Honda Car Forum

I'm very angry. And for good cause.

While zooming along the freeway in my '81 Honda (my second Honda, which
has 109,000 miles on it), I suddenly lost power. After a $100 tow, the
Honda mechanic replaced the igniter. I didn't know what it was, so it
was explained to me that it replaces the points.

Okay, so the repair bill was $193 for just the part! It's a little
sucka that ain't much bigger than your average rotor. After getting
home, I took the old igniter and pulled off a little cap to see what
was inside. Just a few electronic components not much unlike the kind
I see in computers.

The whole gizmo with the cap on weighs 1.25 ounces. Comparing with my
notebook computer at 7 pounds, that's 7 pounds times 16 ounces = 112
ounces; divided by 1.25 ounces I get a factor of close to 90. 90 times
$193 comes to approximately $17,000.

That's pretty astounding. And I thought Apple computers were
expensive! Listen, my Apple notebook, a marvel of miniaturization, was
$2,400. Dividing $2,400 by 90 I get about $27, which seems like a
reasonable price for the part.

So how does Honda figure they can both sell outrageously expensive
parts like this while, at the same time, keep customers? I went into
the sales room and confronted the sales manager with the part and the
price. He simply laughed.

There is no way I will ever buy another Honda. I don't care what the
price is for parts for the next car (my last car, when I retire), Honda
is not on my shopping list. And something the manufacturer does not
count on... I will carry that part on my dashboard as a conversation
piece. I should be able to turn a few people away from Honda with it.
It shouldn't make much of a dent in Honda's sales, but, as everyone
knows, the landscape is littered with the corpses of companies that
abused their customers.

$193 for a $27 part, indeed! That's abusive!

Sell the honda, buy an apple II
done

"expensive" <common_sense@emodgnik.com> wrote in message
news:300720031914480532%common_sense@emodgnik.com. ..
>
> I'm very angry. And for good cause.
>
> While zooming along the freeway in my '81 Honda (my second Honda, which
> has 109,000 miles on it), I suddenly lost power. After a $100 tow, the
> Honda mechanic replaced the igniter. I didn't know what it was, so it
> was explained to me that it replaces the points.
>
> Okay, so the repair bill was $193 for just the part! It's a little
> sucka that ain't much bigger than your average rotor. After getting
> home, I took the old igniter and pulled off a little cap to see what
> was inside. Just a few electronic components not much unlike the kind
> I see in computers.
>
> The whole gizmo with the cap on weighs 1.25 ounces. Comparing with my
> notebook computer at 7 pounds, that's 7 pounds times 16 ounces = 112
> ounces; divided by 1.25 ounces I get a factor of close to 90. 90 times
> $193 comes to approximately $17,000.
>
> That's pretty astounding. And I thought Apple computers were
> expensive! Listen, my Apple notebook, a marvel of miniaturization, was
> $2,400. Dividing $2,400 by 90 I get about $27, which seems like a
> reasonable price for the part.
>
> So how does Honda figure they can both sell outrageously expensive
> parts like this while, at the same time, keep customers? I went into
> the sales room and confronted the sales manager with the part and the
> price. He simply laughed.
>
> There is no way I will ever buy another Honda. I don't care what the
> price is for parts for the next car (my last car, when I retire), Honda
> is not on my shopping list. And something the manufacturer does not
> count on... I will carry that part on my dashboard as a conversation
> piece. I should be able to turn a few people away from Honda with it.
> It shouldn't make much of a dent in Honda's sales, but, as everyone
> knows, the landscape is littered with the corpses of companies that
> abused their customers.
>
> $193 for a $27 part, indeed! That's abusive!

This is about the funniest thing I've heard in a while.

Putting aside the ignorant ridiculousness of comparing completely unrelated
items based on weight, consider this:

In your apple laptop most of the weight is the battery, LCD, case, keyboard
etc.

Actuall electronics are probably less then 10 ounces, not even, but we'll
stick to 10 ounces. Divide 10 by 1.25 you get 8, so divide your 2400 by 8
you get $300. Now you are twice the idiot because Apple clearly ripped you
off too. Never buy Apple computers again!!!

Then for kicks and gigles ask how much similar part costs for any other
make.

Looks like you are walking from now on.

-M



"expensive" <common_sense@emodgnik.com> wrote in message
news:300720031914480532%common_sense@emodgnik.com. ..
>
> I'm very angry. And for good cause.
>
> While zooming along the freeway in my '81 Honda (my second Honda, which
> has 109,000 miles on it), I suddenly lost power. After a $100 tow, the
> Honda mechanic replaced the igniter. I didn't know what it was, so it
> was explained to me that it replaces the points.
>
> Okay, so the repair bill was $193 for just the part! It's a little
> sucka that ain't much bigger than your average rotor. After getting
> home, I took the old igniter and pulled off a little cap to see what
> was inside. Just a few electronic components not much unlike the kind
> I see in computers.
>
> The whole gizmo with the cap on weighs 1.25 ounces. Comparing with my
> notebook computer at 7 pounds, that's 7 pounds times 16 ounces = 112
> ounces; divided by 1.25 ounces I get a factor of close to 90. 90 times
> $193 comes to approximately $17,000.
>
> That's pretty astounding. And I thought Apple computers were
> expensive! Listen, my Apple notebook, a marvel of miniaturization, was
> $2,400. Dividing $2,400 by 90 I get about $27, which seems like a
> reasonable price for the part.
>
> So how does Honda figure they can both sell outrageously expensive
> parts like this while, at the same time, keep customers? I went into
> the sales room and confronted the sales manager with the part and the
> price. He simply laughed.
>
> There is no way I will ever buy another Honda. I don't care what the
> price is for parts for the next car (my last car, when I retire), Honda
> is not on my shopping list. And something the manufacturer does not
> count on... I will carry that part on my dashboard as a conversation
> piece. I should be able to turn a few people away from Honda with it.
> It shouldn't make much of a dent in Honda's sales, but, as everyone
> knows, the landscape is littered with the corpses of companies that
> abused their customers.
>
> $193 for a $27 part, indeed! That's abusive!

In article <wg%Va.14771$Vx2.7304037@newssvr28.news.prodigy.co m>, Bob
<XXLightningserver2@XXhotmail.comXX> wrote:

> If you are driving a Honda that is 22 years old, I would say that both your
> car, and Honda owe you nothing. That is twice the life of most cars, and
> judging by your shock at the price I assume that you have never replaced
> this particular component before. You should consider yourself lucky.
> Just my opinion
> Bob

If the car had 200,000 miles on it, then I would agree. But the
odometer just turned 110,000, so the car has some miles to go before I
get my money's worth out of it. 22 years means nothing, it's miles not
years that count for me because I don't drive that much. The car still
owes me some miles.

I have never heard of an ignitor burning out. The mechanic said it's
rare for it to happen. I don't particularly care what breaks as long
as it doesn't cause an accident or involve an outrageously expensive
repair.

In article <BS%Va.6790$dk4.315872@typhoon.sonic.net>, Max
<nospam@nospam.com> wrote:

> Actuall electronics are probably less then 10 ounces, not even, but we'll
> stick to 10 ounces. Divide 10 by 1.25 you get 8, so divide your 2400 by 8
> you get $300.

I reject your analysis. It's a derivative of my comparison, which
doubles any error. As a matter of fact, the part has a steel plate on
the bottom, steel sleeves, and several metal electrodes and connectors,
not to mention having been filled/sealed with some sort of resin. My
comparison is just fine, thank you. Even a 50% error still makes the
part outrageously expensive.

>> The whole gizmo with the cap on weighs 1.25 ounces. Comparing
>> with my notebook computer at 7 pounds, that's 7 pounds times 16
>> ounces = 112 ounces; divided by 1.25 ounces I get a factor of
>> close to 90. 90 times $193 comes to approximately $17,000.
>>
>> That's pretty astounding. And I thought Apple computers were
>> expensive! Listen, my Apple notebook, a marvel of miniaturization,
>> was $2,400. Dividing $2,400 by 90 I get about $27, which seems like
>> a reasonable price for the part.

> Now you are twice the idiot because Apple clearly ripped you
> off too. Never buy Apple computers again!!!

Apple computers are great. A lot of people who work with IBM
compatibles go home to Macs. Very few people who work with Macs go
home to an IBM compatible. I like 'em. I've never used an IBM
compatible, mainly because I see my friends struggle with them. No
thanks.

expensive wrote:
>
> I'm very angry. And for good cause.
>
> While zooming along the freeway in my '81 Honda (my second Honda, which
> has 109,000 miles on it), I suddenly lost power. After a $100 tow, the
> Honda mechanic replaced the igniter. I didn't know what it was, so it
> was explained to me that it replaces the points.
>
> Okay, so the repair bill was $193 for just the part! It's a little
> sucka that ain't much bigger than your average rotor. After getting
> home, I took the old igniter and pulled off a little cap to see what
> was inside. Just a few electronic components not much unlike the kind
> I see in computers.

Had you shopped around, you would have had other choices. The ignitor can be
obtained new from Honda for $150, http://tinyurl.com/il7p. Other options might
have included buying one from a wrecking yard or from someone parting out their
wrecked car. Why, you probably could've picked up an entire used distributor
for one of those units for $20.

> So how does Honda figure they can both sell outrageously expensive
> parts like this while, at the same time, keep customers? I went into
> the sales room and confronted the sales manager with the part and the
> price. He simply laughed.

It is unfortunate that the sales manager laughed. That's no way to treat people
who are their bread and butter.

In article <3F288D9B.3B45EC11@junkmail.com>, Randolph
<trash@junkmail.com> wrote:

> So you have gotten 22 years of use out of the Honda, and you are
> bitching laying out $200 for a part?

No, it's given me good service despite the fact that it was a bad year
for paint and has rust spots all over. I don't care how it looks,
though. I have noticed that parts are expensive, but I've lived with
it. It's hard to tolerate $193 for a $27 part that only had a few
diodes in it, though. And it should not burn out after only 110,000
miles.

But remember, I have mentioned that 22 years is irrelevant. It's miles
that count. Mechanically, it's perfect because I take it to a Honda
mechanic regularly and tell him "Do what has to be done to make it safe
and reliable." It had ALL of the required warranty-type service done
by the book.

I will vote with my $$$. Some other manufacturer gets my business for
my retirement (last) car. I wonder if someone at Honda wondered if the
high price on that part would prevent a sale. Or that the offended
buyer of that part would try to prevent other sales. I am not easily
offended, but I am hell on wings when it happens.

On the other hand, is it possible that Honda intended the part to be
$19.30 and not $193.00. The igniter really does look like a $19.30
part. If so, then Honda needs to get back to me (here, soon) with a
refund offer because I intend to cost them a heck of a lot more than
they cost me.

expensive <common_sense@emodgnik.com> wrote in message
news:300720032141583514%common_sense@emodgnik.com. ..
> In article <3F288D9B.3B45EC11@junkmail.com>, Randolph
> <trash@junkmail.com> wrote:
>
> > So you have gotten 22 years of use out of the Honda, and you are
> > bitching laying out $200 for a part?
>
> No, it's given me good service despite the fact that it was a bad year
> for paint and has rust spots all over. I don't care how it looks,
> though. I have noticed that parts are expensive, but I've lived with
> it. It's hard to tolerate $193 for a $27 part that only had a few
> diodes in it, though. And it should not burn out after only 110,000
> miles.

That part should not ever fail for the life of the car, but you should tally
the cost of maintanence to this point. My gripe would be the reliability
failure. Your not supposed to get stuck in a Honda.

Dave M.

..
>
> But remember, I have mentioned that 22 years is irrelevant. It's miles
> that count. Mechanically, it's perfect because I take it to a Honda
> mechanic regularly and tell him "Do what has to be done to make it safe
> and reliable." It had ALL of the required warranty-type service done
> by the book.
>
> I will vote with my $$$. Some other manufacturer gets my business for
> my retirement (last) car. I wonder if someone at Honda wondered if the
> high price on that part would prevent a sale. Or that the offended
> buyer of that part would try to prevent other sales. I am not easily
> offended, but I am hell on wings when it happens.
>
> On the other hand, is it possible that Honda intended the part to be
> $19.30 and not $193.00. The igniter really does look like a $19.30
> part. If so, then Honda needs to get back to me (here, soon) with a
> refund offer because I intend to cost them a heck of a lot more than
> they cost me.

In article <3F289927.86AF51C6@spam.now>, Eric <say.no@spam.now> wrote:

> Had you shopped around, you would have had other choices. The ignitor can be
> obtained new from Honda for $150, http://tinyurl.com/il7p. Other options
> might
> have included buying one from a wrecking yard or from someone parting out
> their
> wrecked car. Why, you probably could've picked up an entire used distributor
> for one of those units for $20.

It's been several years since I saw an '81 Honda in a wrecking yard.
They've all been crushed, melted down, and have gone to meet their
maker (or some other car maker).

I don't have time to shop the Internet for parts when the car is
broken. Besides, I have a long-term relationship with my mechanic and
would not think to save $50 off him. It's a pay me now pay me later
thing, if you know what I mean.

> It is unfortunate that the sales manager laughed. That's no way to treat
people
> who are their bread and butter.

Honda will pay for that. Not in terms of the billions they rake in,
but in my terms -- one car at a time over the long haul. Obviously the
guy did not consider me to be a future prospect. He will never know
it, but I will undo a few sales for him before he ever gets a whiff of
them. I am reminded of the dealer arrogance of the 1960's when the
American manufacturers thought they could pawn anything off on the
public. It's no coincidence that that was the time when I my first
import and said goodbye to Detroit forever.

In article <bo1Wa.14905$2l1.1386@news02.roc.ny>, Dave M.
<gadget@frontiernet.net> wrote:

> That part should not ever fail for the life of the car, but you should tally
> the cost of maintanence to this point. My gripe would be the reliability
> failure. Your not supposed to get stuck in a Honda.

I'm neither happy nor unhappy with the cost of maintenance so far.
It's always sapping but not killing me, sort of like a tapeworm. I've
had to purchase expensive parts before, but I've never felt truly
ripped off like I do this time. These are hard times for me. $193 for
a $27 part and embarrassing treatment by the sales manager was just a
bit much for me to bear. I think I got drilled pretty good by Honda,
and it's going to take a long time to get over it.