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Originally Posted by lio45
They don't need to change anything. They started working on the next Civic when the current one was released, back in 2005. Besides, I don't see what exactly they would change in answer to the Cruze... it's far from revolutionary, and not a significant threat in any way (especially considering the pricing levels, if we are to trust the info so far).
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Don't need to change anything? The Civic cannot at all compete against the Cruze in terms of efficiency, safety, handling and power. Yes Honda needs to change a lot in order to actually compete. All they can change is the looks of a car and even that cannot be completely redone in 2 years. Still Honda will not be able to provide the mileage.
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Originally Posted by lio45
Sub-$20k, >45 mpg Insight. Beats/ties Cruze on the highway, crushes the Cruze in city mileage, squarely in the same price range, and with the Honda badge on the hood to sweeten the deal even more (not that it needed to be sweetened).
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Insight is a hybrid. Will not be in the same price range. Honda badge isn't what sells cars anymore. Plus it looks just like a Prius. Has limited production. What does this have to do with the argument again?
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Originally Posted by lio45
The next one, not current one. But I see that someone else has corrected you on this already.
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It still doesn't change anything I said...
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Originally Posted by lio45
That's Malibu competition, not Cruze competition. BTW, GM all but announced in other news that they would let the current Malibu (since you bring this Camry/Malibu topic) wither on the vine just like back in the good old times. By the mid-2010s, GM will have to literally give their Malibus away if they want any chance of competing with the Accord/Camry. So, if that's indeed the plan, it looks like it's going to be a return to the starting point for GM... old rental queen with no retail credibility as their main entry in the "heart of market" segment. What a delightful prospect for fans. Compared to this, the fact that the new Camry won't be here before 2012 is sure to bring tears to the Toyota fanboys...
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Oops I keep mixing up the Camry and the Corolla. Give away their Malibu? You must be seeing things, since the Malibu is best in class, if you mean in terms of sales, well we all know that isn't possible until it is sold globally.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lio45
Cruze is completely evolutionary... looks like a slightly improved current Hyundai Elantra. Even now, in 2008, that car in the streets won't turn heads. It's just too similar to what's already out there.
On the other hand, I would disagree with you again -- the '06 Civic stood out when introduced. Honda actually took flak from many reviews for being "too daring" with the new design (which not everyone loved... far from it). Where were you in 2005? Certainly not following the auto industry. A widespread opinion back then was that by not playing it safe with the 8th gen Civic, Honda would be sending all those more conservative buyer types straight to the Corolla.
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Doesn't turn heads? Are you sure about that? Clearly haven't seen this car in person or you are a Ford fan, I am going to go for the later. You are just running out of arguments at this point.
I can't see how the Civic stands out at all. Got to be one of the most boring cars you see on the roads. Every single generation is like they added something onto it and there is nothing dramatically different about them. They are purely evolutionary and don't change nothing about them. Look at the change in 2009, its just a brutal attempt at even making any changes and in my opinion made it worse.
The fact remains that all you are basing yourself on simply exterior looks. The exterior looks great, sleek, while the interior is leagues ahead of anything seen by any competitor or GM. Show me any sort of sign of a competitor able to put in materials found in the Cruze's interior; between the glossed black, brushed metal and fabric along the dash. Even the pedals aren't flimsy plastic. Other than looks, the Cruze packs into an economy car features and numbers that are simply comparable to current or future cars announced by any competitor. Ford, Honda, Toyota cannot possibly re-engineer a car in 2 years to compete against the Cruze on all fronts, its impossible. A simple MCE takes about 2 years to do and thats just changing a bit of sheet metal. Honda and Toyota are notorious for not changing much more than the sheet metal and some fabrics and calling it a new car. For them to be even able to release a car that fully competes against the Cruze will surely be very surprising.
