Honda Accord best selling vehicle in march

[Vladimir1978]

Originally Posted by GMCSonoma

I keep hearing it...no-one posts real data on it???


50%? I've heard from 20 to 75% on this forum...

Last year the Impala was at 54% and the old Malibu was at 58%. With the old Malibu gone, I'm not sure what GM has been doing in the meantime. I have not seen many of the new Malibus on the rental lots, but my brother was just given one by insurance, so they're out there. But I imagine they've cut down a lot on giving them to fleet. So I think the obvious inference here is that the Impala is picking up that slack. I wouldn't be surprised with 65% in fleet this year for the Impala.

[BGH]

Originally Posted by void.crusader

2007:

Chevrolet Impala - 53.9% sales to fleet
Chevrolet Malibu - 58.8%

Toyota Avalon - 15.3%
Toyota Camry - 7.7%

http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6344...ale/index.html

Camry is doing better on the retail side compared to previous years. Normally it was 15 to 20%. No Honda products never makes it to double digit fleet. I believe most are under 5%.

[FoMoCo Fan]

The Accord coupe is very impressive. As much as I like the Malibu / Aura, the Accord coupe is nicer. The Accord sedan doesn't really do it for me though.

[ElmerMCR]

Wow, this is actually pretty damn surprising to me for some reason...though the coupe is still definitely stunning as hell.

[t-rex]

The fact that such an ugly car like the Accord can top sales charts based purely on reputation shows just how far GM has to go in order to ever see the top of the sales charts.

I for one am beyond put off by the Accord's styling. In fact the entire midsize sedan class looks just awful. The Altima's not bad, but it still has a "cheap" look to it. Amazing how a car can look flimsy. The Aura looks good unless you're standing behind it, then it looks like a strange morphed G6. Camry's not bad. Just so damn many of them out there.

I find the Malibu quite attractive, especially from a rear ¾-view, and tied with the Mazda6 as the best-looking midsizer. I'm notoriously partial to Mazda though...

[void.crusader]

Originally Posted by t-rex

I for one am beyond put off by the Accord's styling. In fact the entire midsize sedan class looks just awful. The Altima's not bad, but it still has a "cheap" look to it. Amazing how a car can look flimsy. The Aura looks good unless you're standing behind it, then it looks like a strange morphed G6. Camry's not bad. Just so damn many of them out there.

Honda should use TL-like styling on accords - sleek and agressive. But then again, TL is considered upscale car and they don't want to eat Acura sales.

I'd say new Mazda6 is best-looking midsize car, while Malibu and Altima are tied for second.

[1931Chevy]

But I wonder do they count the coupes sales there too

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by Ach

Wow, I can't understand the enthusiasm for the Accord sedan (the coupe is nice, the best Accord coupe yet IMHO). But the sedan...bland from the front, awkward from the side with awful overhangs and just an absolute mess in the back. I think the last-gen Accord was much, much better looking. To each his own I guess, and Honda has already demonstrated that their cars will sell no matter what they look like.

Also, ironically the sedan is more........bigger,longer and wider, we critisized Detroit in the past for that but now Honda doing it, seems then it's a sort of
"reasonable accommodation" then some car buyers and journalists do

If the next-gen Accord will be even more bigger? I wonder.......

[GMC-70]

Does anybody really believe that the new Accord is a great looking car or is this just an another example of being told that its good looking.

If the badges on the Accord and Mailubu were switched would the sales result still remain the same? My guess is no---if the Malibu had an "H" badge on it I bet sales would be even higher while if the Accord had a "C" badge on it sales would tank and many people would say what was Chevy thinking with that design.

My point is that I am starting to really believe that many Asian designs get an automatic pass in the general publics eye, while Detroits offerings are often scrutinized to no end. It is very clear that Honda and Toyota can sell the bulk of their cars based on perception alone regardless of how it looks. I mean look at the Yaris, Element, CRV, Highlander, etc. All good packages but they are nothing to look it.

Then again...maybe I am old-school and out of touch--if so then it is what it is.

[LONGHORN]

Originally Posted by GMC-70

Does anybody really believe that the new Accord is a great looking car or is this just an another example of being told that its good looking.

If the badges on the Accord and Mailubu were switched would the sales result still remain the same? My guess is no---if the Malibu had an "H" badge on it I bet sales would be even higher while if the Accord had a "C" badge on it sales would tank and many people would say what was Chevy thinking with that design.

My point is that I am starting to really believe that many Asian designs get an automatic pass in the general publics eye, while Detroits offerings are often scrutinized to no end. It is very clear that Honda and Toyota can sell the bulk of their cars based on perception alone regardless of how it looks. I mean look at the Yaris, Element, CRV, Highlander, etc. All good packages but they are nothing to look it.

Then again...maybe I am old-school and out of touch--if so then it is what it is.

You pretty much nailed it. GM used to have that kind of mojo...........then CEO Roger Smith arrived in the 80s and the rest is history. Honda has a game plan for the Accord and has pretty much stuck to it.

[Bravada]

Let's start with indisputable facts:

The Accord Coupe looks like a toad.

I might have to see one in person, perhaps you need to kiss it and it runs into a handsome prince or sumfink, but I cannot see a hint of beauty in any of the photos. The sedan looks semi-decent, but I can't see why would they let it look awful from so many angles. GM messed up big time with Malibu's rear, and it has its better and worse sides, but in general it doesn't have that nice/ugly thing about it.

Anyhoo, G6 outsold the Malibu. The power of Enterprise! WAIT, Fusion outsold the Malibu! Production constraints, shriek shriek - but you have to build them if people want them. Those who didn't buy a Malibu bought something else, and I doubt it it was the Impaler.

Good news - Altima taking on Camry big time. Good news because I like diversity and didn't like Toyota/Honda domination. In spite of that, I hate Nissan's latest blanderization campaign. They used to have the most attractive lineup for NA out of the Japanese Big3, and now?

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by GMC-70

Does anybody really believe that the new Accord is a great looking car or is this just an another example of being told that its good looking.

If the badges on the Accord and Mailubu were switched would the sales result still remain the same? My guess is no---if the Malibu had an "H" badge on it I bet sales would be even higher while if the Accord had a "C" badge on it sales would tank and many people would say what was Chevy thinking with that design.

My point is that I am starting to really believe that many Asian designs get an automatic pass in the general publics eye, while Detroits offerings are often scrutinized to no end. It is very clear that Honda and Toyota can sell the bulk of their cars based on perception alone regardless of how it looks. I mean look at the Yaris, Element, CRV, Highlander, etc. All good packages but they are nothing to look it.

Then again...maybe I am old-school and out of touch--if so then it is what it is.

In 1970 everyone knew the Japanese automakers built garbage and the American automakers made the best cars in the world. It took three decades of Detroit foulups and Japanese effort to reverse the situation.

The American automakers won't regain their former reputation overnight, no matter how hard they work.

[BGH]

Well obviously style is not the most important criteria for new car buyers. Or maybe people outside of internet forums find the car good looking.

From my point of view. People on this board like dull looking cars. The Altima is a good example. People here seem to like the Altima buy hate the new Maxima which has a far more aggressive design. Another example is when the Mazda6 was revealed. People here didn't seem like its front fenders. But that's the part of the car (on this design) that will give it lots of road presence and is a departure from the usual styling in this segment.

Just my two cents. I know styling is subjective.

[red_rider]

I personally don't think the accord is that ugly (In fact the coupe looks dam good imo, much like the 06-07 monte carlos). My biggest problem is that its too big and fat.

> >

[lio45]

Originally Posted by red_rider

Looks pretty good. The Boston skyline, I mean. Too bad there's an Accord Sedan in front of it.

The Coupe is very nice looking, though.

I used to hate the Sedan but it's kinda growing on me. I see plenty around, and
every Camry sale lost is a good thing.