The most disliked cars of 2011 (Civic #1, HS, XF, & entire Infiniti divison named)
12-27-11, 07:20 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
The most disliked cars of 2011 (Civic #1, HS, XF, & entire Infiniti divison named)
Pretty damn accurate sadly and I lol'd at the entire division named
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/...ortune/12.html
11-Fiat 500
Fiat's reentry into the U.S. market never got out of first gear. Dealers were slow to sign up, an ad campaign featuring J. Lo flopped, and stable-to-lower gas prices failed to excite buyers. Reviewers were tough: Edmunds.com complained about "Wait-and-see reliability; disappointing fuel economy with automatic; less cargo room than rivals." CEO Sergio Marchionne wasted little time replacing Fiat's top U.S. executive, but the damage was done. Instead of selling 50,000 cars this year, Fiat had moved only 17,444 through November. Fiat faces an even steeper uphill battle to win over U.S customers.
10-Chevrolet Volt
Volt shot out of the blocks early in the year with a blast of publicity that would rival Lady Gaga's. After snagging a flock of car-of-the-year awards, GM's bold technological leap seemed poised to set the world on fire. Unfortunately, its batteries did just that in certain accident conditions. The negative fallout -- combined with a month-long production halt in the middle of the year to boost output -- kept a damper on sales. After moving only about 6,200 for the first 11 months of 2011, GM admitted it would fall far short of its goal of selling 10,000 Volts in its first year.
9-Jaguar XF
The years have not been kind to the XF, the car that launched a new era of Jaguar design. Call it a warning to stylists who stray too far from the familiar. Despite the XF's timely departure from the cues of Jag's heritage designs, sales dropped sharply during its fourth year on the market. In an otherwise strong 2011 for luxury car sales, Edmunds.com calculates the XF suffered a 28% falloff. Jaguar's mid-cycle refresh scheduled for July couldn't have come soon enough.
8-Lexus HS 250h
Developing a Lexus version of the popular Toyota Prius seemed like a good idea, but once-enthusiastic buyers have turned skittish. According to Edmunds.com, the HS 250h suffered the biggest year-over-year sales decline of any car continuing in production -- a whopping 73%. Perhaps potential customers were just catching up with the faint praise dispensed by enthusiast publications. "The HS 250h is a `compromises hybrid' that strikes a compromise between good mileage and a fair amount of high-brow comfort features," said Car and Driver. "We can think of other vehicles that strike that balance just as well, and drive better in the process." Snap.
7-Honda Insight
One year ago, Honda introduced a less-expensive Insight for 2011 to help boost sales, making it the least expensive hybrid on the market. But reviewers complained about a jouncy ride and excessive road noise, while customers barely noticed. Year-over-year comparisons are difficult because of Honda's production disruptions, but sales, after steadying around 20,000 in 2009 and 2010, dropped off sharply this year. Meanwhile the Insight was passed by the Johnny-come-lately of hybrids, the Hyundai Sonata.
6-Infiniti Division
Twenty-two years old this fall, Nissan's luxury brand remains a misshapen lump. One line, the G-37 sedan, coupe, and convertible, accounts for a lop-sided 60% of sales. Infiniti's SUVs, meanwhile, seem determinedly aimed at the narrowest of niches, a lost opportunity considering that over at archrival Lexus they contribute half of the volume. So in a year when import luxury cars were moving smartly, Infiniti saw its sales fall. Infiniti plans to double its product line by 2016, and it can't come soon enough.
5-BMW 550i GT
Back in 2009 when the 550i was introduced, BMW executives freely predicted that it would be so popular that they stop shipping the traditional 5-series sport wagon to the U.S. Meanwhile the 550i has stalled out. Blame it on its excessive weight (two-and-a-half tons), high price ($65,000) or ungainly proportions, the 550i remains a rare misstep for the Bavarian marketing machine.
4-Honda Ridgeline
Honda upset the traditional pickup truck orthodoxy when it introduced the unibody Ridgeline in 2005. It may have been a good idea, but it failed to make many converts. The Ridgeline has staggered along since then, selling fewer than 1,000 units a month. There's probably a market out there for a truck that's lighter than traditional body-on-frame behemoths and gets better gas mileage, but this one hasn't found it.
3-Nissan Cube
The Cube went on sale in May 2009 and since then has suffered an acute case of design decay, i.e, the novelty car blues. Its edgy styling -- pun intended -- hasn't worn well with buyers, and its sales have fallen to a trickle. The Cube's performance is especially glaring when compared with the similarly rhomboid Kia Soul, which is attracting far more buyers in its third year on the market as it outsells the Cube six to one. Still, Nissan is betting on a surge in gas prices for the Cube to turn the corner.
2-Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
At this point heaping more scorn from an angry reviewer on the CrossCabriolet seems like piling on...
Well, okay, just one more: The New York Times described Nissan's convertible as "a designer's doodle that should be politely received, then crumpled and flipped into the trash." The CrossCabriolet's legacy as one of the most unusual cars of the 21st century seems secure. Meanwhile, there is a new titleholder that failed even more spectacularly despite aiming far lower.
Our winner: The 2012 Honda Civic
Seemingly designed for the recession generation, the bland, cheezy, ninth-generation Civic went on sale in April to almost universal derision. A blogger at The Truth About Cars declared, "The design is clunky, the materials are cut-rate, and the driving experience is ... dreadfully dull." Consumer Reports complained about a multitude of sins, including weak brakes, excessive body lean, and annoying road noise when it dropped the car off its Recommended list. The Wall Street Journal called it "a dud."
So bad were the reviews that Honda CEO Takanobu Ito publicly accepted full responsibility for the Civic's poor performance. The automaker is taking the unprecedented step of moving up the mid-cycle refresh by one year to 2013 so it can correct the car's most egregious faults.
"We take feedback seriously, regardless of who it's from, and we will act accordingly quickly," said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president. Quick won't be fast enough.
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/...ortune/12.html
The competition was fierce in the race to be last. Surprise - the car at the bottom of the heap wasn't from Detroit.
A prize no one wants to win1 of 12
2011 has had some notable high-profile flops: American Airlines, Coke's white can, numerous Republican presidential candidates, the Boston Red Sox. More than a few automakers can add their names to the list. In a year when U.S. car sales staged a modest recovery, a number of nameplates with high expectations wilted in the showroom. To one of them must go the title of "Most Disliked Car of the Year." We'll get to that, but first ten other cars worthy of dishonorable mention.
A prize no one wants to win1 of 12
2011 has had some notable high-profile flops: American Airlines, Coke's white can, numerous Republican presidential candidates, the Boston Red Sox. More than a few automakers can add their names to the list. In a year when U.S. car sales staged a modest recovery, a number of nameplates with high expectations wilted in the showroom. To one of them must go the title of "Most Disliked Car of the Year." We'll get to that, but first ten other cars worthy of dishonorable mention.
Fiat's reentry into the U.S. market never got out of first gear. Dealers were slow to sign up, an ad campaign featuring J. Lo flopped, and stable-to-lower gas prices failed to excite buyers. Reviewers were tough: Edmunds.com complained about "Wait-and-see reliability; disappointing fuel economy with automatic; less cargo room than rivals." CEO Sergio Marchionne wasted little time replacing Fiat's top U.S. executive, but the damage was done. Instead of selling 50,000 cars this year, Fiat had moved only 17,444 through November. Fiat faces an even steeper uphill battle to win over U.S customers.
10-Chevrolet Volt
Volt shot out of the blocks early in the year with a blast of publicity that would rival Lady Gaga's. After snagging a flock of car-of-the-year awards, GM's bold technological leap seemed poised to set the world on fire. Unfortunately, its batteries did just that in certain accident conditions. The negative fallout -- combined with a month-long production halt in the middle of the year to boost output -- kept a damper on sales. After moving only about 6,200 for the first 11 months of 2011, GM admitted it would fall far short of its goal of selling 10,000 Volts in its first year.
9-Jaguar XF
The years have not been kind to the XF, the car that launched a new era of Jaguar design. Call it a warning to stylists who stray too far from the familiar. Despite the XF's timely departure from the cues of Jag's heritage designs, sales dropped sharply during its fourth year on the market. In an otherwise strong 2011 for luxury car sales, Edmunds.com calculates the XF suffered a 28% falloff. Jaguar's mid-cycle refresh scheduled for July couldn't have come soon enough.
8-Lexus HS 250h
Developing a Lexus version of the popular Toyota Prius seemed like a good idea, but once-enthusiastic buyers have turned skittish. According to Edmunds.com, the HS 250h suffered the biggest year-over-year sales decline of any car continuing in production -- a whopping 73%. Perhaps potential customers were just catching up with the faint praise dispensed by enthusiast publications. "The HS 250h is a `compromises hybrid' that strikes a compromise between good mileage and a fair amount of high-brow comfort features," said Car and Driver. "We can think of other vehicles that strike that balance just as well, and drive better in the process." Snap.
7-Honda Insight
One year ago, Honda introduced a less-expensive Insight for 2011 to help boost sales, making it the least expensive hybrid on the market. But reviewers complained about a jouncy ride and excessive road noise, while customers barely noticed. Year-over-year comparisons are difficult because of Honda's production disruptions, but sales, after steadying around 20,000 in 2009 and 2010, dropped off sharply this year. Meanwhile the Insight was passed by the Johnny-come-lately of hybrids, the Hyundai Sonata.
6-Infiniti Division
Twenty-two years old this fall, Nissan's luxury brand remains a misshapen lump. One line, the G-37 sedan, coupe, and convertible, accounts for a lop-sided 60% of sales. Infiniti's SUVs, meanwhile, seem determinedly aimed at the narrowest of niches, a lost opportunity considering that over at archrival Lexus they contribute half of the volume. So in a year when import luxury cars were moving smartly, Infiniti saw its sales fall. Infiniti plans to double its product line by 2016, and it can't come soon enough.
5-BMW 550i GT
Back in 2009 when the 550i was introduced, BMW executives freely predicted that it would be so popular that they stop shipping the traditional 5-series sport wagon to the U.S. Meanwhile the 550i has stalled out. Blame it on its excessive weight (two-and-a-half tons), high price ($65,000) or ungainly proportions, the 550i remains a rare misstep for the Bavarian marketing machine.
4-Honda Ridgeline
Honda upset the traditional pickup truck orthodoxy when it introduced the unibody Ridgeline in 2005. It may have been a good idea, but it failed to make many converts. The Ridgeline has staggered along since then, selling fewer than 1,000 units a month. There's probably a market out there for a truck that's lighter than traditional body-on-frame behemoths and gets better gas mileage, but this one hasn't found it.
3-Nissan Cube
The Cube went on sale in May 2009 and since then has suffered an acute case of design decay, i.e, the novelty car blues. Its edgy styling -- pun intended -- hasn't worn well with buyers, and its sales have fallen to a trickle. The Cube's performance is especially glaring when compared with the similarly rhomboid Kia Soul, which is attracting far more buyers in its third year on the market as it outsells the Cube six to one. Still, Nissan is betting on a surge in gas prices for the Cube to turn the corner.
2-Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
At this point heaping more scorn from an angry reviewer on the CrossCabriolet seems like piling on...
Well, okay, just one more: The New York Times described Nissan's convertible as "a designer's doodle that should be politely received, then crumpled and flipped into the trash." The CrossCabriolet's legacy as one of the most unusual cars of the 21st century seems secure. Meanwhile, there is a new titleholder that failed even more spectacularly despite aiming far lower.
Our winner: The 2012 Honda Civic
Seemingly designed for the recession generation, the bland, cheezy, ninth-generation Civic went on sale in April to almost universal derision. A blogger at The Truth About Cars declared, "The design is clunky, the materials are cut-rate, and the driving experience is ... dreadfully dull." Consumer Reports complained about a multitude of sins, including weak brakes, excessive body lean, and annoying road noise when it dropped the car off its Recommended list. The Wall Street Journal called it "a dud."
So bad were the reviews that Honda CEO Takanobu Ito publicly accepted full responsibility for the Civic's poor performance. The automaker is taking the unprecedented step of moving up the mid-cycle refresh by one year to 2013 so it can correct the car's most egregious faults.
"We take feedback seriously, regardless of who it's from, and we will act accordingly quickly," said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president. Quick won't be fast enough.
12-27-11, 09:23 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Strange that the BMW X6 and Acura ZDX are not on the list. 
Shoppers aren't exactly busting the front doors down in showrooms trying to take one home.
Maybe they aren't including SUVs on ts list.....but they DID include the whole Infiniti division, (presumably)also its SUVs.
Shoppers aren't exactly busting the front doors down in showrooms trying to take one home.Maybe they aren't including SUVs on ts list.....but they DID include the whole Infiniti division, (presumably)also its SUVs.
12-27-11, 10:09 AM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
11-Fiat 500
Fiat's reentry into the U.S. market never got out of first gear. Dealers were slow to sign up, an ad campaign featuring J. Lo flopped, and stable-to-lower gas prices failed to excite buyers. Reviewers were tough: Edmunds.com complained about "Wait-and-see reliability; disappointing fuel economy with automatic; less cargo room than rivals." CEO Sergio Marchionne wasted little time replacing Fiat's top U.S. executive, but the damage was done. Instead of selling 50,000 cars this year, Fiat had moved only 17,444 through November. Fiat faces an even steeper uphill battle to win over U.S customers.
Fiat's reentry into the U.S. market never got out of first gear. Dealers were slow to sign up, an ad campaign featuring J. Lo flopped, and stable-to-lower gas prices failed to excite buyers. Reviewers were tough: Edmunds.com complained about "Wait-and-see reliability; disappointing fuel economy with automatic; less cargo room than rivals." CEO Sergio Marchionne wasted little time replacing Fiat's top U.S. executive, but the damage was done. Instead of selling 50,000 cars this year, Fiat had moved only 17,444 through November. Fiat faces an even steeper uphill battle to win over U.S customers.
10-Chevrolet Volt
Volt shot out of the blocks early in the year with a blast of publicity that would rival Lady Gaga's. After snagging a flock of car-of-the-year awards, GM's bold technological leap seemed poised to set the world on fire. Unfortunately, its batteries did just that in certain accident conditions. The negative fallout -- combined with a month-long production halt in the middle of the year to boost output -- kept a damper on sales. After moving only about 6,200 for the first 11 months of 2011, GM admitted it would fall far short of its goal of selling 10,000 Volts in its first year.
Volt shot out of the blocks early in the year with a blast of publicity that would rival Lady Gaga's. After snagging a flock of car-of-the-year awards, GM's bold technological leap seemed poised to set the world on fire. Unfortunately, its batteries did just that in certain accident conditions. The negative fallout -- combined with a month-long production halt in the middle of the year to boost output -- kept a damper on sales. After moving only about 6,200 for the first 11 months of 2011, GM admitted it would fall far short of its goal of selling 10,000 Volts in its first year.
9-Jaguar XF
The years have not been kind to the XF, the car that launched a new era of Jaguar design. Call it a warning to stylists who stray too far from the familiar. Despite the XF's timely departure from the cues of Jag's heritage designs, sales dropped sharply during its fourth year on the market. In an otherwise strong 2011 for luxury car sales, Edmunds.com calculates the XF suffered a 28% falloff. Jaguar's mid-cycle refresh scheduled for July couldn't have come soon enough.
The years have not been kind to the XF, the car that launched a new era of Jaguar design. Call it a warning to stylists who stray too far from the familiar. Despite the XF's timely departure from the cues of Jag's heritage designs, sales dropped sharply during its fourth year on the market. In an otherwise strong 2011 for luxury car sales, Edmunds.com calculates the XF suffered a 28% falloff. Jaguar's mid-cycle refresh scheduled for July couldn't have come soon enough.
8-Lexus HS 250h
Developing a Lexus version of the popular Toyota Prius seemed like a good idea, but once-enthusiastic buyers have turned skittish. According to Edmunds.com, the HS 250h suffered the biggest year-over-year sales decline of any car continuing in production -- a whopping 73%. Perhaps potential customers were just catching up with the faint praise dispensed by enthusiast publications. "The HS 250h is a `compromises hybrid' that strikes a compromise between good mileage and a fair amount of high-brow comfort features," said Car and Driver. "We can think of other vehicles that strike that balance just as well, and drive better in the process." Snap.
Developing a Lexus version of the popular Toyota Prius seemed like a good idea, but once-enthusiastic buyers have turned skittish. According to Edmunds.com, the HS 250h suffered the biggest year-over-year sales decline of any car continuing in production -- a whopping 73%. Perhaps potential customers were just catching up with the faint praise dispensed by enthusiast publications. "The HS 250h is a `compromises hybrid' that strikes a compromise between good mileage and a fair amount of high-brow comfort features," said Car and Driver. "We can think of other vehicles that strike that balance just as well, and drive better in the process." Snap.
7-Honda Insight
One year ago, Honda introduced a less-expensive Insight for 2011 to help boost sales, making it the least expensive hybrid on the market. But reviewers complained about a jouncy ride and excessive road noise, while customers barely noticed. Year-over-year comparisons are difficult because of Honda's production disruptions, but sales, after steadying around 20,000 in 2009 and 2010, dropped off sharply this year. Meanwhile the Insight was passed by the Johnny-come-lately of hybrids, the Hyundai Sonata.
One year ago, Honda introduced a less-expensive Insight for 2011 to help boost sales, making it the least expensive hybrid on the market. But reviewers complained about a jouncy ride and excessive road noise, while customers barely noticed. Year-over-year comparisons are difficult because of Honda's production disruptions, but sales, after steadying around 20,000 in 2009 and 2010, dropped off sharply this year. Meanwhile the Insight was passed by the Johnny-come-lately of hybrids, the Hyundai Sonata.
6-Infiniti Division
Twenty-two years old this fall, Nissan's luxury brand remains a misshapen lump. One line, the G-37 sedan, coupe, and convertible, accounts for a lop-sided 60% of sales. Infiniti's SUVs, meanwhile, seem determinedly aimed at the narrowest of niches, a lost opportunity considering that over at archrival Lexus they contribute half of the volume. So in a year when import luxury cars were moving smartly, Infiniti saw its sales fall. Infiniti plans to double its product line by 2016, and it can't come soon enough.
5-BMW 550i GT
Back in 2009 when the 550i was introduced, BMW executives freely predicted that it would be so popular that they stop shipping the traditional 5-series sport wagon to the U.S. Meanwhile the 550i has stalled out. Blame it on its excessive weight (two-and-a-half tons), high price ($65,000) or ungainly proportions, the 550i remains a rare misstep for the Bavarian marketing machine.
Back in 2009 when the 550i was introduced, BMW executives freely predicted that it would be so popular that they stop shipping the traditional 5-series sport wagon to the U.S. Meanwhile the 550i has stalled out. Blame it on its excessive weight (two-and-a-half tons), high price ($65,000) or ungainly proportions, the 550i remains a rare misstep for the Bavarian marketing machine.
4-Honda Ridgeline
Honda upset the traditional pickup truck orthodoxy when it introduced the unibody Ridgeline in 2005. It may have been a good idea, but it failed to make many converts. The Ridgeline has staggered along since then, selling fewer than 1,000 units a month. There's probably a market out there for a truck that's lighter than traditional body-on-frame behemoths and gets better gas mileage, but this one hasn't found it.
Honda upset the traditional pickup truck orthodoxy when it introduced the unibody Ridgeline in 2005. It may have been a good idea, but it failed to make many converts. The Ridgeline has staggered along since then, selling fewer than 1,000 units a month. There's probably a market out there for a truck that's lighter than traditional body-on-frame behemoths and gets better gas mileage, but this one hasn't found it.
3-Nissan Cube
The Cube went on sale in May 2009 and since then has suffered an acute case of design decay, i.e, the novelty car blues. Its edgy styling -- pun intended -- hasn't worn well with buyers, and its sales have fallen to a trickle. The Cube's performance is especially glaring when compared with the similarly rhomboid Kia Soul, which is attracting far more buyers in its third year on the market as it outsells the Cube six to one. Still, Nissan is betting on a surge in gas prices for the Cube to turn the corner.
The Cube went on sale in May 2009 and since then has suffered an acute case of design decay, i.e, the novelty car blues. Its edgy styling -- pun intended -- hasn't worn well with buyers, and its sales have fallen to a trickle. The Cube's performance is especially glaring when compared with the similarly rhomboid Kia Soul, which is attracting far more buyers in its third year on the market as it outsells the Cube six to one. Still, Nissan is betting on a surge in gas prices for the Cube to turn the corner.
2-Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
At this point heaping more scorn from an angry reviewer on the CrossCabriolet seems like piling on...
Well, okay, just one more: The New York Times described Nissan's convertible as "a designer's doodle that should be politely received, then crumpled and flipped into the trash." The CrossCabriolet's legacy as one of the most unusual cars of the 21st century seems secure. Meanwhile, there is a new titleholder that failed even more spectacularly despite aiming far lower.
At this point heaping more scorn from an angry reviewer on the CrossCabriolet seems like piling on...
Well, okay, just one more: The New York Times described Nissan's convertible as "a designer's doodle that should be politely received, then crumpled and flipped into the trash." The CrossCabriolet's legacy as one of the most unusual cars of the 21st century seems secure. Meanwhile, there is a new titleholder that failed even more spectacularly despite aiming far lower.
Our winner: The 2012 Honda Civic
Seemingly designed for the recession generation, the bland, cheezy, ninth-generation Civic went on sale in April to almost universal derision. A blogger at The Truth About Cars declared, "The design is clunky, the materials are cut-rate, and the driving experience is ... dreadfully dull." Consumer Reports complained about a multitude of sins, including weak brakes, excessive body lean, and annoying road noise when it dropped the car off its Recommended list. The Wall Street Journal called it "a dud."
So bad were the reviews that Honda CEO Takanobu Ito publicly accepted full responsibility for the Civic's poor performance. The automaker is taking the unprecedented step of moving up the mid-cycle refresh by one year to 2013 so it can correct the car's most egregious faults.
"We take feedback seriously, regardless of who it's from, and we will act accordingly quickly," said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president. Quick won't be fast enough.
Seemingly designed for the recession generation, the bland, cheezy, ninth-generation Civic went on sale in April to almost universal derision. A blogger at The Truth About Cars declared, "The design is clunky, the materials are cut-rate, and the driving experience is ... dreadfully dull." Consumer Reports complained about a multitude of sins, including weak brakes, excessive body lean, and annoying road noise when it dropped the car off its Recommended list. The Wall Street Journal called it "a dud."
So bad were the reviews that Honda CEO Takanobu Ito publicly accepted full responsibility for the Civic's poor performance. The automaker is taking the unprecedented step of moving up the mid-cycle refresh by one year to 2013 so it can correct the car's most egregious faults.
"We take feedback seriously, regardless of who it's from, and we will act accordingly quickly," said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president. Quick won't be fast enough.
Last edited by mmarshall; 12-27-11 at 09:22 PM.
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12-27-11, 08:46 PM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Can't speak for the whole country, but the 500 seems to be pretty much accepted here in the D.C. area. One reason for low sales, of course, (and something the article fails to mention) is that, while we have several dealers here in ths region, Fiat shops outside larger cities are few and far between.
The Volt's main flop, over and above any fire-hazard, is obvious......a complete no-brainer. It simply costs TOO MUCH for what it delivers. By the time you add on "mandatory" options and the inevitable dealer mark-ups, you will pay 40K or more, even after the Federal tax credits. 40K for a redone Cruze-platform with fancy electronics (and, IMO, far worse ergonomics inside) is simply insane.
Dashing looks and classiness aside, Jags probably aren't going to sell more until their reliability improves. Buyers seem willing to tolerate unreliable premium-grade German cars, but, for some reason, not Jags.
A Lexus, (unless you are buying a sport-oriented F-model, has to coddle and pamper like a Lexus. The HS simply doesn't....it lacks the interior luxury, and (when running solely on the 4-cylinder gas engine), the quiet refinement of bigger Lexus powertrains. The somewhat smaller CT200h lacks even more refinement / smoothness and noise-control, but, of course, has a more versatile cargo area, and costs significantly less than an HS, whichmay account for its greater sales.
A potentially great idea on Honda's part (a cheap, budget-priced hybrid) that would undercut the Prius in pricing..............But, unfortunately, also undercuts it too much in overall refinement, interior room, and powertrain smoothness/efficiency. The Insight's sole asset seems to be its reliability and Honda build-quality, and little else.
In addition to the well-known marketing glitches of the past, Infiniti has also turned of a lot of potential customers off by putting overly-sporting chassis/underpinnings on virtually its entire lineup....even on vehicles like its M56 flagship, which, like all of the G and M series, has a firm-to-harsh ride. Too bad, because Infiniti fit/finish and overall interior quality, clearly second-rate several years ago, has improved enormously since then.
I disagree with the weight argument here (heavy or not, the 550 has very impressive power and road manners)....the reason for its weight is that it was derived from the 7-series platform. But, granted, the high price and somewhat too-rounded, Honda-Crosstour-like rear hatch are more effective arguements for its low sales.
Overall, IMO, it was a damn good idea. But, in the U.S., it takes more than just a good idea to significantly break into the cult-like stranglehold that American-badge trucks have on their owners. Even the (now) full-size Toyota Tundra and full-size Nissan Titan have had some trouble breaking into this section of the market.
The Cube's main problem, I think, is that it is simply too small. Unlike the Scion xB and Kia Soul, it wasn't really designed with the American market in mind, but was Amercanized from the JDM version. The asymmetrical rear-end styling around the D-pillars, IMO, just makes it look even that much more awkward.
I've yet to see one on the street, even around here in the auto-sales-rich D.C. area, where EVERYTHING sells.
I agree that, like with the VW Jetta, it is a significant step down from the previous Civic, particularly in the over-plasticized interior. But, in my review, I didn't think it drove as badly as some of the critics are saying, and, IMO, it still has much of the traditionally high Honda assembly-quality, where everything fits precisely and doesn't feel loose.
The Volt's main flop, over and above any fire-hazard, is obvious......a complete no-brainer. It simply costs TOO MUCH for what it delivers. By the time you add on "mandatory" options and the inevitable dealer mark-ups, you will pay 40K or more, even after the Federal tax credits. 40K for a redone Cruze-platform with fancy electronics (and, IMO, far worse ergonomics inside) is simply insane.
Dashing looks and classiness aside, Jags probably aren't going to sell more until their reliability improves. Buyers seem willing to tolerate unreliable premium-grade German cars, but, for some reason, not Jags.
A Lexus, (unless you are buying a sport-oriented F-model, has to coddle and pamper like a Lexus. The HS simply doesn't....it lacks the interior luxury, and (when running solely on the 4-cylinder gas engine), the quiet refinement of bigger Lexus powertrains. The somewhat smaller CT200h lacks even more refinement / smoothness and noise-control, but, of course, has a more versatile cargo area, and costs significantly less than an HS, whichmay account for its greater sales.
A potentially great idea on Honda's part (a cheap, budget-priced hybrid) that would undercut the Prius in pricing..............But, unfortunately, also undercuts it too much in overall refinement, interior room, and powertrain smoothness/efficiency. The Insight's sole asset seems to be its reliability and Honda build-quality, and little else.
In addition to the well-known marketing glitches of the past, Infiniti has also turned of a lot of potential customers off by putting overly-sporting chassis/underpinnings on virtually its entire lineup....even on vehicles like its M56 flagship, which, like all of the G and M series, has a firm-to-harsh ride. Too bad, because Infiniti fit/finish and overall interior quality, clearly second-rate several years ago, has improved enormously since then.
I disagree with the weight argument here (heavy or not, the 550 has very impressive power and road manners)....the reason for its weight is that it was derived from the 7-series platform. But, granted, the high price and somewhat too-rounded, Honda-Crosstour-like rear hatch are more effective arguements for its low sales.
Overall, IMO, it was a damn good idea. But, in the U.S., it takes more than just a good idea to significantly break into the cult-like stranglehold that American-badge trucks have on their owners. Even the (now) full-size Toyota Tundra and full-size Nissan Titan have had some trouble breaking into this section of the market.
The Cube's main problem, I think, is that it is simply too small. Unlike the Scion xB and Kia Soul, it wasn't really designed with the American market in mind, but was Amercanized from the JDM version. The asymmetrical rear-end styling around the D-pillars, IMO, just makes it look even that much more awkward.
I've yet to see one on the street, even around here in the auto-sales-rich D.C. area, where EVERYTHING sells.
I agree that, like with the VW Jetta, it is a significant step down from the previous Civic, particularly in the over-plasticized interior. But, in my review, I didn't think it drove as badly as some of the critics are saying, and, IMO, it still has much of the traditionally high Honda assembly-quality, where everything fits precisely and doesn't feel loose.
The HS was dull, boring and was using older hybrid tech.
12-27-11, 08:49 PM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
What do you mean "first mainstream Lexus that looks good"? Its the first and only Lexus hatchback.
12-27-11, 09:17 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
12-27-11, 09:32 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
The HS was dull, boring and was using older hybrid tech.
12-27-11, 09:45 PM
#15
Lexus Test Driver
Shocked the ZDX is not on the list. A total failure. I agree with all others on the list though. The head Honda guy should be punished for further ruinning Honda when they were already in hot water. Saying "I'm sorry" isn't enough of a lesson and Honda has taken rediculously long to learn their lessons lately.