Accord Sales Lackluster in Dec?

Their not pumping dude....Went to the Honda dealership the largest Honda Dealership in U.S. which is Gillman Honda in Houston, TX yesterday looking for a Honda Civic Hybrid since I heard about gas is going to average $4.00 a gallon the end of this year, the salesman stated well let me see what we have, his computer didn't show any, and he stated well I just saw 4 of them yesterday....look at it again, all sold, so I went to the dealership and there was at least 200 Honda Accords on the lot, and about 15 Honda Civic's and NO Hybrids!!!

He stated I will have to wait till the 1/14 is when they will only get 1 in, and if I want that one, I will have to put down a $250.00 deposit for it....

Why is no one buying the Accords?

Oh forgot to mention, Their was only about 2 Honda Accord 2-door coupe's on the lot, so those are selling...I think Honda might have made a boo boo on the styling on the 4-door accord, it's not catching everyone's attention....

but it's funny, The 4-door Altima is selling when the 2-door Altima is not and the 2-door Accord is selling when the four door is not....

It's going to be one interesting year....

No surprise here -- Accord still uses a SOHC V6 engine instead of a DOHC one. Only the little in-line 4 has DOHC and it does not provide enough power for happy Accord driving. Smarten up Honda!

"No surprise here -- Accord still uses a SOHC V6 engine instead of a DOHC one."

You're right, because all Accord buyers care about that and obviously know the difference between SOHC and DOHC.

silver1:

no one buying it cuz it looks generic!

when nearly everyone was down for December, a little increase in % should count as big.

There is nothing wrong with new Accord go ahead and take it. To me it's the best in the segment.

JUGNU

I agree..I probably will end up buying it, but the dealers have this sense of arrogance as if I'm buying a BMW or Benz. Honda was also milking it as their lease rates for the new Accord have been horrible. Hopefully the new numbers for January will be better. This would be my 4th Accord, and I've never experienced this before.

Simon S.

Arrogance? Really? wow. I think its because since they're brand new and people are hyped and cant wait to get their hands on one they are taking advantage of course. Its devious and unfair for dealers to market this as a luxury car, the typical accord consumer wants none of this. In the end the lack of sales will speak for themselves.

Expect awesome lease rates this summer! The slow sales are predicted to continue until about september and then predicted to go back up. Im sure by then they are going to be willing to clear up some of the inventory.

I agree. The new Accord is definitely the class-leader, and I personally think it looks great, very upscale. I do like that Altima, though.

People finally realized how ugly Accord looks,...not that Camry is an automotive masterpiece either lol

I've seen surprisingly few 2008 Accords on the roads, and I can't help but attribute this to it's rather 'polarizing' styling.

Sedan:

- A convoluted jumble of unrelated design ideas unconvincingly concealed with more chrome accents than a 1982 Stutz Blackhawk.

Coupe:

- Strangely (exaggerated) lunged-forward design with a rear end so bulbous that only a J-Lo fan club president could truly appreciate it.

Note: Other opinions may differ, but these are mine.

I agree. The tail lights on the coupe are HUGE and poorly excecuted.

DaHarder, the only pieces of chrome on the Accord's entire body include the outline of the windows and the outline of the grille.

watch out Accord, Altima is on your tail.

Heck!

How Could It Miss A Tail That Huge?

Note: Just Joking... Sort Of...

LOL @ DaHarder with the last comment and the previous J Lo comment. Funny!

Aesthetically, I prefer the interior design on the last generation Accord over this one, it just looks like they tried way too hard this time, and it all comes across as much less 'inviting'.

Additionally, I feel that the 2008 Malibu's interior, from a design standpoint, is much more pleasant to look at/be in.

"Additionally, I feel that the 2008 Malibu's interior, from a design standpoint, is much more pleasant to look at/be in."

I completely disagree on this point. Yes, the Malibu has the over-stylized "dual cockpit" dashboard, but the center stack is noticeably cheap and looks like it's straight out of any other GM product. The Accord has a completely unique interior design, and it's of much higher quality. Chevrolet has come far, but no, they're not at the top yet.

HYPE!!!
The Honda dealer in my area has about 100 in stock. And I hear a lot about how 'arrogant' they can be.
I think it looks like a Saturn from the rear, some like it, some don't. . . Some also think it's the best sedan in its class. . . Only through cylinder deactivation can it achieve the mpg that Toyota's 3.5 gets running all 6 cylinders and all the power. I don't think you can get the Accords listed 268hp running only 3 or 4 of its cylinders.

So? Is that a bad thing that Honda has more advanced engine technology? It maximizes the performance AND the efficiency.

s4, you missed toy's point. the toyota 3.5 gets similar mileage WITHOUT cylinder deactivation. that indicates to me the toyota v6 is the one with superior tech.

Search through the Edmunds carspace forum to see what people in your area are paying. If sales are truly hot, the discounts (If any) will be low.

Although I hate the accord, if I was held by gunpoint and forced to buy either the camry or accord, I would choose the accord. However I would have to be forced using a deadly weapon to buy either. Way to common and both are farely boring. Prefer the styling of the exterior of the camry beter but the accord styling is nicer on the inside, yet I dont like it. The camry is just boring on the inside.

I want to know when did Honda change the name of the Accord to the Fugly?

hmmmm ;-)

I think the coupe looks good in black, but dealers are admitting they are charging $50 more a month on a lease for a coupe vs. auto with basically the same MSRP

I have to agree with you aerith, the TL is not an ugly car. And when it debuted (3rd gen.) it was the most horsepower in its class, and it still gets the best fuel economy, costs less while being fully equiped right out the box, the best value in its class. In 2006 Consumer Reports said that it was the highest rated vehicle or luxury vehicle (i can't remember which one), but it says a lot about the car.

Camry barely sells fleet, less than 10% of Camrys, so bringing that up is a joke.
Accord didn't close strong, anyway you slice it.
Next year it will get up to 425-430k.
Camry will slow, But will still be 440k+ for the 2008.

You're kidding, right? Toyota's mission, unlike what you believe, is to make the highest quality cars in the world, which is what they have been doing the past 20 or so years. That is the reason they have climbed to the #2 position in the USA in sales, way ahead of Honda, and #1 in Japan. They would not have achieved this if Honda made better cars. Also, fyi, maybe the reason for the Accord's lackluster sales numbers is because it is so ugly. They tried to make look BMW-like, but have failed miserably. Compared to the new Accord, the Camry is beautiful.

I HAVE ALWAYS had the highest respect for honda and honda products. starting when i followed their motorcycle and Formula One racing efforts decades ago.

yet, i was sorely disappointed on seeing the '08 accord. seemed to me they were just jumping on the bandwagon with the Kinky Hoffy c-pillar design, which imho is NOTHING special other than a shout "Look at me, i look like a bmw!"

i attribute the accord's slow sales to this uglification of what was previously a good (if not spectacular) design.