A problem of recognition and respect
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From: San Diego
I am totally crystal clear on the issue of not caring about status or trying to impress anybody. But what I wish is for Honda engineering to get more of the respect it deserves.
For example a few years back Mercedes Benz had this GREAT commercial where they filmed a chief engineer talking about all the safety patents they could own yet they gave away the information because they believed in saving lives. Then they showed all the extensive safety testing that went into each Mercedes model. Everyone knows that MB's are great luxury cars but after that commercial I started thinking hey maybe MB's are even better at safety engineering than Volvo, which is saying a lot.
If only Honda would make a commercial that let people know that the S2000 and NSX are HONDAs and are descended from some of the best in racing technology in the world. I think regardless of brand loyalty Honda would be more respected by the average person.
Just a thought.
For example a few years back Mercedes Benz had this GREAT commercial where they filmed a chief engineer talking about all the safety patents they could own yet they gave away the information because they believed in saving lives. Then they showed all the extensive safety testing that went into each Mercedes model. Everyone knows that MB's are great luxury cars but after that commercial I started thinking hey maybe MB's are even better at safety engineering than Volvo, which is saying a lot.
If only Honda would make a commercial that let people know that the S2000 and NSX are HONDAs and are descended from some of the best in racing technology in the world. I think regardless of brand loyalty Honda would be more respected by the average person.
Just a thought.
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From: Seal Beach
acx,
Your points are well taken. There was an article in the Wall St. Journal a few months ago talking about Honda becoming "the Volvo of Japan" and detailing some of the safety design and testing work. Yet Honda has pretty much let this important capability go unspoken as well.
I don't know the relationship between Honda Hq. and Honda of America, but I suspect that it is a bit peculiar. The US company seems not to want to talk about engineering; it concentrates on practicality and reliability. I wonder if there are not now some English-speaking engineers at Honda Hq. that would make great product spokespeople. Honda of America cannot just continue the way it is going. Their biggest seller in the US, the Accord, is a car whose average buyer get older every year.
I think there is a related issue that is important: Honda styling, or perhaps almost complete lack of styling, as compared to European cars, to Nissan (Renaut's influence?), or even to Chrysler and GM these days. (The S2000 is a total exception and I personally give OK marks to the Element and CR-V's looks.) Even the European Accord (sold in the US as an Acura model and described by Acura as the only sports sedan in Honda's US line) is remarkably bland in its exterior looks. (They only plan to sell 15,000 this year.) It's a cruel world, but until Hondas look more interesting, most non-enthusiasts will just not see them as being more interesting, and the engineering work will essentially be ignored by the majority.
Your points are well taken. There was an article in the Wall St. Journal a few months ago talking about Honda becoming "the Volvo of Japan" and detailing some of the safety design and testing work. Yet Honda has pretty much let this important capability go unspoken as well.
I don't know the relationship between Honda Hq. and Honda of America, but I suspect that it is a bit peculiar. The US company seems not to want to talk about engineering; it concentrates on practicality and reliability. I wonder if there are not now some English-speaking engineers at Honda Hq. that would make great product spokespeople. Honda of America cannot just continue the way it is going. Their biggest seller in the US, the Accord, is a car whose average buyer get older every year.
I think there is a related issue that is important: Honda styling, or perhaps almost complete lack of styling, as compared to European cars, to Nissan (Renaut's influence?), or even to Chrysler and GM these days. (The S2000 is a total exception and I personally give OK marks to the Element and CR-V's looks.) Even the European Accord (sold in the US as an Acura model and described by Acura as the only sports sedan in Honda's US line) is remarkably bland in its exterior looks. (They only plan to sell 15,000 this year.) It's a cruel world, but until Hondas look more interesting, most non-enthusiasts will just not see them as being more interesting, and the engineering work will essentially be ignored by the majority.
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From: Portland
Originally posted by J.T
From my experiences, the few true car entusiasts I have run inot know and respect the S2000 for what it is.
Most ordinary people that I run into on the streets, gas stations and stop lights all tell me how nice my car is or how fast it looks.
The only peolpe I've had problems with are these damn hillbilly redneck whatever you want to call them who think that it's all about hp and tq. They seem to think that if it doesn't have a V8 and handle like a boat then it's a POS. I could really care less of what these people think.
I've driven novas with 454s shoved in them, a 12 sec Roadrunner, my Moms boyfriends TransAm which I can't seem to get going without spinning the tires and none of them have ben as fun to drive as the S.
From my experiences, the few true car entusiasts I have run inot know and respect the S2000 for what it is.
Most ordinary people that I run into on the streets, gas stations and stop lights all tell me how nice my car is or how fast it looks.
The only peolpe I've had problems with are these damn hillbilly redneck whatever you want to call them who think that it's all about hp and tq. They seem to think that if it doesn't have a V8 and handle like a boat then it's a POS. I could really care less of what these people think.
I've driven novas with 454s shoved in them, a 12 sec Roadrunner, my Moms boyfriends TransAm which I can't seem to get going without spinning the tires and none of them have ben as fun to drive as the S.
Me: "as soon as I break my car in, I'll roast your sorry excuse for a human being like a marshmellow.
Redneck: "um ok, you do know I have a supercharger in my truck right?"
Me: "um you do know my doors prolly cost more than your truck right?"
Redneck: "so what if I can smoke you? I can run 13 sec"
Me: "lol right, I had a gsr turbo and THAT ran 13 sec, I doubt your grocery getter would even break the 14's. Hell, your trucks top speed wouldn't allow you to break the trap speed of a 13 sec car."
The thing that gets me so mad is this hillbilly had the nerves to sit there and talk smack the whole night. I mean if this was a couple years ago and I was still all into the illegal street drags, I'd show him just how pathetic that pos his truck is. But this is now and Im getting a little older (22 now mind you.....its all downhill after you hit 21). The more I think about it the more I dont want to race him just cuz I know that its not gonna prove anything. Even if I smoke him, he'll still go around talking smack. So ignorant, those rednecks.
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From: San Diego
This is a bit off the thread, but did you mention to him that high center of gravity solid rear axle vehicles are not known for their handling or racing ability?
Anybody with money and time can make a fast straightline car/truck, the real trick is to make it handle like a brand new porsche yet cost less (enter the S2000).
Anybody with money and time can make a fast straightline car/truck, the real trick is to make it handle like a brand new porsche yet cost less (enter the S2000).
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Central Massachusetts
Kali,
You're gonna' have to forgive me here, and this isn't a flame, but your entire post represents incomprehensible conduct to me.
True, he's an asshole, but you accomplish nothing by even responding.
A lot of your F&F generation seem caught up in something that really doesn't make any sense to an old fart like me. The joy of driving an S2000 isn't about smoking some hopped-up POS off the line; it's about being the center of your own universe and taming every road that can be put in front of you...
Probably, that sounds too Zen for the younger folks. I don't know. ANd probably this post makes me sound like someone who's much less cool than I really am.
It's just very hard for me to relate to any of that stuff.
Anyway, good luck. I hope he doesn't get pissed off and key your car.
You're gonna' have to forgive me here, and this isn't a flame, but your entire post represents incomprehensible conduct to me.
True, he's an asshole, but you accomplish nothing by even responding.
A lot of your F&F generation seem caught up in something that really doesn't make any sense to an old fart like me. The joy of driving an S2000 isn't about smoking some hopped-up POS off the line; it's about being the center of your own universe and taming every road that can be put in front of you...
Probably, that sounds too Zen for the younger folks. I don't know. ANd probably this post makes me sound like someone who's much less cool than I really am.
It's just very hard for me to relate to any of that stuff.Anyway, good luck. I hope he doesn't get pissed off and key your car.
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From: Portland
Good point taken Chazmo. 
Yeah I don't even know why I bothered responding to him. I was probably just pissed becuase the moron was trying to take my glory of a new car away from me. Car parked at a friends garage since I bought it so no worries.
Yeah I don't even know why I bothered responding to him. I was probably just pissed becuase the moron was trying to take my glory of a new car away from me. Car parked at a friends garage since I bought it so no worries.
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From: Johnson City
I think there is a related issue that is important: Honda styling, or perhaps almost complete lack of styling, as compared to European cars, to Nissan (Renaut's influence?), or even to Chrysler and GM these days. (The S2000 is a total exception and I personally give OK marks to the Element and CR-V's looks.) Even the European Accord (sold in the US as an Acura model and described by Acura as the only sports sedan in Honda's US line) is remarkably bland in its exterior looks. (They only plan to sell 15,000 this year.) It's a cruel world, but until Hondas look more interesting, most non-enthusiasts will just not see them as being more interesting, and the engineering work will essentially be ignored by the majority
Oh and Nissan... their styling is just as bland as honda until this year and while it's 'new' (new isn't always good) the only car that doesn't look like a bangle wannabe out of their new linelup is the 350z.
And Renault?? i think these cars are even uglier than the gm vehicles.. Alfa romeo??? please... even uglier.
Holden ok ok you hit my weak spot... these cars are sexy but other than that i cannot think of any european car that i really desire other than what is already available here (and bmw is fading from that picture very quickly)
I think of HONDA and their styling as BMWesque before the butcher (aka Bangle the butcher) took over as the head of design. Now they aren't as classic as many of the older BMW's but their ideas of conservative styling emmulate what I believe BMW was trying to accomplish not too long ago. Anyways i'll be happy if HONDA does not jump on the new 'funky chunky' bandwagon like Nissan (god the new maxima is ugly), Toyota (god the new camry is ugly).
The only other car company out there that compares (in making family cars) is mazda (save for the new rx-8...which IMHO is butt ugly)
