Edmunds Auto Observer is often the first website to review a new car– in the sense of showering it with love and happiness or, at worst, gumming it to death. Suddenly, uncharacteristically, under the guise of humor, the bloggers who still won't fully disclose car manufacturers' contributions to their editorial (a.k.a. junketeering) grew a pair. Ish. Writer Bill Visnic offers a list of cars that "don't have a chance." Of course, it's not the carmakers' fault. Oh, no these whips are doomed "mostly [due] to the new rules governing the auto industry" Some of the cars– which now "suddenly look titanically dumb"– are easy targets (VW Rotten). Others are guaranteed sales successes (Honda Accord). So we put it to you, our Best and Brightest: which of these things is not like the other? Which of these things will not belong? And what other vehicles should be on this list of future flops, and why?
BMW X6
Cadillac CTS-V
Dodge Challenger
Dodge Ram
Ford F150
Ford Flex
Honda Pilot
Honda Accord
Infiniti FX50
Lincoln MKS
Hummer H3T
Toyota Venza
VW Routan
VW Tiguan
Through May, Accord sales for the year were up 6.6% and was slightly outselling the Civic. Accord sales are close to those of the Camry, and if you were to remove fleet numbers from their total, they would probably be almost tied.
I’m just not seeing the problem here. To me, it sounds as if the Accord is doing well in its class. If there is an incentives problem, then it probably comes from excess production capacity, not from falling sales.
Well putting the Accord and a Hummer on the same list kind of stretches the definition of flop, don’t you think?
BMW X6 – gone
Cadillac CTS-V – they’ll sell like 5 but it’ll live
Dodge Challenger – 3, 4 years, tops
Dodge Ram – survive if Chrysler survives
Ford F150 – no sweat, it could just return to its roots
Ford Flex – hard to tell
Honda Pilot – gone
Honda Accord – if the next-gen is Caprice-sized, maybe
Infiniti FX50 – no idea
Lincoln MKS – stays until a proper flagship can arrive
Hummer H3T – gone even if Hummer survives
Toyota Venza – stays
VW Routan – gone
VW Tiguan – no idea
The Accord will do OK, but not as well as if it hadn’t gained weight. If I were in the market for a sedan, I’d skip the Accord where I might have gone for the old one. The Civic would be high on my list.
The Pilot will probably also ride on Honda’s reputation. I don’t think people are going to be down on it because of the styling, contrary to Visnic, because people who buy Hondas buy them for other attributes, as long as the car doesn’t look bad.
The Flex is a nice concept, but way too expensive for its class.
As for the rest of the vehicles on that list, I don’t think any of them will do well.
I agree with Pch101. I was quite surprised at the Accord bashing. Whether ones likes it or not (I don’t), it still seems to be selling well.
Cars or Carmakers?
Hummer’s already out. I say Lincoln and Dodge will be next. VW will pull out of the US market indefinitely, and Cadillac will be the last GM brand to drop before Chevy.
Within twenty years, buying a new car – like air travel – will be something only for the ultra-wealthy. The luxury marques, BMW, Infiniti, Acura, and Lexus will go further upmarket, using high profit margins to subsidize offerings from their corresponding economy brands. MINI, Nissan, Honda, and Toyota will be offering little more than glorified golf/go-carts.
This sounds like TTAC:
To make matters worse, quality-challenged VW enlisted even more quality-challenged Chrysler to build it.
John
The Accord is doing totally fine and will continue to do so. It’s among the most efficient large sedans available, and isn’t that expensive in base trim.
I suspect they added that in there to rile people up and increase hits.
The only obvious choices are the Hummer H3T and the VW Routan. These vehicles probably wouldnt stand a chance even if gas was less expensive.
Certainly some of these vehicles will take a huge hit in sales simply due to the fact that they were conceived prior to $4.00/gallon gasoline (read F-150, Ram). The Pilot certainly deserves to go after its most recent hideous rendition. Possibly the worst exterior design of the year, right up there with the Acura RL facelift.
The only place where I really disagree with you is the X6. Despite its hideous and ungainly appearance, it seems to have a sweet spot in the marketplace, that is image conscious folk who easily part with money. More proof, that BMW owners could care less about the actual driving experience and are just in it for the badge.
The Flex and Venza get my vote for surprise runaway hit.
Toyota needs the Venza to exist to make the rest of their aesthetically challenged lineup look good.
Regarding the trend to supersize vehicles, I have a ’99 Accord that I have held onto because the newer Accords were not different enough from the ’99 model to justify a new vehicle. The new, supersized Accord is different enough to finally get me into the showroom (didn’t buy). With vehicles lasting much longer than they used to, manufacturers have to make significant changes to get people out of their old vehicles, and up until recently, downsizing wouldn’t fly.
BMW X6
Cadillac CTS-V-Alive
Dodge Challenger-Dead
Dodge Ram-Dead unless it mends its bad ways
Ford F150-Alive
Ford Flex-Alive
Honda Pilot-Alive but reduced in numbers
Honda Accord-Alive
Infiniti FX50-Alive
Lincoln MKS-Dead
Hummer H3T-?
Toyota Venza-Alive
VW Routan-Dead
VW Tiguan-Dead
BMW X6 –> Will survive fine for its model cycle, but won’t get a succesor
Cadillac CTS-V –> Survives
Dodge Challenger –> like X6, only smaller staying power
Dodge Ram –> No chance, being subpar in a niche that’s getting smaller fast won’t be viable for long
Ford F150 –> survives, still profitable, class leading, they still sell enough of them to people who need them and to some who don’t but can still afford them
Ford Flex –> Is there any question it wouldn’t survive?
Honda Pilot –> Will probably survive on brand name (and by that I mean ‘Pilot’ as well as Honda)
Honda Accord –>
Infiniti FX50 –> Questionable, some of the competition is better and like the RAM, when a segment is dwindling it’s not enough to be average.
Lincoln MKS –> Looks bad, drives unremarkable, I see no reason whatsoever to buy this car.
Hummer H3T –> Could survive as a niche car if the brand survives…IF
Toyota Venza –> Seeing as though I don’t know this car I fear for it (eventhough I’m European, and it’s probably a US only model or a Euro model that I know by another name)
VW Routan –> It’s in a good segment to be in, and it’s the best Chrysler MPV you can buy, however that doesn’t mean much and I’m sure Toyonda do a better job. I wouldn’t be surprised if VW replaced it by something they design themselves, however, what VW is doing with its line-up in the US market remains a mistery to me.
VW Tiguan –> Will probably do fine, I know in the US it’s quite pricey compared to competitors, but in Europe they can’t make enough of them to match demand eventhough I personally think it’s overpriced and not so great. Wait till the Q5 appears…
BMW x6 – it’ll sell a year or 2 and then fade away
Caddy CTS-V – survive only in a museum
Dodge Challenger – good for 3-4 years
Dodge Ram – agree w/above: only if Chrysler survives
Ford 150 – it’ll hang in there, if Ford does
Ford Flex – gotten a lot of good press but I think it is one ugly vehicle (only seen the outside)
Honda Pilot – the result of a drunken night liaison between the old pilot and a jeep commander (ich)
Honda Accord – already a hit
Infiniti FX50 – minimal sales, but Nissan will keep it
Lincoln MKS – appealing if Ford can survive
Bummmer – oops – Hummer – needs to die
Toyota Venza – They need a station wagon, and this isn’t totlly gross
VW Routan – outa here
VW Tiguan – survives only if if gets a diesel
Im glad someone is taking Honda to task. The new Accord is a styling mess and just too damn big. And any 7 year old with an erector set (do they still make those?) could have designed the Pilot. Honda’s styling is a mess right now!!! Starting with the Civic and Ridgeline, now these two beasts, ugh.
I completely disagree about the Venza. It hits the sweet spot, just as the Ford Edge has. How would you call it, small-midsized? They are reasonably sized CUV at a time when everyone (Toyota included) has supersized the rest of them. Pilot, Lamda quads, Highlander, Flex, TaurusX. These CUVs have gotten so big they are practically Tahoe/Expedition sized. So Venza sized vehicles are needed as people downsize. And this one comes with Toyota’s sweet 3.5L V-6, and I have very high hopes for the 2.7L. Styling is attractive. Priced right, this Camry wagon could be a solid triple, if not a homerun.
depends upon the term ‘survive’…
all/most of these vehicles will still be around in 2 years…
BMW X6 – small quantities only…
Cadillac CTS-V – small quantities only…
Dodge Challenger – small quantities only…
Dodge Ram – if dodge stays alive, so does the ram…
Ford F150 – of course. this is ‘merica. still a [rather large] market for pick-up trucks for people who need them
Ford Flex – depends upon future engine options…
Honda Pilot – unfortunately, yes
Honda Accord – yes it will survive… – could also potentially see a lot of fleet sales as taxis / black cars, etc…
Infiniti FX50 – what a joke for personal transportation – see comment for x6 cts-v
Lincoln MKS – small quantities only…
Hummer H3T – small quantities only…
Toyota Venza – unfortunately, yes
VW Routan – probably not…
VW Tiguan – decent alternative to rav4 / cr-v and their lexus / acura counterparts…
BMW X6 – Hit in 2003, flop today.
Cadillac CTS-V – Caddies don’t need huge volume, so it stays.
Dodge Challenger – As long as ChryCorp exists.
Dodge Ram – Ditto.
Ford F150 – Are you crazy?
Ford Flex – It will just make the cut as a cool-looking minivan alternative.
Honda Pilot – Probably down to one assembly line, but will stay
Honda Accord – YES! It’s the new Avalon!
Infiniti FX50 – Gone
Lincoln MKS – Step up for septuagenarian Accord owners
Hummer H3T – Hummer’s dead.
Toyota Venza – A hit until midsize wagons return to the market
VW Routan – Hard to say… fortune is linked with Chrysler
VW Tiguan – baby SUVs will continue to find their place. GTI owners who settle down need to move into something.
Other vehicles that will die horribly:
Pontiac G8 – The target market can’t afford the gas, GM can’t afford the CAFE
Sky/Solstice – Existence not justified enough
Nissan GT-R – Sales will crater a year from now when the hype dies.
Nissan Armada, Mazda Tribute, Toyota 4Runner, Dodge Durango… The Honda Pilot may soldier on, but only by taking on sales from other defunct SUVs.
The Accord has become an overweight and expensive sedan. A little over 2 and half years ago, I helped my parents purchase a new 2005 Accord VP Auto for $15.5K. Now, the very base level 2008 Accord LX Auto is $22K MSRP. The car handles like a pig, accelerates worse than the old model even with the increase in HP and gets worse MPG. Honda (along with Acura) seems to have lost its way.
You can take the Accord and F150 off that list but you can add any Mercury, GMC, Saturn, Hummer as well as most Suzuki models. You can also add the Acura RDX and everything non-turbo charged from Mitsubishi as well as all non-trail rated Jeeps.
The X6 will sell fine. If BMW made a new version of the Pontiac Aztec not only would ultimate yuppie posers drivers buy them but they would be proud to tell people they owned one.
How can anyone think the Accord and F-150 are DOA? It just ruins all credibility for this article/list/author. Sorry. I never thought the Edmund editors were *that* stupid.
BMW X6 – hideous, awful, everything a BMW should not be but it will sell by virtue of it’s badge and snob appeal.
Cadillac CTS-V – awesome car, will continue to have extremely low sales.
Dodge Challenger – The popularity of the bargain priced V6 will make it or break it, V8s will sell no sweat. It can go either way.
Dodge Ram – It looks extremely competitive and those who still need or want trucks will buy it.
Ford F150 – Ditto, but don’t neuter it, stick that BOSS engine under the hood please.
Ford Flex – Kudos for being different, but it still looks like a Ford Scion xB supersized. That might be enough to make it a hit.
Honda Pilot – It has a Honda badge, how can it fail despite being hopelessly ugly?
Honda Accord – Deserves to be the best seller instead of that four-wheeled manatee, the Camry.
Infiniti FX50 – Unique, different, somewhat cool but will remain the also-ran in sales it always has been.
Lincoln MKS – The Ford TL will do nothing to heighten the brands fortunes. Just another embarrassing luxury car with no link visual or otherwise to great Lincolns of the past.
Hummer H3T – Cool variant for a dead brand and probably dead in the water. If only the planned H4 was on the market.
Toyota Venza – Strange, 80s-ish name but the Toyota brand ensures it will be a hit.
VW Routan – The best looking of the Chrysler minivans, is that saying much?
VW Tiguan – Great, another SUV.
The ones that surprised me the most to see on the list were the Accord followed by the Pilot.
And I’ve never even owned a Honda.
Obviously, the F-150 will go on, but nowhere close to the huge numbers as in the recent past.
BMW X6 = Will last one (short) model cycle
Cadillac CTS-V = Should continue.
Dodge Challenger = Same as the X6
Dodge Ram =There will always be a market for pick’em up trucks. Just not luxury ones.
Ford F150 = Ditto
Ford Flex = I actually think it will do well. Excursion and Expidition owners will gladly trade in for it.
Honda Pilot = Will hold on, but barely.
Honda Accord = Huh? Really?
Infiniti FX50 = I adore the FX, but I don’t see it surviving.
Lincoln MKS = Dead.
Hummer H3T = Will it even live to be put on sale? It actully looks pretty cool, and should have been what Hummer sold from the beginning. I wouldn’t mind picking up one on the used car market if it takes the expected depreciation.
Toyota Venza = Hard to say, a Camry wagon should sell well. Toyota will have to drop the Highlander though.
VW Routan = A bigger mistake than the Phaeton.
VW Tiguan = I’m already seeing these stacked in VW lots like cordwood.
I have just spent a few hours driving and being a passanger in a new Honda Accord EX-L 4cyl. I must admit that in 4cyl trim this is the perfect family car for the current times. Extremely well put together, loaded with options, and equiped with a very efficient and powerful 4cyl engine with atleast a 20hp advantages over the other in it class, the Accord is basically a home-run right now for Honda. The key to this car is the 4 cyl engine in the EX-L, it DOES have the power to move the larger car with ease and grace.
I know some people do not see it but Honda has postioned the Accord to take on such player as the Maxima and Avalon in additon to the Camry, but with a very doable 4cyl engine.
The Toyota Venza IMO will have the same effect for Toyota being the right vehicle coming onto the market at the right time. Like Honda Toyota has a powerful and efficient 4cyl engine to equip this vehicle with. The Venza is the Mazda5 concept actually done right, it has the “extra” space that people need! Oh, and it does seat seven!
These two vehicles are representitive of why Honda and Toyota remain so successful. These cars are indicative of these two companies keeping an eye on the future and always having products to take advantage of change in consumer needs and desires.
The rest of the vehicles on this list were not designed based on SUBSTANCE and serve little to no real purpose. The days of playing G.I. Joe on the roads of America are over!
BMW X6: A silly vehicle designed to appeal to emotions and not intelligence. This thing is a BMW Escalade!
Cadillac CTS-V: Who cares! Come on, outside of a few day dreaming pistonheads the CTS-V is just a CTS with a kit and supercharger.
Dodge Challenger: Do folks really want a v6 model? If not than this baby is toast! The problem for the Challanger and the rest of the new domestic muscle will be that RWD Hyundai coupe. Old news v. “new” NEWS
Dodge Ram/ Ford 150: The domestic truck makers need to beware of a new and improved unibody pickup like the ridgeline. A couple of years ago the ridgeline was seen as soft by many, somehow I bet there are quiet a few contractors looking for something lighter and more efficient. Also a unibody truck is what the majority of wannabe truckers need and might be willing to accept with $5 gas.
Ford Flex: Unlike the Toyota Venza I do not know of a 4cyl option. Too BAD!
Honda Pilot: Wrong Honda for the wrong time. Folks that buy $35,000+ Honda CUVs are NOT going to be willing to fill it up to the tune of $100+ per week. Folks that can afford gas bill of $100 per week will buy an MDX at the least. Remove all of the chicks driving these things and the market for it is dead.
Infiniti FX50: Another turkey coming to market at the wrong time. 14/18mpg, WTF, you have to be kidding me!
Lincoln MKS: YAWNNNN! Only and I repeat only a Ford/ Lincoln fan (do any still exist) will take even the slightest interest in this thing. Needless to say I might see all of 3 of these things on the road before it is cut.
Hummer H3T: After 5 years of a dirty little war and gas prices are up over 60% in that same time frame. The wannabe fake macho G.I. Joe image is no longer popular in the USA. No vehicle screams loader that the driver is a TOOL than any Hummer!
VW Routan: If folks aint biting on the Chysler models too hard why on earth does VW thin kthey will buy it because of the VW logo? Folks pay a premium for poor quality VWs because of the look and feel. WTF is the point of a VW product that lacks the one appealing quality of that brand?
VW Tiguan: Will fight a good battle with the Jetta Sportwagon in the same dealerships but since it is a VW (the un-japanese brand) I will appeal to the VW faithfull.
Interesting reading if somewhat wide of the mark. Can’t comment on the other manufacturers, but F-150 will be just fine – it is the best truck out there bar none. Flex has already got off to a flier – first customer traded an Escalade for a Flex, second traded a Prius (!!). They will have scores of people who need the space but do not want a full-size SUV (there are 6 million Ford SUV owners alone out there!)
BMW X6 = I still haven’t seen one of these on the road, only on the dealer’s lot. (2-4 year cycle)
Cadillac CTS-V = XLR Roadster
Dodge Challenger = DOA
Dodge Ram = The diesel in the 1500 should help it stay around.
Ford F150 = Live
Ford Flex = The best thing to come out of ford recently, but will it kill the Edge in it’s wake?
Honda Pilot = Del Sol
Honda Accord = Has any manufacture actually downsized a model after a redesign? Maybe it’s time for a first.
Infiniti FX50 = DOA
Lincoln MKS = DOA
Hummer H3T = DOA
Toyota Venza = ?
VW Routan = This is the Chrysler built minivan I assume? Why does VW need a minivan? DOA
VW Tiguan = WHEN will VW use a name that the average Joe can remember and pronounce?
Wow. The tone of that article is actually quite reminiscent of TTAC, in that’s it’s biting and incisive.
I’m impressed that a mainstream car website actually published it. This said, I’ve noticed that Edmunds is more critical of the vehicles it tests than most other mainstream websites/publications.
The title of the piece is misguiding, as the introduction explains it’s not about “dead” cars, but about “dumb” ones. And every single one on the list fits in there, including and possibly especially the Accord. They may be a sales success now, but will look bloated 2 years from now, especially since it seems the new Mazda6 isn’t getting fatter.
BMW X6 – slow death, won’t be as tragic as thought by BMW haters.
Cadillac CTS-V – No GM, no cadi. Seriously though, will change.
Dodge Challenger – flash in pan
Dodge Ram – Needs complete remake
Ford F150 – fade but not fade away.
Ford Flex – short run, graceful exit.
Honda Pilot – facelift and back at you.
Honda Accord – will add wagon. Seriously, a car that gets such good mileage but is so huge? It’s not dumb, it’s F’n brilliant.
Infiniti FX50 – will likely dissappear
Lincoln MKS – incentive time, baby!
Hummer H3T – I can hear the death march now – Humm, Hum, Hum, Hum, Hummmmm…
Toyota Venza – What is it again?
VW Routan – DOA, and dumbest move so far this century. Hellooooo, McFly?! 100k demand for new VW microbus with good mileage. WHAT ARE YOU STILL THINKING ABOUT?
VW Tiguan – Likely will sell to a few suckers who don’t quite get that VW makes crappy cars these days. It’s not a bad design.
BMW X6 (Yes, because it’s a BMW)
Cadillac CTS-V (Yes, because it’s plenty of bang for buck compared to the M3, RS4, or C55)
Dodge Challenger (has a fighting chance with a base price of $21k)
Dodge Ram (People still need trucks, much to everyone’s dismay)
Ford F150 (People still need trucks, much to everyone’s dismay)
Ford Flex (Depends on how much marketing support Ford gives it)
Honda Pilot (Yes, because it’s a Honda)
Honda Accord (Yes, because it’s a Honda)
Infiniti FX50 (Not a flop, but not a hit either)
Lincoln MKS (doesn’t have a coherent ‘Lincoln’ theme, might not be a big hit)
Hummer H3T (No, because it’s a Hummer)
Toyota Venza (Yes, because it’s a Toyota)
VW Routan (No, because it’s not a Rabbit, Jetta, or new Beetle)
VW Tiguan (No, because it’s not a Rabbit, Jetta, or new Beetle)
Dodge Challenger – After the initial rush, mediocre sales and an early death. The Camaro will go down this way, too.
Ford Flex – I like the look but that field is getting more crowded every day. Wins if Ford sells it at a very competitive price.
Honda Pilot – The owners love them and Honda’s reputation is ascendant. It will do relatively well considering the segment may shrink.
Honda Accord – I think it’s a hit. But that’s just me. They are selling well, so the test-drives must be getting two thumbs up. And Honda’s reputatation…
Hummer H3T – I’d put aside all other recreations to attend the funeral of any Hummer.
Toyota Venza – This strikes me as a practical vehicle. But so did the Camry and Accord wagons and they are long gone.
VW Routan – Worse than the Toyota Ironman Tundra but without the redeeming grace of a pistol-grip shifter.
Just a short note about the Venza. I agree with the viewpoint “Hitting the EXACT right spot at the right time.”
Camry sales are higher than ever (as are Corolla, and on the Honda side, Civic and Accord). While the 2.8 truckage sits and rots, these four models, especially, appear to be the prime destinations for buyers bailing out of trucks and SUV’s.
So, now they’ll have an upscale “Camry crossover” to salve the sting of downsizing. Looks like “perfect timing,” and another home run for Toyota.
Oh, and the Accord is STILL abominably ugly.
BMW X6- failure
Cadillac CTS-V- too little too count
Dodge Challenger- success than failure
Dodge Ram- success (in a trucky way)
Ford F150- success
Ford Flex- success maybe
Honda Pilot- success
Honda Accord- same as ever
Infiniti FX50- ehh
Lincoln MKS- bleh, rental car
Hummer H3T- will die with the company
Toyota Venza- huge success.
VW Routan- why?
VW Tiguan- success
I understand why people find the new Accord unattractive. But to my eye the current Camry looks even worse. I know the Camry sells well. But it is to my eye a very ugly car.
healinginfluence :
I understand why people find the new Accord unattractive. But to my eye the current Camry looks even worse. I know the Camry sells well. But it is to my eye a very ugly car.
The current generation Camry is on its way towards selling substantially more than any previous generation, “so get used to it.”
I suppose we’re already at the point where over a million car buyers in the US diagree with you….
BMW X6- initially hot, then will fizzle
Cadillac CTS-V- three years tops, then bye-bye
Dodge Challenger- hot at first, dies quickly
Dodge Ram- see ya
Ford F150- see ya
Ford Flex- success
Honda Pilot- success
Honda Accord- why is this on the list???
Infiniti FX50- success
Lincoln MKS- goodbye Lincoln
Hummer H3T- goodbye Hummer
Toyota Venza- success
VW Routan- a what?
VW Tiguan- success
thoots: The current generation Camry is on its way towards selling substantially more than any previous generation, “so get used to it.”
I suppose we’re already at the point where over a million car buyers in the US diagree with you….
I’m with healinginfluence on this one. The Accord styling is questionable, BUT, it is selling very well. My personal opinion of the Camry’s styling is “just strange looking”…and yes, US Camry sales are strong…and you say, “so get used to it”? Sorry, I, like millions (plural) of others, won’t buy a Camry…so I don’t suppose I will find it necessary to “get used to it”.
BMW X6 – making its way to 8-seriesland
Cadillac CTS-V – decent success
Dodge Challenger – it’ll wear off when the new ‘stang comes out
Dodge Ram – nooooope
Ford F150 – decreased sales, but Ford won’t lose so much money on it
Ford Flex – hmmm…
Honda Pilot – honda owners love quirky (ugly) designs
Honda Accord – PFFT yeah right, of course it stays
Infiniti FX50 – stays, but more ppl buy FX35
Lincoln MKS – not bad but naming system’s retarded
Hummer H3T – TERMINATED!
Toyota Venza – a pointless, cannibalistic car (did someone say GM…)
VW Routan – HA
VW Tiguan – eh
I don’t see the Pilot as DOA, even though I agree it’s ugly. There is still an SUV market, and probably always will be. Honda isn’t dependant on trucks/SUVs for it’s survival, so offering somethning like the Pilot simply allows them to pick up some extra cash while selling Civics and Accords.
The F150 is not DOA either. It may not be the best selling vehicle in the US anymore, but then, it is rather strange that a full sized truck should ever have been the best seller. There will still be a market for these, and Ford should do quite well in that segment – most likely continuing to dominate the segment.
TriShield and whatdoIknow1 nailed it.
i think the VW Tiguan will do well. the Flex, maybe with a better engine (more economical).
I agree that the new Accord is too big and ugly, but the Camry is equally as bad in each category and they are selling like mad. Not sure why it was added to the list at all. I’ll be around a long time.
Dodge Challenger seems like the obvious DOA car. Bad timing all around, but I said the Jeep Commander wouldn’t last more than a year and it’s still there.
Hummer is probably gone within a year by GM’s doing.
All the luxury brands will manage some business with ridiculous vehicles because people like my uncle have the money to pay for gas and “will drive a SUV/truck no matter the price.”
The F-150? Your grand children will be able to buy one. It might lose some of the “city glitz” they’ve put into it but lots of contractors and farmers, among others, still will need trucks. Same for the big vans, might sell far fewer pretty ones to suburban families but it’s indispensable for the working truck market.
Can’t argue with current sales numbers, but Honda worries me.
Honda was better as a scrappy, lower market share player. They got to where they are by being true to Honda’s own vision. Now they are in the big leagues, and imitating others. Accord imitates BMW 5 series. Civic? Imitates Prius’ spaceship look. Pilot? Imitates gargantuan Detroit iron. Oddessy? Garish shot at the minivan market. Ridgeline? Pint sized Avalanche.
The Fit, and the S2000 are the most Honda of Hondas right now.
Honda is losing its direction.
ttacgreg,
Gotta say the odyssey is a winner. The S2000 is every bit the roadster Honda would build, and the Fit is precisely the ultimate Honda. Still, I don’t care what the accord looks like, it’s still a winner.
The CRV is also a winner, even though I liked the old concept better (it was more truck like).
Honda does seem to be losing it’s scrappiness even though. That gets into the whole argument over niche players vs. full line and I don’t know the answer to that. I do know that I don’t think anyone does a full line well. Even Toyota has losers.