If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Brief "survey". Has Honda lost its way?
Fellow newsgroup citizens, we used to be a (nearly) all Honda family - 3
Hondas and 1 classic VW Beetle (1965). On our earlier Hondas I replaced timing belts, entire engines, and some other parts myself. Now, however, the 2 remaining Honda cars I and my in-laws have seem to reflect a company that has lost its way. Since these are 2002 and 2003 Models (Civic and Accord, respectively) I wanted to get some feedback as to whether things have gotten back on track. Here are my observations based on the 2 Hondas we have: 1) there seem to be some design weaknesses which are common across the platforms. Maybe while trying to be light weight (and less expensive?) they made things less durable. One example is the steering rack. Both cars had to have the rack replaced (Accord at 90k miles and Civic and 134k miles). Both developed oil leaks that took about $600 to track down/fix - oil pump seals, oil pan seal, and some things on top of the motor even though when the timing belt was replaced all seals, including valve cover seal were replace by the dealer. 2) The Hondas are even less easy to work on yourself. The oil filter is very hard to reach. On Civics there is very little room for standard wrenches if you want to do engine work. I compared that with Hyundai cars where the Hyundai frames even have indentations which coincide with where your hand would travel when turning a wrench when replacing a timing belt, oil filter is down low where it is easy to reach, etc. 3) The parts are expensive and the engineering is a bit too complex (so more things to go wrong). From what I have heard from some Toyota owners that brand seems to have also lost its way and has been cutting corners on part/design quality to keep costs down. So do you folks think that the current (newer) crop of Hondas have found their stride and are again great cars or are they not as great as they used to be in the '80's and '90's? Thanks! --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: --- |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
"ABC's GMA, Brought to You by Honda, Says Don't Buy Stuff" | Mike | Honda | 5 | April 29th 08 07:02 AM |
Help 96 Honda Civic "Check Engine light" and "ABS light" | [email protected] | Technology | 4 | December 23rd 06 03:12 PM |
survey: Best "rubber" protection/preservative | tsterkel | Technology | 10 | November 4th 06 02:56 AM |
"Panic Alarm" In 2005 Honda Accord LX Going Off By Itrself: Why ? | Robert11 | Technology | 0 | March 20th 06 12:42 AM |