Well the opposition moved the game on much more than Honda expected. Still i think Honda will have better residuals than the other non-German rep mobiles.
There's some staggering cars in the D segment & that's before Vauxhall have launched the forthcoming Insignia.
Agreed, v.amusing quote from Clarkson in the Sunday Times last weekend on my fave, the C5:
"The C5 sits among other four-door saloons – from BMW, Audi, Ford, Honda and so on – looking much like Angelina Jolie would while sitting in a Wakefield bus queue".
_________________________ "Forward", he cried, from the rear, and the front rank died. And the General sat, and the lines on the map moved from side to side.
i have to say 50% of my choice would be looks and the C5 is lovely, but unfortunately Citreon have serious quality problems which havent really been addressed IMO, whereas a Honda is just solid. I know which one i would prefer to own!!
Originally posted by Sulphur Man: Citreon dealerships are a very mixed bunch too, whereas you're fairly guaranteed good service from a Honda one.
Was the Alfa 159 in the test? That would be my first choice - 2.2 petrol.
I don't have much experience of Citroen dealerships but Alfa Romeo have been a pleasant surprise. The car has been 100% dependable and was a delight at the weekend on a jaunt down to the south coast (even in the torrential rain it felt secure and confident). If Alfa have managed to turn around the user experience, then there is hope for Citroen I think. Certainly the new C5 seems to be much better built than the old one. I agree with Clarkson, next to an A4 or 3 series, it looks the classier product.
The game has moved on. The Accord is strictly sub-Mondeo and I can't think of any large family car which is less appealling, except for the Toyota Avensis and Lexus IS. If Honda spent as much on product development as they do on TV ads they could make a very average car.
The Mondeo is a fantastic car, better then any Jap taxi rank fodder.
The French have style and heritage, they make some very desirable cars.
Alfa would be my second choice after the BMW, Mondeo in third place.
Originally posted by Mind blowing decisions: If Honda spent as much on product development as they do on TV ads they could make a very average car.
For your info, Honda will spend $1.5 billion on two new plants as it steps up production of fuel-efficient cars, including a cheaper hybrid due to be launched early next year. How do you think that compares with their TV spend?
But that shows how out of touch Honda are with Europe. We don't want hybrids - leave them to the Americans.
That's the problem with Honda - how can a company convince the Europeans that the Accord has excellent high-speed stability, soft-touch interior plastics and a tax-friendly diesel, then go and sell the same car to the Americans as a five-seat sedan with 5 years warranty and low-rate finance?
The problem is, unlike the Western makers, Japan does not understand the link between social status and the automobile. All the Jap makers only got into car making to make money....the car in Japan is seen as a tool, the alternative to the horse and cart. Why else did Toyota not sell the Lexus brand in its homeland for so many years? Why else do some Japanese import quality European cars as personal imports, even if it means having LHD?
That's the problem with Honda - how can a company convince the Europeans that the Accord has excellent high-speed stability, soft-touch interior plastics and a tax-friendly diesel, then go and sell the same car to the Americans as a five-seat sedan with 5 years warranty and low-rate finance?
The problem is, unlike the Western makers, Japan does not understand the link between social status and the automobile. All the Jap makers only got into car making to make money....the car in Japan is seen as a tool, the alternative to the horse and cart. Why else did Toyota not sell the Lexus brand in its homeland for so many years? Why else do some Japanese import quality European cars as personal imports, even if it means having LHD?
In OZ and NZ they sold two versions of the Acccord, the standard version (Japan and US spec which is a completely different car) and the Euro spec (ours). The US version is much more akin to the Legacy than our Euro-Accord. You only have to see the differences between the Civic Sedan and the hatch.
As for Japan doesn't see cars as status symbols, owning a Mercedes, BMW or Jaguar are THE ways of showing you've made it.
Originally posted by Sebro99: In OZ and NZ they sold two versions of the Acccord, the standard version (Japan and US spec which is a completely different car) and the Euro spec (ours).
And yet they STILL sell the Accord Euro/Acura TSX as low-price, long warranty specials. That's because in America and OZ, they prefer German luxury cars - even the very best from Japan are only seen as entry-level premium brands and then only because the likes of Buicks and other US entry-level luxury brands are seen as old-man cars in the US.
quote:
The US version is much more akin to the Legacy than our Euro-Accord.
Really? I never knew that. Maybe mr honda and mr subaru are both into crossdressing?
quote:
As for Japan doesn't see cars as status symbols, owning a Mercedes, BMW or Jaguar are THE ways of showing you've made it.
Only a few Japanese feel this way. Asian countries (and in OZ) do not understand the link between the car and status.
Originally posted by Mind blowing decisions: But that shows how out of touch Honda are with Europe. We don't want hybrids - leave them to the Americans.
That's the problem with Honda - how can a company convince the Europeans that the Accord has excellent high-speed stability, soft-touch interior plastics and a tax-friendly diesel, then go and sell the same car to the Americans as a five-seat sedan with 5 years warranty and low-rate finance?
1. The American Accord and the Euro accord are similare but at the same time are completely different you need to look at Acura which is nearer to the euro accord.
2. Honda are first again - they are right to build the Hybrids and they will sell them by the barrel load - theyare aheadof time again question is how quickly other manufacturers will catch up
