[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by Re_Invention

Pound for pound, I see Honda and Toyota being the only two top tier Japanese brands - apples to apples. Responding to global markets/anticipating trends, running successful profitable companies, maintaining brand involvement/recognition, miscellaneous development (aircraft, hybrid, robotics, technology). Nissan/Renault alliance was consciously removed from the equation.

If opening up to other manufactures, I'd throw my hat in the Mazda ring for being consistently the sportiest, with also among the most questionable quality, and in dire financial straits post Ford breakup.

LFA was left out because you could technically not purchase one (right?), very few were made, and in no way does it fall under the affordable category regardless of what comparison you are making to its competitors.

Sounds like your argument is actually that the decline of sporty/affordable cars at Honda has not been any worse than at Toyota. I might actually agree with that, but that's not what my original point was. I was talking about the decline of sporty/affordable cars at Honda in absolute terms, which I think is difficult to argue against. Hell, you even have Honda making statements about re-introducing sporty cars from its past (S2000, NSX) and vowing to be competitive again with cars like the (discountinued but soon to be re-released) Civic Type-R. Confessions don't get more clear than that.