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Mazda has an awesome lineup right now! The 6 speed MT in the CX-5 and the skyactiv Mazda 3 have to be the BEST I've ever drove. The shift feel was perfect and the gears were spaced perfect. Great cars!
Subaru also has a cult following, to a degree, such that the cars tend to sell themselves, not requiring sales technique to persuade potential customers to buy the vehicle. Also, Subaru buyers in my reference tend to be better educated in terns of what they want out of a vehicle, and seem to attract a more affluent demographic, overall, because Subaru does not compete with Kia, for example, as Nissan does with the lower-priced vehicles. With Nissan, it is a mixed bag, as in you could end up with a customer who wants a Versa and is very price and finance sensitive, or you may find one who is not price sensitive and wants to buy a top-of-the range Maxima, Z, or Armada. I do not, and have not, worked in vehicle sales, but when I think of the two brands in my frame of reference, I would look to Subaru, provided the dealership does not put too many salespeople on the floor who are competing for customers.
Subaru is a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries and was founded as almost a 'pet' project for FHI to experiment with their expertise in engines. They heavily market their cars toward the higher educated/higher income group, and most people that come into buy a Subaru have already decided what they are going to buy before they walk in the door. The dealerships we have dealt with know that and are pretty good at leveraging their position as best they can; they have very obviously had corporate training .
Also, it depends what area you are in (I did not check). Mountain and winter states sell huge numbers of them, whereas the southern and coastal areas, not so much. OTOH, the lower sales area tend to sell on much better margins.
I've owned both Nissan and Subaru and will never buy a Subaru again. Very disappointed in the repairs needed and rust. Nissan, on the other hand, has been great for me. Toyota and Honda as well...
My sister hit a tree two years ago and totaled her '05 Legacy, the force even cracked the passenger valve cover. A local body guy fixed it up somewhat and she's been driving it ever since, sometimes 100 miles a day. Has to be a pretty tough little car to withstand her driving.
If you want to sell cars, go sell cars. The dealership management would matter far more to me than the actual product line, because there really are not any bad cars sold in the US currently.
My concern, is that you state that you cannot work with affluent people well. Why not? Do you assume that only middle class and lower folks buy less expensive cars? If so, you would be wrong. Many well to do people buy such cars, because that's what we want. (Not me, I prefer my Mercedes Benz... )
Many of my well to do neighbors also prefer to keep a lower profile and not flaunt their wealth. They would possibly be your customers, and you would need to be able to handle working with them. Conversely, many less than affluent people want to buy a higher end car in an attempt to project an image above their station in life. So, the BMW dealer (for example) often has to work hard to get financing for these folks who are unable to simply write a check for their status-meister. In other words, don't judge a potential buyer too much...
I would suggest you consider the Platinum Rule. You've undoubtedly heard of the Golden Rule; Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated. The Platinum Rule states: Treat Others As They Would Like To Be Treated.
If you have any conscience at all, you will sell great cars like Subarus. Nissans are good, but not what the used to be. There is NO WAY my conscience could let me profit by selling anything the Detroit 3 spews out.
I've owned both Nissan and Subaru and will never buy a Subaru again. Very disappointed in the repairs needed and rust. Nissan, on the other hand, has been great for me. Toyota and Honda as well...
Did you have issues with the infamous head gasket on the Subaru? I ask because I bought mine with 105,000 on the clock and it was a well maintained one owner car with no head gasket issues. I have an 04 Forester.
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