6 ms·

I've heard a lot of complaining about Honda lately which bugs me. I actually purchased a Honda motorcycle[0] because of tens of industry reviews lauding the qu

by mdip 10y ago

I've heard a lot of complaining about Honda lately which bugs me. I actually purchased a Honda motorcycle[0] because of tens of industry reviews lauding the quality and reliability and avoided a Harley at least in part because of the "It's a Harley. Sometimes they stall."[1] (that, and I'm a twig of a man so I'd look ridiculous on a Harley). [0] Specifically, I purchased a model they'd brought over from Europe (good sized engine, sport/touring, 100+ miles to the gallon but "you don't buy a bike to save on gas") and the reviews for the European model were universally good. [1] This was an actual quote from the guy at the Harley dealership after he succeeded in starting a floor model only to have it crap out after 5 seconds of idling. He thought I'd be impressed with how loud the damn thing was. Little did he know I wasn't looking to be that guy, I just always wanted a motorcycle and the bike I purchased is exceptionally quiet.

busterarm 10y ago
We're not talking about motorcycles though. Their bikes are fantastic.
- soylentcola 10y ago
  Yep. My 2009 Shadow isn't gonna win any awards in either handling or speed or even "coolest sounding exhaust rumble" but the damn thing is near bulletproof. Shaft drive is a little heavier but removes the need for chain/belt maintenance. It's been knocked over by teenage vandals and still started right back up with no issues. It was my first "proper" bike (after screwing around town on 50cc scooters) and it probably won't be my last but it's been a workhorse, no doubt.
refurb 10y ago
A lot of it depends on the model and "generation". For example, the 2002-2007 (7th gen??) Honda Accords had bum transmissions that pretty much crapped the bed when hooked up to the V6. The I4 versions were really solid. It's less about general dependability and more about a few slip ups that Honda made that are making people question the brand as a whole.
- ethbro 10y ago
  I saw an unofficial automobile brand slogans meme at some point. The ones I remember were "Toyota: for people who love white kitchen appliances" & "Honda: resting on our laurels."
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
wkimeria 10y ago
I had a 2000 Acura Integra that I bought used (the model is essentially a gussied up Civic) that I loved and drove for 10 years. Loved that car. Comfy reliable etc. I bought a 2007 Honda Civic Ex because we needed 2 cars. Its a nice car, but Honda reliability has definitely fallen (though it is still miles ahead of European and US cars). The new Honda Civic looks really good and seems reliable so my next car might be a Honda Civic (the 2007 is going strong and we drive so little I hope it lasts another 10 - 15 years). But there was a point between 2009 and 2014 when I felt Honda had lost its way with the god awful cheap iteration of the Honda Civic. It was essentially a money grab based on their reputation. The worst car I ever owned was a 1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse. I used to joke that friends don't let friends by Mitsubishi
randlet 10y ago
Honda motorcycles have exceptional reliability but I'm not sure that is directly comparable with their auto line. Out of curiosity what model is getting 100+ miles to the gallon?!? edit: I guess the Grom might come close?
- mdip 10y ago
  I should have clarified, I am reliably getting over 100MPG, but the motorcycle lists, I think, 50 or 60 MPG (still not bad). I generally use the bike only to ride up north and back and shortly after buying it I bumped the info button and noticed it had a MPG display. It was stuck at 99, which is the max it can display. I assumed it was broken but after several trips I realized they're a little over 100 miles each way and I was filling up the 4 gallon tank about once every two round trips, so I did a one way after putting a gallon in at a half tank and sure enough, I arrived with the needle a little higher than it was at (not perfect accuracy, but confirmation enough for me). I'm a pretty simple rider, no need to goose the engine (well, ok, occasionally). It's an all highway drive most of it rural highway (no passing lane) at 55 MPH, too, so it's basically the most ideal circumstances for fuel economy, too. It's the 2011 Honda NT700V and I love the thing. It's a sport/touring (nothing like a crotch rocket or a monster touring bike), very comfortable to ride, quiet and since purchase it has had zero problems and I have been able to do all of the routine maintenance myself due to it being easy to take apart. Granted, I live in Michigan so I don't get to ride it 5-6 months out of the year and I've got under 10,000 miles on it so I'd expect it to still be running well. The only downside is the oil filter is a smaller version of a very common filter, requiring me to buy it online and it use 10-W30 oil which is really hard to find retail (Motorcycles use different oil -- wet clutch -- who knew?) -- online it's twice the price I can get it retail when enough of it is in stock (O'Reilly carries a high-end synthetic for it that I purchase a quart at a time when I'm there for other reasons -- they've never had 3 in stock at a time).
  - exclusiv 10y ago
    In LA you will eventually get hit by a car of you ride a motorcycle. Not worth the MPG.

by mdip 10y ago

busterarm 10y ago

We're not talking about motorcycles though. Their bikes are fantastic.

soylentcola 10y ago
Yep. My 2009 Shadow isn't gonna win any awards in either handling or speed or even "coolest sounding exhaust rumble" but the damn thing is near bulletproof. Shaft drive is a little heavier but removes the need for chain/belt maintenance. It's been knocked over by teenage vandals and still started right back up with no issues. It was my first "proper" bike (after screwing around town on 50cc scooters) and it probably won't be my last but it's been a workhorse, no doubt.

refurb 10y ago

A lot of it depends on the model and "generation". For example, the 2002-2007 (7th gen??) Honda Accords had bum transmissions that pretty much crapped the bed when hooked up to the V6. The I4 versions were really solid. It's less about general dependability and more about a few slip ups that Honda made that are making people question the brand as a whole.

ethbro 10y ago
I saw an unofficial automobile brand slogans meme at some point. The ones I remember were "Toyota: for people who love white kitchen appliances" & "Honda: resting on our laurels."
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

wkimeria 10y ago

I had a 2000 Acura Integra that I bought used (the model is essentially a gussied up Civic) that I loved and drove for 10 years. Loved that car. Comfy reliable etc. I bought a 2007 Honda Civic Ex because we needed 2 cars. Its a nice car, but Honda reliability has definitely fallen (though it is still miles ahead of European and US cars). The new Honda Civic looks really good and seems reliable so my next car might be a Honda Civic (the 2007 is going strong and we drive so little I hope it lasts another 10 - 15 years). But there was a point between 2009 and 2014 when I felt Honda had lost its way with the god awful cheap iteration of the Honda Civic. It was essentially a money grab based on their reputation. The worst car I ever owned was a 1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse. I used to joke that friends don't let friends by Mitsubishi

randlet 10y ago

Honda motorcycles have exceptional reliability but I'm not sure that is directly comparable with their auto line. Out of curiosity what model is getting 100+ miles to the gallon?!? edit: I guess the Grom might come close?

mdip 10y ago
I should have clarified, I am reliably getting over 100MPG, but the motorcycle lists, I think, 50 or 60 MPG (still not bad). I generally use the bike only to ride up north and back and shortly after buying it I bumped the info button and noticed it had a MPG display. It was stuck at 99, which is the max it can display. I assumed it was broken but after several trips I realized they're a little over 100 miles each way and I was filling up the 4 gallon tank about once every two round trips, so I did a one way after putting a gallon in at a half tank and sure enough, I arrived with the needle a little higher than it was at (not perfect accuracy, but confirmation enough for me). I'm a pretty simple rider, no need to goose the engine (well, ok, occasionally). It's an all highway drive most of it rural highway (no passing lane) at 55 MPH, too, so it's basically the most ideal circumstances for fuel economy, too. It's the 2011 Honda NT700V and I love the thing. It's a sport/touring (nothing like a crotch rocket or a monster touring bike), very comfortable to ride, quiet and since purchase it has had zero problems and I have been able to do all of the routine maintenance myself due to it being easy to take apart. Granted, I live in Michigan so I don't get to ride it 5-6 months out of the year and I've got under 10,000 miles on it so I'd expect it to still be running well. The only downside is the oil filter is a smaller version of a very common filter, requiring me to buy it online and it use 10-W30 oil which is really hard to find retail (Motorcycles use different oil -- wet clutch -- who knew?) -- online it's twice the price I can get it retail when enough of it is in stock (O'Reilly carries a high-end synthetic for it that I purchase a quart at a time when I'm there for other reasons -- they've never had 3 in stock at a time).
- exclusiv 10y ago
  In LA you will eventually get hit by a car of you ride a motorcycle. Not worth the MPG.