Q&A: Why Honda is obsessed with gas mileage

[NFS4]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8272373/site/newsweek

Toyota and Nissan have large SUVs to compete with Detroit's big boys. Could Honda ever bring itself to develop a hulking SUV?

We don't get the Hummer, we just don't get it. There would not be a lot of motivation within Honda to develop the Hummer. We would be saying we could make it lighter, we can make it have better fuel economy. But in the end, it's certainly not a Hummer. It's closer to a Pilot. So we're at cross-purposes with a vehicle like a Hummer.

Honda leads the car business in fuel economy, but not in perception. Why is Toyota viewed as the greenest automaker?

That's very frustrating for us. Honda's head and shoulders the greenest company, yet other companies with less accomplishments are able to capitalize because they've got a better PR machine.

 

[ShadowBlade]

thats the only thing they can attempt to sell their "cars" on
otherwise they blow

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
thats the only thing they can attempt to sell their "cars" on
otherwise they blow

How about the fact that they basically run forever

 

[Otaking]

:thumbsup: Honda

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
How about the fact that they basically run forever

Or their near perfect crash test ratings?

When I last bought a new car I wanted 4 things: good mileage, great reliability, and great safety at a reasonable price. Honda delivered on all four. I could not care less about anything else. Although the fact that my four year old car is still worth about the same as a brand new model is a nice benefit.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Mo0o
How about the fact that they basically run forever

Or their near perfect crash test ratings?

or the riceability

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
thats the only thing they can attempt to sell their "cars" on
otherwise they blow

How about the fact that they basically run forever

Yes! My mother's '96 Accord has taken so much abuse and just keeps going, it holds together pretty well considering I've been putting the bulk of the miles on it the past 2 or 3 years.

 

[Ornery]

That's how they got their foot in the door and it's their stock in trade!

 

[ShadowBlade]

whats the highest mileage youve ever seen on a honda that still ran well?
diesel trucks can run over a million and (among other things) still tow at their highest capacity

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: Ornery
That's how they got their foot in the door and it's their stock in trade!

How can people drive those things? I'd much rather have one of these.

 

[Kipper]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
whats the highest mileage youve ever seen on a honda that still ran well?
diesel trucks can run over a million and (among other things) still tow at their highest capacity

You're comparing long-distance hauling trucks and daily stop-and-go passenger cars?

Something is wrong here.

 

[0]

That's their bread and butter.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: Kipper

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
whats the highest mileage youve ever seen on a honda that still ran well?
diesel trucks can run over a million and (among other things) still tow at their highest capacity

You're comparing long-distance hauling trucks and daily stop-and-go passenger cars?

Something is wrong here.

My friend's dad has a work truck (F250) that has over 300k miles on it (V8 Diesel). Engine outlasted 2 transmissions.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: Kipper

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
whats the highest mileage youve ever seen on a honda that still ran well?
diesel trucks can run over a million and (among other things) still tow at their highest capacity

You're comparing long-distance hauling trucks and daily stop-and-go passenger cars?

Something is wrong here.

My friend's dad has a work truck (F250) that has over 300k miles on it (V8 Diesel). Engine outlasted 2 transmissions.

Which Honda diesel are you comparing it to again?:roll:

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
thats the only thing they can attempt to sell their "cars" on
otherwise they blow

How about the fact that they basically run forever

I think too many people try to ignore this factor, they think it doesn't matter! There is something to be said about reliability and cost savings because of little upkeep/repairs as well as the length of time they last for.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: Kipper

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
whats the highest mileage youve ever seen on a honda that still ran well?
diesel trucks can run over a million and (among other things) still tow at their highest capacity

You're comparing long-distance hauling trucks and daily stop-and-go passenger cars?

Something is wrong here.

My friend's dad has a work truck (F250) that has over 300k miles on it (V8 Diesel). Engine outlasted 2 transmissions.

Which Honda diesel are you comparing it to again?:roll:

I am saying that this isn't a long haul truck, it is in a passenger vechicle.

 

[Sheepathon]

Japanese cars last longer than you'd ever want them to. I have a 93 camry dx, 5spd, 148k miles, 2.2liter 130hp engine, gets 22-30mpg, and it's still zipping around just fine 🙂
My aunt had an old accord that went well over 200k WITHOUT regular oil changes, haha.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Japanese cars last longer than you'd ever want them to. I have a 93 camry dx, 5spd, 148k miles, 2.2liter 130hp engine, gets 22-30mpg, and it's still zipping around just fine 🙂
My aunt had an old accord that went well over 200k WITHOUT regular oil changes, haha.

<--- 91 Accord with ~171k miles and origional clutch/tranny/engine/etc.

Edit: Don't get me wrong, half our cars haven't been japanese, but for daily drivers and quality Honda/Toyota do a superb job.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Japanese cars last longer than you'd ever want them to. I have a 93 camry dx, 5spd, 148k miles, 2.2liter 130hp engine, gets 22-30mpg, and it's still zipping around just fine 🙂
My aunt had an old accord that went well over 200k WITHOUT regular oil changes, haha.

<--- 91 Accord with ~171k miles and origional clutch/tranny/engine/etc.

<--- 98 Grand Prix w/ 181k miles and original engine and tranny (needed a head gasket fix at ~100k miles (before I got it)). Cars last if you take care of them.

 

[Ornery]

...some last ('88 E-150), even if you DON'T!

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Mo0o
How about the fact that they basically run forever

Or their near perfect crash test ratings?

When I last bought a new car I wanted 4 things: good mileage, great reliability, and great safety at a reasonable price. Honda delivered on all four. I could not care less about anything else. Although the fact that my four year old car is still worth about the same as a brand new model is a nice benefit.

or their superior fit/finish, interior design/functionality, and seat comfort?

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
whats the highest mileage youve ever seen on a honda that still ran well?
diesel trucks can run over a million and (among other things) still tow at their highest capacity

actually several years ago there was a news story about a million mile honda accord that ran perfectly and was still the daily driver of a guy who worked for a map company. the reporter said the car turned out to be boring because it ran so well and didn't have any quirks.

there are also million mile volvos and i've personally seen a 500,000 mile toyota. when a taurus is lucky to get to 100K without major problems, these are damn good figures.

 

[Kenny1234]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Japanese cars last longer than you'd ever want them to. I have a 93 camry dx, 5spd, 148k miles, 2.2liter 130hp engine, gets 22-30mpg, and it's still zipping around just fine 🙂
My aunt had an old accord that went well over 200k WITHOUT regular oil changes, haha.

<--- 91 Accord with ~171k miles and origional clutch/tranny/engine/etc.

<--- 98 Grand Prix w/ 181k miles and original engine and tranny (needed a head gasket fix at ~100k miles (before I got it)). Cars last if you take care of them.

yeah but a honda or toyota will last just as long without taking care of it

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Japanese cars last longer than you'd ever want them to. I have a 93 camry dx, 5spd, 148k miles, 2.2liter 130hp engine, gets 22-30mpg, and it's still zipping around just fine 🙂
My aunt had an old accord that went well over 200k WITHOUT regular oil changes, haha.

<--- 91 Accord with ~171k miles and origional clutch/tranny/engine/etc.

<--- 98 Grand Prix w/ 181k miles and original engine and tranny (needed a head gasket fix at ~100k miles (before I got it)). Cars last if you take care of them.

Umm, not reliable.

 

[thomsbrain]

Video of another million mile accord (a wagon, just like mine!)

the one i was thinking of was a 94 sedan.