Why buy Honda?
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Why buy Honda? - 12/13/2004 7:07:46 PM
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Son of GM
Posts: 7
Joined: 12/13/2004
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I currently have a 99 Pontiac Grand Am GT with 120k miles that just had the alternator, Second Lower Intake Manifold gasket go out, fuel gauge sensor go out, and now a emissions fuel tank leak. I think that I am having a lot of problems.
I am thinking on trading it in on a 2004 Honda Accord. Will I expect to see the same problems on a Accord? I want to buy a car that will last 10 years or 200k miles with little problems. Can anyone convince me that Honda is the way to go?
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RE: Why buy Honda? - 12/13/2004 7:52:32 PM
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GolfingTiger
Posts: 17
Joined: 12/3/2004
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Comparing a Honda to a Pontiac is like putting gloves on a 4 year old school girl and throwing her in the ring with Mike Tyson in his prime.
Here's a story I'll share with you that's got some age on it now, but I think the principals are as true today as they were in the late 80's when I heard the following statements made from someone that should know.
I'm a CPA. When I first came out of college, I went to work for a national firm that specializes in automotive accounting. They had clients from coast to coast and represented a very broad array of dealerships. One of my jobs took me to Arizona to work on a very successful Cadillac and Buick dealership. One day while working at the dealership, the dealer invited all of the CPAs out to lunch. Naturally, the topic of discussion was cars. I'll never forget something he said at lunch that day about Hondas. Here's a paraphrase of what he said:
You can buy anything you want, but for the money, dollar for dollar, there's not a better car manufactured anywhere in the world than a Honda. The things are tanks. When you couple good looks with their incredible quality, well....it's just a hell of an automobile.
Three weeks later, I bought my first new car, a 1986 Honda Prelude SI. I put 300,000 miles on that car and sold it running in 1998.
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My Hondas:
1998 Honda Accord EX
2002 Honda VFR800 - "The Interceptor"
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RE: Why buy Honda? - 12/13/2004 9:34:59 PM
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GolfingTiger
Posts: 17
Joined: 12/3/2004
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They are tanks!
I put 300k on the '86 Prelude using just Catrol GTX 10W-40 in the winter and 20W-50 in the summer. Outside of the normal stuff (oil change, flushing the radiator, brake pads, etc.), the only thing I ever did to that car was a water pump around 140k, a timing belt at around 125k, and a water pump very late in the game. I sold that car running great. The guy that bought it from me drove it for another year before the tranny (5 speed manual) gave way.
Before the '86 Prelude, my parents gave me a 1984 Honda Accord which I drove from '84 until buying my Prelude. My mom sold it in 1994 with just over 120k on it and absolutely nothing was ever done to it outside of normal maintenance.
I now have a '98 Accord EX that I bought used. It's got 95k on it now. I'm getting ready to replace the timing belt as a normal thing and safety measure. This thing drives like a dream and is rock solid.
< Message edited by GolfingTiger -- 12/13/2004 9:38:13 PM >
_____________________________
My Hondas:
1998 Honda Accord EX
2002 Honda VFR800 - "The Interceptor"
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RE: Why buy Honda? - 12/13/2004 9:46:48 PM
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Son of GM
Posts: 7
Joined: 12/13/2004
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Thanks for the feedback! I like to do the regular maintenance....I don't trust mechanics. I was very disappointed in the GA after all my hard work. I am worried about the dex cool coolant eating through the coolant system..radiator etc. The dex coolant ate through both gaskets! Hopefully Honda does not use that coolant.
I have an internet quote on a 2005 Honda Accord 4dr Sedan 3.0 EX w/Leather/XM for $23,913 with free oil and tires for life. Are there pro's or cons for the 6 cyl versus the 4? Are any features or accesories that you would steer me towards or from? Thanks again for your advise.
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RE: Why buy Honda? - 12/14/2004 7:08:38 AM
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RTexasF
Forum Monitor
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From: Brownsville, TX
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From Car & Driver:
Accords come in two distinct flavors: the sportier coupe, which includes the option of a six-speed manual transmission with the V-6, and the more sedate sedans. Either way, Accords continue to dominate an intensely competitive segment, a tradition that dates to the beginning of these awards. This year marks the 23rd renewal of 10Best. In all but four of those 23 years, there’s been a Honda Accord on the list. No other car has come close.
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RE: Why buy Honda? - 12/14/2004 10:06:00 AM
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GolfingTiger
Posts: 17
Joined: 12/3/2004
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Son of GM:
My old Prelude was a four cylinder. It was peppy, but about what I expect from a 4 cyl. engine. My current Accord is the 6 cyl. version. It's got good pickup and acceleration. I'm getting around 24 mpg. in a good mix of city/highway mileage. Personally, I prefer a stick, but settled for the automatic since I bought the Accord used.
Since my car is a '98, I better let someone else give you the lowdown on the current accessories.
_____________________________
My Hondas:
1998 Honda Accord EX
2002 Honda VFR800 - "The Interceptor"
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RE: Why buy Honda? - 12/14/2004 6:17:30 PM
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Son of GM
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Joined: 12/13/2004
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Thanks, RTexasF. Yeah, I have noticed that Honda's are always ranked high. I thought that it was just anti-American made bais until I went through two straight American cars that were stinkers.
If I buy a Honda, I may be written out of the will. My dad retired from GM and is very pro american. Personally, I think that the American worker is not to blame, its the greedy corporation that is using subpar components.
I have been bouncing between the 4 cyl and 6. I want great gas milage due to the high gas prices, but I still want some performance. I love a manual transmission, but I gotta have an Automatic to drive in Atlanta's horrible traffic.
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