For 2006, Pontiac’s Solstice roadster outsold Mazda’s MX-5 Miata to take the title of America’s most popular roadster. While Pontiac sold 19,710 Solstice roasters in 2006, Mazda only delivered 16,897 MX-5s, but that was up 72.4 percent from the previous year.

Despite being outsold, Mazda North American Operations’ top executive is unfazed by the second place finish. O’Sullivan said that the customer base for the two vehicles is totally different. “We could have sold a bunch more MX-5 Miatas if we wanted to,” he added, and we have no interest in boosting sales by offering incentives.

O’Sullivan is also looking forward to a full year of sales of the retractable hardtop version of the MX-5, which didn’t debut until October.

“And one year does not necessarily define success or failure,” O’Sullivan said, especially when the MX-5 “remains the No.1 selling roadster in the world.”

O’Sullivan could be right. In January, Mazda sold 985 MX-5s, while Pontiac only moved 861 Solstice roadsters — down nearly 50 percent. Could the appeal of the Solstice be wearing off now that it isn’t the hot, new kid on the block?

## Source: Wards Auto ##

Posted in: Mazda, Pontiac, News, Car Buying, Roadsters
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