OK, we have two new Japanese vehicles in the family and although they are fine vehicles, it is clear that the Japanese manufacturers don't give a damn about serviceability. I would particualrly like to stand a few of Honda engineers up against the wall. Are they so stupid that they can't figure out how to locate an oil filter so that it is not directly over another component and hidden on the back side of the engine? And the parts guys need to be investigated for fraud. And don't get me started on Nissan.
OK, I feel better now, and the cuts and bruises will heal - hopefully before I have to change oil in the Nissan and Honda again.
[*] Honda uses timing belt instead of timing chain. [*] Honda uses interference instead of non-interference. [*] Honda uses their own power steering fluid. [*] Honda uses strict timing belt replacement intervals. [*] Honda spins the motor the wrong way, making it hard to remove pulley bolt. [*] Honda front wheel studs, brake disc are hard to service on late models. [*] Honda hybrid designs are ugly and use gas combustion at low speeds. [*] Honda designs are ugly compared to today's standards. [*] Honda has poor turn radius and then has unreliable axel boots. [*] Honda pickups too much road/engine noise. [*] Honda uses their own coolant. [*] Honda uses their own ATF.
[*] Nissans, I'd never owned them and probably never will.
[^] Toyota uses non-interference. [^] Toyota uses easy single bolt to hold the distributor. [^] Toyota has huge empty spaces to access parts. [^] Toyota uses front oil filter access. [^] Toyota uses rebuildable starter solenoids. [^] Toyota are much more reliable. [^] Toyota hybrid styles are great and uses electric at low speed. [^] And many more.
Absolutely, the parts guys need to be investigated. Honda ATF is $6 a bottle. A year ago it was $3-4. Their premixed coolant goes for $12/gallon. For that price a generic coolant can get you 2.5 gallons. I'd buy the Honda VX Vtec-E for its motor and electronics technology but nothing else. My next car has to be a few selected Lexus or Toyota or which ever make can do better.
You have to be kidding. Toyota are even worse than Hondas! I lived through one Toyota. $400 alternators and $500 starters failed like popcorn. Crappy paint and plastic. And even worse the car was a POS! At least the Honda performs well.
My '04 Accord has a timing chain. Honda changed their engines from left side to right side in '03 therefore they now turn same way as everybody else. I like Honda because they are different. Scott
I must agree. They do have crappy paint and plastics.
But some of their late models are pretty well designed. Toyota has improved their line of cars in the last couple of years. Don't know if they improved the parts price, but a $400 alternator is too much.
The Honda was known for there superior suspensions compared to Toyota when they first started out. Hondas corners well and even their frugal models have steering speed sensor and feeling the road bump was part of a feedback system.
Somehow Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru and the also rans have managed to corner a big chunk of the market with well designed cars that can run for hundreds of thousands of miles. As a group they produce highly reliable cars. Service must not be that big a problem because there are plenty of guys willing to make a living working on them.
What kind of fraud are the parts guys at the dealerships engaged in.
Parts at any new car dealer for any make are expensive. Ever priced Volvo or Mercedes components?
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