[bluesramsrock]

Quote of the Day

Microsoft® Bookshelf® Quote of the Day:
"I think that cars today are almost the exact equivalent of the great Gothic cathedrals...the supreme creation of an era, conceived with passion by unknown artists."
Roland Barthes

 

[nyvram]

Funny you should post that quote; I was just thinking about this very thing.

I have a hard time rewriting code for a large project. Imagining these engineers at Honda (and everywhere) being able to build enhancements (like 02 Ody has) every SINGLE year; then completely come up w/ a new vehicle from scratch (more or less) every 4-5 years or so that works is pretty amazing to me. Heck, it'll probably take me 6 months to finish all the mods on my van and they're NOTHING compared to switching out transmissions, add rear-disk brakes, get Michelen to build a new type of tire for you, rebuild front facia w/ different grille (how many people are affected who actually build the molds, etc.) design & fabricate new trim that contains cup-holders for the middle chairs, engineer side-airbags & do all the requesite testing to ensure all the sensors & wiring works properly...and it goes on & on. How the heck do you do that & still keep track of fixing all the bugs from the previous year?

[This message has been edited by nyvram (edited 08-27-2001).]

 

[shindog]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by nyvram:
Funny you should post that quote; I was just thinking about this very thing.

I have a hard time rewriting code for a large project. Imagining these engineers at Honda (and everywhere) being able to build enhancements (like 02 Ody has) every SINGLE year; then completely come up w/ a new vehicle from scratch (more or less) every 4-5 years or so that works is pretty amazing to me. Heck, it'll probably take me 6 months to finish all the mods on my van and they're NOTHING compared to switching out transmissions, add rear-disk brakes, get Michelen to build a new type of tire for you, rebuild front facia w/ different grille (how many people are affected who actually build the molds, etc.) design & fabricate new trim that contains cup-holders for the middle chairs, engineer side-airbags & do all the requesite testing to ensure all the sensors & wiring works properly...and it goes on & on. How the heck do you do that & still keep track of fixing all the bugs from the previous year?

[This message has been edited by nyvram (edited 08-27-2001).]</font>

Having worked for Ford Motor in a past life, I think Honda's accomplishments are even more impressive. I feel Honda/Acura now have (arguably) the best lineup of cars available. Even with that, they never rest on their laurels as they constantly strive to improve their products. I say Kudos.

-SJ
(loyal Honda owner...even when I worked for Ford... Can you imagine me driving to work at the Ford Advanced Vehicle lab in my '86 Accord? Now talk about getting looks.....)

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DEP '01 EX no-navi

 

[tnuckels]

While I’m just as gaga about the new van as the next forum member (heck, I’m standing in line to pay MSRP for one), cynical ME thinks that automobile improvements and features, as with software coded product enhancements, are doled out on an “as needed to stave off the competition” basis, not in the “shoot your wad now, ‘cause your not going to get another chance to impress God” manner that most Cathedrals were probably built.

I mean, it’s not like they just “discovered” that disk brakes work better than drum brakes, stopped production, and added this important improvement. Last year Honda lamed through the model year changeover by standardizing traction control, floor mats, & maybe adding a new color (I KNOW I’ll be corrected if I’m wrong). This year, after the changes over at Chrysler, they put a whole lot more meat on the plate.

Somewhere, deep in the bowels of Honda, there are brilliant minds striving to make great products. Between them and their public stand an army of marketing reps. I’m just glad Honda has the engineering ability and the marketing smarts to make these changes.
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’90 4Runner – great, but inadequate for a family of 5
’86 Civic – bye, bye my little old friend
’02 GG Odyssey EX-L-RES w/all the fixings – hello, my new best friend

tnuckels

 

[nyvram]

You make some correct statements however (a) the Honda is still better than anything else out there and a recent model mini-van is still light-years ahead than where they were just 10 years ago in design & safety and (b) there are considerations to keeping costs down.

I was going to point that out in the earlier post & lost my train of thought before I got to it...Honda has probably made improvements to the 02 model that cost $1 million+ in R&D yet are only raising the price a few dollars (comparatively speaking). That's whats so amazing; can you imagine adding side-air bags to your own vehicle at a cost of a few hundred dollars? ...not to mention the new transmission & other stuff.

 

[bobf58]

When a new Generation Honda comes out, as in '99 Odyssey, It is a complete change from before. then the following two years only have minor changes. The fourth year is the "refreshening", ala 2002 Ody, where there are minor styling changes and more significant feature changes. then the fifth year sees virtualy no change, except possibly a "Special Edition". This is usually the slowest selling year as everyone knows a new Gen is around the corner. And then in 2004 it'll by the 3rd gen Odyssey! (That's the one I'm planning to trade my '00 for.)