The Energon Pub

I don't know how many here follow auto news closely, but there's been a pretty good clusterf*ck brewing the last several days regarding the coming soon Honda Accord Crosstour.... thing.

Honda created a facebook page for this vehicle and welcomed comments from "fans". Unfortunetly, most left very colorful remarks about the vehicle's looks. Of course Honda Engineers fueled the flames with some comments about reasons why to buy the Crosstour when it comes out, one of those comments actually being "standard fog lights".

In fact, here is the exchange:

Honda Also here is some quick info on why this car might be the right fit for you.

1. Accord doesnt have 4WD.
2. CR-V desnt have V6
3. Lower than CR-V , higher than Accord.
4. More room than Accord.
5. More aggressive looks than Sedan Accord and some might a......gree coupe.
6. Comes with 18inch wheels.
7. Fog Lights Standard

(From Autoblog as well) "Oh snap! And the first response to that stinging rebuttal is, "Booooooo it looks waaaay uglier than the accord." But wait – there's more fun to be had. Check out this exchange when "Honda Crosstour" happily announces that it now has wallpapers for all the very unhappy "friends" to download."

Then the exchanges continue...


If I had a wallpaper of this car I would have to find a way to clean VOMIT outta my keyboard. -- Matt Q.

We hear you bud. You made your point. Some people will enjoy this car and this is for them -- Honda

Blind people can't drive... Matt Q.


As part of their article Autoblog offered a poll of their own based on the looks. And the winner with roughly 81.9% of the vote was "Kill it with fire!"


If that were only the end of the story...

Now there are reports Honda employees have visited the site, posing as normal people, and trying to drum up positive comments. This now has become a huge embarassment when posters uncovered the true identities of these posters.

And the following exchange is particularly showing:




Anyone who likes a good laugh, and honestly this is shaping up to be friggin hilarious, should check out autoblog's posts for the past few days, grab a cold drink and some chips and prepare to laugh for at least an hour.

And of course, here is the topic of the debate.


I for one voted to kill it with fire.

That car looks fine.

It's a sedan, whatever.

Thanks for bringing this up! The next time I teach Mass Media (probably the Spring, sigh), this will make a neat case study for my students to play with!

Actually, I'm kind of weirded out how half of Honda's own promo that you quoted seems to bash the Accord? I *love* my Accord. He is not sexy, but he is a great car.

HK, Unferth, avert your eyes...ummm, headlamps

Counterpunch wrote:That car looks fine.

It's a sedan, whatever.

It is not a sedan, it's a hatchback... crossover... thing that Honda isn't exactly sure what it's supposed to be. But sedan it is not.

And its bodylines convey the sense that Honda simply tried to revive the shape of a 1980 Chevy Citation.




Honda was simply pandering to those people they believed would buy anything with the beloved "H" on the grill. And now they are blaming the awkward looks and negative reactions on "bad pictures", kinda like a "bad yearbook picture" and said it's "not really that bad looking". Wow, I'm sufficiently wooed.


Oh, and HK, here's a line right out of the most recent autoblog.com article that you most certainly will enjoy... "Honda is now in full-on damage control mode over the Accord Crosstour Facebook fiasco, a PR catastrophe that will likely be discussed in college marketing courses for years to come."

So Honda isn't allowed to defend it's own vehicle? And they only removed posts that had profanity in it...including positive posts with profanity.

Don't understand what the big problem is, Honda posts something on facebook and responds with facts to negative posts. What's the big deal?

Pontimax 01 wrote:Honda was simply pandering to those people they believed would buy anything with the beloved "H" on the grill.

Companies with bills to pay, investors to think of, and brand name to defend don't play dice games with customer loyalty.

Also, your sig make the whole bias of the conversation evident.

Counterpunch wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:Honda was simply pandering to those people they believed would buy anything with the beloved "H" on the grill.

Companies with bills to pay, investors to think of, and brand name to defend don't play dice games with customer loyalty.

Also, your sig make the whole bias of the conversation evident.

Hmm, if you're talking about my support for the American brands, abso-friggin-lutely. I support Ford and GM.

If you're referencing the Toyota devil, well that isn't an H and you would be wrong to assume anything. I actually have a bit of a soft spot for Honda, or at least had until they began the uglification of their entire product line, including Acura. I respect Honda, they have in the past at least built elegant designs, though usually not all that sexy (aside from the NSX and S2000). Their cars at least have a reputation for being somewhat fun to drive too. Honda has also made realistic goals for itself and it's employees and didn't succumb to all out greed in the sake of being first. Instead they put modest growth goals out each year to meet and until the markets collapsed, did. Toyota is none of these things. They came out several years ago and declared they would be the worlds largest automaker come hell or high water. Sure, they've pretty much succeeded, surpassing GM currently with 11,000 cars worldwide, but the cost has been tremendous. Quality is at a record low for them, they've begun to cut costs in materials, and they're making deep production cuts because they are now too large for the market to support. Management made some of the very same mistakes that got Detroit into such trouble. And for a soulless company like Toyota, I wish nothing but the very worst to that company.

But it saddens me to see Honda going the direction they have. Acura is a sales disappointment. Over the past few years Honda has not given Acura enough direction. They haven't stepped up to make Acura a real premium brand, something to take on Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, or the Euro brands. Instead it usually ends up competing with Honda itself. And Honda's direction bothers me (and many others) as well. Who is designing these new cars? Chris Bangle??? I mean come on, run a few more focus groups or something. The newest releases - Pilot and Accord - were both met with moans and groans by fans. Thousands then came out and shed more disbelief when this monstrosity was unvieled.

And what's truly sad was they ditched a real Accord wagon for this. And then to top it off, the rest of the world gets to see that better wagon version of the Accord. Honda should have stayed true to their own game, built the wagon they showed us as a concept and even prototype, and not rushed this vehicle for the sake of the Venza, which itself is - Yuck.

Pontimax 01 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:Honda was simply pandering to those people they believed would buy anything with the beloved "H" on the grill.

Companies with bills to pay, investors to think of, and brand name to defend don't play dice games with customer loyalty.

Also, your sig make the whole bias of the conversation evident.

If you're referencing the Toyota devil, well that isn't an H and you would be wrong to assume anything.

Unfortunately, I dropped out of elementary school well before we got to 'D'. I mean, I learned my A,B,C's quite well, but all the other ones after that are a complete mystery to me, 'H' included.

Pontimax 01 wrote:Hmm, if you're talking about my support for the American brands, abso-friggin-lutely. I support Ford and GM.

I suppose I stand entirely corrected about the bias. Who'd have thought that between statements like this and your sig, you'd have a strong distaste for foreign cars?

(I'm only giving you grief because you posted the original point as if you were a neutral 3rd party, but you obviously have it in for foreign cars. That's cool, really, but don't you see the irony when the original topic is about shil postings and here you are...doing the same?)

Pontimax 01 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:Honda was simply pandering to those people they believed would buy anything with the beloved "H" on the grill.

Companies with bills to pay, investors to think of, and brand name to defend don't play dice games with customer loyalty.

Also, your sig make the whole bias of the conversation evident.

Hmm, if you're talking about my support for the American brands, abso-friggin-lutely. I support Ford and GM.

If you're referencing the Toyota devil, well that isn't an H and you would be wrong to assume anything. I actually have a bit of a soft spot for Honda, or at least had until they began the uglification of their entire product line, including Acura. I respect Honda, they have in the past at least built elegant designs, though usually not all that sexy (aside from the NSX and S2000). Their cars at least have a reputation for being somewhat fun to drive too. Honda has also made realistic goals for itself and it's employees and didn't succumb to all out greed in the sake of being first. Instead they put modest growth goals out each year to meet and until the markets collapsed, did. Toyota is none of these things. They came out several years ago and declared they would be the worlds largest automaker come hell or high water. Sure, they've pretty much succeeded, surpassing GM currently with 11,000 cars worldwide, but the cost has been tremendous. Quality is at a record low for them, they've begun to cut costs in materials, and they're making deep production cuts because they are now too large for the market to support. Management made some of the very same mistakes that got Detroit into such trouble. And for a soulless company like Toyota, I wish nothing but the very worst to that company.

But it saddens me to see Honda going the direction they have. Acura is a sales disappointment. Over the past few years Honda has not given Acura enough direction. They haven't stepped up to make Acura a real premium brand, something to take on Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, or the Euro brands. Instead it usually ends up competing with Honda itself. And Honda's direction bothers me (and many others) as well. Who is designing these new cars? Chris Bangle??? I mean come on, run a few more focus groups or something. The newest releases - Pilot and Accord - were both met with moans and groans by fans. Thousands then came out and shed more disbelief when this monstrosity was unvieled.

And what's truly sad was they ditched a real Accord wagon for this. And then to top it off, the rest of the world gets to see that better wagon version of the Accord. Honda should have stayed true to their own game, built the wagon they showed us as a concept and even prototype, and not rushed this vehicle for the sake of the Venza, which itself is - Yuck.

I'm usually completely opposite with you in these car threads and was about to post my standard facts on how American Honda is a pro US company...but I agree with everything in this post.

Honda is one of the best engine manufacturers in the world and it seems like when thye became associated with fun cars, they just completely backed away from anything remotely fun. And Acura is in shambles as well.

They need a car like the Prelude again, another Integra/RSX, and a real successor to the NSX and let everything flow from there. Currently every Acura (except the RDX) is based on an Accord platform...they need something new.

Counterpunch wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:Honda was simply pandering to those people they believed would buy anything with the beloved "H" on the grill.

Companies with bills to pay, investors to think of, and brand name to defend don't play dice games with customer loyalty.

Also, your sig make the whole bias of the conversation evident.

If you're referencing the Toyota devil, well that isn't an H and you would be wrong to assume anything.

Unfortunately, I dropped out of elementary school well before we got to 'D'. I mean, I learned my A,B,C's quite well, but all the other ones after that are a complete mystery to me, 'H' included.

Pontimax 01 wrote:Hmm, if you're talking about my support for the American brands, abso-friggin-lutely. I support Ford and GM.

I suppose I stand entirely corrected about the bias. Who'd have thought that between statements like this and your sig, you'd have a strong distaste for foreign cars?

(I'm only giving you grief because you posted the original point as if you were a neutral 3rd party, but you obviously have it in for foreign cars. That's cool, really, but don't you see the irony when the original topic is about shil postings and here you are...doing the same?)

Your statements are extremely inaccurate. Nowhere have I said I have a dislike for foreign cars. I just really can't stand Toyota. I actually like quite a few cars from our overseas brethren. And used to like Hondas as well, hell I worked for American Honda for several years. I know and respect the company. But I also will buy American if the difference comes down to only preference. If both offer the same type of product with no distinct advantage, I'll buy from the home team.

But if you take that has hating on the foreign cars, then so you choose. Personally, I really like some of those brands, like Mazda (well, until they started designing cars that SMILE at you, shame shame Mazda 3Speed), and there are some damn good looking Nissans running around (again, not so hot for the new Maxima, but give me an Altima Coupe please). And thank god for the 370Z, maybe we can all forget the chunky butt 350 existed now! Or an Infiniti G35 or G37. Or a used Impreza WRX, before they ruined it. Maybe an Evo for kicks. Or perhaps an orange metallic Eclipse (yes, even that, I like the current generation way more then that last abomination, at least this one looks like a revived Eclipse!)

GetterDragun wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:Honda was simply pandering to those people they believed would buy anything with the beloved "H" on the grill.

Companies with bills to pay, investors to think of, and brand name to defend don't play dice games with customer loyalty.

Also, your sig make the whole bias of the conversation evident.

Hmm, if you're talking about my support for the American brands, abso-friggin-lutely. I support Ford and GM.

If you're referencing the Toyota devil, well that isn't an H and you would be wrong to assume anything. I actually have a bit of a soft spot for Honda, or at least had until they began the uglification of their entire product line, including Acura. I respect Honda, they have in the past at least built elegant designs, though usually not all that sexy (aside from the NSX and S2000). Their cars at least have a reputation for being somewhat fun to drive too. Honda has also made realistic goals for itself and it's employees and didn't succumb to all out greed in the sake of being first. Instead they put modest growth goals out each year to meet and until the markets collapsed, did. Toyota is none of these things. They came out several years ago and declared they would be the worlds largest automaker come hell or high water. Sure, they've pretty much succeeded, surpassing GM currently with 11,000 cars worldwide, but the cost has been tremendous. Quality is at a record low for them, they've begun to cut costs in materials, and they're making deep production cuts because they are now too large for the market to support. Management made some of the very same mistakes that got Detroit into such trouble. And for a soulless company like Toyota, I wish nothing but the very worst to that company.

But it saddens me to see Honda going the direction they have. Acura is a sales disappointment. Over the past few years Honda has not given Acura enough direction. They haven't stepped up to make Acura a real premium brand, something to take on Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, or the Euro brands. Instead it usually ends up competing with Honda itself. And Honda's direction bothers me (and many others) as well. Who is designing these new cars? Chris Bangle??? I mean come on, run a few more focus groups or something. The newest releases - Pilot and Accord - were both met with moans and groans by fans. Thousands then came out and shed more disbelief when this monstrosity was unvieled.

And what's truly sad was they ditched a real Accord wagon for this. And then to top it off, the rest of the world gets to see that better wagon version of the Accord. Honda should have stayed true to their own game, built the wagon they showed us as a concept and even prototype, and not rushed this vehicle for the sake of the Venza, which itself is - Yuck.

I'm usually completely opposite with you in these car threads and was about to post my standard facts on how American Honda is a pro US company...but I agree with everything in this post.

Honda is one of the best engine manufacturers in the world and it seems like when thye became associated with fun cars, they just completely backed away from anything remotely fun. And Acura is in shambles as well.

They need a car like the Prelude again, another Integra/RSX, and a real successor to the NSX and let everything flow from there. Currently every Acura (except the RDX) is based on an Accord platform...they need something new.

I agree. They were toying with the idea of reviving the NSX until this market crap exploded. Now that's dead. The current Civic Si doesn't seem to measure up to previous models. The Prelude remains conspicuously absent, replaced by the Accord coupe I suppose. But still not the same to me, not that it's bad looking, it's actually my favorite current Honda. The RSX, I never did understand. They killed off the Integra name here, called it the RSX, and then walked away from it, saying it's not the direction they wanted to go. And I thought it was a decent looking car, good for an entry level Acura. I was working for Honda when it debuted and we all liked it. And now what is Acura doing? Putting quite possibly the ugliest face on their cars they could dream up. The TL is ruined. RL isn't much better off. And the Canadian Market only CSX is quite obviously a Civic wearing an Acura badge.

I saw a joke the other day that stated Honda/Acura wouldn't stop until everything in the lineup was on the Accord platform. Joke... but not far off the mark.

Ironically, in my opinion, Ford is like the new Honda. If I had to buy any car right now for a reasonable price, it would be this: