Quote Originally Posted by 6ary View Post
I'm in a love hate relationship with my FN2R, love it because its great new and has that wow factor especially to my non-honda frens, but in the back of my mind its a 2nd class typeR behind the FD2R. I don't need cruise control or dual climate control. I need LSD and brembos and +20hp! I didn't buy a dc5r or dc2r because i don't like 2nd hand cars and old interiors. The perfect car to me would be a fd2r in a fn2 shell, wotcha guys think?
I reckon that, in the short term, Honda have satisfied what they think to be a need to shift product, and that in the short term, people will be wowed by the "wow" factor of something new. BUT, unless the product has integrity, then whether that product will have enduring appeal and status will be weighed by more than the initial gloss of something new.

Do I think that Honda did a decent job with the FN2R? Yes. Decent.

Do I think that Honda did an exceptional job which stands out from it's competitors in an exceptional way in which Honda (with "the power of dreams" and with "everything they've learned from racing") should be? No.

In the long term, to me, this car does not capitalise on what the Type R brand should be. However, in the long term, it will be a blip, like a momentary lapse of concentration in the history of Honda's "best efforts". The reason I feel it is blip is because Honda have shown us they ARE still capable of producing something like the FD2R, which is the sort of product which will keep the heritage of Type R going, and is a good sign that Honda have not become a bunch of accounting/marketing led decision makers focused on capturing the masses with delivering what it thinks the masses want (at this point in time) - comfort, gadgets, styling.

Integrity of the product will be what bolsters the brand. Otherwise, if you slap Type R to anything "just sporty" without outstanding credentials to back it up, Type R will eventually mean nothing, and that's sad, because it is a valuable attribute for Honda, and certainly, when executed well, means a great deal to a lot of people who respect the brand.

I bet you regret canvassing for an opinion now!