samir786

Just wanted to get your opinions, what model do you think was Acura/Honda's biggest flop?

I personally think the SLX...

Whiskers

The Pilot

Saintor

The Pilot is selling well.

I'd say the Del Sol.

bob shiftright

Isn't the SLX an Isuzu Trooper with Acura badges glued on it? Hard to blame Honda for much except the badges.

Since they seem to sell tons of everything with a Honda badge, including Isuzus, I don't think they have too many flops, even if the product is a car (or truck, motorcycle, ATV, generator, lawnmower, or garden tiller) that I woudn't buy for myself.

phirenze

The element followed by the current civic SI

lokman

The seventh generation Civic - it was dumbed down from the 6th generation and nowhere near as much fun to drive despite improvements in refinement. The relatively weak engines, bland styling, and MacPherson struts replacing the double wishbones took a lot of the character out of the car.

ABP-CL9-TSX

I totally agree with you lokman, the 7th gen Civics are not fun to drive or look at....the previous Civics were so much better, the 7th gens are a step down. I wouldn't say its a flop, it still sells well just cuz it has the Honda badge and heavy incentives, rebates, and low interest rates just to move it out of showrooms....sad! I wish it were a flop though, I can't stand 7th gen Civics!

Power1Pete

Unfortunately, the 8th gen Civics will not have the double wishbones again...

Pete

nahooneyya

the answer is simple....HONDA PASSPORT...

Whiskers

I did really mean to to say the Element...

gt0279a

It's hard for me to say the Passport, since my wife bought one used, assuming it was a Honda and had the same great reliability and quality as other Hondas.

A great marketing ploy if you ask me, since they sold more Passports than Isuzu sold Rodeos.

Personally, I'd go with Acura eliminating the Legend as the biggest flop

lbbrando

Getting rid of the legend was a mistake but what can you do.
91-95's are great long lasting cars with minor problems.
No other Acura has had such a problem free run other than....maybe...the integra.

Eeyore

The Legend has never really left the US market, the name yes but not the actual car. There has always been an Acura sedan that has been the natural evolution of the Legend. The current Japanese Honda Legend is the 2005 Acura RL in the US. So I don't think Acura ever really killed off the Legend, it just evolved:




Besides the Isuzu crap, which doesn't really count, the Civic Del Sol gets my vote as the biggest Honda/Acura flop. Cool concept, but seems like not too many people were interested. It wasn't the mass-market success like they are used to.

nahooneyya

i bet u guys didn't know that legend was sold as a daewoo in korea in the late 1990's~

mg7726

not having a V8


<-- setting himself up for flames *quickly runs...*

TSX 'R' US

current civic SI...it's a friggen hatchback!

Eeyore

I've often thought that the RL needed a V8 to stand out from the TL.

But then, the NSX only has a V6 too.

cruiserchuck

I think that the Acura Vigor was the biggest flop.

poltergeist

Civic Si's were always hatchbacks until the '99-00 came along.

93Kewl

The one thing that I thing Acura has failed on is not a car or piece of machinery, but rather it's perception of an "upscale" brand and it's offerings when it comes to service. Many of the euro brands, in addition to 4 years maintenance free service even cover things like replacement windshield wipers, and other "wearable" items. I have heard that Lexus treats their customers like kings whenever they should come in for service or just regular standard maintenance. It may have just been my particular dealership, but just trying to get a loner was an exercise in futility.

I read articles over the past few years that Acura has struggled with it's perceived image as an "upscale" auto maker. I think would go a long way for Acura to model their service centers in the mold of a Lexus and/or euro brands.

Oh and BTW, the biggest flop IMHO was the Vigor. Nice concept but I don't think it was marketed very well.

kurt_bradley

The 98-01 Prelude. Here come the flames...


I know what you're thinking, but this car became the $25k niche car that missed its opportunity. They ended up killing it off to be replaced by the RSX (that also replaced the Integra). At least they knew that they were cannibalizing with the 'Lude. It became a car that was cross-shopped against everything from Camaros, Mustangs, Accord V6s, Integras, and various others. I know this because I sold for Honda for 2 years during the Prelude's campaign. That car got about as much customer traffic as a Pontiac Aztec. Its previous generation was a great car that fit nicely into the market, but it missed out on a great opportunity. I still loved that car, but I have to admit that it was a failure.

yuhoo22

Current SI for sure. I have never even seen one on the road!

poltergeist

Del Sol.

Rattley, leaky, cramped two seater. Sorta popular when they first came out, until people caught on to how crappy they were. Cost Honda a fortune (and a huge pain in the ass for the technicians) to fix all the rattle and leak complaints from the roof.

ABP-CL9-TSX

when was the last time I saw one on the road.

I think the reasons behind the new Si being a flop was price, why pay $20k for this car when there are much better cars than this in the price range. Also, the styling, I've heard ppl say looks like a minivan to an ugly egg and the headlights look odd. Also, w/ 160HP it had the same amount of power as the old Si coupe, but it was heavier than the old one and wasn't quicker even though its smaller than the coupe Si from 1999-00.

supraken

iTrader: (1)

but hey, it started out AS a hatch

iamhomin

The Pilot hands down.

03CoupeV6

How is the Pilot a flop?

If we're talking about complete cars, I'd say the Del Sol.

If we're talking about actions, I'd say placing "Honda" or "Acura" where "Isuzu" should have been.

If we're talking about engineering blunders, I'd say automatic transmissions.

If we're talking about design disasters, I'd say the Element and current Civic SI.

SpartanTodd

Good luck with the Passport.....My buddy had nothing but problems with his. The dealership gave him a honey of a deal on a new Pilot just to keep happy as a customer. His Passport cost him more money in oil than it did filling it with gas. The dealership rebuilt the engine once, then recommended he switch to zero weight oil (not exactly sure of the rational) and it still continued to use oil.....His Passport stayed one day at the dealership and then headed for the auction blocks.....

I agree the Passport is the worst mistake......

A close second.....discontinuing double wishbones on the Civic...The current Civic is such a bore to drive.

and Third......Ending the life of the beloved CRX. This was a dumb move by Honda.

TSX 'R' US

Coupe SI > hatchback SI

I've only seen one of the new SI's on the road so far

poltergeist

They're not that uncommon around here...saw one just today. I'll agree that the styling of the current Si Civic sucks, but they are a really fun car to drive. Very much like a go-cart, and the shifter coming out of the dash seems awkward at first, but has at least as good (if not better) feel than the TSX. Very quick steering and small diameter steering wheel, makes it feel more nimble than the 99-00 model.

If only Honda hadn't gone for the Focus like styling, I'd own one.

dom

Sales are great and its been named to C&D's 5 Best truck list 3 years running.


Current gen Civic. Honda was on a roll and this Civic just killed their momentum IMO.

MemRheins

well the CRX was Tech. the most Dangerous Car honda Ever Made....so from that aspect...yeah...
Other then that the Del sol...Hate that car, theres some guy here w/ a riced out one,Carbon Fiber S2000 wannabe hood, wing, ect......I Beat him in my 5AT TSX no problem...

teranfon

Speaking of potential flops, whats everyone's opinion on the new Ridgeline pickup? Personally I'd like to see it succeed.

Terry

sipark

I forget the name, but the small hybrid car Honda's been selling for a few years.

Whiskers

Insight

DCyamaha

I had the exact prelude in that picture. When people from across the country want to buy your car for OVER KBB private party value, I wouldn't call that a failure at all. People love the car, its pretty quick, very reliable, and looks great. Can't ssay that about Camaros and Mustangs.

Also, can't cross shop an accord V6 either because they didn't offer a manual in the years that that particular prelude sold. The only real competition for it was the Celica, which was slower and "chic" looking and the integra type R which were hard to get.

failure, i think not....it was quite the success.

MemRheins

A Honda 4 Cyl, 4 Door Avalanche Styled Pickup wanna-be?

What am I gonna haul in the back of that, Styrofoam !?

Sorry just dont think the Pickup Market is one Honda Should Get into...

DCyamaha

4cyl? where did you get that info from? its a 3.5 V6. 255hp 252trq.

should do pretty well considering it will be the most reliable pick-up out there. But it still needs a V8

joerockt

The RIDGELINE

BonzoAPD

I have to totally agree with you on this. For some reason people don't consider Acura's as upscale vehicles in the same class as Lexus, Infinity, BMW, Audi and Mercedes. It is a shame really because I think in many cases I would select an Acura instead of one of the competitor's vehicles in the same class.