I didn't see a thing that would make me open my wallet!

 

Was there very little foot traffic around the Honda exhibit or at the show in general?

 

The show was pretty busy but Honda wasn't!

I heard from someone at work that he took his father specifically to look at the Honda's and was very disappointed. He bought a Hyundai this week!!

 

Hyundai definitely has the mojo. They can't seem to do anything wrong over the past couple years. Of course, they will but for now they are on a roll. A rather amazing story considering about 5 years ago when I was closely inspecting them at the Detroit Auto Show even their show car was poorly built with door insulation coming off, etc. But they got on top of their quality issues, by all accounts, and because of their new plants and small production (compared to the big auto manufacturers) have been able to stay out in front with new models, great advertising, good price, and certainly a better styling package then Honda's. I see Acura is dropping the ZDX having only sold 3,300 or so.

 

I laugh when I see people talk about efficient sports cars being in the future. They are here now and I have one. Maybe it is not a sports car in the traditional sense (2 seat convertible - Audi does however make an R8 diesel), but it sure is a hell of a sports sedan. 0-60 in 6 seconds (most magazines report that it is really 5.6 seconds - as fast as an S2K with a 7000 rpm clutch dump), great handling, gets 36 mpg (I've seen as high as 42.5 at an average speed of 73 mph - that's Prius territory, folks) and has more torque than almost any v8 made .

If people will just get over the stigma of diesels, you can have your cake and eat it too. Don't give me the excuse of "it smells" - have you been around a clean diesel lately? You probably have and didn't know it. There is no soot, and no odor. Diesels also have lower well-to-wheel emissions than almost any other car available (including hybrids), and you don't have to put up with that awful understeering, surging, can't get out of its own way that you get in most (every one I have driven) hybrids.

 

John.

 

I agree. While we were at the auto show we looked at a car (can't remember which) and my girlfriend like it until I told her that it was a diesel. Her comment was she would never drive one of those as they were loud and smelled.

 

I agree all except for one thing, the price tag. If not for that, it would be the car I'd buy to replace my Si if I give my Si to Adam.

I think that's also one of the things standing in the way of diesel sales in America.

 

I agree. There is quite a discussion about the 335D cost vs. 335i cost on the BMW sites. The general consensus is that when equipped the same and with the ECO Credit and tax credit for the D, it is slightly less expensive than the 335i. As you can imagine, the discusssion is quite opinionated.

 

Change of subject but still re: Honda. I took the S in for service this morning and while waiting for the driver I looked around the lot. I noticed the Honda Pilot with 4WD and V6 was over $37,000! With tax and license, that's over 40 grand out the door. And the sticker also says 16 MPG in city, which means more like 14. When I bought the S, (11 1/2 years ago) the salesman said it was the most expensive Honda he had ever sold. (paid sticker). But 40 grand for a Pilot? Are they selling well? Would you buy one? I much prefer my Rav4 which was about 30 new, also 4WD and V6 and will beat the pants off the Pilot. Also gets about 19 in the city. Comments?