RDX sales are not doing too well.

See link:

http://corporate.honda.com/press/article.aspx?id=4451

The impressiveness of the Honda Fit numbers suggest that the higher gasoline prices may be having an effect.

I wonder if this means better deals to be had and a greater array of new features on the 09 RDX.

 

well, i dont know if that is so.

if you take a look at the TSX YTD & MTD sales, its just slightly over the RDX, with the MDX leading the pack over both, doubling the TSX and far outpacing the RDX. The TL has higher numbers than the TSX, with a higher sticker and premium fuel req as well.

again, not so sure a fuel econ comparison is in line when people are in the market for these types of vehicles. Premium names usually carry the premium fuel ticket. You could attribute better sales of accord, civic, and fit because they are cheaper, the econ is at a screaching hault, there is less money in the market, and these cars overall are more affordable. Fuel econ maybe, but i dont think you can compare a shopper of the Honda brand to a shopper looking to purchase a TL, RDX etc, 2 very different markets.

overall, all car purchases are down. i dont think you will find a better deal on the RDX other than the ones we have seen already which are quite good; the low financing rates and dealer incentives. they arent going to give the truck away.

 

It's a combination of things. The economy is sucking ass right now, so car sales are down across the board. People don't have the money to spend anymore.

A diesel engine might help things, but again, less people are buying cars, let alone $35k cars, so it may not do anything anyway. Not to mention diesel fuel is really expensive so it may not get the customers the manufacturers thought it would. Time will tell.

Edit: MMike beat me to it.

 

No to mention the price of dog food.

 

Well...LOWER THE GODDAMN PRICE!!!!! LoL

 

By the summer diesel will cost less than regular gas. Diesel always goes up in the winter due to home heating oil.

 

I'd like to believe this too, but everything I've read (from people who know allot more about this than I do) tends to indicate that high diesel prices are here for the foreseeable future. Lack of refining capacity (thanks to the lefty Feds and the tree huggers, no new refineries have been built here since the late 70's) along with the expected increase in demand should combine to keep diesel fuel prices high. Of course this will most likely also dampen demand for the new influx of diesel models that are around the corner (relatively speaking). The mileage advantage of present diesel models has pretty much evaporated already with diesel fuel being 20% to 30% more costly than gasoline now. It will be tough to convince consumers that diesel is a viable alternative to gas models when they won't have the mileage trump card to play. And ironically, I think you may have it backwards; gasoline prices tend to fall in warmer weather since capacity that was converted to home heating oil production for the winter comes back on line for gasoline production (and diesel production will fall even further).

 

Simba I'd like to believe you about the gas prices falling in the warmer weather but based on this article it doesn't look like this summer is going to get any cheaper.....it's going to be a long ride.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080408/oil_prices.html

 

We'll see about that. I highly doubt it will cost less than regular. Demand for diesel is way up, and production capacity for it is low and can't meet demand.

Edit: I got beat. Owned for not reading.

 

It is true that no new refineries have been sited in this country for more than 25 years. But the main reason why diesel will always command a premium is because it is a fuel that is more energy intensive than gasoline and the market is taking that into account. You also have to remember that given our limited refining capacity, we need to import a lot of refined products. Europe has some surplus refining capacity. One of the main reasons why fuel prices didn't spike higher (higher than the spikes we actually experienced) after hurricane Katrina is because we imported a lot more products to cover the shortfall due to refinery outages. With diesel vehicles growing in popluarity in Europe, imported diesel will not be available to us in great quantities.

It is true that there is more capacity to produce gasoline in the spring and summer months, but the increased mileage of summer driving is more than enough to offset the increased supply. This is why gasoline prices tend to be higher in the summer.