Finally dumped that boat anchor P.I.T.A. 2001 @ 19,000km with these bitches:

2 rear windows wrinkled to death, Honda Defect - warranty as I refuse to 'noodle'.
1 clutch - not my fault Honda Defect - warranty
Spark plugs fell out Honda Defect - warranty
Shitty shifting: Weak transmission - never solved...grin (grind)...and bear it.
Noisy differential: The last straw... sounds like a meat grinder, and after 2 weeks at the dealer trying to solve it I get suckered out of 2 new rear tires @310C$ a pop which made no difference at all.

Soooo......

I give up with the lemon and buy a 2003 (yup - read up on the 04 and have no interest in a Gen 5 Prelude-like 7700 rpm - done that too....Boring).

The 2003 is one Beautiful Car!!

One tiny problem: I leave the dealership with 78 km showing (they drove it over from a sister dealership), first time shifting in to 3rd *grind* - to 4th *grind* (figure I must have the seat too far back)...pump the clutch pedal in the event there's any air.... next stop same thing. Then again...then again.

Called the dealer from 25 km away, and to sum it up, the car is back at the dealer waiting for 3rd/4th syrchros to come in from Toronto and Vancouver. I might see the car again on Friday (a loss of a week).

What's your opinion please:

I would think a) The dealer should have fully tested the car and noted the defect. I think they should be changing the whole transmission if not the whole car, but according to Honda Can(not)ada, they "do not stock a single complete manual tranny in Canada and possibly in North America".

For F's sake: that's another 50k worth of 'new car' which by the time I'll actually get to drive it, will have been torn down and rebuilt, probably by some guy who's never seen the insides of a 6 speed before.

How would you feel? Any similar cursed experiences to share? I've gotta sum it up by saying I'm beyond disillusioned with Honda.

Gord

 

thats shitty is how I feel!

 

Way crappy! Did the same thing you did in trading up but had 21 miles. No problemas.

 

Thanks, yes but I am seriously - seriously beginning to wonder what direction Honda is going with this and with their quality control and customer service.

Kudos to the dealer Honda Ile Perrot for trying - I'm getting damn close to doing a Micheal Douglas in Falling Down and I'm sure they can sense it. I just can't fathom why Honda Motor Co. doesn't keep spares like a complete transmission available, and how the car made it in to my hands in such a condition.

I guess to sum it up to everyone - before you take delivery of anything from Honda - hell maybe even Mercedes, make sure you drive it - and in all the gears before you sign the papers or take it off the lot. Pity when you can't trust a company with (what was) a good reputation.

Gord

 

I feel you on this ghubbell. If I didn't love the car so damn much, I would have dumped mine by now. I think I'm pretty much written Honda off. I hate to say it, but the more "prestigious" makes such as lexus, MB, bmw, etc seem to treat their customers better. Honda, makes you THINK they are or they just plain screw you over.

T

 

people whine when the hdealer puts 5 mines on the car. people whine when the dealer dosent "test it out first". cant please the world aparently.

 

Either way - test drive the car yourself before you sign the papers. Trust no one but yourself - (if you can!)

 

do this and not buy it and then someone will have an excuse to my cry here... lol.

 

I would see if u can get into another new one.

 

That sucks that it's so new and you're grinding.

But, it's true. Honda's warranty policy is not to immediately replace entire transmissions if there is a mechanical problem. They take a peek into the tranny and replace the parts that are not in good working order.

Be as cordial and professional as your personality allows you to be.

Good luck,