What cars are selling in 2008?

The best selling car in America... for now

We all know auto sales are way down; so much so that automakers and dealers are taking some desperate measures to move cars.

While it may sound like nothing but doom and gloom, cars are still selling. It’s when we look at which ones that we get a glimpse into what consumers are demanding. And there are some surprises about what cars are popular right now.

Through August, the top selling vehicles for 2008 are: 

1. Toyota Camry
2. Honda Accord
3. Honda Civic
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Ford F- Series
6. Nissan Altima
7. Chevy Silverado
8. Chevy Impala
9. Ford Focus
10. Chevy Cobalt

Here’s what surprises me about this list: First, even though the first half of 2008 saw the highest gas prices EVER, the Toyota Prius isn’t present. I take that as a sign that consumers are smart, electing to save their money by buying traditional gas-powered cars that deliver an acceptable MPG.

Second, there are two trucks on the list. Chalk this up to aggressive discounting by Ford and Chevy, in addition to the simple fact that a lot of guys in America will ALWAYS buy trucks.

It’s no surprise that all SUVs have disappeared completely from the top 10. Families in need of hauling soccer gear and kids are sacrificing the space of an Explorer for the practicality of the Accord.

No doubt this list is posted in the corporate offices of automakers around the world, and we’ll be seeing more 4-door fuel efficient sedans in the future.

I want to know: How long will pickups stay on the top 10?

-tgriffith

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