2011 Automotive Winners & Losers
#1
2011 Automotive Winners & Losers
Read the Motoring section of my local paper today as I do every Saturday morning and they had the heading of Winners and Losers for 2011.
They arranged the list exactly as the title reads. It basically stated the positives/negatives of each of the following automakers, and without going into too much detail it went like this:
#1- Chrysler
#2- Hyundai
#3- Nissan
#4- GM
#5- Ford
#6- Toyota
#7- Honda
Yes Honda was last! And these were the comments for Honda ending up where it did:
"Because of the earthquake,Honda hasn't posted a monthly sales gain since April 2011. It was especially hurt by shortages of Japanese parts for its high-volume Civic and Accord sedans,even though they have North American production. Accord sales fell 13.9%. On top of production problems,the new Civic was widely panned ny critics,and sales fell 13.5% through November."
I did NOT think Honda would end up in last place. Honda/Acura really need to step it up in 2012 or they are in deep doo doo!
They arranged the list exactly as the title reads. It basically stated the positives/negatives of each of the following automakers, and without going into too much detail it went like this:
#1- Chrysler
#2- Hyundai
#3- Nissan
#4- GM
#5- Ford
#6- Toyota
#7- Honda
Yes Honda was last! And these were the comments for Honda ending up where it did:
"Because of the earthquake,Honda hasn't posted a monthly sales gain since April 2011. It was especially hurt by shortages of Japanese parts for its high-volume Civic and Accord sedans,even though they have North American production. Accord sales fell 13.9%. On top of production problems,the new Civic was widely panned ny critics,and sales fell 13.5% through November."
I did NOT think Honda would end up in last place. Honda/Acura really need to step it up in 2012 or they are in deep doo doo!
#3
Ya I was actually surprised as well? I think the new Grand Cherokee has alot to do with it as the interior is very nice. I sat in one at the NYAS and the one I sat in had the umber interior. Very nice!
I also think their pricing is very competitive!
But I still think Chrysler needs to work on its electrical gremlins that they are known for.
This was the statement about Chryslers success:
"Chrysler was the biggest winner in the 2011 sales race.Its share gain was powered by the new Chrysler 200 and Dodge Durango and the Jeep Cherokee,whose sales increased 53.6%.In fact,the entire Jeep line posted a 44.4% sales gain."
Come to think of it, I have seen alot of Jeeps in general around my area. Would it make me buy one???
I also think their pricing is very competitive!
But I still think Chrysler needs to work on its electrical gremlins that they are known for.
This was the statement about Chryslers success:
"Chrysler was the biggest winner in the 2011 sales race.Its share gain was powered by the new Chrysler 200 and Dodge Durango and the Jeep Cherokee,whose sales increased 53.6%.In fact,the entire Jeep line posted a 44.4% sales gain."
Come to think of it, I have seen alot of Jeeps in general around my area. Would it make me buy one???
#5
Honda's next Accord better be something that can go head-to-head with Hyundai's Sonata/Kia's Optima. There are times I wonder : TL or Optima? lol. As for Acura, I'm still holding out for that 5G and hope they hit a homerun. *Hang in there 3G... just another year or two...*
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#8
In my opinion the problem with Honda and Acura (ESPECIALLY Acura) is the uninspired marketing and advertising for these cars. Having just replace my wife's 2000TL with a 2012 TL Tech, I have to say this car is the most fun and responsive sedan I have ever driven. But have you ever seen any Acura ads illustrating this. Perfect example--the TV ads for BMW, Mercedes, Infiniti, Hyundai, Jaguar, and even Buick show the cars rolling along on the highway or running down the curvies or spinning out, etc. Not only have I hardly ever seen a TV spot for Acura but the one or two recent ones I can recall show the car sitting still.
The cars that Honda/Acura manufacture are among the best in class but they really need to do something about their marketing (has anyone seen the recent Genesis R-Spec spots?)
The cars that Honda/Acura manufacture are among the best in class but they really need to do something about their marketing (has anyone seen the recent Genesis R-Spec spots?)
#9
But have you ever seen any Acura ads illustrating this. Perfect example--the TV ads for BMW, Mercedes, Infiniti, Hyundai, Jaguar, and even Buick show the cars rolling along on the highway or running down the curvies or spinning out, etc. Not only have I hardly ever seen a TV spot for Acura but the one or two recent ones I can recall show the car sitting still.
The cars that Honda/Acura manufacture are among the best in class but they really need to do something about their marketing (has anyone seen the recent Genesis R-Spec spots?)
The cars that Honda/Acura manufacture are among the best in class but they really need to do something about their marketing (has anyone seen the recent Genesis R-Spec spots?)
#10
In my opinion the problem with Honda and Acura (ESPECIALLY Acura) is the uninspired marketing and advertising for these cars. Having just replace my wife's 2000TL with a 2012 TL Tech, I have to say this car is the most fun and responsive sedan I have ever driven. But have you ever seen any Acura ads illustrating this. Perfect example--the TV ads for BMW, Mercedes, Infiniti, Hyundai, Jaguar, and even Buick show the cars rolling along on the highway or running down the curvies or spinning out, etc. Not only have I hardly ever seen a TV spot for Acura but the one or two recent ones I can recall show the car sitting still.
The cars that Honda/Acura manufacture are among the best in class but they really need to do something about their marketing (has anyone seen the recent Genesis R-Spec spots?)
The cars that Honda/Acura manufacture are among the best in class but they really need to do something about their marketing (has anyone seen the recent Genesis R-Spec spots?)
#11
They could probably use more HP for these cars, but all in all 274 HP is still pretty good and they are definitely competitively priced. You get alot of car for the money IMO.
#12
#13
Ya I was actually surprised as well? I think the new Grand Cherokee has alot to do with it as the interior is very nice. I sat in one at the NYAS and the one I sat in had the umber interior. Very nice!
I also think their pricing is very competitive!
But I still think Chrysler needs to work on its electrical gremlins that they are known for.
This was the statement about Chryslers success:
"Chrysler was the biggest winner in the 2011 sales race.Its share gain was powered by the new Chrysler 200 and Dodge Durango and the Jeep Cherokee,whose sales increased 53.6%.In fact,the entire Jeep line posted a 44.4% sales gain."
Come to think of it, I have seen alot of Jeeps in general around my area. Would it make me buy one???
I also think their pricing is very competitive!
But I still think Chrysler needs to work on its electrical gremlins that they are known for.
This was the statement about Chryslers success:
"Chrysler was the biggest winner in the 2011 sales race.Its share gain was powered by the new Chrysler 200 and Dodge Durango and the Jeep Cherokee,whose sales increased 53.6%.In fact,the entire Jeep line posted a 44.4% sales gain."
Come to think of it, I have seen alot of Jeeps in general around my area. Would it make me buy one???
As far as Honda goes, I'm thinking we should expect another year of general mediocrity before they come out of their stupor. The new Accord is supposed to debut soon but I don't think they'll stray too far from the current formula....especially if the current Civic is any indicator.
#15
#16
I might have switched 1 and 2, and I'm not sure about Nissan (aside from the Leaf, I can't remember too much notable for them in 2011), but the list doesn't look too far afield.
Last edited by ttribe; 01-01-2012 at 08:44 PM.
#17
I wouldn't put too much faith into this list. Every one is different depending on publication, and often the "contributors" don't really know much about the industry or the cars. I've personally read things in motoring columns in newspapers that were blatantly wrong, only to read another piece in a competitor that stated something completely different. I think Honda may be a little "uninspired" at the moment, but the fact remains that they are often the car other manufacturers are continually comparing themselves to.
I will say, however, that Hyundia continues to impress me. At forty-six I grew up when Japanese cars were nothing but novelties. Cheap, rotting, but well running oddities. Then they were well designed, still well running cars that unfortunately rotted before their time. Then they became a wise purchase. Then they became a well respected car with engineering prowess. Most times Honda led the list. During the eighties, the Hyundia Ponys were terrible little disasters. The later Sonata an embarrassment. Now there a well respected brand at an attractive price. Toss in a memorable engine (in a good way) and forget about their humble beginnings and they'll be approaching greatness. In many ways they remind me of Honda all over again.
I will say, however, that Hyundia continues to impress me. At forty-six I grew up when Japanese cars were nothing but novelties. Cheap, rotting, but well running oddities. Then they were well designed, still well running cars that unfortunately rotted before their time. Then they became a wise purchase. Then they became a well respected car with engineering prowess. Most times Honda led the list. During the eighties, the Hyundia Ponys were terrible little disasters. The later Sonata an embarrassment. Now there a well respected brand at an attractive price. Toss in a memorable engine (in a good way) and forget about their humble beginnings and they'll be approaching greatness. In many ways they remind me of Honda all over again.
#18
Sarlacc's right; you're way off on this one. Chrysler is doing a great job and making some great cars...HUGE change from just a few years ago. Hyundai is a well-deserved #2, but Chrysler definitely had a bigger 2011.
#19
And some of the models that have come out are just stop-gap models. Just wait until the all-new ones come out. I bet it'll knock your socks off.
#20
I think Honda has losing its position in multiple segments. The Civic, the Accord, the Acura TL, the "never really gone anywhere" Acura RL. Great engines, good cars, but their success was initiated by the oil crisis of the 1970s when the little Civics were cheap and great on gas and the Accord was a novelty. In Canada, they were, by all accounts, rust buckets, and didn't perform well in the rain. Despite all of that, the Accord and Prelude were ahead of their times, and catered to a young group of buyers, who enjoyed the excellent road feel and surprisingly good performance from such small displacement engines - and those neat power sunroofs! All of that is second hand news now. Honda's are not cheap, the designs have come under criticism and there's nothing really special about them. No wonder they have dropped in the rankings. Mind you, the Accords and Civics are still good cars, it's the competition that is getting tougher.
Last edited by Peters; 01-02-2012 at 05:44 PM.
#22
I think Honda has losing its position in multiple segments. The Civic, the Accord, the Acura TL, the "never really gone anywhere" Acura RL. Great engines, good cars, but their success was initiated by the oil crisis of the 1970s when the little Civics were cheap and great on gas and the Accord was a novelty. In Canada, they were, by all accounts, rust buckets, and didn't perform well in the rain. Despite all of that, the Accord and Prelude were ahead of their times, and catered to a young group of buyers, who enjoyed the excellent road feel and surprisingly good performance from such small displacement engines - and those neat power sunroofs! All of that is second hand news now. Honda's are not cheap, the designs have come under criticism and there's nothing really special about them. No wonder they have dropped in the rankings. Mind you, the Accords and Civics are still good cars, it's the competition that is getting tougher.
Yep, wife has college friend who made the switch. Honda has more than Toyota on it's Back. I'm a huge HMCo fan, but there are a ton of great cars out there. G-luck big H.
Last edited by Mr Marco; 01-02-2012 at 06:44 PM.
#23
#24
Hold your Accord bashing. The Accord still offers excellent quality at an affordable price. I didn't see a Hyundai in the C&D top 10, it was the Accord again...and agian. Ehum, and some of us can't afford a $70k BMW.
Yep, wife has college friend who made the switch. Honda has more than Toyota on it's Back. I'm a huge HMCo fan, but there are a ton of great cars out there. G-luck big H.
Yep, wife has college friend who made the switch. Honda has more than Toyota on it's Back. I'm a huge HMCo fan, but there are a ton of great cars out there. G-luck big H.
Mind you, the Accords and Civics are still good cars, it's the competition that is getting tougher.
#25
Second hand news does not a top 10 car make. And they start at $21,350, nicely equipped.
#26
Nissan? Not to put them down, but what have they come out with this past year? A refreshed GT-R, the Leaf, and that's about it. The GT-R was Godzilla before 2011, and the Leaf doesn't seem to be selling that well.
All of the automakers on that list have plenty of vehicles on rental lots.
It will be very interesting to see what Honda does in 2012 and 2013. A new SH-AWD system, a new halo car, and many of their vehicles are due for a new generation.
It will be very interesting to see what Honda does in 2012 and 2013. A new SH-AWD system, a new halo car, and many of their vehicles are due for a new generation.
#27
Maybe its a Canadian thing. A well equipped Honda Accord Coupe is 40k. A well equipped 328xi Coupe is 51k. Factor in leasing residuals and incentives, the gap has narrowed considerably. As I said, Accords are good cars no doubt.
#28
#30
Going from M5-->Civic was tough to deal with on the road.
#32
I helped my in-laws lease their last two accords. I speak from first hand knowledge. And I borrow their car sometimes when I leave them my Prius with the infant seats in it.
I like the current Accord (more than most here) but its interior is certainly cheaper than the previous gen.
#33
#34
Oh yeah, don't get me wrong. I appreciated the fact that the dealership rented me a car; that was cool of them. I just got a laugh out of the move from 500HP to...whatever is in a base model Civic.
#35
The 21K will get you a 4cyl LX? I had one as a loaner, for a day, when I had my timing belt replaced. It was competent at best. It was highly uncomfortable to sit in for more than 30 minuets at a time.
And yes....the designs have come under criticism. Have they not? Not only from the general public but from the automotive press as well.
I just don't see this as bashing...just observations of what has been going on.
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