500 sales were actually for the 500C.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Sporty Car Sales In Canada - September 2011
Official Canadian Hyundai Veloster Pricing Released
2011's The Good 12 v4.0 Part 4 - Fiat 500

Nissan Maxima Sales Strong In America, Weak In Canada

Through the first nine months of 2011, the Canadian auto market was 7.8 times smaller than the U.S. auto market. Nissan Maxima sales, however, are 26.4 times stronger in the United States.

Before that number shocks you more than it should, remember that Nissan sells 11.6 vehicles in the U.S. for every one vehicle Nissan sells in Canada, so the company's market share south of the border is much healthier. But, as mathematicians would readily understand, 11.6 does not equal 26.4.

What's the explanation? For starters, there's one basic assumption auto observers can hold when it comes to Canadian choices which don't jibe with the choices of American car buyers: a typical U.S. Altima buyer would be a Sentra buyer in Canada. The same goes for other automakers. Canadians pay more for cars and more for gas and therefore typically choose a smaller vehicle. The Maxima, being on the larger side, isn't really the typical Canadian's cup of automotive tea. As a result, not only is the Maxima rejected; so is the idea of buying a Nissan Maxima.

There's much more to it than basic Canadian ideological car buying differences. Consider the Nissan Sentra, once again. In Canada, the Sentra's base price is $15,478. U.S. buyers would see a base price of $16,060. Now there will inevitably be trim and equipment differences, but there's no denying that Canadians can pay less for the car (before accounting for taxes and fees.)

Up one size class, however, the Altima's base price is $3588 lower in the United States. And when we make it to the Maxima, Canadians are paying $6130 extra. That's 19% more than an American would be forced to pay. Is it any wonder that Maxima sales in Canada are comparatively weak?

There's one other big problem for the $37,880 2012 Nissan Maxima in Canada. The less powerful but more dynamic and more prestigious 2012 Infiniti G25 starts at $36,390. In the United States, the $31,750 2012 Nissan Maxima can be slightly more comfortable competing against a 2012 Infiniti G25 which features a basic MSRP of $32,400. (The G37 starts at $36,200 in the U.S. The AWD G37x bases at $43,450 in Canada.)

Maxima buyers in Canada are tasked with ignoring a cheaper Infiniti and a price that can't compete with a $36,700 Mercedes-Benz C250 or a $34,900 BMW 323i.

Is it any wonder that in America the Maxima is out-selling the Infiniti G family by 1210 sales through the first three quarters of 2009 (44,593 to 43,383) while in Canada Infiniti sells 1.6 G sedans and coupes for every Maxima sold? In America, where its base price is $3050 above the Nissan's, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is up on the Maxima by only 1535 sales. In Canada, where the Benz can be the less expensive car, Mercedes-Benz C-Class sales are four times stronger than Maxima sales this year.

Back on the main subject, just how weak are Canadian Maxima sales in comparison to what Nissan USA achieves? Nissan sold 6133 Maximas in America in September 2011. During the last eight years, Nissan Canada's best Maxima annual sales tally was in 2004 when they sold 5209. And sales had fallen 56.5% from that high to last year's year-end total.

The Maxima is by no means Nissan's only nameplate with vastly superior sales in the United States. So far this year, 370Z sales are 15 times stronger in the United States. No surprise there: Nissan Canada charges 30% more for a basic Z coupe. The Nissan Maxima's unique appeal in the United States simply stands out more than the Z's because of its mainstream volume.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Large Car Sales In America - September 2011
Large Car Sales In Canada - September 2011
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In America - September 2011
Top 20 Best-Selling Cars In Canada - September 2011

Note: The Nissan Maxima is certainly not the only model with huge sales disparities between the U.S. and Canada. Significant market share differences usually exist in North America's large vehicle segments or in premium segments. The Maxima is simply the car chosen to highlight the fact that Canadian and U.S. buyers are very different.

Price - 2012 Volkswagen Passat vs Ford Fusion vs Hyundai Sonata - With Canadian Midsize Sales Chart

Volkswagen Canada announced pricing for the 2012 Passat some time ago, but with the car finally arriving at dealers, it seemed like a good time to measure the 2012 model's value against the segment's Canadian leaders. The top selling midsize car in Canada isn't the Toyota Camry, nor is it the Honda Accord. So far this year the Ford Fusion leads the midsize pack. The Hyundai Sonata ranks second. 

With the new 2012 Volkswagen Passat looking to shake things up considerably, it's also worth seeing how much the segment has changed over the last five years. The chart below displays year end sales volume for nine cars (including the Passat/Passat CC combo) from 2006 to 2010 as well as the first seven months of 2011. Notice the Toyota Camry's decline, the Toyota Venza's assistance, the Fusion's gradual increase, Subaru's uptick, and the Passat's inconsequential volume. 

Passat volume in Canada has always been reported with the CC. Those cars are mostly unrelated now so perhaps Volkswagen Canada will begin reflecting that in sales reports soon.

CLICK CHART FOR LARGER VIEW
2011 YTD: Malibu Down 16.7%, Fusion Down 2.2%, Accord down 33.6%, Sonata up 24.3%, 
Altima up 14.1%, Subaru up 12%, Camry down 35.4%, Venza down 7.3%, Passat/CC down 55.5%

Back to prices, the basic Passat stickers for $23,975. The 2.0L diesel is the one you'll want, though. TDI prices range from $27,475 to just under $34K for the loaded Highline. The V6 is powerful but probably an unnecessary extravagance given the 2.0L TDI's swelling torque, along with its MSRP advantage and fuel savings. 

Despite VW's huge price decreases you can still pay less for a 2012 Hyundai Sonata or 2012 Ford Fusion. For less than the price of a Comfortline TDI you could have a turbocharged Sonata, a car The Good Car Guy was really impressed with in loaded $34,199 trim.

For basic midsize savings, however, Ford has even Hyundai beat. At $19K the Fusion's main rival is a decently equipped Focus. Apart from options the top-of-the-line all-wheel drive Fusion Sport with a 3.5L V6 costs less than a Passat Comfortline V6. The Fusion is more to look at, too, although the Passat leaves more of an impression than first believed. That is, if you notice it. And that's a big if, particularly considering the eye-catching nature of the Sonata or Hyundai's platform-sharing partner from Kia, the totally revamped Optima.

Volkswagen Passat	2.5	TDI	V6
Trendline	$23,975	$27,475	-----
Trendline +	$24,875	-----	-----
Comfortline	$27,975	$30,575	$33,575
Highline	$31,475	$33,775	$37,475
Hyundai Sonata	2.4	2.0T	Hybrid
Base (GL, 2.0T, Hybrid)	$22,699	$29,249	$29,999
GLS	$26,499	-----	-----
Limited	$28,899	$32,399	-----
Limited With Navigation	$31,699	$34,199	-----
Premium	-----	-----	$34,499
Ford Fusion	2.5	V6	Hybrid
S	$19,084	-----	-----
SE	$21,799	-----	-----
SEL	$24,469	-----	-----
SEL AWD 3.0	-----	$28,919	-----
Sport AWD 3.5	-----	$32,568	-----
Hybrid	-----	-----	$31,684

Freight and delivery costs $1565 at Hyundai dealers, $1450 at Ford, and presumably $1365 at Volkswagen, based on freight costs for other Volkswagens. Add $1600 for an automatic on the Sonata GL. An automatic transmission is a $1220 option on the Fusion S and Fusion SE. The VR6-engined Passat is equipped with an automatic, but optioning the TDI and 2.5 with an auto tranny should cost between $1400 and $1625.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
2012 Volkswagen Passat Style Analysis & Gallery
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2012 Hyundai Veloster Is $18,999 In Canada, Loaded At $23,899

News that the price of the upcoming Hyundai Veloster would be just $17,300 in the United States had enthusiasts and automotive critics excited. For Canadians, it meant the Veloster's base price couldn't righteously exceed $20,000. Thankfully, Canadian executives and accountants stuck close to the U.S. pricing scheme as the 2012 Hyundai Veloster has an $18,999 price tag in Canada.

Choosing your Veloster will be easy. Opt for the $1400 dual-clutch transmission or stick with the 6-speed manual. Check off the $3500 tech package.... or don't. Choose your paint colour. You're done.

Above and beyond the regular $18,999 Veloster's 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth, heated seats, telescoping steering wheel, keyless entry, push-button start, back-up camera, and 7-inch touch screen, the $3500 tech package adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, 450-watt Dimension audio, and leather-wrapped wheel and knob. This car, in any form, will represent ridiculous value, particularly if it's as much fun to drive as everyone expects it to be.

Check Online For Information 

On Car Breakdown Cover Or To Get A Car Insurance Quote

For 2012, every Hyundai Veloster in North America will be fitted with the 138-hp 1.6L 4-cylinder from the all-new 2012 Hyundai Accent. In the Veloster, those horses must pull around only 2584 pounds (1127 kilograms). The fancy-schmancy dual-clutch gearbox adds 73 pounds.

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is a hugely important vehicular introduction for Hyundai Canada and every other Hyundai subsidiary around the world. Of course, we say that about nearly every new car every automaker introduces, but in this case Hyundai has the chance to round out its model lineup more thoroughly while meeting youthful automotive enthusiasts at a price point that's hugely affordable for budget-conscious buyers. 

At $18,999, the basic (but very well-equipped) Veloster is only $600 more than a top-line Hyundai Accent GLS 5-door. And while the Accent might be more practical, the Veloster is a surprisingly spacious offering for something so intent on being sporty. 

What Canadians Actually Pay For A New 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Whether you appreciate its stunning profile and bodacious backside or loathe its aggressive front-end styling (more of which you can see in the Gallery below), the 2012 Hyundai Veloster sends a strong message to companies like Toyota (a former builder of the Paseo and Celica), Mazda (former vendor of the MX-3 Precidia and MX-6 Mystere), and Honda (current builder of the disappointing $23,490 hybrid CR-Z).

The message, however, is far more important to young and young-at-heart car buyers: Hyundai is saying you can have a fun-to-drive, eye-catching, well-equipped, uniquely-packaged, fuel efficient sporty car for the price of a mid-range Elantra. They're not lying. Not when they say $23,899 for a fully loaded Veloster. And certainly not when they say $18,999 for something you'll want.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
What Canadians Pay For A New 2012 Veloster
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2012 Hyundai Elantra Driven
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Bring The 2013 Volkswagen up! To North America

Don't expect to see the 2013 Volkswagen Up on North American roads in the near future. Do expect to see the Volkswagen Up listed as the up! or even the up but lazily, the Up.

The Good Car Guy can think of multiple reasons Volkswagen should bring the Up to North America. Here's a list of reasons you should consider before scanning the Gallery of official production 2013 Volkswagen Up images below.

1. The 2013 Volkswagen Up is a very handsome city car; obviously odd and inexpensive looking but quite classy nonetheless. Handsome sells.


2. The 2013 Volkswagen Up is something of a Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle successor: a car for the people, the masses, the proletarians, the common man. In case you're unfamiliar with that Beetle ancestor, it was a rather successful machine.


3. Others are doing it. The Chevrolet Spark and Scion iQ haven't yet proven that there's a market for tiny cars in the United States and Canada, but Volkswagen's background seems to suggest that if any automaker could make hay in this segment, it's VW.


4. MQB, the name of the Up's platform, makes it sound as though the Up will be cheap to build. See, by using a modular platform that will eventually be found underneath cars as large as the next Passat, Volkswagen is sure to save money, thereby lowering the risk quotient of introducing a car to North America that has a decent chance of failing.


5. Whether it's generated by coal, wind, or water, electricity is anticipated to be the cool new way to power cars in the near future. Volkswagen says the Up will be offered in electric form, and since the car is so cheap to begin with, perhaps the Up-based Nissan Leaf alternative won't cost more than $30K in the USA.


6. Yeah, it's really cheap. Of course, you don't receive a lot of car in return. The Up is powered by no more than 74 horsepower. (How 'bout a 110-hp Up GTI for fun in an urban environment?) At €9500 the Up sounds expensive on pure currency exchange terms. €9500 equals $13,675 USD today, or $13,537 CDN. But keep in mind that in Germany Volkswagen's Golf starts at the equivalent of $24,436 USD, a fair bit above America's $17,995 point of entry. If, like the Golf's, the Up's price equals a 35.7% premium, we can assume the Up's price would fall from €9500 to something significantly less than $10,000 USD.


7. Volkswagen is selling more and more cars in North America, but the brand has set goals to go even higher. Wouldn't a showroom full of inexpensive city cars offset the blandness of the likely-successful 2012 Passat? And come on, admit it: the Up would be a nice stepping point up to the gaaahrgeous Bulli van, the concept version of which stoked desire in the hearts of.... everyone.

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2012 Chevrolet Orlando Priced At $19,995 In Canada

Details are scarce, but a GM Canada source on Twitter revealed just this afternoon that the upcoming 2012 Chevrolet Orlando will be priced from $19,995 in Canada. That's for the LS model, presumably riding on the non-wheelarch-filling 16" wheels, most likely fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission. *Updated pricing/specs info from MSN Autos' review of the Orlando is available below.*

The 2012 Orlando features three rows of seats regardless of trim. According to Auto123.com's Justin Pritchard, the third row isn't that bad, either. This third-row/4-cylinder MPVish configuration and crossoveresque styling should see the Orlando being cross-shopped with the Mazda 5, Kia Rondo, and perhaps the Dodge Journey.

Again, there isn't a whole lot of info available right this moment on the equipment and trim lines of the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando, but we can all agree that $19,995 is very inexpensive for a family hauler. The 2012 Mazda 5 has a base price of $21,795 in Canada. With seven seats the Kia Rondo has a Canadian base price of $23,795. Excluding some pleasant discounts, a seven-seat Dodge Journey leaves the gate at $22,370.

Although it's based on the Chevrolet Cruze, the Orlando won't use the Cruze's smaller 1.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder or its 1.8L 4-cylinder engine. Instead, the Canadian market will be served a 2012 Chevrolet Orlando with the 2.4L 4-cylinder from the $25,995 Equinox. This means 182 horsepower in the Equinox. However, an older GM press release suggests 178 horsepower is likely for the Orlando. 

In the United Kingdom, Chevrolet says the Orlando weighs 1528 kilograms (3369 pounds), nearly 400 pounds less than a basic 4-cylinder Equinox. Aerodynamics aside, this theoretically suggests the Orlando should fare better in fuel efficiency terms. The Equinox 2.4L is rated at 22/32 mpg city/highway by the American government's EPA, a producer of much more realistic figures than Natural Resources Canada. 22/32 translates to 10.7/7.4 L/100km for Canadian drivers.

So is it cheap enough to impact the fairly strong market share currently held by the Mazda 5, Kia Rondo, and Dodge Journey? We surely don't know yet if it's good enough, and, according to Britain's Telegraph, "The Orlando passes muster in the sector and it makes a sort of sense, but what looks like an unmissable bargain when you first hear the price isn't quite so cheap when you realise what it costs to spec up this MPV to a competitive level." 

This may not hold true in the totally distinct Canadian market, but it's perhaps worth considering until we have more info on the 2012 Chevrolet Orlando.

-----
Update: The $19,995 Orlando LS is fitted exclusively with a 6-speed manual. Air conditioning is a $1250 option. Standard equipment includes keyless entry, OnStar, and power windows. The wheel only tilts.

The 1LT is equipped with air-con, cruise, and a telescoping steering wheel for $22,295. Based on the Cruze options sheet, one can assume the 6-speed automatic will cost $1450. Up another notch is the $24,895 2LT. Now there's Bluetooth, fog lights, alloys, and audio controls on the wheel. 

Finally the $29,735 LTZ has heated seats, automatic climate control, big wheels, and rear parking sensors. That sub-$30K price includes the automatic transmission as standard equipment. The Kia Rondo is automatic-equipped regardless of trim; either as a 4-speed or a 5-speed with the V6. A 5-speed automatic costs $1200 for Mazda 5 purchasers.

Canadian fuel economy ratings are 10.1/6.7 L/100km for the manual Chevrolet Orlando and 10.6/6.9 for the automatic.

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2012 Scion iQ Price Is $16,760 In Canada

Scion Canada's website is finally displaying the price of the oft-delayed 2012 Scion iQ. At $16,760 - plus what we can assume will be $1390 in freight & delivery based on costs for other Scions in Canada - the iQ will cost $675 more than the 2012 Fiat 500. The smart fortwo costs $13,990 pre-freight, and it isn't half as unpopular in Canada as it is in the States.

True, that basic Fiat 500 lacks some features Scion will fit as standard equipment. The Fiat isn't as fuel efficient, either. America's EPA produces relatively accurate test results and figures the iQ at 36/37 mpg in the city and on the highway. The Fiat, with its excellent automatic transmission is rated at 27/34 in the city and on the highway. 

Are these cars comparable? At all? On purely financial grounds the 2012 Scion iQ doesn't seem all that impressive. Outside of the fact that Scion says it'll be filled with desirable equipment, the iQ is a unique product which must appeal to the emotional side of the brain, not unlike the Fiat. 

*Update: In the time spent writing this post, Scion.ca changed the Scion iQ's 

dropdown section on the homepage from $16,760 back to "Coming Soon".*

In the United States the 2012 Scion iQ is priced from $15,995 including destination. There's just one trim level south of the 49th, but accessories are plentiful. Not that currency exchanges can ever be expected to work in Canadians' favour, but if they did, the Scion iQ would have a freight-and-delivery-included price of $15,160. Instead, we're asked to pay around $18,000. 

Care for more Canadian pricing context? Excluding freight and delivery, the Honda Civic, Canada's best-selling car, starts at $14,990. The Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback starts at $15,716. The new 2012 Hyundai Accent - loaded with a 6-speed automatic, sunroof, heated seats, Bluetooth, and a wonderful power-to-weight ratio - tops out at $18,399. The most basic Jeep Wrangler has a Canadian MSRP of $18,345.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Official Scion iQ EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
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Scion iQ Price Is $15,995 In The United States

The Good Car Guy was wrong. The 2012 Scion iQ will be priced too high in the United States. At $15,995, allegedly, the iQ will have a higher base price than the Fiat 500 when it goes on sale in the fall, first out west, then the south, the east coast in early 2013, and the not-likely-to-buy-many-anyway midwest market. The thought had been that the iQ would have nudged close to $15K in Canada but remained cheaper than that in America.

The iQ is an ingenious product. There's no doubt about that. A huge amount of deserving attention has been paid to it right here on GoodCarBadCar.net. But $15,995? When the now-dull but very popular and rather roomy Honda Civic starts at $15,605? The smart fortwo is unloved by the vast majority of Americans and is growing increasingly antiquated, but still, it's priced at $12,490. 

Offical 2012 Scion iQ EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

All that said, we're well aware of Scion's tendency to absolutely load their cars with equipment and technology. Autoblog learned that the iQ would be priced at $15,995 but didn't get detailed info on kit. This could be a 4-seater with more stuff than you'd get on any other 4-seater under $20,000. Plus it has the novelty factor on its side. And the turning circle. And the fuel efficiency. Numbers that were briefly displayed on Canada's Office Of Energy Efficiency website suggests the iQ will use slightly less fuel than a smart fortwo, a car which is rated by the EPA at 33/41 mpg. The Good Car Guy's estimate back in November was 43/51 for the iQ, but that's maybe a tad positive.

smart sold 470 fortwos in the U.S. in June. Fiat sold 1803 500s. Scion, meanwhile, sold 828 copies of the xB and 575 editions of the forgettable xD. The xB starts at $16,720 - and it's huge inside. The xD has a $15,830 base price. 

The 2012 Scion iQ's lofty $15,995 MSRP might not matter in the first year or two after its North American launch. When those who want one badly already have one, however, those who are considering it as a possible purchase will likely be turned off by a car that can't take four people away for the weekend but is priced above more stylish alternatives which can.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Scion iQ Official Fuel Economy Figures
Scion iQ: Projected Price & MPG
Top 5 Safety Accounts From The Toyota iQ
Toyota iQ Video Explains 4 Seats In A Small Car
2012 Scion iQ Price Is $16,670 In Canada

2012 Hyundai Accent vs 2011 Hyundai Elantra - Specs, Prices, Features

Now that the 2012 Hyundai Accent has been officially priced in Canada, a hugely welcoming market for Hyundai, it seems as though the biggest rival for the popular Hyundai Elantra is not the 2012 Honda Civic. 

With a better power-to-weight ratio, the new Accent should be quicker than the Elantra. Priced a few hundred dollars below a mid-range Elantra, a loaded 2012 Accent GLS, as shown in the spec chart after the jump, provides a few features you'd only find in an Elantra if you shelled out more moola. The Accent hatchback has significantly more cargo capacity and only slightly smaller interior dimensions. Besides, fuel efficiency goes the Accent's way, albeit barely.

There was talk late last year that if there was one new car with the ability to overtake Honda's Civic as Canada's best-selling car, it would have to be the new-for-2011 Hyundai Elantra. Then in the first two months of 2011, the Hyundai Elantra was the best-selling car in Canada. Honda is expected to have supply problems in the early part of the summer, so is this Hyundai's opportunity to strike back after two months spent succumbing to the Civic's might?

Well, yeah, maybe it is an opportunity for Hyundai... but which Hyundai are we talking about? The 2012 Accent sedan arrives at dealerships shortly; the Accent 5-door hatchback won't be far behind, as The Good Car Guy reported earlier this week when posting Canadian prices for the 2012 Accent. In April, the dying third-generation Accent was the seventh-most-popular car in Canada with 2406 sales, 2818 behind the almighty Civic and 2146 behind the Elantra. You want to say this is because of big incentives on what was already a cheap car, but Accent sales in April were actually down from April 2010 when it was the fifth-ranked car.

So is the 2012 Hyundai Accent going to be the best-selling car in Canada by autumn? GoodCarBadCar.net isn't going to put a bet on that (or anything else). Are Hyundai sales consultants about to start taking a lot of customers on two test drives, one in the Elantra and one in the Accent? Go ahead and place that bet. 

Take a look at 34 objective categories in the spec chart to see the new Accent's competitive advantage over the Elantra. Then see if you're still tempted by the Elantra's flowing bodywork.

HYUNDAI SPECS	2011 Hyundai Elantra  GL Sedan	2012 Hyundai Accent  GLS 5-door Hatchback
Price (Canada)	$17,999	$17,199
Horsepower	148 @ 6500 rpm	138 @ 6300 rpm
Lb-Ft Torque	131 @ 4700 rpm	123 @4850 rpm
Curb Weight (pounds)	2661-2820	2430-2588
Pounds Per Horsepower	2661-2820	2430-2588
Engine	1.8L 4-cylinder	1.6L 4-cylinder
Transmission	6-speed manual	6-speed manual
EPA City/Highway  Fuel Economy	29/40 mpg	30/40 mpg
NRCAN City/Highway  Fuel Economy	6.8/4.9 L/100 km	6.7/4.8 L/100 km
Fuel Tank Capacity (litres)	48	43
Theoretical Range - EPA (kilometres)	816	733
Height (inches)	56.5	57.1
Length (inches)	178.3	162
Width (inches)	69.9	66.9
Wheelbase (inches)	106.3	101.2
Cargo Capacity  (cubic feet)	14.8	21.2
Cargo Capacity Seats Folded (cubic feet)	n/a	47.5
Passenger Compartment  (cubic feet)	96	90
Front Leg Room (inches)	43.6	41.8
Rear Leg Room (inches)	33.1	33.3
Front Hip Room (inches)	53.5	51.3
Rear Hip Room (inches)	52.7	47.2
Airbags	6	6
Safety  Abbreviations	ABS, EBD, VSM,  ESC, TSC	ABS, EBD, VSM,  ESC, TSC
4-Wheel  Disc Brakes	11-inch ventilated front/10.3-inch  sold rear	10.1-inch ventilated front/10.3 inch  solid rear
Stereo	AM/FM/CD/MP3  6 Speakers	AM/FM/CD/MP3  6 Speakers
Air Conditioning	Yes	Yes
Cruise Control	Yes	Yes
Heated Front Seats	Yes	Yes
Sunroof	No	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Telescopic Steering Wheel	Yes	No
Power Windows/Locks/Mirrors	Yes	Yes
Alloy Wheels	No	Yes

Specifications For Canadian Accent GLS Hatch and Elantra GL Sedan, U.S. trimlines are unique.

Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
2012 Hyundai Accent Prices In America
Hyundai Canada Sets 2012 Accent Prices
2012 Hyundai Accent GL Sedan Driven
2011 Hyundai Elantra Driven
2012 Hyundai Accent vs 2012 Kia Rio In Pictures