Honda likely to leave Europe?
Discussion
An article in Autocar recently caught my eye - they mentioned that Honda had sold less cars in Europe this year than Mitsubishi…
And Mitsubishi has now left the market.
I checked the figures and Mitsubishi sold 55k cars vs 51k for Honda, who were bottom of the sales charts.
They now have cars that get reasonable reviews - civic, HRV, jazz, CRV - but so far not the sales.
Do you think they can get back up the sales charts?
I’ve owned three Honda cars myself- Accord, Civic and Jazz.
And Mitsubishi has now left the market.
I checked the figures and Mitsubishi sold 55k cars vs 51k for Honda, who were bottom of the sales charts.
They now have cars that get reasonable reviews - civic, HRV, jazz, CRV - but so far not the sales.
Do you think they can get back up the sales charts?
I’ve owned three Honda cars myself- Accord, Civic and Jazz.
I doubt it, never really liked them, I hate how they are so futuristic with some things like style but then things they are so stuck in the 80s with like their switchgear inside and things like the window switches still say “auto” on them, and they’ve been left behind by everyone else.
add in to not being a cool brand anymore, and with most cars being sold on PCP their monthly cost comes close to the German cars people aspire too.
Still, there’s a fair few oldies around to buy a HRV or a jazz.
add in to not being a cool brand anymore, and with most cars being sold on PCP their monthly cost comes close to the German cars people aspire too.
Still, there’s a fair few oldies around to buy a HRV or a jazz.
The way their dealers are shutting down in the UK there won't be anywhere left to buy one soon. If that sales number is whole of Europe then vast majority of it is UK so it must be an extremely marginal brand in the rest of Europe.
We had two long-standng and well regarded dealers locally, and driving into town you'd find yourself in little Honda convoys. Wife had a Jazz, one of our daughters got one and so did a couple of our neighbours - all gone now, except daughter still has her mk2. I've never seen a mk4 Jazz locally, and I've never seen a HR-V on the road anywhere.
They've changed as a company too - the dealers used to look after you but I've had some staggering customer service issues with the glass palace that replaced the two local dealers. I don't go there any more but it was always deserted and I noticed they recently added MG!
We had two long-standng and well regarded dealers locally, and driving into town you'd find yourself in little Honda convoys. Wife had a Jazz, one of our daughters got one and so did a couple of our neighbours - all gone now, except daughter still has her mk2. I've never seen a mk4 Jazz locally, and I've never seen a HR-V on the road anywhere.
They've changed as a company too - the dealers used to look after you but I've had some staggering customer service issues with the glass palace that replaced the two local dealers. I don't go there any more but it was always deserted and I noticed they recently added MG!
I buy Honda cars. In my 19 years of driving I’ve owned 9 cars in total and 8 of which were Hondas. I love the brand, I lust after Integras, S2000s, Preludes, Type R Civics etc
There isn’t a single Honda on sale today that I’d ever consider buying. They’re bland crap. They need to have a complete brand rethink, a bit like Toyota did a couple of years ago. Make some halo cars and get the young kids lusting after the red H again
There isn’t a single Honda on sale today that I’d ever consider buying. They’re bland crap. They need to have a complete brand rethink, a bit like Toyota did a couple of years ago. Make some halo cars and get the young kids lusting after the red H again
Edited by CKR83 on Thursday 30th December 22:45
We’ve bought multiple Hondas and they have all been far more reliable than any BMWs or Audis we’ve owned. The problem is they have crept up in price…new CRV over £40K, Jazz over £22K etc etc, plus they aren’t made in the U.K. anymore. Our local dealer has now shut but their service level had declined dramatically over the last two years in any case.
Don't see many around here.
Dad had the first spaceship Civic, the old HRV, and a CRV. They were okay I guess. Competent but not much else.
IMO the current stuff is cheap and naff inside, they're ugly on the outside, they're too expensive, and outside of the Type R, they are cars for the elderly. They could have hit it big with the Honda E, but it's too expensive and has the range of a mobility scooter.
Dad had the first spaceship Civic, the old HRV, and a CRV. They were okay I guess. Competent but not much else.
IMO the current stuff is cheap and naff inside, they're ugly on the outside, they're too expensive, and outside of the Type R, they are cars for the elderly. They could have hit it big with the Honda E, but it's too expensive and has the range of a mobility scooter.
I've always thought that they made good cars but if you were in the market for their type of product today wouldn't you buy a Kia or the Quashkai thing?
Or maybe that Civic thing modelled on a rugby club vagina for the last two decades has simply pushed the traditional, staid buyer away?
Or maybe that Civic thing modelled on a rugby club vagina for the last two decades has simply pushed the traditional, staid buyer away?
My wife had a civic saloon way back in the day, it fell cheap, was loud and not very refined, but would probably have gone on till Armageddon, she swapped it for a VW( what you had as the Bora, we called a Jetta in Canada), she has since had a Golf, and would never go back, the VW’s are built like tanks in comparison.
DonkeyApple said:
I've always thought that they made good cars but if you were in the market for their type of product today wouldn't you buy a Kia or the Quashkai thing?
Or maybe that Civic thing modelled on a rugby club vagina for the last two decades has simply pushed the traditional, staid buyer away?
As a fan of old Hondas, I now look at Hyundai as a potential replacement. The N performance range are quality cars, and the fastback i30 N looks lovely. Or maybe that Civic thing modelled on a rugby club vagina for the last two decades has simply pushed the traditional, staid buyer away?
Honda has introduced an ‘agency’ style model here in Australia,which means all stock is owned by Honda Australia,ALL prices are fixed,NO negotiations on price @ all,zilch.What you see is what you pay.They have halved the annual service cost.As a result there sales have plummeted.They have cut nearly twenty dealers from their network as well.My ‘local’ dealer is no longer.The other dealer on the others side of the city has now set up a service centre only on my side of the city.They could well leave & be taken over by an importer to distribute their vehicles,interesting days ahead for the brand.
When Honda has the EP3 Civic and S2000 I thought they'd take over the world but then it all seemed to stop.
What was that advert? Something about the power of dreams? It made them look like an exciting company but the only cars I ever saw were mid spec Civics and CR-Vs.
I guess they offer little that you can't get in a Kia or Hyundai.
What was that advert? Something about the power of dreams? It made them look like an exciting company but the only cars I ever saw were mid spec Civics and CR-Vs.
I guess they offer little that you can't get in a Kia or Hyundai.
CKR83 said:
I buy Honda cars. In my 19 years of driving I’ve owned 9 cars in total and 8 of which were Hondas. I love the brand, I lust after Integras, S2000s, Preludes, Type R Civics etc
There isn’t a single Honda on sale today that I’d ever consider buying. They’re bland crap. They need to have a complete brand rethink, a bit like Toyota did a couple of years ago. Make some halo cars and get the young kids lusting after the red H again
Very true. Honda lost their way around 2008/9.There isn’t a single Honda on sale today that I’d ever consider buying. They’re bland crap. They need to have a complete brand rethink, a bit like Toyota did a couple of years ago. Make some halo cars and get the young kids lusting after the red H again
Edited by CKR83 on Thursday 30th December 22:45
Hackney2 said:
Honda has introduced an ‘agency’ style model here in Australia,which means all stock is owned by Honda Australia,ALL prices are fixed,NO negotiations on price @ all,zilch.What you see is what you pay.
They’re reported as ‘exploring’ that model in the UK, but it’s said to be part of their strategy globally.Honda UK have been a huge recruitment drive in the past 6 months for the HQ in Bracknell. Doubt they would be doing this if they were leaving Europe.
I am also an avid Honda fan (worked for them for over 6 years many years ago) and have owned many privately myself and within the family. However, you guys are right about the current model range. What a load of crap is available right now. The mk1 and mk2 Jazz were huge sellers, the current one just looks hideous! Latest Civic due out next year looks like its aiming for the American and Asian Market, I did buy a 2019 Civic EX iDTEC Auto and only owned it for 2 months, but ended up px'ing it as the build quality was just dreadful with such a huge amount of squeaks and rattles constantly which the dealers couldn't rectify. The latest CRV is just way too expensive and way behind any technology other manufacturers have. The new HRV which has very recently been released - another awful looker with poor tech.
Honda UK's heydays were between 2006 and 2012 when the entire range had something to cater for everyone, reasonable pricing and great specs too. The mk8 civic had just been released then, was a unique looker but drove well and sales went through the roof. At the same time, new CRV was released and brought over so many new customers to Honda from LR (loads of Freelander customers bought these), looked great and tech was in line with other manufacturers too. The Jazz was the easiest sale for dealers at the time. Every single day - "my neighbour/aunt/uncle/parent/sibling/colleague has one, they love it and I want one too. Where do I sign?". Accord was doing very well for both fleet and private buyers alike. If I remember rightly, the Accord and Jazz were voted most reliable cars in the UK for about 5 years running.
But sadly now, what a total crap model range. Not even one model in their lineup interests me. I wouldn't be surprised though if in a few years time, they do end up winding down in the UK. The likes of Kia/Hyundai/Dacia etc have taken most of the typical Honda customer base, and rightly so. Up to date tech, reasonable pricing and superb reliability. Everything that Honda used to be.
Anyway, I reckon we will be saying goodbye to Honda in the next few years.
I am also an avid Honda fan (worked for them for over 6 years many years ago) and have owned many privately myself and within the family. However, you guys are right about the current model range. What a load of crap is available right now. The mk1 and mk2 Jazz were huge sellers, the current one just looks hideous! Latest Civic due out next year looks like its aiming for the American and Asian Market, I did buy a 2019 Civic EX iDTEC Auto and only owned it for 2 months, but ended up px'ing it as the build quality was just dreadful with such a huge amount of squeaks and rattles constantly which the dealers couldn't rectify. The latest CRV is just way too expensive and way behind any technology other manufacturers have. The new HRV which has very recently been released - another awful looker with poor tech.
Honda UK's heydays were between 2006 and 2012 when the entire range had something to cater for everyone, reasonable pricing and great specs too. The mk8 civic had just been released then, was a unique looker but drove well and sales went through the roof. At the same time, new CRV was released and brought over so many new customers to Honda from LR (loads of Freelander customers bought these), looked great and tech was in line with other manufacturers too. The Jazz was the easiest sale for dealers at the time. Every single day - "my neighbour/aunt/uncle/parent/sibling/colleague has one, they love it and I want one too. Where do I sign?". Accord was doing very well for both fleet and private buyers alike. If I remember rightly, the Accord and Jazz were voted most reliable cars in the UK for about 5 years running.
But sadly now, what a total crap model range. Not even one model in their lineup interests me. I wouldn't be surprised though if in a few years time, they do end up winding down in the UK. The likes of Kia/Hyundai/Dacia etc have taken most of the typical Honda customer base, and rightly so. Up to date tech, reasonable pricing and superb reliability. Everything that Honda used to be.
Anyway, I reckon we will be saying goodbye to Honda in the next few years.
Such a shame…. I had EP3 type R and an S2000 (race type Rs now)
I feel Hyundai and Kia have taken what was their core market.
Their dealerships were great, great cars and ads…. All seems to have stopped. I’d struggle to name their range now and indeed what engines they use or if they are electric.
Only Hondas I see on new plates are Type Rs which are few and far between.
All the legendary Japanese stuff from my era (Subaru, Honda, Mitsubishi) seems to have gone…. Think the USA and Japan are such big markets for them why bother to compete with Germans/ Koreans/ Ford and Tesla here anymore.
I feel Hyundai and Kia have taken what was their core market.
Their dealerships were great, great cars and ads…. All seems to have stopped. I’d struggle to name their range now and indeed what engines they use or if they are electric.
Only Hondas I see on new plates are Type Rs which are few and far between.
All the legendary Japanese stuff from my era (Subaru, Honda, Mitsubishi) seems to have gone…. Think the USA and Japan are such big markets for them why bother to compete with Germans/ Koreans/ Ford and Tesla here anymore.
In the 90s / 2000s
2 x VTI CRX
4 x 1.8 vtech accords (company cars)
1 x civic coupe
1 x 2.2 diesel accord
All really good cars all got thrashed every day and none ever give me a problem.
Today I wouldn’t have a single Honda on offer apart from the NSX.
2 x VTI CRX
4 x 1.8 vtech accords (company cars)
1 x civic coupe
1 x 2.2 diesel accord
All really good cars all got thrashed every day and none ever give me a problem.
Today I wouldn’t have a single Honda on offer apart from the NSX.
Edited by Whistle on Thursday 30th December 23:57
ads_4116 said:
Honda UK's heydays were between 2006 and 2012 when the entire range had something to cater for everyone, reasonable pricing and great specs too.
IMO Honda's heyday in the UK was perhaps from the mid 90s to early 2000s, when their vtec engines led the way with respect to specific output, and halo cars such as the S2000 or EP3 type-R were genuinely class leading.After this things seemed to stagnate for 10 years or more, they dragged their heels with respect to turbo and diesel engines, and models such as the Accord withered and died.
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