Interesting article in the December, 2011 issue of Motor Trend, by Ron Kiino. Can't really argue with anything he writes, unfortunately.
Is Hyundai the new Honda?
- Thread starter DeVinci13
- Start date
I read that same article and thought he was correct. Then I went to the LA Auto Show....saw the Hyundai display and saw the Honda display and knew he was correct............
+100000
WTF is the Honda leadership asleep at the wheel??
WTF is the Honda leadership asleep at the wheel??
I read the article as well. It is correct that nothing has come from Honda lately worth getting excited about.
Hyundai hires German designers, and Japanese engineers. They do copy others. They do not innovate all that much. They also offer up to 84 months of 0% financing to attract people to their products. You don't see Honda quite that desperate. (but close)
I was at a car show last spring and noticed the mileage rating on the CRZ. The Ford Fiesta gets better mileage, for a lot less money. If you want, you can equip a Ford Fiesta better than a CRZ as well.
While there may be nothing too exciting about today's Honda lineup, they still sell a lot of cars and seldom discount the price. The demand may not be as strong, but others wish they sold as many cars as Honda does.
Hyundai hires German designers, and Japanese engineers. They do copy others. They do not innovate all that much. They also offer up to 84 months of 0% financing to attract people to their products. You don't see Honda quite that desperate. (but close)
I was at a car show last spring and noticed the mileage rating on the CRZ. The Ford Fiesta gets better mileage, for a lot less money. If you want, you can equip a Ford Fiesta better than a CRZ as well.
While there may be nothing too exciting about today's Honda lineup, they still sell a lot of cars and seldom discount the price. The demand may not be as strong, but others wish they sold as many cars as Honda does.
shawn110975
Suspended
no matter how many Genisis versions they come out with I will never be seen in one.
Agree with the article. I must say though... the layout, ergonomics, and overall interior quality of the Genesis Coupe is absolutely horrible. I think I pinched a nerve in my hand trying to operate the cock-eyed window switches on the door. I have no idea why they are getting such high praise for their interior. It's awful even compared to a CR-V which is our backup car.
I totally agree with the article. As a child of the 80s, I totally lusted after the CRX, Prelude, and later, the Integra. Now, Honda is competing with Toyota for boringness and is even winning thanks to Toyota making cars like the FR-S and LF-A.
I think there must be a long lag time between when a car company's products become staid and boring and when the public figures that out. There is also a long lag time between when the public starts thinking your cars are boring and when senior management realizes they have a problem. Combined, that seems to be about ten years. To me, the problem started when the EP3 Civic Si and RSX came out. Both were much more boring than the previous generations. It went downhill from there with the S2000 kinda drawing out the decline.
I think there must be a long lag time between when a car company's products become staid and boring and when the public figures that out. There is also a long lag time between when the public starts thinking your cars are boring and when senior management realizes they have a problem. Combined, that seems to be about ten years. To me, the problem started when the EP3 Civic Si and RSX came out. Both were much more boring than the previous generations. It went downhill from there with the S2000 kinda drawing out the decline.
I thought about this recently also. A lot of it is timing too. The S2000 would have been a natural FR-S competitor (lest some tweaks) if it came out this year. Now Honda is trying to jump on the Hybrid bandwagon but they're sort of doing it half-ass likely due to investments in hydrogen. I truly do wish their fuel cell technology would take off though. Now the diesel market is heating up. Who would have thought diesels would be considered green for Christ's sake? Now even the hippies want a TDi.
I consider myself a Honda guy, but I recently went with the new Elentra over anything on the Honda lot for our new commuter car...Much better looking then the civic, great interior, sat, bluetooth, 100K warranty, guarantee trade in value and 40 mpg hwy(currently getting about 34 mpg combined) and can fill it up for $40!!! (at Cali gas prices @ $3.70 gal) all for under $20K and got 1.99% finance...
Have had it for about 2 months now and love it...Rides as smooth as my is250 and has enough pep to pass....
Hyundai can't keep the new Elentra's on the lot...They had 3 come in the day mine did and they were all gone that day...
Have had it for about 2 months now and love it...Rides as smooth as my is250 and has enough pep to pass....
Hyundai can't keep the new Elentra's on the lot...They had 3 come in the day mine did and they were all gone that day...
Wow! That sounds hard to beat for a commuter car...............
I disagree with this. This is what caused GM to fail, the lack of decent products. Just because you think Honda is not that desperate yet (history), the future is bleak (reality).
It is troubling when so many of us Honda diehards are buying Hyundais, and not Hondas.
At one time I owned 3 Honda vehicles all as my drivers!! Today I only have my NSX. A very sad development.
We have also own nothing but Hondas in the past 20 years. 90, 92,95, 98, 03 Accord, 04TL, 06 MDX. But recently we decide to pick up a 2012 Kia optima to replace 335i. There is nothing look good in Honda or Acura line up.
Can anybody that is a bit older than myself comment on the general perception of Honda in 1985?
Did people say things like "I'd never be seen in a Honda" the way people do now about Hyundai?
I'm just curious if Honda had to fight and win over a similar stigma back then.
Did people say things like "I'd never be seen in a Honda" the way people do now about Hyundai?
I'm just curious if Honda had to fight and win over a similar stigma back then.
Back then I had no problem being seen in a Honda since American cars at that time were junk and German cars are still relatively expensive for the common people. Back then some people hate Japanese cars for different reasons, not image reason. These days, people hate huyndai for image reason, IMO.
I was rocking in a datsun 510 in 1985.
I was rocking in a datsun 510 in 1985.
accurate article and echos feelings I have had of late. I generally encourage people to consider Hyundais as I did when looking for our last vehicle purchase. They build a fine vehicle and most importantly, they have that fire in their belly pushing them forward to prove themselves.
I don't know where you guys live, but Hyundai's image here is one of quality cars that offer a great value. All ANYONE talks of is how good Hyundai's are. I think if you have an issue with Hyundai's "image", its more in your own head than reality. Here they have more of an early Lexus or Acura image. Where you are "smart" for having bought one. Kia is gaining even faster because of their gorgeous cars.
I already said it... It's more than Hyundai is the new Honda. Korea is the new Japan. Samsung is the new Sony. Hyundai is the new Honda. And since Apple is the new electronics giant and China the new chip maker... lets just say I wouldn't be investing in the yen.
Last edited:
Really guys? Am I the only one that thinks the interior and overall vehicle dynamics of a Hyundai (Genesis Coupe in my case) sucks? People talk about Nissan/Infinity having a cheap interior. I think Hyundai takes that to a new level. I'm not hating on the car at all. I'm still considering one because of the great value. I'm just not sure if you folks who love and bought the car bought it knowing they still fall short in certain areas.
On paper they are great vehicles, no argument.
On paper they are great vehicles, no argument.
Huh???
Have you been in a Hyundai lately? Compare that to a Honda or Toyota??
I was at the recent car show...the Honda and Toyota interiors look like crap compared to Hyundai.
Fall short? Sure it's gonna fall short in some areas, but as a package the Hyundai and Kia vehicles are far better. Why do you think so many of us Honda diehards are buying them?
Honda needs to step up its game, without question.
Last edited:
They are only perhaps 5 years away from superceding the Japanese in vehicle dynamics. They are moving at a much more rapid rate and will catch up. Are they still behind Toyota and Honda? Yes. But not by that much. And they are already ahead in design and value. The Genesis coupe replacement will be a big step ahead again and Honda seems to be going backwards in some areas (like the civic). Their designs are getting UGLIER. I'm being generous saying 5 years... and they will have surpassed them in every category. I bet the supercar rumors are even true... they are working on something.
I don't know Korea's secret. I don't know how this country has emerged like it has... but obviously there is some business leadership that has their shit together.
I know... Yes, I was at the most recent LA Car show and I was shocked at how crappy the interior was in the G-Coupe. Admittedly I was not in the market for the other models so I did not inspect them. Perhaps the other models were better but the G-Coupe was horrible. I was especially annoyed with the window switch placement on the door. The plastics were horrible too.Huh???
Have you been in a Hyundai lately? Compare that to a Honda or Toyota??
I was at the recent car show...the Honda and Toyota interiors look like crap compared to Hyundai.
Fall short? Sure it's gonna fall short in some areas, but as a package the Hyundai and Kia vehicles are far better. Why do you think so many of us Honda diehards are buying them?
Honda needs to step up its game, without question.
I'm not expecting BMW quality but the fit and finish of a Honda Fit/Accord was much much better albeit the quality of the materials weren't too much better either.
Yes, I stand by the fact that the interior on the G-Coupe is awful.
Part of the secret is a big pocket book via gov't subsidies. I guess the US isn't much different with the Big 3 but at least the Koreans knows how to make a return on their Won as opposed to all ours goes to the unions/pensions...ok.. i digress.
Yes, I agree.. at the current rate of improvement 5yrs is not a bad guess. It'll go faster if Honda continues to slide into the abyss. Toyota got their act together quick with the BRZ. Perhaps that's the answer... partner with Subaru and have them design your next fun-to-drive RWD sports car! lol
