Civic Type R $39,990 + On Roads

[Zdster]

If you think that is bad, have a look at what Holden has been doing for ages. It feels like every few months they were releasing a new commodore that had more power than the last, more options and the same price. Have a look at the used car market for these cars and it has all gone down hill.

[Tofu]

*start rant* (no offence intended although I probably sound rude)*


*end rant*

no offence taken at all, it's all different points of view and perspectives.
I'm not talking about what Honda Australia has done to "make improvements" for their shortcomings.

I'm saying for those people who bought earlier model cars got screwed with the inferior stuff. Like the 2003 Euro Luxury got 16" and not 17"...why not give the Euros 17" wheels back then.

If I bought the Civic Sport in 2006 with the 16" and in 2007 it came with 17" I would feel really dirty about it. You know what I mean?

I know companies want to make improvements on their products, but they should also look at what repercussions it will cause.
Because if past customers get done like this over and over again, it really questions their brand loyalty.

[aaronng]

I know companies want to make improvements on their products, but they should also look at what repercussions it will cause.
Because if past customers get done like this over and over again, it really questions their brand loyalty.

That means, companies should never improve if it might anger current owners?

Just like petrol prices, if it drops on Wednesday by 50 cents, that would still be good eventhough almost everyone (people usually fill on Tuesdays when petrol is at the cheapest) would be pissed off. But it is still good and beneficial because in the following weeks, petrol prices can only climb steadily up (and thus give the opportunity to fill up at the better prices after they finish their tank). Same with cars, when owners of the 2003 Euro are looking to upgrade, they will see a 2007 Euro with great updates that might make it worth buying another Euro. If they saw that the 2007 still gave the same 16" rims, no fuel consumption meter and no sat nav option, they would rather keep their 2003 or buy another brand of car.

[Tofu]

I can see your point, but buying petrol one week compared to another is like $5-$10 saving/expensive, it hardly compares to something that's +$35k...

But when a Honda owner see that the newer model of their car has all these new inclusions, they would start to compare and see what's new or already have been in the cars from other brands. Because they may have a feeling of being duped. So these people may want to defect to another brand anyway.

But look at other company's business models, BMW and Lexus for example.
The models are differentiated clearly, and when they bring out a new model it's an all new model...from E46 to E92. With a model change like this, past and present customers expect changes and better equipment.
the E46 had a facelift in its lifetime, but they didn't include anything new that you couldn't have optioned in the first place.

unlike Honda, when they brought out the 2007 Euro, its the same car but with more stuff that the marketing people thought will entice new customers...which I feel is just bad PR

[jayesse]

the E46 had a facelift in its lifetime, but they didn't include anything new that you couldn't have optioned in the first place.

That's actually incorrect....the mid-lifeupdate to the E46 brought a host of changes...new front end styling, new tail light design, a new engine for the base 318i model, new exhaust design on the 330 models, different engene specs for some 6 cylinder models etc, etc Also with the face-lift you could option the M Sport pack for about $5k. 6 months later they released the "Sport" models which got the same gear for about $1,500 less!

Absolutely every one does it...Even Merc with the C-class...what was once an $8k option in the sport pack soon became a limited edition where you could get the same thing for half the price.

You can't escape it!

[Tofu]

ah...so BMW does it too...
so i guess my conclusion is, if you buy a new car, just be prepared to get screwed...

[Jaso]

Yah every one does it. Be thankful you bought a Honda! Id hate to hear your rant if you bought a Holden or Ford!

[DR HONDA]

As usual we got ripped off with this model by Honda AU. There are three variants as stated in the shop manuals which are the
TYPE R
TYPE R PLUS
TYPE R RACE
The race version is fitted with i SHIFT which is the equivalent transmission structure as the SMG M3 and has the full KW package as well including the brembos. Bad go Honda AU.

[yfin]

Lets see how this thing sells in OZ. It has sold very well in the UK - there were 500 orders before official release in the UK

http://www.carpages.co.uk/honda/hond...c-10-02-07.asp

http://www.duemotori.com/news/auto_n...ders_in_UK.php

[DR HONDA]

I will be test driving it on Monday the 25th. Will give my full thoughts and review then.

[Wazza]

So does anyone have prices on the accessories available yet?

[IAMVTEC]

Adding better standard equipment on a vehicle facelift is normal. If you're going to charge the same price for a model thats been around a while, then you'd have to include some free options/new features, otherwise people will just go for newer models.