Honda moves Civic refresh forward to 2013

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I'm with SteveSRT8 on this one. While I share the feeling that bloat is being crammed down our throats, I think that's just a result of the companies responding to what the market wants and I don't.


It depends on which kind of "bloat" we're talking about here.

If it's weight, I'd argue it's government mandates in a roundabout way from consumers who will try to pick the "safer" car, especially if they have families.

If it's features, its definitely the consumer who needs to be plugged in and wired up no matter where they are - and the more gadgets, the better.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: 91344George
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I'm with SteveSRT8 on this one. While I share the feeling that bloat is being crammed down our throats, I think that's just a result of the companies responding to what the market wants and I don't.


Actually they are responding to the profit motive more than what the customer wants.

Short term gains (greed) eventually will kill the golden goose of course.

Fair point, well made.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: cchase
If it's weight, I'd argue it's government mandates in a roundabout way from consumers who will try to pick the "safer" car, especially if they have families.

I have suspicions along similar lines (i.e. people wanting cars based on their own ideas of safety), but what weight gains have actually been the results of safety regulations? I thought it was a matter of trying to beat crash tests by wider and wider margins, not of trying to meet a continually rising bar.

 

[ffracer]

Ahh, somebody who gets it.

I don't agree that car makers are making what people want. They are all, unlike the past, have equal access to technology. Technology outside of silicon valley is not computers or phones, but science (chemistry, electrical, mechanical, etc.). All the carmakers have the ability to make high tech engines and cars.

These companies, along with the regulations, now have to make cars that are within the same parameters. Fuel economy with smaller engines for heavier cars to meet regulations.

What you get is heavier cars with tons of electronics to "save" the driver or larger SUVs and trucks.

Honda has now to fall into this paradigm.

In Europe, there is still a much large space of vehicle types.

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
I'm with SteveSRT8 on this one. While I share the feeling that bloat is being crammed down our throats, I think that's just a result of the companies responding to what the market wants and I don't.


It depends on which kind of "bloat" we're talking about here.

If it's weight, I'd argue it's government mandates in a roundabout way from consumers who will try to pick the "safer" car, especially if they have families.

If it's features, its definitely the consumer who needs to be plugged in and wired up no matter where they are - and the more gadgets, the better.