RSX TYPE-R
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 340
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From: Dallas, TX
Originally Posted by snookerblack7
[quote:0958152a6f="kabob"]I'm pretty convinced that Honda lost money with every ITR they sold in the States.
And in the 4 years of production, approxiamately 4000 total Type R's were produced and MSRP was only marginally higher than the GSR. Consider the amount of research and development that went into making the car Federal crash safety worthy and emissions legal as well as the unique pieces that differ from that of the JDM R as well as other model Integras. Now consider that Honda sells in excess of 100,000 Accords every year. Do you understand what I'm getting at?
Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 44
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From: Dallas,TX
Originally Posted by kabob
[quote:8692793664="snookerblack7"][quote:8692793664="kabob"]I'm pretty convinced that Honda lost money with every ITR they sold in the States.
And in the 4 years of production, approxiamately 4000 total Type R's were produced and MSRP was only marginally higher than the GSR. Consider the amount of research and development that went into making the car Federal crash safety worthy and emissions legal as well as the unique pieces that differ from that of the JDM R as well as other model Integras. Now consider that Honda sells in excess of 100,000 Accords every year. Do you understand what I'm getting at?
[/quote:8692793664]Yeah, I got it. But sometimes sales & marketing use what they call a "loss leader" to generate attention to their brand. For example, Ford makes a lot of Mustangs...only a small portion are of the R Type or SVT full tilt Cobras (or in the old days a Shelby). Niche cars have their niche. Also they did strip off some of the costlier do-dads like the recaro seats, Momo 'wheel, tube header and the aluminum accessory bracket to compensate.
Remember when the Type R came to the U.S. and how the car mags slobered over them? That is GOLDEN publicity. And finally as a designer and test engineer I know that you have to spend a little to make a little. Also there is a trickle-down of technology to lower models. That's how Honda builds such reliable Civics, Accords, Integras, etc.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 24
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From: Denver, CO
Originally Posted by kabob
[quote:875cea1757="snookerblack7"][quote:875cea1757="kabob"]I'm pretty convinced that Honda lost money with every ITR they sold in the States.
And in the 4 years of production, approxiamately 4000 total Type R's were produced and MSRP was only marginally higher than the GSR. Consider the amount of research and development that went into making the car Federal crash safety worthy and emissions legal as well as the unique pieces that differ from that of the JDM R as well as other model Integras. Now consider that Honda sells in excess of 100,000 Accords every year. Do you understand what I'm getting at?
[/quote:875cea1757]Crash testing probably wasn't an issue since the body frame is basically the same as the GSR and stronger with a few stronger pieces. Engine R&D may have been somewhat higher to allow the higher piston speeds, but what probably was the greatest factor was the fact that the engine was hand polished forcing it to be limited production of a maximum of 4 engines produced a day, and you don't make much profit with limited production.