Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat
I was really hoping the Insight would do good but it is funny to go by the local Honda dealership and see the Honda Fit on the front line and the Insight in the side area behind the Civics.
Cat :x
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I checked out the sales numbers on Vanct's posting here:
Honda June 2009 Sales
The Insight sold more last month, but the Civic is way ahead for yearly sales with it's hybrid. And it's easy to see why. Civic hybrid has better mpg, more options people often need, like cruise control. Helpful things like map lights. Rear disk brakes. More speakers. Front and rear stabilizer bars. And even though the Civic hybrid has better mpg, it doesn't have less horsepower, it has more.
It's about $2,000 more than the Insight. About the same difference between the Base Fit and the Sport Fit, and many folks here had no problem making the jump from one to the other. I don't think a lot of people even considered the Base Fit.
I think some of the sales of the Insight are due to hype and it being a new model. But I don't think that vehicle has staying power.
Take a look at the American car makers. One of their biggest problems has been holding on to models that are not that great. When they have other models in their lines that are better. They shouldn't hold on to stuff that isn't working out.
And neither should Honda. Seems like a no-brainer. And all they had to do in the hybrid market was drop a hybrid engine in the Fit. Make it a line like Civics and Accords. Because the Fit works.