Businessweek: Honda Slips Into Reverse
04-09-10, 08:51 PM
#16
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Honda has similarly stumbled with the Insight. During the hybrid's splashy relaunch last year, Honda pitched it as a less expensive alternative to Toyota's Prius. In 2010, Honda has moved fewer than 5,000 Insights in the U.S., about one-sixth the number of Priuses Toyota has sold. And in March, Ford's Fusion hybrid edged out the Insight 1,670 to 1,652 even though the Fusion costs some 35% more. While the Fusion is roomier, it gets nearly the same gas mileage, about 40 miles per gallon.
And while the Insight is a dedicated hybrid model, the Fusion's hybrid variant
has even beaten it at $10K more!! THAT is pathetic on Honda's part.
Because it's hideous? And because it is another comparable MPG fail?
04-09-10, 10:11 PM
#17
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CRZ won't succeed IMO because
1. market for a 2 seater coupe is very small.
2. pricing won't be as cheap as it should be(just my hunch, but it will be overpriced IMO)
3. poor MPG for a hybrid
i think styling won't matter that much because people love hybrid to be different. it's not bad looking, but to me it's weird looking coupe. it's definitely not my cup of tea, but people buy CRV which is equally awkward looking car.
1. market for a 2 seater coupe is very small.
2. pricing won't be as cheap as it should be(just my hunch, but it will be overpriced IMO)
3. poor MPG for a hybrid
i think styling won't matter that much because people love hybrid to be different. it's not bad looking, but to me it's weird looking coupe. it's definitely not my cup of tea, but people buy CRV which is equally awkward looking car.
04-10-10, 05:20 AM
#18
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Honda lease
So why can't they sell?:
At the combo dealership (Honda, Toyota, Subaru, etc.) yesterday was having quick check on the Sienna when I casually asked about the $250/mo Accord lease to a "sales guy" while killing time. With $3K negative equity in my 09 Sonata (LOVE depreciation), they come back with a 36-month lease at $714 A MONTH!!!!!! ... for an LX!!! 
Ehhh... how's that math again???
As an example, BMW quoted a loaded 328xi (same terms) for $604/mo SAME DAY... which would you rather drive?
Honda= DEAD
and BUH-BYE!!!
At the combo dealership (Honda, Toyota, Subaru, etc.) yesterday was having quick check on the Sienna when I casually asked about the $250/mo Accord lease to a "sales guy" while killing time. With $3K negative equity in my 09 Sonata (LOVE depreciation), they come back with a 36-month lease at $714 A MONTH!!!!!!
... for an LX!!! Ehhh... how's that math again???
As an example, BMW quoted a loaded 328xi (same terms) for $604/mo SAME DAY... which would you rather drive?
Honda= DEAD
and BUH-BYE!!!
04-10-10, 07:37 AM
#19
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That head-banging problem on ingress/egress is not limited to the ZDX (or Honda/Acura products) by any means. More and more vehicles, today, are selling out to the humpback-whale roof design that causes that. It is simply a case of where fuction takes a back seat to form (no pun intended).
04-10-10, 07:45 AM
#20
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Honda/Acura's main problem is styling, and body design. THAT is the main thing that is currently holding them back. There are sometimes-heard other complaints, too, about lack of a V8/RWD/6-speed automatics. But I not only disagree with some of those complaints, but many people I know don't seem to find that an issue either. In the past, they have been attracted to Honda/Acura products for their quality and reliability, and Honda still seems to be delivering in that department....I still see few vehicles that show better factory-assembly quality. Where they are NOT delivering is with the goofy looks...that's definitely having an effect.
04-10-10, 07:48 AM
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Honda/Acura's main problem is styling, and body design. THAT is the main thing that is currently holding them back. There are sometimes-heard other complaints, too, about lack of a V8/RWD/6-speed automatics. But I not only disagree with some of those complaints, but many people I know don't seem to find that an issue either. In the past, they have been attracted to Honda/Acura products for their quality and reliability, and Honda still seems to be delivering in that department....I still see few vehicles that show better factory-assembly quality. Where they are NOT delivering is with the goofy looks...that's definitely having an effect.
04-11-10, 05:13 AM
#23
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04-11-10, 10:08 AM
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So why can't they sell?:
At the combo dealership (Honda, Toyota, Subaru, etc.) yesterday was having quick check on the Sienna when I casually asked about the $250/mo Accord lease to a "sales guy" while killing time. With $3K negative equity in my 09 Sonata (LOVE depreciation), they come back with a 36-month lease at $714 A MONTH!!!!!! ... for an LX!!!
Ehhh... how's that math again???
As an example, BMW quoted a loaded 328xi (same terms) for $604/mo SAME DAY... which would you rather drive?
Honda= DEAD and BUH-BYE!!!
At the combo dealership (Honda, Toyota, Subaru, etc.) yesterday was having quick check on the Sienna when I casually asked about the $250/mo Accord lease to a "sales guy" while killing time. With $3K negative equity in my 09 Sonata (LOVE depreciation), they come back with a 36-month lease at $714 A MONTH!!!!!!
... for an LX!!! Ehhh... how's that math again???
As an example, BMW quoted a loaded 328xi (same terms) for $604/mo SAME DAY... which would you rather drive?
Honda= DEAD
and BUH-BYE!!!well, Accord sells fine.
well i find CRV sinfully ugly, but people still buy it because it's practical and it's honda. Crosstour won't sell as much because it's not practical. bad investment if you ask me.
04-11-10, 10:39 AM
#25
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The sales results support my view easily though.
04-11-10, 01:57 PM
#26
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IMHO, If things dont change for the better...and fast...Honda might very well be doomed...
Accord and Civic might be their saving grace. They need to get a Hatch version of the civic here, and an ACTUAL accord wagon...not that ugly overpriced crap. They also need to get the MPG's up to 50 on the insight. I like the insight...but not when I can get the same mpg from my non hybrid civic.
Come on Honda, you arent giving me any reasons to buy new here...and I am in the market, about ready to drop cash on a new car.
That Genesis sedan is looking sweeter and sweeter every day...
Accord and Civic might be their saving grace. They need to get a Hatch version of the civic here, and an ACTUAL accord wagon...not that ugly overpriced crap. They also need to get the MPG's up to 50 on the insight. I like the insight...but not when I can get the same mpg from my non hybrid civic.
Come on Honda, you arent giving me any reasons to buy new here...and I am in the market, about ready to drop cash on a new car.
That Genesis sedan is looking sweeter and sweeter every day...
04-11-10, 07:09 PM
#27
I would have to agree. Honda has lost their minds since the mid 90s late 90s. Toyota is actually making somewhat nicer and more appealing cars, but not by much. Hyundai is definitely making the more eye catching cars today. I wouldn't buy any Nissan except for the 350Z though, which is odd for me since I really like the Infiniti cars. I think the Germans are where its at today.
04-11-10, 07:42 PM
#28
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IMO Honda tried to become Toyota too soon: swiftly killing its sports cars programs (S2000, NSX), attempting to market a dedicated hybrid with insufficient substance (Insight and, to a certain extent, the underpowered new CR-Z), bloating and diluting mainstream models (Accord) and following the form-over-function CUV niche (Crosstour, and they didn't even make it roomy or good-looking). These products were not well-thought and seem to have been released under the premise that the brand and a larger size will sell in the US.
So far, only the Accord has been giving the sales to justify Honda's strategy. I disagree with the CR-V being ugly, but it doesn't matter since it is practical and sells well. Here's to hoping that Honda doesn't screw up the next Civic and CR-V by upsizing and cheapening the interiors and powertrains.
So far, only the Accord has been giving the sales to justify Honda's strategy. I disagree with the CR-V being ugly, but it doesn't matter since it is practical and sells well. Here's to hoping that Honda doesn't screw up the next Civic and CR-V by upsizing and cheapening the interiors and powertrains.
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