You can't really annualize a single month's numbers, especially November's numbers because the car business is traditionally slow during this time because of the weather and the holidays. That's why the sales numbers compare the same month. I'm pretty sure Honda sold more than 360k Accords in 2003...The state of the economy and the competition is a lot different now compared to late 2002, IIRC, we were coming out of the effects of 9/11 and the tech bubble burst and beginning a multi-year boom (caused in large part by the now deflating real estate bubble, lol). Hyundai, Nissan, and Mazda are much stronger now, and the US car companies are finally introducing compelling products. Add in the fact that today the wheels are starting to come off the economy, and it's commendable that the Honda has sold 25% more Accords than last November. Sales might not hit the Camry's numbers, but they're still on pace to sell well over 400k 8th gen Accords- and Honda has a fraction of the low-profit fleet sales as Toyota. Honda is still making a lot of money being #2.As for Acura, they face the double whammy of aging sales leaders (TL & TSX) and a crappy economy. The way that they have spaced the models means that 5 years from now, Acura will be back in the same situation. Somehow they have to fix that, so they will have fresh products every year like Honda- 2006-Civic, 2007-CRV, 2008-Accord, 2009-Pilot, 2010-Odyssey, sprinkle in a couple of MMCs and hit with the Fit, and repeat.RWD would also certainly help Acura, just look at Cadillac. They can make a 3900lb car with the same power as a 3500lb TL-S and the same roominess of a TSX and win Motor Trend's Car of the Year!
