AUDI R8
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From: A powerslide near you
Originally Posted by AlexC,Oct 9 2007, 03:44 PM
Hardly anyone was prepared to pay that - what did they sell in the UK some years? Less than 10 cars? less than 5 cars?? It was an unmitigated commercial flop for Honda, only attracting serious enthusiasts but not drawing the hordes away from their 911's. I think Audi will have a much bigger success with the R8. Don't know why, but they will.
The badge DOES matter to a large percentage of the market. This doesn't make the NSX any worse a car of course, and also doesn't mean that established cars are any less worthy just because some buy for the badge. Loads of 911 owners out there buying for the badge but the 911 is still a great car nonetheless.
The NSX was not *that* expensive, was reliable, was a great car etc. however it was a Honda. Plaster some beige leather in the interior, put Ferrari badges in a few places and it would have sold bucketloads.
In some ways, maybe Honda would have had more success here selling their sports cars re-badged as Acura NSX and Acura S2000 as their "aspirational" badge etc. Not unlike Toyota and Lexus. As long as the *upmarket* badge range doesn't get diluted of course (so no Civics etc. under that badge). As with Lexus, it will however take time to become an established brand etc.
Audi will have more success as they already sell lots of premium market cars. Honda never did so it was hard to sell a supercar as it was so far removed from the rest of the range rather than a sports range topper with Audi. It's for this reason VAG released an Audi R8 rather than a VW Nardo!!
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Edinburgh
Originally Posted by Nick Graves,Oct 8 2007, 06:13 PM
Yes.
It's that constipated look that ruins it, the rest really isn't too bad.
Until you park it next to a Gallardo. Then you realise the Italians have got it & the Germans never will.
It's that constipated look that ruins it, the rest really isn't too bad.
Until you park it next to a Gallardo. Then you realise the Italians have got it & the Germans never will.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Leeds
Originally Posted by Dracoro,Oct 9 2007, 04:23 PM
Exactly.
The badge DOES matter to a large percentage of the market. This doesn't make the NSX any worse a car of course, and also doesn't mean that established cars are any less worthy just because some buy for the badge. Loads of 911 owners out there buying for the badge but the 911 is still a great car nonetheless.
The NSX was not *that* expensive, was reliable, was a great car etc. however it was a Honda. Plaster some beige leather in the interior, put Ferrari badges in a few places and it would have sold bucketloads.
In some ways, maybe Honda would have had more success here selling their sports cars re-badged as Acura NSX and Acura S2000 as their "aspirational" badge etc. Not unlike Toyota and Lexus. As long as the *upmarket* badge range doesn't get diluted of course (so no Civics etc. under that badge). As with Lexus, it will however take time to become an established brand etc.
Audi will have more success as they already sell lots of premium market cars. Honda never did so it was hard to sell a supercar as it was so far removed from the rest of the range rather than a sports range topper with Audi. It's for this reason VAG released an Audi R8 rather than a VW Nardo!!
The badge DOES matter to a large percentage of the market. This doesn't make the NSX any worse a car of course, and also doesn't mean that established cars are any less worthy just because some buy for the badge. Loads of 911 owners out there buying for the badge but the 911 is still a great car nonetheless.
The NSX was not *that* expensive, was reliable, was a great car etc. however it was a Honda. Plaster some beige leather in the interior, put Ferrari badges in a few places and it would have sold bucketloads.
In some ways, maybe Honda would have had more success here selling their sports cars re-badged as Acura NSX and Acura S2000 as their "aspirational" badge etc. Not unlike Toyota and Lexus. As long as the *upmarket* badge range doesn't get diluted of course (so no Civics etc. under that badge). As with Lexus, it will however take time to become an established brand etc.
Audi will have more success as they already sell lots of premium market cars. Honda never did so it was hard to sell a supercar as it was so far removed from the rest of the range rather than a sports range topper with Audi. It's for this reason VAG released an Audi R8 rather than a VW Nardo!!
That
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From: Stanmore
Originally Posted by AlexC,Oct 9 2007, 03:44 PM
Hardly anyone was prepared to pay that - what did they sell in the UK some years? Less than 10 cars? less than 5 cars?? It was an unmitigated commercial flop for Honda, only attracting serious enthusiasts but not drawing the hordes away from their 911's. I think Audi will have a much bigger success with the R8. Don't know why, but they will.
According to Wikipedia, "more than 8000 348s were produced" between 1990 and 1995, and 11,273 355s were produced between 1994 and 1999.
So, essentially, NSX sales were roughly the same as Ferrari 348/355 sales, not too bad really.
It's a question of markets. The R8 will be a success because Audi is percieved as a premium, cool brand here (it's also a very good car by all accounts), much like an iPod. Everyone knows that there are better portable media players than the iPod but it's far and away the best seller because of the brand and the way it looks.
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From: Oxfordshire
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Sheffield
Originally Posted by JamieS2K,Sep 23 2007, 06:11 AM
I see they have picked the slowest 911 available, see how it gets on against a gt3 or Turbo .
R8...
Awesome... In my opinion..