Why Honda has bothered me lately (slight rant)

[Whelan]

Just throwing out a topic to get some people talking. But for me, Honda has been very lackluster. Honda/Acura for that matter, here are some of my points:1) They let the S2000 die. It could have been upgrade very nicely, it could have been given some edgy paneling and turned into the first Acura Roadster, SCX maybe? Why it was left to fall to the shadows with no updates other than some minor appearance items was beyond me.2) The TSX having a V6 and not a turbo 4 option? I posted this already in another topic, but it's what got me thinking of writing this one. I won't go overly into detail, but it seems logical that a company who likes to sip fuel and have high rev's would be more interested in an AWD 4 tubo (RDX) in the TSX than a heafty V6 that does little for a big improvement.3) Design, design, design. From the beaks on the Acura's to the Honda Crosstour, they are just failing in my book left and right. The Ridgeline was not a special truck, the Pilot now looks like a twin to the Pathfinder. And the Accord is very pieced together. This is completely objective though.4) Accord going backwards, they offered LED taillamps on the last update of the old generation, now go to starburts Hyundai styled lamps? I know some people don't care about LEDs vs. bulbs, but I always felt they were the new technology that offered loads of advantages, so why go back? Cost some say but I highly doubt that as LEDs are very inexpensive nowadays for the masses. The CrossTour vs. the Accord wagon. I realize the Euro Accord Wagon, well the Accord for that matter in Europe is the Acura TSX. But who is stopping them from making a wagon comeback. I say kill the Cross Tour and reincarnate the Accord Wagon. At least be creative and beat Toyota to market once with something. And if you don't at least make the competitor competitive against say the Venza.5) The RSX died. I know it's been years, but I always heard that because the new Civic Si was coming in with same chassis, hp, etc. they did not need an Acura version. Says who? It was a great seller, very sought after, especially when people heard it was outgoing. And again, whose to say you could not have redone the RSX to be more of a Infiniti G35 Coupe competitor. Enlarge it a bit and give the option of a 2.4L, 2.4L turbo, or 3.5L V6 even. Use that technology you have to make a RWD and AWD variant and maybe sell a car or two.6) Where's the V8? I know Honda is not big on the idea, but your flagship cannot be a car with all this state-of-the-art stuff and have a lowly V6. Give it some class and make it S-class, 7-series, LS size with an optional V8. You may turn some heads.7) Lexus has shown there is a market for small luxury, BMW has the overpriced 1-series now, so why not bring the Acura CSX over from Canada. Sure it's a glorified Civic, but people want that.I'm just confused as to where they are going. It seems they are picking up the table scraps from Lexus, Infiniti, etc. and are becoming more compared with Saab than BMW. When I sold Acura's for a time, people came in comparing them to lower priced cars and comparing them even to the Honda variants, and could not justify the price hike. I couldn't blame them, why buy an Acura TL with a beak for sportiness when you could go get an Accord V6 Coupe loaded. Oh wait, Acura has no two doors anymore, they killed the CL and RSX. I had people up till my last day coming on the lot looking specifically for the 2003 or older Acura RLs. The car was big, comfy, and looks a lot more luxury (think Lexus LS as it competed directly with it back then) than the current model. The RL has now been put to do battle with the GS, but yet it's not even sporty enough.

[northvibe]

I will never buy a Honda, I dislike their over stereotyped reliability and over priced costs... that said I agree as of lately they have been doing something to cut their own legs off. That s2000 engine was amazing and they let the car die. Dont know if it sold as well as the miata and sky/solstice competitors. maybe it was over priced? idk what the s2k costs.They have sooo many hidden, quiet, secret recalls its freaking annoying. My ex gf had a 94 accord and it had 3 secret recalls that no one ever knew about unless you dug deep as hell. Thats why they seem to be so good, they hide all the bad.

[Whelan]

My brother has a 2002 Accord EX 4cyl. Limited and had his tranny replaced at 60k under warranty thank god.They have a 2008 Odyssey EX and love it so far though. I have to admit it's a nice van.The S2K reatiled in the uppder 20's low 30's. At the end of the run you could pickup ones sitting on lots untouched almost a year old for mid 20's. There dealers have gotten pretty snobby with themselves too. Acura people think they are selling direct competitors to BMW and MB and act like they are superior. And Honda salesman won't budge on prices cause "It's a Honda." If I was in the market for a car now, it def. wouldn't be a Honda.

[northvibe]

exactly. They have grown away from their roots. They started as a cheap underdog and are now becoming snobish and big headed. Thinking their sht doesnt stink. It wont be long until ford and gm, hell even hyundia make them look bad. This could be the start of the down fall of honda...which would be funny...then i can see the ricers cry and blow by them in the ss with a bowtie.

[L5K]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASoCJTYgYB0 Another Honda coverup... Look how quick they hide it from view!

[jake75]

My son bought a new Odyssey in the late summer 2007. Had transmission problems - Honda made the dealer first try this and that but didn't solve the problem so Honda finally agreed to replace the entire transmission. All ok since. Main inconvenience was that they refused to supply a loaner car and the Odyssey was out of service for about 3 weeks on and off. But I think all manufacturers have had transmission failures.

[jimincalif]

I went to look at an Acura TSX a few years ago, I was on the lot 15 minutes before a salesman even came out to see me, and I was the only one on the lot. He did not offer to unlock the car for me to look at, he did not offer me a test drive, I asked about other colors and a manual tranny, he said he didn't know what they had and did not offer to go look. I asked about loaner cars and he said they don't do them (I pointed out the Lexus dealer across the street does).Needless to say I never bought an Acura.

[lovemyraffe]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »I will never buy a Honda, I dislike their over stereotyped reliability and over priced costs...I agree with this 100%. Honda's are good cars, but not any better than a Toyota. Also, too many darn kids "have to" have a Civic just because it's coooool.

[jake75]

A "Civic" is coooool?

[KNINE]

I think Honda should offer a special edition Civic that comes in primer, with a big gnarly muffler sticking out of a poorly fitting body kit, and big metal wing mounted on the trunk. That's what I see the dorky kids driving around here. That must be what's "cooool".

[lovemyraffe]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »I think Honda should offer a special edition Civic that comes in primer, with a big gnarly muffler sticking out of a poorly fitting body kit, and big metal wing mounted on the trunk. That's what I see the dorky kids driving around here. That must be what's "cooool".That is exactly what is "cooooooooooooooooooool." Geez, didn't you guys know that? Maybe I should make my Vibe look like that too.

[star_deceiver]

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »The S2K reatiled in the uppder 20's low 30's. Buy it now, the 2009 S2000 retails here for over $50000!!! (ouch) Even with rebates that's a lot to spend on a honda. You can get an Evo for that... or even sweet talk your way into a GT500.Quote, originally posted by jake75 »A "Civic" is coooool?My old 84 was... ran it into an Elk at 501000kms!Reminds me of the 1st gen Scion Xb, just not as ugly...

[Neouka]

My first two cars were Hondas.87 Civic hatch, then a 90 Prelude SR.Cheap cars, yes.. but they were -fun-. I quite miss them. I still want a 90 or 91 CRX. And an NSX.Now, I'm within a year of buying a brand new car. There are no Hondas in my list. Their stuff is too expensive for what you get, and except for the Civic/CSX, getting uglier every day. The Fit is shiat.

[northvibe]

well even the civic si is ridiculous. they msrp what my MS3 and SS go for but no where near perform at the level the ms3 or ss do. But I am more for performance than cruising luxury....