RE: Honda confirms closure of Swindon plant
Discussion
Not really surprised, I know people who work at a Honda dealership and each time I ask how is it going? its the same answer as its 'ok' plus when I go during the day, it is really quiet. I will echo what few others have said that as a past previous Honda fan having owned about 6/7 Hondas in the last 12 years, the current range consisting of the Jazz, CR-V, HR-V and Civic are a bit 'meh', they are below average quality in my opinion and the FK2 and FK8 are beyond hideous and I thought it would grow on me eventually. My last Honda was the Accord Type-R which was built in Swindon back in the 90s and was an excellent car to drive but wanted to rust including the bulkhead.
Feel sorry for the workers who will lose their jobs, hopefully Honda will find their past success eventually.
Feel sorry for the workers who will lose their jobs, hopefully Honda will find their past success eventually.
Welshbeef said:
And why is that?
Are they catering for the Japan market only?
S2000 wonderful car
Prelude Type R epic
Alto fun
What an odd 3 cars to choose.Are they catering for the Japan market only?
S2000 wonderful car
Prelude Type R epic
Alto fun
You have some sort of non-existent history with an S2000, the Prelude Type R never existed, and the Alto wasn't built by any of the manufacturers listed.
I can't figure out if your entire account is some sort of parody or not?
Honda lost their way and produce nothing that appeals to the mass market in the UK.
The civic looks like the creation that Homer made and not sure who it appeals to, and the rest of their line up seems aimed towards Deidre and Gordon, who buy 1 car and use it for 12 yrs.
Had a couple of civics when growing up, and a type r - they were great cars to drive and own.
Wouldn't even consider Honda as an option niw.
Plant closing at Swindon is just part and parcel of life. No brexit fan here, but clear that it's a demand driven thing and centralising production in one or two countries (Japan and US) makes far more business sense.
The civic looks like the creation that Homer made and not sure who it appeals to, and the rest of their line up seems aimed towards Deidre and Gordon, who buy 1 car and use it for 12 yrs.
Had a couple of civics when growing up, and a type r - they were great cars to drive and own.
Wouldn't even consider Honda as an option niw.
Plant closing at Swindon is just part and parcel of life. No brexit fan here, but clear that it's a demand driven thing and centralising production in one or two countries (Japan and US) makes far more business sense.
Awful to hear and I have huge amounts of sympathy for the workforce. I live fairly close to Nissan and given how many local people they employ it would be devastation if it closed. Nissan sell a lot more cars than Honda though judging by what I've seen out on the roads so I hope they're here to stay.
Last weekend we went round a local industrial estate which has about a dozen main dealers. The Germans/JLR dealers had several people perusing the forecourts, but we called in Honda and were the only people there. Honda's were traditionally the chariot of choice for older people round here but most have moved onto the budget brands (mainly Suzuki, Dacia, the Koreans) or Toyotas due to the increase in prices over the years.
I wouldn't be surprised if Honda pull out of the UK market altogether within a few years. It's a sad state of affairs all round.
Last weekend we went round a local industrial estate which has about a dozen main dealers. The Germans/JLR dealers had several people perusing the forecourts, but we called in Honda and were the only people there. Honda's were traditionally the chariot of choice for older people round here but most have moved onto the budget brands (mainly Suzuki, Dacia, the Koreans) or Toyotas due to the increase in prices over the years.
I wouldn't be surprised if Honda pull out of the UK market altogether within a few years. It's a sad state of affairs all round.
ambuletz said:
Yes they are super reliable. but the korean cars are reliable too and cheaper.
^This.Honda (and other Japanese makers) are suffering at the hands of the Koreans in the same way that UK makers suffered at the hands of the Japanese 40 years ago.
If you look at the market share of Honda etc, compared to Kia and Hyundai, you'll see their rise almost exactly dovetails Honda's etc fall.
The demographic that all bought Jazz's etc are now buying Kia's and Hyundai's instead.
Sadly, the population of Swindon will suffer the same as Oxford and Birmingham/Coventry did 40 years ago (unless BMW offer a lifeline)
As for Dyson, I don't why people are mentioning them, as they pulled all their production facilities from UK ages OK, and stated UK will be design and research facilities only in the future.
Bizarre and slightly sad further feeling for me, as I worked on the design of part of that Honda factory (as well as the Toyota one up in Derby)
A nation needs to own its own industries, as ultimately the money and the jobs always flow back to the home country. The UK was only ever used for Japanese cars as a tariff buster to get into the EU which as explained above is no longer needed with the EU-Japan trade deal coming online. Real shame for everyone affected as everyone ever involved in redundancy situations will empathise.
Edited by Rich Boy Spanner on Tuesday 14th May 09:36
Certainly a shame to hear this, but I cannot say it's surprising! I do love Hondas and have owned quite a few, including my current Accord Type R which I absolutely adore. But, there is no denying that Honda lost direction after the early noughties, both in design/build quality but also range. They went from offering a whole multitude of different vehicles that catered to everyone (1.4 Civic for your grandad, 2 seater sports convertible for yourself etc.) to nothing but mundane family wagons that were boring to drive, had cheap tacky interiors and and poor quality materials.
I appreciate times have changed and their is more of a concern regarding emmisions and polution, but I don't understand why they made the range so boring as well as allowing such poor quality cars to have their name placed onto it. I'm not a huge Volkswagen fan for example, but you have to give them credit with the fact that they have maintained a huge range and produce cars that can cater to everyone.
R.I.P Swindon Honda, and thank you for building my Accord Type R! 20 years on and she is still going strong, rust free
I appreciate times have changed and their is more of a concern regarding emmisions and polution, but I don't understand why they made the range so boring as well as allowing such poor quality cars to have their name placed onto it. I'm not a huge Volkswagen fan for example, but you have to give them credit with the fact that they have maintained a huge range and produce cars that can cater to everyone.
R.I.P Swindon Honda, and thank you for building my Accord Type R! 20 years on and she is still going strong, rust free
RacerMike said:
wab172uk said:
Awaits the "Blame Brexit" brigade
Feel sorry for those losing their jobs though
And equally those denying Brexit had anything to do with it at all....Feel sorry for those losing their jobs though
Unfortunately can't locate the article about Honda's sales in the UK declining massively due to not grasping the UK market. Removing their MPV that was a big seller.
Plus as has been said, trade deal with Japan. Bringing the manufacture to it's bigger markets etc.
Definitely Brexit..
Rich Boy Spanner said:
A nation needs to own its own industries, as ultimately the money and the jobs always flow back to the home country. The UK was only ever used for Japanese cars as a tariff buster to get into the EU which as explained above is no longer needed with the EU-Japan trade deal coming online. Real shame for everyone affected as everyone ever involved in redundancy situations will empathise.
Great post.Edited by Rich Boy Spanner on Tuesday 14th May 09:36
camel_landy said:
CDP said:
Annoying that Swindon is fairly close to Dyson. This would have been a good place for them. With a well trained and until recently motivated workforce accustomed to building cars to a high standard.
That's what I was thinking... I just hope James Dyson is reading these comments. 
M
Killboy said:
camel_landy said:
CDP said:
Annoying that Swindon is fairly close to Dyson. This would have been a good place for them. With a well trained and until recently motivated workforce accustomed to building cars to a high standard.
That's what I was thinking... I just hope James Dyson is reading these comments. M
Welshbeef said:
In the main Dealer Honda Reading it sells other brands of used cars - this is exclusively a Honda dealership thing from what I can see.
Why would you do that? Answer so few new sold means not enough stock of used cars and it’s slow demise.
When I walk into the following dealerships in Reading none have any brands for sale apart from their own
BMW
Merc
Audi
Skoda
Seat
VW
Hyundai
Jag
Lambo
Vauxhall
There is no Reading Ford dealership.
Yet Honda stocks used cars of other brands....
It's the individual franchise's decision what used cars they sell. I recently bought a Honda from a main dealer and they told me they auction any incoming px if it's not a Honda car. So my Skoda went off to be auctioned.Why would you do that? Answer so few new sold means not enough stock of used cars and it’s slow demise.
When I walk into the following dealerships in Reading none have any brands for sale apart from their own
BMW
Merc
Audi
Skoda
Seat
VW
Hyundai
Jag
Lambo
Vauxhall
There is no Reading Ford dealership.
Yet Honda stocks used cars of other brands....
mstrbkr said:
Welshbeef said:
In the main Dealer Honda Reading it sells other brands of used cars - this is exclusively a Honda dealership thing from what I can see.
Why would you do that? Answer so few new sold means not enough stock of used cars and it’s slow demise.
When I walk into the following dealerships in Reading none have any brands for sale apart from their own
BMW
Merc
Audi
Skoda
Seat
VW
Hyundai
Jag
Lambo
Vauxhall
There is no Reading Ford dealership.
Yet Honda stocks used cars of other brands....
It's the individual franchise's decision what used cars they sell. I recently bought a Honda from a main dealer and they told me they auction any incoming px if it's not a Honda car. So my Skoda went off to be auctioned.Why would you do that? Answer so few new sold means not enough stock of used cars and it’s slow demise.
When I walk into the following dealerships in Reading none have any brands for sale apart from their own
BMW
Merc
Audi
Skoda
Seat
VW
Hyundai
Jag
Lambo
Vauxhall
There is no Reading Ford dealership.
Yet Honda stocks used cars of other brands....
It was like they were trying to sell anything they could.
I used to work for a couple of dealers and yes we would take in part exes but they would always be kept in the compound out back to be sold to staff or auctioned.
P155flaps said:
Build quality gone massively down hill in the last 10-15 years. I expect due to cost cutting measures and driving down parts costs etc but that factor alone has driven us away from Honda forever.
My last FK8 Type R and the FK2 will be our last Hondas purchased ever. Even if they do release another s2k.
My first EG VTI was bomb proof and the S2k had virtually 0 issues. The latest batch of Rs have their fair share of issues. The FN2 we had before that was just as bad but wanted to give them a 2nd chance 7 years later.
Sad loss of the jobs and impacts on the Swindon community as a whole but good riddance to the shoddy build quality / QC that seems to have crept in at Swindon over the years. Sadly others I know feel the same way, many have had Hondas none stop for years and been driven away from the brand over time. My Lotus has been much more reliable than our last 2 Swindon built cars (he says touching wood).
I ended up feeling the same way, myself and family have had Honda's for a long time including Jazz, Civics, CRVs, Accords (6,7 and 8th Gen) and although they aren't all Swindon built none of them ever felt very premium inside (although Accord leather seats are very nice). The CRV in particular was a big disappointment with a lot of plastic and poor cabin insulation and a harsh ride. The 4th Gen is overpriced considerably in my opinion and teh 2.0 n/a petrol is horribly underpowered, especially in Auto. The AWD system was merely a driving aid, it should have got the SH-AWD system.My last FK8 Type R and the FK2 will be our last Hondas purchased ever. Even if they do release another s2k.
My first EG VTI was bomb proof and the S2k had virtually 0 issues. The latest batch of Rs have their fair share of issues. The FN2 we had before that was just as bad but wanted to give them a 2nd chance 7 years later.
Sad loss of the jobs and impacts on the Swindon community as a whole but good riddance to the shoddy build quality / QC that seems to have crept in at Swindon over the years. Sadly others I know feel the same way, many have had Hondas none stop for years and been driven away from the brand over time. My Lotus has been much more reliable than our last 2 Swindon built cars (he says touching wood).
The biggest annoyance for me with Honda though was the lack of engine range. It always felt like they were dictating to us what we should be driving rather than providing a choice with this obsessive drive towards economy and emissions - the result being their regular cars always felt under-powered. The US market had access to bigger engines and also Acura - perhaps Honda missed a trick there. I think this is where the Germans etc had it in the bag: economy or power, it's all there. Sometimes even economy and power such as the 3.0d i6 engines.
As for Honda reliability, again I felt it was going downhill and the cost of genuine Honda parts can be high. As for Honda UK customer services? They have to be the worst we've ever experienced, absolutely zero customer loyalty and the stock answer was always to just take it into a Honda dealer, cha-ching.
sgtBerbatov said:
camel_landy said:
CDP said:
Annoying that Swindon is fairly close to Dyson. This would have been a good place for them. With a well trained and until recently motivated workforce accustomed to building cars to a high standard.
That's what I was thinking... I just hope James Dyson is reading these comments. M
top ten most popular cars in the uk
https://www.driving.co.uk/news/business/uks-top-10...
ford, and vw feature strongly,
It is a pity honda are shutting the plant , bad times for Swindon.
Just checked a few job boards
about 1500 jobs in Swindon at the moment and most will require some training.
about one third of which are permanent or full time.
I would start looking now if I was working at Honda.
https://www.driving.co.uk/news/business/uks-top-10...
ford, and vw feature strongly,
It is a pity honda are shutting the plant , bad times for Swindon.
Just checked a few job boards
about 1500 jobs in Swindon at the moment and most will require some training.
about one third of which are permanent or full time.
I would start looking now if I was working at Honda.
binnerboy said:
I would start looking now if I was working at Honda.
Its a disaster for Swindon.
Honda use the recruitment agency Omega to fill the temp positions so not everyone is directly employed..
As a result Omega are already sending staff to other firms, there are several who have arrived at Delphi near Stroud.
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