Johnhaydev
Active Member
Thanks for the heads up. I have an appointment tomorrow. I asked them to charge it: we’ll see what happens 
Blame the Dealers for Lower Clarity Sales
- Thread starter Shelly
- Start date
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My dealer delivered the car to my office. He wasn't even sure where the charging cable was. When he found it, it was still wrapped up in plastic and bubble wrap. I'm guessing he didn't charge it all before he brought it over to me!
I believe the dealer should have their Level 2 charger that doesn't need your charging cable at all.
My charging cable came in bubble wrapped too, but the salesman and finance manager are quite knowledgeable of EV charging as he said there were a few guys at the dealership drive Clarity or other EV.
I like to think that for every Clarity PHEV they sell, they lose less money on a Fuel Cell Clarity 
. My hunch is with the value of the ZEV credits they still make money. Discounting any emission credit value they likely lose, especially if they are taking 10% off MSRP.
Notice what Honda is doing is the similar powertrain is showing up in many vehicles. That is to make it cost effective. Now we have Accord Hybrid, Insight Hybrid, and Clarity PHEV all with similar powertrains. Sure, the battery in the Clarity likely adds $3,000 to Honda's cost vs the other hybrids, but it really does help them with selling more fuel cell platforms. The PHEV has like 20x the sales as the fuel cell, so instead of selling a few thousand in several years they sell closer to 100,000 besides fuel cell components, has to help.
. My hunch is with the value of the ZEV credits they still make money. Discounting any emission credit value they likely lose, especially if they are taking 10% off MSRP.Notice what Honda is doing is the similar powertrain is showing up in many vehicles. That is to make it cost effective. Now we have Accord Hybrid, Insight Hybrid, and Clarity PHEV all with similar powertrains. Sure, the battery in the Clarity likely adds $3,000 to Honda's cost vs the other hybrids, but it really does help them with selling more fuel cell platforms. The PHEV has like 20x the sales as the fuel cell, so instead of selling a few thousand in several years they sell closer to 100,000 besides fuel cell components, has to help.
K8QM
Active Member
While it might be possible that they lose money on every Clarity I don't believe the Clarity line is just a standards car. However, I could be convinced that the Clarity is a proof of concept (are we gamma or delta testers) car to give the Honda Engineering team more real world data for future development.
geo
geo
As Viking79 says, Honda is spreading spreading hybrid powertrain costs over multiple platforms which is typical, but also spreading platform costs (Clarity) over three completely different powertrains (Hydrogen/Fuel Cell, EV, and Gas/PHEV).
The latter is needed to keep the Clarity platform alive.
There isn't enough market for fuel cells right now, but Honda needs to be in that space.
The latter is needed to keep the Clarity platform alive.
There isn't enough market for fuel cells right now, but Honda needs to be in that space.
TruckerAlex
New Member
Have been to 3 Dealers in South Carolina, 1 had VERY knowledgeable sales kid. Other 2 doltish. But all 3 were NOT CHARGED!
leehinde
Active Member
FWIW, I had good experience at Elk Grove Honda (CA, south of Sacramento). Because of what I had read, I asked the sales dude to charge the car before I test drove, which he did. The model I picked was not the one I test drove, so they charged it while we did the paperwork. Additionally, the sales dude took on his boss and made sure I got the .9% financing for 60 mos. The boss thought it was only for 36 mos.
Then, two months later, I drove over something and ended up breaking two wheels and parts of the exhaust system. Back to the dealer. Because I could monitor the battery remotely, I knew it needed charging, so i asked the body/service department to charge it before I picked it up. They did just that, with zero pushback. And applied the service bulletin fixes while they were at it (again, at my request.)
If you're in NorCal, I can recommend these folks.
Then, two months later, I drove over something and ended up breaking two wheels and parts of the exhaust system. Back to the dealer. Because I could monitor the battery remotely, I knew it needed charging, so i asked the body/service department to charge it before I picked it up. They did just that, with zero pushback. And applied the service bulletin fixes while they were at it (again, at my request.)
If you're in NorCal, I can recommend these folks.
So, what if a potential customer isn't knowledgeable enough to ask the dealership to charge the HV battery before they test drive.
I don't think it's common knowledge that the normally silent Clarity sounds like a hive of bees driving out of the dealer's lot at 2 bars.
The dealers are presenting some pretty advanced Honda technology to customers and making the car sound like a Yugo on a test drive.
How many potential customers actually know that the thrashy engine noise is just because the dealer forgot to charge the car?
How many would believe the salesman even if he/she told them to disregard the noise because its usually really quiet?
You only get one first impression.
I don't think it's common knowledge that the normally silent Clarity sounds like a hive of bees driving out of the dealer's lot at 2 bars.
The dealers are presenting some pretty advanced Honda technology to customers and making the car sound like a Yugo on a test drive.
How many potential customers actually know that the thrashy engine noise is just because the dealer forgot to charge the car?
How many would believe the salesman even if he/she told them to disregard the noise because its usually really quiet?
You only get one first impression.
K8QM
Active Member
Always a good idea to remind us of the positive experiences and give credit where it's due!
geo