Comments on: Honda model restructure worse than thought

By: AAA

AAA — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:12:19 +0000

Honda should develop cars aiming at Lexus and not BMW coz Lexus is the number 1 selling luxury car brand in the US.

By: Cupid Stunt

Cupid Stunt — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:10:51 +0000

Think your right there Reckless. Thay are good quality cars, sometimes sporty, sometimes comfortable but never the quality of the German Marques or at there prices. I quite like Hondas but taking cars like the S2000 and Type R efforts I couldn’t live with one, all that having to let rip with 8K revs to get it to move just makes it hard work to drive. If they stuck to more chuggy motors like most do then i’m sure they’d sell more.

By: Reckless1

Reckless1 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:44:53 +0000

Itsme, I mean they haven’t built a BMW yet. They may have sold some cars. but they haven’t stolen any market share from BMW.

They’ve likely got their market share from people stepping out of Camry, who test drive even the cheapest Lexus and go “Oh my God, compared to the Camry, this is just heaven”. They don’t test drive BMW, Merc, or Audi at all.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:34:57 +0000

Smart moves by Honda. They know what they’re doing, at least for now. None of those models or platforms would sell enough to justify continued development. Sticking to their core market is a smart move. Wouldn’t mind seeing their SH-AWD in more models though, as a compromise to no RWD. And what accord are they talking about for the US market only? It must be the Accord coupe?

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 05:18:46 +0000

Agree with Mega, sounds like Honda are trying to be like Toyota.

Just what the world needs, more white goods on wheels

By: itsme

itsme — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:06:54 +0000

I dont agree with you on that one reckless.I think in the very short time lexus has been around thay have taken a huge slice of the upper market.And is very popular.Or did you mean not up to bmw as in driving standards which i would agree with you on that one

By: Reckless1

Reckless1 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:37:26 +0000

Sounds like a dramatic over-reaction to me. The world economy will boom again, for one very simple reason – the population is still increasing every day during this checkpoint, and will continue to do so.

Although, of course, Honda knows how bad things are in their own backyard, and we don’t.

Dropping development of cars to try and compete with BMW is not so stupid, though – Toyota has been trying that for years since the Cressida and through Lexus and hasn’t achieved parity yet.

By: Mega

Mega — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:34:13 +0000

In these times, Honda is quickly becoming a ‘boring’ toyota-like manufacturer. Jazz’s and mini hybrids (maybe) will become low-margin, high volume household whitegoods until well after the auto industry has recovered from the sales crash. Clearly the safest bet for honda, in a time in which we all try to curb our spending.

Its a pity though, because we will miss out on all the future ‘interesting’ cars such high revving S2000′s, RWD V8′s etc.

By: Fasthonda

Fasthonda — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:41:42 +0000

I would say a huge part of the decision to restructure it’s products would have to do with the USA.
For 2008,Honda sold 1,428,758 vehicles in the US-down about 7.91% from 2007.
The American market can have your products reach the sky in terms of sales,but when things start to slow down,that once cash cow market,can literally send you to the wall!
Honda believes the dwindling car sales situation will become worse in other markets but mainly in America.

By: Myke

Myke — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:11:18 +0000

^Mazda’s attempt with a luxury car brand nearly resulted in their bankruptcy, atleast they had Ford to lean on. Of course that meant Mazda’s of the late 90s and early 2000s were utterly conservative in order to save cash. Lets hope Honda aren’t too badly hit.