Comments on: Honda President Says Big Engines Are Dead. Seriously? http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/ Toyota Tundra News, Reviews, Accessories, and Information Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:35:30 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Admin (Jason) http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9912 Admin (Jason) Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:05:09 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9912 Gutz - That would be cool, but as you say it's probably not going to happen. Honda had V8 plans a couple of years ago and they freezed all development last year. ### As TXTee and others have said, the Ridgeline is a weak offering. I would guess that Honda will abandon the platform at some point, but who knows. As long as popular consumer magazines fundamentally missunderstand the truck market and recommend it, the Ridgeline has a chance. ### There is a market for a truck that's not quite compact but not quite full-size - Ford has explored the possibility of building an F-100 to fill this niche...but that idea doesn't have legs, evidently. ### Personally, I like the Honda product (I had an Acura once), but they're definitely failing in the luxury car segment. Acura's were popular cheap luxury options at one time, but they've peaked. It turns out that Americans want *powerful* luxury cars, not luxury versions of economic Hondas...and Acura is the proof. Gutz – That would be cool, but as you say it’s probably not going to happen. Honda had V8 plans a couple of years ago and they freezed all development last year.
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As TXTee and others have said, the Ridgeline is a weak offering. I would guess that Honda will abandon the platform at some point, but who knows. As long as popular consumer magazines fundamentally missunderstand the truck market and recommend it, the Ridgeline has a chance.
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There is a market for a truck that’s not quite compact but not quite full-size – Ford has explored the possibility of building an F-100 to fill this niche…but that idea doesn’t have legs, evidently.
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Personally, I like the Honda product (I had an Acura once), but they’re definitely failing in the luxury car segment. Acura’s were popular cheap luxury options at one time, but they’ve peaked. It turns out that Americans want *powerful* luxury cars, not luxury versions of economic Hondas…and Acura is the proof.

]]> By: Mickey http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9754 Mickey Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:50:46 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9754 In a way Nokz is right but to add to it in my thinking. Honda hasn't had a big engine to start so why come out crying about it. You just made your company look bad by putting your nose where you don't belong. First of all he needs to learn American culture before he spews out trash. I seriously don't think Honda has the know how to build a successful V8. No R&D in it so why tell everyone this statement? He think's people will jump on his bandwagon? We''l see if this actually hurts his company for those remarks. In a way Nokz is right but to add to it in my thinking. Honda hasn’t had a big engine to start so why come out crying about it. You just made your company look bad by putting your nose where you don’t belong. First of all he needs to learn American culture before he spews out trash. I seriously don’t think Honda has the know how to build a successful V8. No R&D in it so why tell everyone this statement? He think’s people will jump on his bandwagon? We”l see if this actually hurts his company for those remarks.

]]> By: TXTee http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9722 TXTee Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:28 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9722 Honda should stick to motorcycles and lawnmowers where they do well enough. Big engines have a purpose and they should consider scrapping the Ridgeline. I'll agree with Nokz' statement..... Honda should stick to motorcycles and lawnmowers where they do well enough. Big engines have a purpose and they should consider scrapping the Ridgeline. I’ll agree with Nokz’ statement…..

]]> By: mk http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9719 mk Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:45:04 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9719 Honda's sell really well, but to the yuppy and eco-friendly crowd around here in WI. They claim reliability is good, but if I am not comfortable sitting and driving any of their cars or trucks, I will never buy one. My neighbor has a newer Honda CRV (butt ugly), seats are pathetically flat, small, and not too supportive for heavier people like myself and the power and ride is not as good as my same year built previous RAV4 I had for a cheaper price. Their cars are butt ugly as well. I'd buy the domestic 3 over a Honda car anyday just because of looks even though the reliability in a Honda is more likely to be there. Honda’s sell really well, but to the yuppy and eco-friendly crowd around here in WI. They claim reliability is good, but if I am not comfortable sitting and driving any of their cars or trucks, I will never buy one. My neighbor has a newer Honda CRV (butt ugly), seats are pathetically flat, small, and not too supportive for heavier people like myself and the power and ride is not as good as my same year built previous RAV4 I had for a cheaper price. Their cars are butt ugly as well. I’d buy the domestic 3 over a Honda car anyday just because of looks even though the reliability in a Honda is more likely to be there.

]]> By: Jeremy the Evil Scientist http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9712 Jeremy the Evil Scientist Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:32:34 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9712 What is that whistling noise? OH, that's Hondas market share dropping. What is that whistling noise? OH, that’s Hondas market share dropping.

]]> By: Gutz http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9700 Gutz Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:52:55 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9700 A Honda V8 would be interesting to see.....but looks like it will never happen. A Honda V8 would be interesting to see…..but looks like it will never happen.

]]> By: Jr http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9699 Jr Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:13:56 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9699 Oh and also, according to wikipedia (although i shouldn't be citing from there, but whatever...) Honda sold 33,875 Ridgelines' in 2008 Toyota sold 144,665 Tacoma's in 2008. In 2009, Tacoma still out sold the ridgeline and frontier. So i guess it could be logical to conclude that when people think "compact truck" or if they arent looking for a full size truck it looks like toyota comes to mind. I give Toyota huge kudos for that :) Oh and also,

according to wikipedia (although i shouldn’t be citing from there, but whatever…)

Honda sold 33,875 Ridgelines’ in 2008

Toyota sold 144,665 Tacoma’s in 2008.

In 2009, Tacoma still out sold the ridgeline and frontier.

So i guess it could be logical to conclude that when people think “compact truck” or if they arent looking for a full size truck it looks like toyota comes to mind. I give Toyota huge kudos for that :)

]]> By: Jr http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9698 Jr Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:05:19 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9698 Hahah i agree with mk, The ridgeline fails as a truck,even though it may have more horsepower than the 4.0L V6 tacoma, when my friends and i are discussing trucks both full and mid size, the ridgeline is hardly if never even mentioned. Im glad that my parents got me a Tacoma for my first car. The tacoma looks more like a truck, and ive done so much to this Tacoma in the year that ive driven it (its an 08 model), im sure our last truck would not have lasted this long if my dad had treated it the same way.We had a 03 RAM 1500, with the 5.7L HEMI, it was a great truck until it broke down, and my dad realllyyy took care of it,acording to the mechanic somehow the cylinder head gasket broke and i think the water and oil started to mix,And ive trashed my tacoma quite a bit, and the little taco is still going :D Hahah i agree with mk, The ridgeline fails as a truck,even though it may have more horsepower than the 4.0L V6 tacoma, when my friends and i are discussing trucks both full and mid size, the ridgeline is hardly if never even mentioned. Im glad that my parents got me a Tacoma for my first car. The tacoma looks more like a truck, and ive done so much to this Tacoma in the year that ive driven it (its an 08 model), im sure our last truck would not have lasted this long if my dad had treated it the same way.We had a 03 RAM 1500, with the 5.7L HEMI, it was a great truck until it broke down, and my dad realllyyy took care of it,acording to the mechanic somehow the cylinder head gasket broke and i think the water and oil started to mix,And ive trashed my tacoma quite a bit, and the little taco is still going :D

]]> By: mk http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9693 mk Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:16:58 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9693 Take a look at the honda ridgeline. Mediocre power at best with a V6 and not a full size truck, but 3/4 size. This is all Honda has for a V6 and no V8's ever as far as I know. Honda should stick to tiny 4 cylinder cars which they are o.k. at, but their cars and trucks are butt ugly. He is from Japan and ignorant for saying this in America - Japan and China fine, but not the USA market. Take a look at the honda ridgeline. Mediocre power at best with a V6 and not a full size truck, but 3/4 size. This is all Honda has for a V6 and no V8’s ever as far as I know. Honda should stick to tiny 4 cylinder cars which they are o.k. at, but their cars and trucks are butt ugly. He is from Japan and ignorant for saying this in America – Japan and China fine, but not the USA market.

]]> By: Admin (Jason) http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/2009/10/28/honda-president-says-big-engines-dead/#comment-9680 Admin (Jason) Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:21 +0000 http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/blog/?p=2014#comment-9680 NoKz - Fair enough. I think Honda builds great little cars, but I think they risk their future with blanket statements like this. Big engines are dead if all they plan to be is an entry-level car company. However, if Honda ever wants Acura to thrive (or if they ever plan to make a real stab at the SUV or truck market), they're going to need a better grasp of American car culture. NoKz – Fair enough. I think Honda builds great little cars, but I think they risk their future with blanket statements like this. Big engines are dead if all they plan to be is an entry-level car company. However, if Honda ever wants Acura to thrive (or if they ever plan to make a real stab at the SUV or truck market), they’re going to need a better grasp of American car culture.

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