Honda's new life without sports

[blk05gli]

I'm all for honda but so far they're spending more money of a friggin robot then what they are on the aussie market.

and some engine for a proto-type jet. i guess its good to diversify your business interests: passenger cars, F1, aviation, robotics but its another thing to loose your core business model - high revving performance engines in light weight AFFORDABLE cars.

And of Honda bringing Acura into OZ, remember nissan did that with Infiniti and what mazda did with Eunos in the early 90's - people just didn't get it and sales fell.

[aaronng]

I'm all for honda but so far they're spending more money of a friggin robot then what they are on the aussie market.

Honda Japan /= Honda Australia. Honda Australia does not have any access to the money that Honda Japan has.

[aaronng]

and some engine for a proto-type jet. i guess its good to diversify your business interests: passenger cars, F1, aviation, robotics but its another thing to loose your core business model - high revving performance engines in light weight AFFORDABLE cars.

And of Honda bringing Acura into OZ, remember nissan did that with Infiniti and what mazda did with Eunos in the early 90's - people just didn't get it and sales fell.

They didn't build up the brand. Eunos is dead. Infiniti is doing great In the US. And as you all know, Lexus is very successful now.

[JasonGilholme]

Honda Japan /= Honda Australia. Honda Australia does not have any access to the money that Honda Japan has.

Yeah, but when it comes down to developing cars wouldn't you think that honda, as a whole, would want to win worldwide. Its great to delop a high performance car but its not so great if you can only sell it to 2 or 3 markets in the entire world.

With all those boffins workin on asimo, you'd think that they'd be able to use that intellegence to work out a better way of getting honda australia up to par with the rest of the world.

[aaronng]

Yeah, but when it comes down to developing cars wouldn't you think that honda, as a whole, would want to win worldwide. Its great to delop a high performance car but its not so great if you can only sell it to 2 or 3 markets in the entire world.

Yes, they want to win worldwide, that's why they have best selling cars like the Accord Euro/TSX and the Civic. Their hi-po car won't sell well here because people here would rather buy a Ferrari/Lambo rather than a Honda for the same price. Once Honda builds up their reputation as a luxury car maker, I'm sure they can come back to building high performance models for all the markets, like what Audi is doing now with their S and RS lines, BMW with their M and Mercedes with AMG. Remember that Honda does not have a parent company like how Ferrari and Lambo has. They can't hedge all their bets on hi-po models and expect to survive. An interesting exception is Porsche. But then again, their cars don't cost over $400,000 except for the turbo and GT models.

With all those boffins workin on asimo, you'd think that they'd be able to use that intellegence to work out a better way of getting honda australia up to par with the rest of the world.

As I said, Honda Japan /= Honda Australia. It's like a franchise. If Honda Australia wanted a particular model, they would have to build a valid business model before they can even get it. It's not a just matter of transferring car stock to and fro. Same for engineers/designers/marketing. Honda Japan isn't going to give manpower or time to Honda Australia for free.

[A.G.System]

http://www.prestigemotorsport.com.au...hp?carID=51882

my next car. Once it becomes available, and insurance companies know what it is. Should be about next year.

1,630,000.00 JPY Japan Yen = 17,486.89 AUD Australia Dollars

Nice

Now thats the kinda price they should be here and they would sell a crap load.

/me wanders off to dream some more.

[panda[cRx]]

^ spambot, ban!

Yes, they want to win worldwide, that's why they have best selling cars like the Accord Euro/TSX and the Civic. Their hi-po car won't sell well here because people here would rather buy a Ferrari/Lambo rather than a Honda for the same price. Once Honda builds up their reputation as a luxury car maker, I'm sure they can come back to building high performance models for all the markets, like what Audi is doing now with their S and RS lines, BMW with their M and Mercedes with AMG. Remember that Honda does not have a parent company like how Ferrari and Lambo has. They can't hedge all their bets on hi-po models and expect to survive. An interesting exception is Porsche. But then again, their cars don't cost over $400,000 except for the turbo and GT models.

lol while the euro and accords have been selling decent numbers look at legend sales..... very disappointing imo
they haven't done enough advertising for it, alot of current honda owners that would be interested in it have never even seen it before

[blk05gli]

They didn't build up the brand. Eunos is dead. Infiniti is doing great In the US. And as you all know, Lexus is very successful now.

Yep, it seems Lexus is the only brand that is getting worldwide acceptance. As for Infiniti, remove their G35 model and its not that successful as people think.

[Setanta]

lol. I'm sure that someone on these forums was adamant that the Civic Type-R would be in Honda showrooms by January 2007. This tends to put a big "bullshit" sticker right over the top of that idea.

Honda Australia bringing in more mundane cars? Who would have guessed it?

If I get back into another Honda it will be an import - Honda Australia have NFI on how to appeal to a market - no wonder they get shat on in the car-sales stakes.

I'm more impressed with Nissan and Toyota, not to mention some of the new hot Holdens and VW Polos than I am with anything that comes out of Honda Australia's stable.

[Mikeyas]

Look at the miss they made with the new legend... Check Wheels car of the year review.. Its bland, boring and basically a 70k accord...

[EuroDude]

They better release a "hot hatch" soon, otherwise honda aus will lose a lot of sales to the Mazda 2/3, corolla, focus, etc..

The Jazz is too small to be considered a proper small->mid hatch

[aaronng]

They better release a "hot hatch" soon, otherwise honda aus will lose a lot of sales to the Mazda 2/3, corolla, focus, etc..

I don't think they are losing sales. They can't even keep up with the deliveries of the Civic. And the number of MPS and XR5 sold are so few that it won't affect Honda's sales.