Hello from a new owner and some first impressions

[Gudge]

Hi there all. Been the proud owner of a nighthawk black 2.2 sport now for just over a week. I'd like to share some of my first impressions.

Good points
1. Futuristic styling (pity my 5 door does not look as good as the 3 door version).
2. Bags of Rear legroom and boot space (I was considering getting an A3 sportback, and this is like a people carrier in comparison).
3. Fantastic Diesel engine (my previous car was an E60 525d sport with atuning box......pushing out 200bhp + , and this feels just as quick!)
4. Cognitive dash layout - everything is within easy reach of the driver.

Bad points
1. Central door locking button........now bear with me on this one. Given that you can lock the door centrally using the switch on the door lever, then what is the point of having another switch to do the same thing just inches away - on the main window switches console. Surely it would be more practical to put this switch more centrally at the front of the dash, within easy reach of both driver AND passenger.
2. Window locking button. Correct me if I'm wrong but, the main purpose for this should be to act as a child security feature. So when you press the button, only the two rear windows should lock, and only at the back switches. But here, all the windows lock (including the passenger's), and bizarrely they also lock at the driver's console too, which you don't want. What's all that about !?
3. Split level dash. Because my wife and I are different heights, we have to change the height of steering wheel every time we swap to drive. (Thankfully this is not too often, as I only drive it on weekends). Otherwise our sight of the two levels is obscured by the steering wheel.
4. Service intervals: 12,000 miles or 12 months. I only do 6,000 miles a year, why should I be penalised by having to service the car twice over two years, yet I would only have done 12,000 miles. Surely in this day and age the serivce interval should be based on condition/mileage, not just period over time.

Sorry if I had bit of a rant. I am generally really pleased with the car, and looking forward to a period of Honda ownership (which I hear should be hassle free). Hoping to get to know some of you guys on here.

[FWH]

Hi and Welcome,

Bad point 4.
You should always change oil once a year.
It is the same with any car.

[Jack The Lad.]

Yes, as FWH has stated. Always change your oil every 12 months.
Same with a cambelt, if the maker states 36k or every 3 years, whichever is sooner, and you have only done 18k.
Due to it being folded like a shirt in a drawer, it can go and that will cost you 3-4k for a new engine.

[Brodick]

Hi Gudge,

welcome to the forum - be nice to see some pics of your new purchase


Here's my thoughts on your comments

Bad points
1. Central door locking button........now bear with me on this one. Given that you can lock the door centrally using the switch on the door lever, then what is the point of having another switch to do the same thing just inches away - on the main window switches console. Surely it would be more practical to put this switch more centrally at the front of the dash, within easy reach of both driver AND passenger.

A: The switch on the window button console is how you should activate the central locking ( your point about having it somewhere in the centre
so the front passenger can also reach it is a good one) the lock button next to the handle is there if the central locking fails you should still be able to flip this and open each door manually in the same maner

2. Window locking button. Correct me if I'm wrong but, the main purpose for this should be to act as a child security feature. So when you press the button, only the two rear windows should lock, and only at the back switches. But here, all the windows lock (including the passenger's), and bizarrely they also lock at the driver's console too, which you don't want. What's all that about !?

A: All Honda's that I have owned and driven over the past 10 years have this feature it is a safety feature and perhaps goes on step to far by locking out the front passenger window - To date I have never herd anyone have any issue with this feature ( don't have kids myself but regularly have relatives kids in the back - have never had the need to use the lock)

3. Split level dash. Because my wife and I are different heights, we have to change the height of steering wheel every time we swap to drive. (Thankfully this is not too often, as I only drive it on weekends). Otherwise our sight of the two levels is obscured by the steering wheel.

A: I don't see how this is a bad point this is the reason the wheel is adjustable as it is in many cars ( only the other day I had to adjust the wheel of a courtesy car (Honda Jazz) so I could drive it)

4. Service intervals: 12,000 miles or 12 months. I only do 6,000 miles a year, why should I be penalised by having to service the car twice over two years, yet I would only have done 12,000 miles. Surely in this day and age the serivce interval should be based on condition/mileage, not just period over time.

A: Our Civic does about the same mileage (maybe slightly more) I would never consider not having my car serviced on an annual basis. The service schedule is actually 12,500miles (not that is makes much difference) but it is in line with quite a few other makes of car ( some dealers may offer a reduced service at a cheaper price)


Enjoy the car

[rneilg]

Originally Posted by Brodick

Hi Gudge,

welcome to the forum - be nice to see some pics of your new purchase


Here's my thoughts on your comments

Bad points
1. Central door locking button........now bear with me on this one. Given that you can lock the door centrally using the switch on the door lever, then what is the point of having another switch to do the same thing just inches away - on the main window switches console. Surely it would be more practical to put this switch more centrally at the front of the dash, within easy reach of both driver AND passenger.

A: The switch on the window button console is how you should activate the central locking ( your point about having it somewhere in the centre
so the front passenger can also reach it is a good one) the lock button next to the handle is there if the central locking fails you should still be able to flip this and open each door manually in the same maner

2. Window locking button. Correct me if I'm wrong but, the main purpose for this should be to act as a child security feature. So when you press the button, only the two rear windows should lock, and only at the back switches. But here, all the windows lock (including the passenger's), and bizarrely they also lock at the driver's console too, which you don't want. What's all that about !?

A: All Honda's that I have owned and driven over the past 10 years have this feature it is a safety feature and perhaps goes on step to far by locking out the front passenger window - To date I have never herd anyone have any issue with this feature ( don't have kids myself but regularly have relatives kids in the back - have never had the need to use the lock)

3. Split level dash. Because my wife and I are different heights, we have to change the height of steering wheel every time we swap to drive. (Thankfully this is not too often, as I only drive it on weekends). Otherwise our sight of the two levels is obscured by the steering wheel.

A: I don't see how this is a bad point this is the reason the wheel is adjustable as it is in many cars ( only the other day I had to adjust the wheel of a courtesy car (Honda Jazz) so I could drive it)

4. Service intervals: 12,000 miles or 12 months. I only do 6,000 miles a year, why should I be penalised by having to service the car twice over two years, yet I would only have done 12,000 miles. Surely in this day and age the serivce interval should be based on condition/mileage, not just period over time.

A: Our Civic does about the same mileage (maybe slightly more) I would never consider not having my car serviced on an annual basis. The service schedule is actually 12,500miles (not that is makes much difference) but it is in line with quite a few other makes of car ( some dealers may offer a reduced service at a cheaper price)


Enjoy the car

The window is a pain because the children open the windows and leave them open!!!!!!!! I like to lock the back windows so that if they cannot leave them open, especially in the rain!!!!!!!!!!

[Gudge]

Originally Posted by FWH

Hi and Welcome,

Bad point 4.
You should always change oil once a year.
It is the same with any car.

Thanks FWH, but my last lease car was a 525d which I had over 24 months with an annual limit of 7,000 miles. Over the contract period, I only had to get the car serviced once, at a reasonable cost of about £175. BMW 5 series use a condition based servicing (CBS) system. This service was in line with the manufacturers guidelines.........So, my point is, not all cars have to have an oil change once a year.

[Gudge]

Originally Posted by Brodick

Hi Gudge,

welcome to the forum - be nice to see some pics of your new purchase


Here's my thoughts on your comments

3. Split level dash. Because my wife and I are different heights, we have to change the height of steering wheel every time we swap to drive. (Thankfully this is not too often, as I only drive it on weekends). Otherwise our sight of the two levels is obscured by the steering wheel.

A: I don't see how this is a bad point this is the reason the wheel is adjustable as it is in many cars ( only the other day I had to adjust the wheel of a courtesy car (Honda Jazz) so I could drive it)

4. Service intervals: 12,000 miles or 12 months. I only do 6,000 miles a year, why should I be penalised by having to service the car twice over two years, yet I would only have done 12,000 miles. Surely in this day and age the serivce interval should be based on condition/mileage, not just period over time.

A: Our Civic does about the same mileage (maybe slightly more) I would never consider not having my car serviced on an annual basis. The service schedule is actually 12,500miles (not that is makes much difference) but it is in line with quite a few other makes of car ( some dealers may offer a reduced service at a cheaper price)


Enjoy the car

Thanks Brodick. The point about the split dash, is that it's annoying having to change steering becasue of sight of the dash. For comfort over reach and height, I agree, it's important.

Re: the point about servicing, see my previous post about BMW 5 series CBS.

Thanks. Will post pics soon.

[Essexboy]

Originally Posted by Gudge

Thanks FWH, but my last lease car was a 525d which I had over 24 months with an annual limit of 7,000 miles. Over the contract period, I only had to get the car serviced once, at a reasonable cost of about £175. BMW 5 series use a condition based servicing (CBS) system. This service was in line with the manufacturers guidelines.........So, my point is, not all cars have to have an oil change once a year.

I agree with FWH, no matter what the manual said I would always get my car serviced every 12 months, especially with a diesel. 2 years is way too long for the oil to not be changed...