Don't get me wrong—we didn't go to Europe to look at cars, but there are so many interesting vehicles we don't see here. The only Hondas I saw were a few Civics and one or two CR–Vs. Didn't see a single Fit.

Of course they make BMWs in Munich (fantastic museum there) but in a one-hour period I saw more than a dozen Porsches and not a single Honda, much less a Fit/Jazz.

I know the little diesels are popular there but honestly, would you rather drive a Fit or a Fiat (they're everywhere)?



Cheers.

 

Too much competition, maybe? The hatchback, and particularly, diesel hatchback markets are enormous there. Though I do think the cargo storage features of the Fit would win over a few people for a car in this form factor. In England, Hondas are seen as vehicles for old folks. Must have a horrible stigma around it. Like driving a Suzuki here (which gives licenses to fiat products occasionally.) Come to think of it, sound like they are about as rare as Suzukis are here. See any Swifts over there? Thought so. haha

 

I saw a lot of Suzukis there. I haven't seen a Swift in so long that I wouldn't even recognize one. I did see the European Passat that still looks like a good car. Didn't know about the stigma.

 

There is a newer model, but this one would probably be the most common:

 

women like my Fit. Honda's are equivalent to Buicks or Cadillacs over there. There Old people cars.

 

Strange. Last I was there saw quite a few Jazz's. Last two times I was there. And quite a number of those sick civics.

 

I can think of a couple reasons!

Let's start with the fact that both France and Germany have substantial automotive industries:

In Germany, BMWs are not marketed as luxury purchases (ie elective rather than practical) like they are in the US. Get upset sometimes that a 3-series starts realistically at $40,000 in the US? That's because the 328 is already substantially up the range. In Germany you can get a 320i, 316d, 318d, 320ed etc all of which are below the 328. And there's the 1-series, which is a useless car in the US, but a family hatchback in Germany available in the lower trim levels with far less expensive interior and engines.

All these cars are still expensive vs a US-market Fit, but German wages are higher and the lower-end BMWs aren't terribly unaffordable. So why WOULD you buy a Japanese car when your domestic market makes such good stuff? It would have to be because you don't care about your car and want to save money. Very different from the US market where the Japanese cars are higher quality than domestic, and the German cars are priced for the luxury market.

Now yes, the BMW range does go up into the luxury market (5, 7 series) in Germany, but my point is they have a complete lineup just like Ford/Lincoln does here across two brands. There's a reason that German taxies are MB E-class diesels with small engines, uncomfortable cloth seats - the E-class is a luxury vehicle in the US but it simply isn't perceived the same way in Germany unless you buy the E550. The difference in positioning is not apparent from our side of the pond. Do you wish that BMW would sell a cheap, lower-spec 3-series that you could actually afford? Well you say that, but you probably didn't buy the 318ti when they did that back in the 90s and this is why we can't have nice things :P

France is sort of the same only their cars are more crap. Comfortable, though. People buy those for the same reason some people buy domestic US cars here: the dealers are everywhere, the range of models is great, they're affordable and it's just the normal thing to do.

In both countries there might be import tariffs (don't know). And I know that in Germany many large companies provide company cars to employees, which is a part of the compensation package that totally went out of style in the US two decades ago, but is still the case over there. Just like fleets here are mostly domestic, so the choice goes there as well.

Additionally I suspect that Japanese cars never lost the stigma of "cheap junk" cars that they had back in the 80s. In fact, I submit to you there are a heck of a lot of 'Muricans in the middle of our country that still think Japanese cars are terrible. It's the coasts that buy "them new fangled imports." And truth be told, in some ways Japanese cars ARE not so good. Toyotas aren't fun to drive. Hondas aren't terribly comfortable or quiet. Mazdas have never really shaken their reputation for cheapness, despite making great cars. A Suzuki or Mitsubishi is just embarrassing, poor Suzuki! All these cars dart about a little on the highway and lack the solidity or air conditioning of a Chevy Impala, which is not even a good car.

Last - is the Fit even available in a diesel? If no, that's a sales killer. Gas engines sell in North America, Australia, Japan and China. Economics strongly favor diesels in Europe. We have cheap gas here; we pay for that in taxes used for farm subsidies and defense spending, but that's based on your income and you cannot reduce it based on your choice of car, so you buy gas (smells better, more fun to drive, easier to get it, less expensive).

LOOOONg reply. Hope is interesting

 

Man, I wish the Fit had a diesle option. 1.2l TDi would be amazing! Figure 80 to 90mpg and pulling power for passing on the highway!

 

how much do Fits cost there vs a similar hatch made in Europe?

exchange rate and import tax might be influencing sales too?

 

Not that many people in Europe buy newer cars. If they do they could buy a cheaper domestic car than an imported one.



In poland I saw a handful.

 

I don't speak German but checked out the UK sites. In general cars are more expensive in the UK but even the comparative level, I can't be sure would be the same in Germany (BMW may price more cheaply in home market, don't know).

Just to boggle your mind, in the UK the Fit comes in the following trim levels:

• S
• S A/C
• S-T
• S-T A/C
• SE
• SE-T
• Si
• Si-T
• ES
• ES-T
• EX
• EX-T
• EXL
• EXL-T

Yes. This is crazy. And they wonder why European auto sales are tanking. This is like selling toilet paper in 10 different sheet sizes. Oh great, but who cares? Anyway, back on topic:


Base price ranges:

Honda Jazz: 11,605 - 18,750 GBP
BMW 1-series 5 door hatch: 17,830 - 22,125 GBP


That 1-series range, I topped out on the 116hp diesel, which is at least somewhat comparable to a Fit in terms of power ... but keep in mind that prices go up if you get a diesel (more expensive to make), and the BMW is RWD (also higher end), and the BMW doesn't go DOWN in terms of content to a base Fit level. Of course you could draw your "comparable" line wherever you want ... the 5-door alone goes up to M-sport models commanding 28k GBP. But any way you do it, I expect you would find ze Germans are selling a more refined product for a higher price. I think a 116ED would be my choice personally.

 

lol! true, too many options, too confusing, too tiring, skip.


yah, usually benz/ bmw's start at a fairly low price, but as soon as you add a few options you go up considerably. not sure if this is the case in europe.