Honda Car Forum

:
: Thanks. If you had to do it all over again, which vehicle would you
: buy?

Oh, btw, ABS is not offered on Civic models except the LX or Si.

blondee_yvr wrote:

[snip]

> Ok, so if I do decide on a Honda, which model, and cylinder would
> bring me the most bang for the buck and still be reliable. BTW, I
> should tell y'all I think I am cursed when it comes to reliability.
> ;-)

[snip]

Whichever model you decide on, do not get the automatic transmission,
especially if you're looking for a sporty feel to the car. Granted,
automatics have come a long way in the past 20 years, but they are still
slower, less responsive and reliable than the manuals. A V6 engine will
offset some of those drawbacks (at a cost in even worse reliability),
but an I4 engine, especially the Civic one, will be sloooooow.

I was recently in the market for another car to replace the 94 Accord
before it completely devalued, and I decided to get the 01 Prelude SE
5spd. With only 18k miles, mint shape, it cost me as much as a brand new
Civic Si coupe, but it's a much better car. But if you're looking for a
brand new car, then maybe the Acura RSX, or the Accord coupe (I4). Those
were some of the sporty cars I was considering before settling on the
Prelude.

If you're looking for a sedan, the Civic sedan looks completely dated,
and the Corolla is not much better. However, have you ever considered
the Mazda 3? I love the styling, and the performance with the 160hp
engine is pretty good. It gets close to the price of the Accord though
and it's in such high demand you're not likely to get any incentives
from the dealers.

Cosmin

"Cosmin N." <no@email.com> wrote in message news:LyBSc.5385$:

: Whichever model you decide on, do not get the automatic
transmission,
: especially if you're looking for a sporty feel to the car. Granted,
: automatics have come a long way in the past 20 years, but they are
still
: slower, less responsive and reliable than the manuals. A V6 engine
will
: offset some of those drawbacks (at a cost in even worse
reliability),
: but an I4 engine, especially the Civic one, will be sloooooow.

This is why I may need to look at the domestics because they *should*
have better reliability than the imports. My TDI is a 5 speed and it
really is a nuisance in the city and when I have to stop on hills. It
also ticks me off when the bozo behind me is right on my butt when I
have some roll.
:
: I was recently in the market for another car to replace the 94
Accord
: before it completely devalued, and I decided to get the 01 Prelude
SE
: 5spd. With only 18k miles, mint shape, it cost me as much as a brand
new
: Civic Si coupe, but it's a much better car. But if you're looking
for a
: brand new car, then maybe the Acura RSX, or the Accord coupe (I4).
Those
: were some of the sporty cars I was considering before settling on
the
: Prelude.

Me and used get along as much as oil and water. No matter how hard I
try, we can't mix.
:
: If you're looking for a sedan, the Civic sedan looks completely
dated,
: and the Corolla is not much better. However, have you ever
considered
: the Mazda 3? I love the styling, and the performance with the 160hp
: engine is pretty good. It gets close to the price of the Accord
though
: and it's in such high demand you're not likely to get any incentives
: from the dealers.

Agreed, it's very dated along with the Corolla. I seriously thought
about the Mazda 3 and with ABS it is in the same ballpark price as my
TDI. However, I don't like the styling of the 3. Perhaps I am a good
candidate to lease a domestic car for three years until something
comes my way that I like that way the car will be fully under warranty
regardless of [most] problems?

>This is why I may need to look at the domestics because they *should*
>have better reliability than the imports.
Have you been running the car in an enclosed garage?


>Agreed, it's very dated along with the Corolla.

OK, are you stupid or retarded? Corolla was completely redesigned all the way
back in 2003!!!!! OMG, it's soooooo outdated!


Perhaps I am a good
>candidate to lease a domestic car for three years until something
>comes my way that I like that way the car will be fully under warranty
>regardless of [most] problems?
>

So you'd rather handcuff yourself to a domestic junk for years just because you
can't decide on which import you like best?

You really should take the bus to school.



____________________________________
Do not write below this line. Reserved for me.

blondee_yvr wrote:

[snip]

> This is why I may need to look at the domestics because they *should*
> have better reliability than the imports. My TDI is a 5 speed and it
> really is a nuisance in the city and when I have to stop on hills. It
> also ticks me off when the bozo behind me is right on my butt when I
> have some roll.

The domestics have far worse reliability than Honda in every respect,
including the transmission. Honda got so much bad publicity because it
is very uncommon for them to have ANY problems, whereas with the
domestics replacing a transmission is just "regular maintenance". I do
understand your frustration with the manual transmission on your TDI. It
happens to me all the time that someone stops too close, but I usually
leave myself enough room in the front to pull up a bit, and when people
see I drive a manual, they back off. Rush hour traffic is another issue
though. :P
[snip]

> Me and used get along as much as oil and water. No matter how hard I
> try, we can't mix.

I understand. I think I looked at 15 Preludes before I bought mine...


> Agreed, it's very dated along with the Corolla. I seriously thought
> about the Mazda 3 and with ABS it is in the same ballpark price as my
> TDI. However, I don't like the styling of the 3. Perhaps I am a good
> candidate to lease a domestic car for three years until something
> comes my way that I like that way the car will be fully under warranty
> regardless of [most] problems?

That's definitely an option if you don't really care what kind of car
you drive. Just don't buy it though, the domestics have no resale value
and you don't want to be stuck with one. Next year the new Civic will
come out (and hopefully they'll do a good job on it, unlike the current
one), the new Sentra and a few others will come out soon as well. By the
time your lease will expire all the new models will be on the market.

Cosmin

>
>No, it's the 6 cylinder models from 98-02 that are doing that.
>
>The 4 cylinder models were fine. The 4 cylinder models are fine.

The recall is for 2003 and 2004 Accords not specific to the number of
cylinders.

This is the first round of recalls.

Go to:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls

Make : HONDA Model : ACCORD Year : 2004
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V176000 Recall Date : APR 13, 2004
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 1099796
Summary:
ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING
CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY
SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR
TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
Consequence:
GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A
CRASH.
Remedy:
ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION
WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO
THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL
INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION TO IDENTIFY GEARS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED
DISCOLORATION DUE TO OVERHEATING. IF DISCOLORATION EXISTS, THE TRANSMISSION
WILL BE REPLACED IF DISCOLORATION IS NOT PRESENT, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM THE
REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 21, 2004, FOR
PILOT, ODYSSEY, AND MDX OWNERS. OWNERS OF THE ACCORD VEHICLES WILL START
RECEIVING LETTERS ON JUNE 28, 2004, AND ON JUNE 29, 2004, FOR OWNERS OF THE TL
AND CL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT
1-800-382-2238.
Notes:
HONDA RECALL NOS. P30 (ODYSSEY AND PILOT), P31 (MDX), P38 (ACCORD) AND P39
(ACURA). CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION?S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

>I'll buy it from you. Fair market price, even.

It has been in the dealer service center since 8-2-2004 with no resolution yet

>Thanks. If you had to do it all over again, which vehicle would you
>buy?

Well, I have bad luck.

If I had to do it again I would probably purchase a Vibe or Matrix with a
moonroof. Drive car - be happy.

Or a Corolla or a Civic EX only.

Those are the only cars I consider to be reliable at this point after all of my
mistakes that is my 20-20 hindsight.

>Oh, btw, ABS is not offered on Civic models except the LX or Si.

Civic LX has no ABS only the EX in the sedan/coupe arena.

>>Thanks. If you had to do it all over again, which vehicle would you
>>buy?
>
>Well, I have bad luck.
>
>If I had to do it again I would probably purchase a Vibe or Matrix with a
>moonroof. Drive car - be happy.
>
>Or a Corolla or a Civic EX only.
>
>Those are the only cars I consider to be reliable at this point after all of
>my
>mistakes that is my 20-20 hindsight.
>

Make that 2005 Vibe or 2005 Matrix.

With a Roof for the Moon.

Keeping in mind that there is no perfect vehicle and no such thing as luck.....