Comments on: New Honda Freed Heading Stateside? http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:15:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Bunter1 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-466341 Bunter1 Fri, 30 May 2008 19:43:35 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-466341 shaker-perhaps not, however your 4 epicures may not represent the entire market. I think it is not at all unlikely that there are enough families that have 2-4 kids that would love to get 30+ mpg combined while hauling everyone. There is a market and it is OK if you're not it. Stay groovy, Bunter shaker-perhaps not, however your 4 epicures may not represent the entire market.

I think it is not at all unlikely that there are enough families that have 2-4 kids that would love to get 30+ mpg combined while hauling everyone. There is a market and it is OK if you’re not it.

Stay groovy,

Bunter

]]> By: shaker http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-465491 shaker Fri, 30 May 2008 16:22:15 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-465491 I can't see this thing schlepping 4 American epicures out of the Applebee's parking lot, let alone eight! Maybe with the 190HP 2.4... I can’t see this thing schlepping 4 American epicures out of the Applebee’s parking lot, let alone eight!
Maybe with the 190HP 2.4…

]]> By: Bunter1 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-465471 Bunter1 Fri, 30 May 2008 16:19:38 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-465471 I have a 95 Oddy and a Stream would be a very nice replacement. Looks great too. Bunter I have a 95 Oddy and a Stream would be a very nice replacement. Looks great too.

Bunter

]]> By: brettc http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-465432 brettc Fri, 30 May 2008 16:03:53 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-465432 Wow, I like the Honda Stream. It's basically a Civic wagon. Very nice looking. Wow, I like the Honda Stream. It’s basically a Civic wagon. Very nice looking.

]]> By: Rix http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464721 Rix Fri, 30 May 2008 12:23:04 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464721 I think there is demand for something about the size of the original, 1984, minivan. A Fit based interior might be too spartan, though.An accord level interior would be better. I think a $20k version with decent amenities might sell to the minivan momma crowd. I think there is demand for something about the size of the original, 1984, minivan. A Fit based interior might be too spartan, though.An accord level interior would be better.

I think a $20k version with decent amenities might sell to the minivan momma crowd.

]]> By: John Horner http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464651 John Horner Fri, 30 May 2008 01:36:42 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464651 It has been rumored for some time that the Honda Stream, which looks like it might be around Mazda 5 sized, is coming to the US in 2009: http://news.windingroad.com/countriesmarkets/japan/japan-report-honda-stream-headed-to-us-in-2009/ It has been rumored for some time that the Honda Stream, which looks like it might be around Mazda 5 sized, is coming to the US in 2009:

http://news.windingroad.com/countriesmarkets/japan/japan-report-honda-stream-headed-to-us-in-2009/

]]> By: Stephan Wilkinson http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464402 Stephan Wilkinson Thu, 29 May 2008 23:22:44 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464402 That would make an interesting "Question of the Day": how many people do you drive with? For me--and I work at home so don't commute, car-pool or drive much in any case--it's one person (me) about 85 percent of the time, two people (my wife) about 13 percent of the time, and three or four people (another person or couple going with us to dinner, say) two percent of the time. In my experience, going on road trips and driving around with adults in the car virtually never happens. Road trips are two people, pretty much by definition, in my personal concept. In offroadinfrontier's experience, it's obviously quite different (and good for him, since he's getting a lot more utility out of the vehicle). I wonder how common this is. That would make an interesting “Question of the Day”: how many people do you drive with?

For me–and I work at home so don’t commute, car-pool or drive much in any case–it’s one person (me) about 85 percent of the time, two people (my wife) about 13 percent of the time, and three or four people (another person or couple going with us to dinner, say) two percent of the time.

In my experience, going on road trips and driving around with adults in the car virtually never happens. Road trips are two people, pretty much by definition, in my personal concept. In offroadinfrontier’s experience, it’s obviously quite different (and good for him, since he’s getting a lot more utility out of the vehicle).

I wonder how common this is.

]]> By: offroadinfrontier http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464371 offroadinfrontier Thu, 29 May 2008 22:56:25 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464371 My apologies! When I was reading the page, only 2 comments were on there - page refresh shows much more. On a serious note, I can't see fitting 8 of Anybody in it... but this size of a car has always appealed to me as a great 2+2+2 setup. The middle seats in these subcompacts are about useless for more than 5 minute trips, and for those of us who have rusty old sports cars on the side, we don't need much more than what a small I4 offers... I do a lot of road trips and driving around with adults. It bothers me to no end that we can't find a comfortable car to seat 6 people without going up into the minivan (whoever deemed those things "Mini" should be shot) or full-sizer categories.. My apologies! When I was reading the page, only 2 comments were on there – page refresh shows much more.

On a serious note, I can’t see fitting 8 of Anybody in it… but this size of a car has always appealed to me as a great 2+2+2 setup. The middle seats in these subcompacts are about useless for more than 5 minute trips, and for those of us who have rusty old sports cars on the side, we don’t need much more than what a small I4 offers…

I do a lot of road trips and driving around with adults. It bothers me to no end that we can’t find a comfortable car to seat 6 people without going up into the minivan (whoever deemed those things “Mini” should be shot) or full-sizer categories..

]]> By: Stephan Wilkinson http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464351 Stephan Wilkinson Thu, 29 May 2008 22:51:30 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464351 Follow me through, here. Read the original news post. Then read factotum's post. Or are you making a joke I simply don't get, which is more than possible? Follow me through, here. Read the original news post. Then read factotum’s post. Or are you making a joke I simply don’t get, which is more than possible?

]]> By: offroadinfrontier http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464332 offroadinfrontier Thu, 29 May 2008 22:46:01 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464332 Who said anything about 8? Who said anything about 8?

]]> By: Stephan Wilkinson http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464302 Stephan Wilkinson Thu, 29 May 2008 22:43:54 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464302 Why would anybody think the purpose of a minivan with eight seats is to carry eight fat-ass adults? Everything I've ever heard about vans refers to the kids in back. Besides, as an EMS volunteer who has to lift the stretchers of the obese, I loathe them. Why would anybody think the purpose of a minivan with eight seats is to carry eight fat-ass adults? Everything I’ve ever heard about vans refers to the kids in back.

Besides, as an EMS volunteer who has to lift the stretchers of the obese, I loathe them.

]]> By: offroadinfrontier http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464292 offroadinfrontier Thu, 29 May 2008 22:35:58 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464292 The idea sounds great. I can fit 2 full grown (sometimes overgrown) adults in the back of my xA without too much trouble. 2 hour road trips are possible. You don't need a behemoth to comfortably sit 6 adults.. But the engine. With 2-2.5 total people, the xA is fine. 3 adults, it's sluggish. 4 adults, downright slow. I'm talking about 0-60 in about 20 seconds. Of course, with modern traffic, this isn't really an issue. But add 2 more people to a 1.5L engine? I don't expect a car to blast off like a rocket, but... Besides, what's the payload on this thing? 5 adults at 180lbs is already over the average 850lb payload. With the starting price so low on such a small car, I can't imagine the suspension being able to handle more than 4 adults. And that's if they are "healthy." The idea sounds great. I can fit 2 full grown (sometimes overgrown) adults in the back of my xA without too much trouble. 2 hour road trips are possible. You don’t need a behemoth to comfortably sit 6 adults..

But the engine. With 2-2.5 total people, the xA is fine. 3 adults, it’s sluggish. 4 adults, downright slow. I’m talking about 0-60 in about 20 seconds. Of course, with modern traffic, this isn’t really an issue. But add 2 more people to a 1.5L engine? I don’t expect a car to blast off like a rocket, but…

Besides, what’s the payload on this thing? 5 adults at 180lbs is already over the average 850lb payload. With the starting price so low on such a small car, I can’t imagine the suspension being able to handle more than 4 adults. And that’s if they are “healthy.”

]]> By: Edward Niedermeyer http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464291 Edward Niedermeyer Thu, 29 May 2008 22:33:51 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464291 They say AWD and CVT box are JDM options... If I were <em>forced </em>to buy a "minivan," a 6-speed AWD Freed with a 2.0 or the TSX 2.4 swapped in would be a top contender. Just sayin' They say AWD and CVT box are JDM options…

If I were forced to buy a “minivan,” a 6-speed AWD Freed with a 2.0 or the TSX 2.4 swapped in would be a top contender.

Just sayin’

]]> By: Jeff Puthuff http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464112 Jeff Puthuff Thu, 29 May 2008 21:23:43 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464112 Riiiight. It's going to schlep around 8 big ol' Americans? Thanks for the laugh! Riiiight. It’s going to schlep around 8 big ol’ Americans? Thanks for the laugh!

]]> By: pman http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-464092 pman Thu, 29 May 2008 21:15:11 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-464092 I was at a multibrand dealer recently to get an oil change and they had a Fit just returning from a test drive. I asked if I could take a spin. Although the Fit isn't my thing, I was pretty impressed with its functionality and room, and the manual tranny shifted as good as cars costing 5x as much (That's not an exaggeration. Test drive a Viper. You'll see.). It didn't feel as slow as I expected, and the steering and handling was sharp and quick. Overall, if I didn't have two kids and their crap to schlep around, it wouldn't be a bad set of wheels to own. The '09 should be even nicer. My neighbor has a Mazda5 and loves it. It's the perfect size. It's big enough for the kids and their junk, it's big enough to get stuff home from Home Depot, and small enough to still fit in the garage. It's what minivans used to be originally, instead of the bloated rolling family rooms they have become. I was at a multibrand dealer recently to get an oil change and they had a Fit just returning from a test drive. I asked if I could take a spin. Although the Fit isn’t my thing, I was pretty impressed with its functionality and room, and the manual tranny shifted as good as cars costing 5x as much (That’s not an exaggeration. Test drive a Viper. You’ll see.). It didn’t feel as slow as I expected, and the steering and handling was sharp and quick. Overall, if I didn’t have two kids and their crap to schlep around, it wouldn’t be a bad set of wheels to own. The ‘09 should be even nicer.
My neighbor has a Mazda5 and loves it. It’s the perfect size. It’s big enough for the kids and their junk, it’s big enough to get stuff home from Home Depot, and small enough to still fit in the garage. It’s what minivans used to be originally, instead of the bloated rolling family rooms they have become.

]]> By: red5 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-463981 red5 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:43:52 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-463981 My wife and I are going back and forth on a replacement for her aging Protege. The Fit tops my list, and the Mazda 5 tops hers. I like the utility of the 5 and the MPG of the Fit. I think this would be a nice middle ground. At $4 gas, people will begin to reconsider their SUVs for transporting two kids to soccer practice. My wife and I are going back and forth on a replacement for her aging Protege. The Fit tops my list, and the Mazda 5 tops hers. I like the utility of the 5 and the MPG of the Fit. I think this would be a nice middle ground. At $4 gas, people will begin to reconsider their SUVs for transporting two kids to soccer practice.

]]> By: gfen http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-463911 gfen Thu, 29 May 2008 20:39:57 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-463911 My Mazda5 is already small and underpowered, I wonder how this would fare? On the other hand, wish it was an option to check when we bought the aforementioned 5. My Mazda5 is already small and underpowered, I wonder how this would fare?

On the other hand, wish it was an option to check when we bought the aforementioned 5.

]]> By: Mj0lnir http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-463842 Mj0lnir Thu, 29 May 2008 20:24:17 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-463842 Still like the way the Cube looks better. Still like the way the Cube looks better.

]]> By: ash78 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-463762 ash78 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:12:18 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-463762 I really like the Mazda5 (a lot...I'd call it "most car for the money"), so this would also be a welcome addition. But like the 5, I'm sure there's some business reason why they'd want to stifle its success in order to sell more Pilots or something. I really like the Mazda5 (a lot…I’d call it “most car for the money”), so this would also be a welcome addition.

But like the 5, I’m sure there’s some business reason why they’d want to stifle its success in order to sell more Pilots or something.

]]> By: Bunter1 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/comment-page-1/#comment-463752 Bunter1 Thu, 29 May 2008 20:07:26 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/new-honda-freed-heading-stateside/#comment-463752 Personally I hope so, but I won't be restricting access to my oxygen supply while I wait. Bunter Personally I hope so, but I won’t be restricting access to my oxygen supply while I wait.

Bunter

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