I'm Not Surprised to Read This

[Accord9404]

http://motortrend.com/features/news/112_news68/

When I bought my 04 Accord believe me the body style was NOT what sold me. Engine and Ride did it.

[anysia]

and the problemw with relying on engine and ride to sell the car is that honda sticks to the 4 cyl's and v6's. (and i agree with this!! i'm not trying to say they should venture into v8's and crap, i honestly don't believe bigger is always better.....)

but the fact is that too many american consumers are to put it bluntly, IDIOTS. :mad:

they look at the numbers. bigger IS better in their sad worlds!! and therefore i know far too many people who won't even consider a honda because all they see are the numbers. they never drive the car to see what it is really capable or not capable of. but because they can get a v6 from another car co for the same price as the 4 cyl in honda, they run to the other co. :dunno: the bigger is better philosophy is so hard at work!

i was AMAZED that my aunt and uncle even considered an accord and a tl much less test drove them! they are in the american consumer mind-set (as can be proven by the end choice to buy with emotion, but hey they can afford the numerous repairs and upkeep to that mustang they bought, so if it floats their boat, more power to them.)

but they were shocked to see how nice the honda was compared to their other cars (an intrepid and a pt cruiser). they had no idea that an accord was just so far above the american couttnerparts because they simply never bothered to look, the american cars were cheaper and "faster".

ok, so this topic frustrates me quite a bit! :headbash:

on the other hand, i like how the coupe is looking, but i'm not so sure about the rounded top.... that profile works onthe accord, but it looks TOO rounded for the civic..... :dunno:

[Accord9404]

I fear Honda has gone down the wrong path/timing (styling) with the Ridgeline. I can see Honda making the Ridgeline if they have money to burn but not at this time. It is probably a truck ahead of it's time but not right now.

[OwAce]

the article also doesnt mention how honda is trying to pitch the civic as a slightly more upscale car, and that they will bring in the jazz/fit to replace the civic for your basic transportation needs.

hence the 200 hp civic.

[Inspector1]

I fear Honda has gone down the wrong path/timing (styling) with the Ridgeline. I can see Honda making the Ridgeline if they have money to burn but not at this time. It is probably a truck ahead of it's time but not right now.

Check out thisAutoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000333027328/#comments)

I1 :)

[OwAce]

you know for a 33 k truck, with leather, the interior of the ridgeline is really kiddy and has really crappy plastics. i ran my hand over the interior and my hand felt dirty touching the plastic of the rtl.

i dont like :thumbsdow

they really should have allowed a pass through in the back and really concentrated hard on the interior.

all the new pickups from ford, chrysler and gm are concentrating hard on the quality and style of the interior, and increasingly that is becoming a large selling point.

[BenjiBoy650]

I don't see how previewing the Civic allows Honda to have better sales. Any idiot with half a brain would just wait for the new one, no? Unless Honda thinks that the new one will drive consumers away and create a mad rush to buy up all the current Civics...which is not necessarily all that good either...

[JBrian]

but the fact is that too many american consumers are to put it bluntly, IDIOTS. :mad:

they look at the numbers. bigger IS better in their sad worlds!! and therefore i know far too many people who won't even consider a honda because all they see are the numbers. they never drive the car to see what it is really capable or not capable of. but because they can get a v6 from another car co for the same price as the 4 cyl in honda, they run to the other co. :dunno: the bigger is better philosophy is so hard at work!

i was AMAZED that my aunt and uncle even considered an accord and a tl much less test drove them! they are in the american consumer mind-set (as can be proven by the end choice to buy with emotion, but hey they can afford the numerous repairs and upkeep to that mustang they bought, so if it floats their boat, more power to them.)

but they were shocked to see how nice the honda was compared to their other cars (an intrepid and a pt cruiser). they had no idea that an accord was just so far above the american couttnerparts because they simply never bothered to look, the american cars were cheaper and "faster".

I must have fit the profile because when I first saw the generation seven Accord I couldn't believe a car that size was even available with an I4! I thought, who in their right mind would even consider a 4 cylinder Accord :dunno:

Well, after purchasing a TL-S for my wife in the spring of 2003 I was just shocked at the over all refinement of the Honda products. And now I drive an I4 5-speed manual Accord and I love the overall refinement!

I'm now a believer.