What kinda business is Honda running?
According to the article (http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101529
, thanks Rai Ka), Insight's sales are pretty crappy.
There has GOT to be something going on. Honda is NOT going just let their sales flounder. My guess is they are doing 1 of 3 things:
1) Smoke and mirrors (thanks, Citrus Smoothie). They're intentionally deceiving us as to their plans for the Insight, because they don't want us to know too much too soon. If this is the case, then they're probably not discontinuing it.
2) They are putting their eggs in the Accord/Civic basket. If this is the case, then they are very much planning to discontinue the Insight, but they don't want to start the ball rolling until someone tops their "my car has the best fuel efficiency in the world" bragging rights.
3) They just don't know what to do with it. Fuel efficiency is all the talk right now (just look at Ford's Escape sales), so the Insight has given the market something to talk about. By the same token, when you think about it, a 2 seater isn't that practical. Practicality is still king over fuel efficiency, and most 2-seaters are turbo-charged and are meant to fit the stereo-type "fast and little" car. Insight is little, but doesn't have explosive performance. If this is the case, then Honda might be waiting to see what happens in the market.
In general, it is expensive to keep a low-selling oddball product on the shelf, even if you do have bragging rights, but if the fuel prices climb too much higher, a redesigned Insight might be a goldmine. The REAL question is: How long can Honda afford to wait?
According to the article (http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101529
, thanks Rai Ka), Insight's sales are pretty crappy.
There has GOT to be something going on. Honda is NOT going just let their sales flounder. My guess is they are doing 1 of 3 things:
1) Smoke and mirrors (thanks, Citrus Smoothie). They're intentionally deceiving us as to their plans for the Insight, because they don't want us to know too much too soon. If this is the case, then they're probably not discontinuing it.
2) They are putting their eggs in the Accord/Civic basket. If this is the case, then they are very much planning to discontinue the Insight, but they don't want to start the ball rolling until someone tops their "my car has the best fuel efficiency in the world" bragging rights.
3) They just don't know what to do with it. Fuel efficiency is all the talk right now (just look at Ford's Escape sales), so the Insight has given the market something to talk about. By the same token, when you think about it, a 2 seater isn't that practical. Practicality is still king over fuel efficiency, and most 2-seaters are turbo-charged and are meant to fit the stereo-type "fast and little" car. Insight is little, but doesn't have explosive performance. If this is the case, then Honda might be waiting to see what happens in the market.
In general, it is expensive to keep a low-selling oddball product on the shelf, even if you do have bragging rights, but if the fuel prices climb too much higher, a redesigned Insight might be a goldmine. The REAL question is: How long can Honda afford to wait?
