I'm not sure what he's saying, but Honda (the manufacturer) makes more per vehicle than the traditional domestics, but the dealership makes potentially less.

It all started back in the late 70s when Chrysler tipped. We put a limit on the quantity of vehicles we allowed in from foreign manufacturers. Because american cars sucked so bad back then Americans were willing to spend alot more to own a Japanese car instead of American. The result? The Japanese packed their vehicles with every option they could to extract as much $$$ per vehicle they could while staying under the import limit.

That's when the option lists shrank. No more paying extra for hubcaps, carpeting or even air conditioning and power windows, mirrors, etc. Because the Japanese were including them in their vehicles, the domestics of the time had to start offering them as well.

Also--I'll believe what I read in Consumer Reports long before I trust a magazine article, sales brochure or (especially) a car salesman. Isuzu, Suzuki and Mitsubishi all tried to sue Consumer Reports and failed--they didn't get a single penny. The last company to try was Sharper Image and they ended up paying BIG money to Consumer Reports for being full of crap. They're unbiased, and they prove it. If Consumer Reports rates a product high, the company selling the product is quick to point it out. If Consumer Reports rates the product low--of course the company claims the test is fixed, rigged, biased, blahbiddy blah blah blah.

-Fatz

 

Indeed...

I know CR to be unbiased- even though a degree of being unpopular comes with it. I agree, it is funny that you'll see manufacturers and lovers of a particular manufacturer post when those mags say something "Good" about their vehicle...

5-star crash rating
Superior Ride
Vastly improved interior
Best-in-Class, etc...

But, let the SAME magazine say something negative about said product.

Built to a price point
Feels like 100 of the 300 horses didn't make it into the truck.
Slowest of the bunch


Then it's: "You don't believe everything you read, do you?" "Those magazines are run by a bunch of liberal, war-hating, sissies." "Magazine, Schmagazine" "I'd like to see a real-world test..."

Those are real-world results; many just don't want to accept them- if they aren't of the popular opinion...

As Bill Maher would say- you just can't pick out the raisins- you got to eat the whole piece of bread...