Honda Profits booming on the back of Civic & accord sales in USA
£1.60 / gallon seems to have stirred up US demand dramatically
Edited by Pugugly {P} on 25/10/2007 at 18:44
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in the US they compete on price with ford/GM, Toyota, etc
In the UK they go for the premium market and offer little discount. I have always found Hondas over priced.
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Have you ever owned one though, davey?
If you have you will know why they only seem over-priced.
It has always seemed odd to me - over the last 41 years anyway - why the motoring press are always lukewarm about Honda - a company consistently dedicated to advancing engineering standards rather than copying others' developments as cheaply as possible - and keen to push the 'pensioner's car' image (although the spoof ad on Sniffpetrol a couple of years ago was a laugh...)
They must be doing something right.
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With the exception of the Civic type R, Honda's image is a little staid, it's the sort of image that Rover had (and lost).
However, whilst the latest Civic is probably a tad too radical for some tastes, the new CRV is selling well and the Accord is still selling steadily.
Their engines are superlative, they're not the largest engine manufacturer in the world because their designs are mediocre.
Sochiro Honda realised long before many others that more efficient, cleaner burning engine technology would be required to meet more stringent emissions regulations.
As regards emissions and clean burning, they're still ahead of the rest of the field.
I ran an Accord Tourer for 3 years/64k and apart the CD player having a hissy fit, everything else just worked, one of the directors borrowed it whilst it was waiting to go back to the lease company and has now extended the lease as he was so impressed.
The reliability/satisfaction tables usually have Honda near the top, you can always buy cheaper but value is another matter.
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Must be a tough life for the American Motorist
They can earn approx 50% more in salary over UK average.
Get Honda cars at about 50% of what we pay and then get their petrol for 30% of what we pay
And they Grumble at fuel costs.
Eralier this week it was said GM are clawing back volume against Toyota for largest Cra Producer. Nothing was said about Toyota Vs GM profits or the Honda rise on increased sales.
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If they (Honda) sold the US Civic 2dr coupe in the UK for a simpler price for what it's sold for across the pond then I'd be in the dealership selecting the colour. The European products don't interest me, maybe the new Jazz if it had more room than the current one.
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I have had a honda.
I had an accord(06 plate 2.0) for 3 months.
For the money, it was way over priced.
Give me the new Mondeo, at discount (no honda discounts) over it any day.
will honda start going for the mass market and discounting when they introduce their new 'premium' brand?
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I have had a honda. I had an accord(06 plate 2.0) for 3 months. For the money it was way over priced.
Yes - but it was still over-priced when you sold it, wasn't it?
Hondas hold their values amazingly well.
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Especially the Diesel - seems to be better then the 320d series - more reliable as well.
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04 Alfa Romeo 156 SW JTD 20v - Loving it.
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What's three months?
Some motors have what I would describe as 'the Mercedes effect' - the longer you own them the more you understand how good they are.
I guess most Hondas are paid for by the people who drive them rather than by companies, therefore their value for money is better experienced and understood, hence the number of satisfied owners/return customers.
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when I sat in my civic in the dealership 5 years ago, it didn't bowl me over. I was 29 and wanted a GTi or sumat fast and cool. 5 years on when I sit in my now 9 year old Honda I know it will start. I know every thing will work. It cost a few hundred more than an Escort would have done, and is still worth a few hundred more than an escort would be. I don't care, it's not for sale.
A collegue at work has bought a J reg Civic for the winter 'cos it's too cold on his C90 (wimp, I still use mine). It cost £600, and you've guessed it, everything works!
Isn't it nice when things just work?
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- the longer you own them the more you understand how good they are. I guess most Hondas are paid for by the people who drive them rather than by companies therefore their value for money is better experienced and understood hence the number of satisfied owners/return customers.
Spot on mike.
Another satisfied owner.
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i came back today from usa..their petrol is $2.75 per gallon...which is roughly £1.375...
but arent those gallons a different size to ours?
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"gallons a different size"
Four-fifths, because US pints are 16oz, not 20. Hence the £1.60 estimate by FB, I imagine. Still find it hard to feel sorry for them, though.. :-)
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i came back today from usa..their petrol is $2.75 per gallon...which is roughly £1.375... but arent those gallons a different size to ours? .
4 litres = US gallon
4.54litres = Imperial Gallon (Proper Gallons)
Hence adding 20+p to your £1.37 to give £1.60 / Proper Gallon
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"95% of UK Honda Jazz"
Is that an assembly job, or is the whole car sourced and made in China? Sobering if it is...
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"Their engines are superlative"
Except in F1 and MotoGP! Losing regularly to a tiny outfit like Ducati must annoy them silly.
Still, I do recall LJK Setright calling them the world's best engine maker, and I defer to his omniscience in such matters.
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>>Is that an assembly job, or is the whole car sourced and made in China? Sobering if it is... <<
I think too many people underestimate the chinese in this manner - pretty much like they did the UK car industry until Honda, Toyota and Nissan came here.
Just think back to the UK's reputation for car making until the Japs arrived.
I know Honda had problems when they first started in China but seem to have fixed this now. Even Airbus will be assembling planes in China soon.
At least they have a national maunfacturing strategy unlike us. I noticed in the press recently even RR is moving more if its aerospace work out of the UK and already source some parts from China. Alot of the Boeing aircraft are made with parts sourced from China including the 787.
Don't understimate them.
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>>Except in F1 and MotoGP! Losing regularly to a tiny outfit like Ducati must annoy them silly.<<
I thought they had one of the most powerful engines in F1 - the chassis and aerodynamics are pretty bad - like their drivers really.
I recall Honda were pretty annoyed when they restricted revs to 19K and must be wondering why they are bothering now there is a total freeze on engine development.
A big step backwards in my view. I don't understand why they should be limiting any engine development in a high tech sport. I can undertsnad them controlling certain driver aids like traction control etc though.
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