What marriage are you on?

Thanks for the good read.

 

I agree with almost everything you said, but I take exception to this:



I can't speak for everyone. But as for me, I didn't buy my car for everyone else. I bought it for me. I don't care at all what others think of Honda or the S2000. I have never felt the need to defend my car, and I certainly have nothing to prove to anyone on the street. That old man certainly would not have offended me so deeply with what he said to you.



Since I bought the car, there has only been one instance in which a negative comment was made. I was washing my car in front of my girlfriend's house one sunny day. Some family walked by, and I overheard a young man say "You should get one of those." I look to see them admiring my car. An older lady, apparently the mother, said with a heavy accent "Why would I get a Honda when I could get a MERCEDES?" Hilarious. She said it loud enough for me to hear...it was clearly meant to make me feel inferior. Why? Who knows. Probably jealousy. A comment like this may have frustrated some, but I just grinned and thought to myself "You poor thing. You have no idea ." I didn't let it ruin my nice day. Why should it? Like I said above...I didn't buy my car for her. I bought it for me. It makes me happy. That's all that matters. In the meantime, I think I'll go put another coat of Zaino on my REAL honda while that lady...wherever she may be...fantasizes about her Mercedes .

 

While I covered my H badges with Rick's, I did it because I really like the look of Rick's badges. If they had a big H instead of an S, I'd have done it just as quickly. When someone asks me what my car is, I say "a HONDA S2000". Let them know it's a Honda. Let's hope Honda keeps it up and doesn't stop with the S2000. Nothing helps an image like continued success.

Remember, too, that Honda doesn't really push this image. Have you ever seen an NSX commercial? When did you last see one for the S? The clueless just don't know what this company can do.

Personally, as an engineer, I'm drawn to great engineering. The 2 liter, 240 HP, normally aspirated, 9000 rpm engine was the first thing to draw me to this car. My response? "Only Honda could do this." I bought a Beta VCR (which I still have) because it is so much superior to VHS. I care only about what the uninformed think when it affects the availability of the things I want.

Tony

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mntony
[B]Personally, as an engineer, I'm drawn to great engineering. The 2 liter, 240 HP, normally aspirated, 9000 rpm engine was the first thing to draw me to this car. response? "Only Honda could do this."

 

Vincent, I read your post and for the most part agree. The S2000 is a fantastic car. I just love it when someone spends the time to compliment the car and not critique it or blame it for bad driving judgements/skills.

However, there was one part I just completely disagree with you on.
Maybe I'm older than you, but I'm old enough to remember F-1 when the entire world paraded around BEHIND Honda because they were the best. No excuses, no question. Senna and Honda ruled the F-1 world. Period. There is nothing there but honor and credibility. I'm also into motorcycles, and what would a motorcycle race be without at least one Honda in the top 5? Sure, Honda does not always win in motorcycle races, what can I say, those guys in Italy not only make a super car - Ferrari, they make a super bike - Ducatti.

I experience no frustration at all in owning a Honda. I love it and I'm proud of it.
Frankly I don't give a what other people think.

One of my best friends owns an M roadster, and one of my good friends drives his wife's Boxster S often. Both of these people very much like my S, they are impressed with its value and its capabilities. They pass no haughty judgements, and if they did, well see the span can above.

Enjoy your car, forget what others think. It is a Honda. A performance car you can be proud of, in any company.

 

I'm always amused by people who are more impressed by the badge than the car. Oddly enough, it is often the P-car, Corvette, BMW etc. owners who actually bought those cars to drive rather than show off that appreciate and compliment the S.

At a recent family gathering, my 87 year old aunt came over to me and asked me about my car. She thought that it was pretty neat until she asked me what kind it was. I said "Honda". She said "A Honda!?! That's no sports car!". I just laughed and thought to myself "How much worse can this get?".

On the flip side, I took an ex-girlfriend for a ride in the car, explaining to her what it was, the design philosophy behind it , etc. She asked me how much it cost and I told her to take a guess. She said "$100,000". You gotta love her.

 

Great Post but remember Honda has a race heritage in Fomula 1 and in Cart and Indy and had alot of wins also remember Honda Motorcycles are always up there.. For a 35000 dollar sports car I can say I put alot of poeple in there places on the street... But as the old man says ahh its only a Honda and went to the boxster instead..I have nothing against boxsters but when you have friends who own 911s and 993s they think a boxster is a wanna be porsche and to have a real porsche is to own a 911 style... As I look at it the car puts a grin on my face everyday I drive it I enjoy the roadster feel...Yes we want Ferraris and Lamborghinis and McLaren cars but for some of us its not reality....If people judge you by what you drive then take a look at what they drive and see what they have...Also its only a opinion in the end are you happy then guess what you wouldnt care what other people think.........

 

"Just a Honda?"

That's why it's $10+ G's cheaper than those with richer heritage.

 

I agree that most people who follow racing understand the heritage that comes along with the badge. Unfortunately most people in the US watch nascar, so they only associate Honda with fuel efficient civics.

 

This thread sounds like it could be a good case study for a Marketing major.

The identity of the Honda brand in the mainstream U.S. population is not racing, F1 heritige, etc. I would contend that for this group, Honda's represent a very reliable, inexpensive transportation.

Why? Consider their product line: Most Honda's sold are Accords and Civics. You can buy a base Civic for $12,000 (edmunds.com). $12,000 might get you a nice option package on a Porsche, but certainly not an entire car. None of the other sports/luxury manufacturers offer economical "grocery-getters". In fact, many Porsche fans were lameting that the Cayenne, an expensive SUV, was being produced by their beloved sports-car company.

There's a theory in cognitive psychology that says that people tend to "pigeon-hole" things because people are cognitively lazy. This includes predujices with race,etc. Pehaps this theory has some applicability with automobile brands.

I can sympathize with Vincent, for having the old guy dis' his S2000. Most people don't read auto mags, and their ideas of car brands are limited to the advertising they see, and the majority of the cars they see on the road. The trick is to make sure you solicit opinions about your cars from people who actually know more than what they see on 30 second advertising spots. Chin up, Vincent!

-Andrew