Honda Accord Hybrid Supply Tight (non-existent)

Honda's being careful hopefully. They released the car before building many, tends to keep prices higher, and it's easy to gauge demand. It wouldn't surprise me if they didn't plan it that way to have lesser supply in the colder months here.

 

We can already see how low mpgs on Fuelly from sub zero temperatures can give the car a poor impression to the public.

It sucks if you want the car now, but it is better to wait in the long run. Let any first year issues be resolved, and avoid the Honda dealer mark up.

 

Besides, why sell in the US for potential lost profit, when you can sell the same car in Europe and Japan for full MSRP?

Guess Honda only selling a few to gauge demands, and to keep the demand more than supply. Kill two birds with one stone.

 

I can wait.

I'd need to see Honda:

1. Bring a hybrid to market, in greater volume than a novelty item.
2. Be responsive to customers when problems arise.

If they can manage that for one generation, I might be interested in the next.

 

I don't get how they would gauge demand with a few???

Anyway, it sounds like their new Accord hybrid is too good to be true like most things in life

 

Ever since Honda introduced the Insight (1999) and had thousands of them sitting in dealer lots, not selling, they have been "lost" when it comes to hybrids. They seemed to reach the conclusion "People don't want 70mpg insight or 50mpg Civics..... what they really want is sport!" That's how we ended-up with the Accord Hybrid V6 which got a lousy mid-30s and barely sold. It was discontinued after only 3 years! Next they introduced larger-engined Insights and CRZs, to once again push this "sporty hybrid" idea, and those too flopped (this is the last year).

After all these failures, I think Honda is being cautious with the new Accord Hybrid I4. The guys in charge are probably afraid it will be another poor seller.

It's a shame that Honda did not stick with its original goal: Make the car as high in MPG as possible. If they had released the Accord Hybrid I4 back in 2004, with the same efficient engine the Civic had (50mpg) I think it would have sold like a blockbuster. But Honda steered down the wrong path.

 

They sold over 500 in US in Nov. Let's see how many in Dec. in next week Market Dashboard.

 

Found two Accord Hybrids (no plug-ins) in the Dallas Fort Worth Area to check this week.

In 2006 I wanted to check out the Prius and there were none in stock to test drive. To top that, there was a 3 month wait on confirmed orders with a $3,000-$4,000 mark up over MSRP.

Sound familiar?

 

yes, except they were making pri as fast as possible, not witholding to drive up demand.

 

What Honda should do is take their Civic HF model, which gets 29/42 mpg all by itself, and then add IMA to it. Help boost the city rating.

 

Un, .... duh , then it would be a Civic Hybrid model.

Was that a serious suggestion??

 

of course.

 

This is just one comparison, but thought I would share it anyway.

2014 Honda Accord Vs 2014 Toyota Camry 0-60 MPH Hybrid Matchup... | www.wsbradio.com

 

Two sources, cars.com and Edmunds both show only 2 Accord Hybrids within 75 miles of 94587 zip code which is in SF East Bay area. Tight supply indeed.

 

Rolling introduction of new models makes it possible to train technicians so that a bad service reputation doesn't develop.

 

true, but if you aren't expecting many problems, it's really unnecessary.

 

No such thing a a problem free machine...trust me! Cars.com database shows 326 with no mileage limit on search.

 

Sounds good. Hopefully it becomes reasonably available and proves itself reliable over many miles.