Economy not slowing car sales

S.J. Cahn

The economic brakes may still be on, but that isn’t slowing car sales

in Newport-Mesa, particularly of luxury cars and SUVs.

One of the area’s most high profile dealers, Fletcher Jones

Motorcars, produced almost $241 million in revenue during the first

six months of the year, an 8% increase compared to the same six

months in 2002.

The dealer sold 2,659 new vehicles and 1,001 used models between

January and June.

Those numbers exceeded initial expectations, said Garth

Blumenthal, general manager of Newport Beach-based Fletcher Jones.

Among the reasons Blumenthal gave for the increase in sales was

the dealer’s drive to provide financing and leasing to a wider range

of potential buyers.

That same strategy helped propel strong sales at the end of 2002,

said Ed Fawcett, president of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

“Auto dealers, in general, have been holding their own and doing

well,” he added.

At Costa Mesa’s 19 new car dealerships, sales during the first

three months of the year were up 1% compared to 2002, Fawcett said.

“Given the economy, it’s not too bad,” he said. “Not going down is

a good thing.”

In fact, the city’s auto dealers have managed to avoid a dip in

sales for more than a year, Fawcett said.

And with new models rolling in, dealers are enthusiastic about the

rest of the year.

“Overall, we’ve had a lot of challenges this year,” said Kirk

Varga, general manager of Theodore Robbins Ford on Harbor Boulevard.

But August has proven the best month of the year, he said, and the

dealer is readying to sell the new F150 truck and the new Freestar,

the successor to the Windstar minivan. The two vehicles are among 18

to 20 Ford will be introducing by the end of 2004.

A good month for Theodore Robins is new and used sales of about

250 vehicles, Varga said, with this month exceeding that figure.

“We’re really, really excited” about the new models, he said.