IMO, the S660 concept is not attractive. Looks like someone was trying to bring back a smaller version of the Edsel.

 

Well, first of all, they won't becasue that is what the NSX issupposed to be.

Second of all, that was pretty close to the plan with the S2000. It was Porsche and BMW beater for only a little more than the cost of a Miata. But Honda couldn't convince many people to shun the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 name plate. I don't think it gets easier to sell the discount product as you move up market. I'll go out on a limb and state that it gets harder. If Honda couldn't beat the snob factor with the $50 to $60K crowd, how are they going to do it with the $70 to $100K crowd?

"What's that you say? Instead of a BMW M car, a Mercedes AMG, a Jaguar R series or a Maserati, I should buy a Honda? I think you are in the wrong building. SECURITY!"

 

Well, first of all, they won't becasue that is what the NSX issupposed to be.

Second of all, that was pretty close to the plan with the S2000. It was Porsche and BMW beater for only a little more than the cost of a Miata. But Honda couldn't convince many people to shun the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 name plate. I don't think it gets easier to sell the discount product as you move up market. I'll go out on a limb and state that it gets harder. If Honda couldn't beat the snob factor with the $50 to $60K crowd, how are they going to do it with the $70 to $100K crowd?

"What's that you say? Instead of a BMW M car, a Mercedes AMG, a Jaguar R series or a Maserati, I should buy a Honda? I think you are in the wrong building. SECURITY!"
[/quote]

If I had to sum up the sales success of the S2000 in one sentence it would be "Porsche performance for the price of a Honda". The reverse of that "Honda performance for the price of a Porsche" is not going to fill showrooms.

 

Damn! I was hoping to find the answer here to "my next car"

I am now thinking about a change in time for Spring Fling 2016, so I hope that someone will help me scratch that itch Two seats, ragtop, decent performance and handling, NOT too many electronic doo-dads.

WHY should this be so hard????

 

Well, first of all, they won't becasue that is what the NSX issupposed to be.

Second of all, that was pretty close to the plan with the S2000. It was Porsche and BMW beater for only a little more than the cost of a Miata. But Honda couldn't convince many people to shun the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 name plate. I don't think it gets easier to sell the discount product as you move up market. I'll go out on a limb and state that it gets harder. If Honda couldn't beat the snob factor with the $50 to $60K crowd, how are they going to do it with the $70 to $100K crowd?

"What's that you say? Instead of a BMW M car, a Mercedes AMG, a Jaguar R series or a Maserati, I should buy a Honda? I think you are in the wrong building. SECURITY!"
[/quote]

I'd say the S2000's low sales were due to it not being available in an automatic. All of the other roadsters are available with autos and I'd imagine they far outsell the manual versions.


I welcome the idea of an S2000 successor with 350hp, I'm hoping it's more towards the $50k mark than $60k. People bought NSX's that had only 250hp for $80k plus, so $50-60k for a sports car with 350hp doesn't sound unreasonable to me.

 

Well, first of all, they won't becasue that is what the NSX issupposed to be.

Second of all, that was pretty close to the plan with the S2000. It was Porsche and BMW beater for only a little more than the cost of a Miata. But Honda couldn't convince many people to shun the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 name plate. I don't think it gets easier to sell the discount product as you move up market. I'll go out on a limb and state that it gets harder. If Honda couldn't beat the snob factor with the $50 to $60K crowd, how are they going to do it with the $70 to $100K crowd?

"What's that you say? Instead of a BMW M car, a Mercedes AMG, a Jaguar R series or a Maserati, I should buy a Honda? I think you are in the wrong building. SECURITY!"
[/quote]

I will admit that there may have a been just a trace of sarcasm in my assertion ... although your not gonna get to many AMG options in that price range.
But I will certainly concur that Honda does not curry that same cache. But hey maybe it could happen although I'm not holding my breath.

 

Well, first of all, they won't becasue that is what the NSX issupposed to be.

Second of all, that was pretty close to the plan with the S2000. It was Porsche and BMW beater for only a little more than the cost of a Miata. But Honda couldn't convince many people to shun the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 name plate. I don't think it gets easier to sell the discount product as you move up market. I'll go out on a limb and state that it gets harder. If Honda couldn't beat the snob factor with the $50 to $60K crowd, how are they going to do it with the $70 to $100K crowd?

"What's that you say? Instead of a BMW M car, a Mercedes AMG, a Jaguar R series or a Maserati, I should buy a Honda? I think you are in the wrong building. SECURITY!"
[/quote]

I'd say the S2000's low sales were due to it not being available in an automatic. All of the other roadsters are available with autos and I'd imagine they far outsell the manual versions.


I welcome the idea of an S2000 successor with 350hp, I'm hoping it's more towards the $50k mark than $60k. People bought NSX's that had only 250hp for $80k plus, so $50-60k for a sports car with 350hp doesn't sound unreasonable to me.
[/quote]

I imagine an automatic would have added no more than 50% additional S2000 sales per year on average.
I imagine that in 2005, "people bought" about 100 NSXs worldwide. In fact, it barely averaged 1200 units a year over the 15 years of production.
Since a 2015 Mustang GT will have 420+ hp and cost $35K I don't see much excitement for 350hp at $60K. If Honda's business plan is to price the car at a point that "doesn't sound unreasonable" then I imagine they will sell about 5000 units in the first year and it will go down from there.

 

This ^^ is an interesting thought, but I'm not sure how many of the competition WERE available in a slushbox in 1999? Although I'm not an engine guru, I'm guessing that the power band/ torque curve for top performance of the S would not have adapted well to an automatic.

 

Well, first of all, they won't becasue that is what the NSX issupposed to be.

Second of all, that was pretty close to the plan with the S2000. It was Porsche and BMW beater for only a little more than the cost of a Miata. But Honda couldn't convince many people to shun the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 name plate. I don't think it gets easier to sell the discount product as you move up market. I'll go out on a limb and state that it gets harder. If Honda couldn't beat the snob factor with the $50 to $60K crowd, how are they going to do it with the $70 to $100K crowd?

"What's that you say? Instead of a BMW M car, a Mercedes AMG, a Jaguar R series or a Maserati, I should buy a Honda? I think you are in the wrong building. SECURITY!"
[/quote]

I'd say the S2000's low sales were due to it not being available in an automatic. All of the other roadsters are available with autos and I'd imagine they far outsell the manual versions.


I welcome the idea of an S2000 successor with 350hp, I'm hoping it's more towards the $50k mark than $60k. People bought NSX's that had only 250hp for $80k plus, so $50-60k for a sports car with 350hp doesn't sound unreasonable to me.
[/quote]

I imagine an automatic would have added no more than 50% additional S2000 sales per year on average.
I imagine that in 2005, "people bought" about 100 NSXs worldwide. In fact, it barely averaged 1200 units a year over the 15 years of production.
Since a 2015 Mustang GT will have 420+ hp and cost $35K I don't see much excitement for 350hp at $60K. If Honda's business plan is to price the car at a point that "doesn't sound unreasonable" then I imagine they will sell about 5000 units in the first year and it will go down from there.
[/quote]
Bill, a small point, but in 2005, there were 248 NSX's sold in the US. I proudly own #78. There were a little over 9,000 sold in the US over the 15 years of production. But I agree that the price point mentioned will excite very few buyers.

 

Well, first of all, they won't becasue that is what the NSX issupposed to be.

Second of all, that was pretty close to the plan with the S2000. It was Porsche and BMW beater for only a little more than the cost of a Miata. But Honda couldn't convince many people to shun the Porsche Boxster and BMW Z4 name plate. I don't think it gets easier to sell the discount product as you move up market. I'll go out on a limb and state that it gets harder. If Honda couldn't beat the snob factor with the $50 to $60K crowd, how are they going to do it with the $70 to $100K crowd?

"What's that you say? Instead of a BMW M car, a Mercedes AMG, a Jaguar R series or a Maserati, I should buy a Honda? I think you are in the wrong building. SECURITY!"
[/quote]

I'd say the S2000's low sales were due to it not being available in an automatic. All of the other roadsters are available with autos and I'd imagine they far outsell the manual versions.


I welcome the idea of an S2000 successor with 350hp, I'm hoping it's more towards the $50k mark than $60k. People bought NSX's that had only 250hp for $80k plus, so $50-60k for a sports car with 350hp doesn't sound unreasonable to me.
[/quote]

I imagine an automatic would have added no more than 50% additional S2000 sales per year on average.
I imagine that in 2005, "people bought" about 100 NSXs worldwide. In fact, it barely averaged 1200 units a year over the 15 years of production.
Since a 2015 Mustang GT will have 420+ hp and cost $35K I don't see much excitement for 350hp at $60K. If Honda's business plan is to price the car at a point that "doesn't sound unreasonable" then I imagine they will sell about 5000 units in the first year and it will go down from there.
[/quote]
Bill, a small point, but in 2005, there were 248 NSX's sold in the US. I proudly own #78. There were a little over 9,000 sold in the US over the 15 years of production. But I agree that the price point mentioned will excite very few buyers.
[/quote]

Thanks Gene. A correction that proves my point. How many world wide, 300?