I recently received a letter from American Honda asking if they could use my car to conduct a study on the emissions control system. I don't have a scanner, but here is what part of the letter says:

"We need to procure privately owned vehicles for exhaust emissions testing in our Torrance laboratory. In some cases, upon completion of the testing your vehicle may be taken to a dealer for the replacement of certain emission control parts."

According to the letter, they need the car for a week and will put the equivalent of 200 miles on the car. It will only be driven on a "treadmill-like" device and involves no unusual operating conditions. If I do it, they will provide me a rental car, gas and $100.

Has anyone else received this letter? It almost seems to me that this is their way of testing for a future recall but I don't really know. Do you guys think I should consider doing it?


Thoughts?

 

Only if you get an NSX for a loaner!

 

I'd do it for $500....a week without my S is like getting an axe to the face...it sucks!

 

Check for milage requirements. They are not getting my car because I don't let clowns drive it. Out of sight out of mind.

 

Hmmm, I might actually do it if I got the letter, but I suspect it will be a California owners only kind of thing because the one lab they mentioned is in Torrance.

Can you just see the argument? If anybody ever has any engine problems and Honda put 200 miles of wear on the engine, how in the heck could they prove they did not initially cause the problem themselves.

 

I can't see what you're actually gaining from this Lots of risk, no gain.

Why do Honda need to procure privately owned cars? they must have dozens of S2000's around that they own themselves, are their own cars not typical of owners' cars....are company cars thrashed to within an inch of their lives or something so not representative?

Have you picked up the phone and spoken to someone at Honda to ensure this letter is genuine? Could be the last you see of your car if not

Personally I wouldn't do it in a million years. Give my car up to strangers for a week! I'm apprehensive enough when it goes in for a service and they do a 3 mile test drive to check everything out

If the car picks up any minor damage to the exterior or interior, you might spend a lot of time arguing about getting it fixed. People don't treat the property of others as well as you would yourself.....ths car would be just a tool to them, but maybe more than that to you

HTH

 

I personally would not want them to touch my car. Not worth the money.

 

I don't think it's just a CA thing; my friend who has a '00 model and lives in MI agreed to the same test a couple years ago.

 

I'd say thanks, but find someone else.

 

They don't offer enough incentive for me - unless you get to pick the rental (exotics included) and you just happen to be planning a looooong road trip.