The Ford Mustang has once again claimed the title of America’s most popular mainstream sports car for the third quarter of 2024. With an impressive 9,041 units sold during this period and a total of 36,485 deliveries year to date, the iconic pony car continues to reign supreme.
Meanwhile, the discontinued Camaro and Challenger models saw significantly lower sales figures. Despite their recent discontinuation, the Camaro managed to sell 444 units in the third quarter, while the Challenger sold 3,657.
The Challenger’s year to date sales of 24,874 were surprisingly high, considering its impending end of production. The Corvette, while not considered a mainstream sports car due to its higher price point, also performed well with 7,797 units sold in the third quarter and a total of 25,711 deliveries year to date.
Other sports car models, such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Subaru BRZ, faced challenges in the market. The Miata sold only 545 units in the third quarter and 5,780 year to date, representing a decline of 23.6% compared to the previous year. The BRZ also struggled, with year to date sales of 2,323.
In contrast, the Toyota GR Supra, a sports car developed in collaboration with BMW, saw a positive sales performance. With 9,643 units sold year to date, the Supra achieved a 10.4% increase compared to the previous year. It’s worth noting that the Supra’s sales figures were closely aligned with the BRZ, both models reaching around 2,300 deliveries year to date.
Despite the introduction of a manual transmission for the 2025 model year, BMW’s Z4 has seen only a slight increase in sales through the first three quarters of 2024. Deliveries have reached 1,471 units, a modest 1.2 percent rise compared to the previous year. However, the allure of a manual gearbox seems to have had limited impact, as the manual equipped Z4 comes with a hefty price tag of $54,050.
For those seeking more power, the six-cylinder M40i starts at $66,450, and the Edition Handschalter Package adds a further $3,500. While the Z4 offers a sporty driving experience, it faces stiff competition from more dynamically capable rivals like the GR Supra. Nissan’s twin turbocharged Z, essentially a modernized version of the 370Z, has also seen limited success.
With a retro inspired design, upgraded interior, and a more powerful engine, the Z has sold 2,175 units in the first nine months of the year. Despite its improvements, the Z’s sales figures fall short of expectations. Of the mainstream sports cars currently available, only seven offer a manual transmission. The most affordable option is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, starting at $28,985 for the soft top Sport model.
