Hi Guys
Ok, I could really write a whole book with all my experiences with my civic. But I will try my best to summarize as much as possible. But if i say, numerous of calls or struggled, that means I'VE REALLY MADE A S^% LOAD OF CALLS AND STRUGGLED!!
Week 1
Drove the car out of the dealership. I was probably the first guy to buy a civic here in Cape Town. We only get the basic model. We get no extras or choice of extras. Standard 1.8 . Car felt solid, Luvly! Was extremely proud!
a few days later I've started noticing the badly scrathed perspex in front of the dials. Gave a call to my dealer. He told me that they will order the part immediately and replace. After a year of numerious calls and visits they still haven't replaced my panel.
Around month 3 of ownership
The dash around the CD Player started making this funny crackling plasticy noise. Had to go around and press on certain parts to make it go away. EXTREMELY embarrasing when driving with someone new in the car. Makes the car look and sound cheap.
Month number 6 to 12
More and more things started rattling. I told my dealer at the first service to please inspect these rattling parts. My wipers were also hopping and making a frog like noise. They told me they would look at it. They didn't, all of the rattles are still there. Emailed HONDA SA a few times about the cars poor built quality. No reply. After mailing a few more a few months later i got a call from HONDA SA. The lady just asked me who my dealer was. Told her that this has nothing to do with my pathetic dealer but my car. She told me she will get back to me. 5min later the phone rings. It's the manager of my dealer telling me that I'm making he's dealership look bad and what the problem is. Told him that i will gladly discuss the problems with him. Arranged a meeting at the dealership. He didn't pitch. Phoned him. He told me that he knows where i work and will come to me. That was 9 months ago. Nice..
Visited another dealer about 40kms away to see if i can get help there. NOPE. The dealer also belongs to the same company my current dealer is at. Same F&**-up attitude there.
Year and 2 months
Decided to order my OWN DASH. The Type R one. Service manager told me that he knows the Japanese and that the part will not fit my normal Civic. Told him to order it anyway. Took 6 weeks to get here, because of very interessting reasons, *cough*, excuses. Paid R500.00 for a piece of plastic..Asked the dealer to put it in when i come for my next service. No problem the Service manager said, that will be R350.00. Told them no, I'll do it myself. *It was very hard not to go ape-SH*t on the guy*. With the help of this website installed the dash myself, no problems.
Decided to just accept all the rattles. Installed a nice sound system in my car. The exact same one i used in my two previous cars (160is Opel/Vauxel and Toyota 1.4 Corolla Hatch). But here is the funny part. This Civic rattles now like a $5 hooker!! Not one of my previous cars rattled this much.
O-yes, and the seats look like crap. Should have gone for the leather.
I probably left a lot of stuff out. It's been a battle with this car from
week 1. Dealers dont care, Honda SA don't care. What these dealers don't understand is that it's critics like us who make their cars better. Which equales more sales. And WE are the ones returning after just three years to buy the new model. The other people who never complain will keep the car for 10 years and on (Don't think my civic will last that long.) They will not be returning anytime soon. Which means less cash flow for the dealer.
This made me think. The only reason why I probably bought the car was for looks and looks alone. Will i buy a Honda again, unfortunately yes. I believe in the Manufacturer. Wish all Honda's could be manufacturered in Japan. And all the dealers around the world must be Japanese who shares the passion for Honda. But that will never happen.
So, to end. Will I buy another Honda, unfortunately Yes. Will any of my friends buy a Honda, HELL NO!!..They are still laughing at my problems.
Ok, I could really write a whole book with all my experiences with my civic. But I will try my best to summarize as much as possible. But if i say, numerous of calls or struggled, that means I'VE REALLY MADE A S^% LOAD OF CALLS AND STRUGGLED!!
Week 1
Drove the car out of the dealership. I was probably the first guy to buy a civic here in Cape Town. We only get the basic model. We get no extras or choice of extras. Standard 1.8 . Car felt solid, Luvly! Was extremely proud!
a few days later I've started noticing the badly scrathed perspex in front of the dials. Gave a call to my dealer. He told me that they will order the part immediately and replace. After a year of numerious calls and visits they still haven't replaced my panel.
Around month 3 of ownership
The dash around the CD Player started making this funny crackling plasticy noise. Had to go around and press on certain parts to make it go away. EXTREMELY embarrasing when driving with someone new in the car. Makes the car look and sound cheap.
Month number 6 to 12
More and more things started rattling. I told my dealer at the first service to please inspect these rattling parts. My wipers were also hopping and making a frog like noise. They told me they would look at it. They didn't, all of the rattles are still there. Emailed HONDA SA a few times about the cars poor built quality. No reply. After mailing a few more a few months later i got a call from HONDA SA. The lady just asked me who my dealer was. Told her that this has nothing to do with my pathetic dealer but my car. She told me she will get back to me. 5min later the phone rings. It's the manager of my dealer telling me that I'm making he's dealership look bad and what the problem is. Told him that i will gladly discuss the problems with him. Arranged a meeting at the dealership. He didn't pitch. Phoned him. He told me that he knows where i work and will come to me. That was 9 months ago. Nice..
Visited another dealer about 40kms away to see if i can get help there. NOPE. The dealer also belongs to the same company my current dealer is at. Same F&**-up attitude there.
Year and 2 months
Decided to order my OWN DASH. The Type R one. Service manager told me that he knows the Japanese and that the part will not fit my normal Civic. Told him to order it anyway. Took 6 weeks to get here, because of very interessting reasons, *cough*, excuses. Paid R500.00 for a piece of plastic..Asked the dealer to put it in when i come for my next service. No problem the Service manager said, that will be R350.00. Told them no, I'll do it myself. *It was very hard not to go ape-SH*t on the guy*. With the help of this website installed the dash myself, no problems.
Decided to just accept all the rattles. Installed a nice sound system in my car. The exact same one i used in my two previous cars (160is Opel/Vauxel and Toyota 1.4 Corolla Hatch). But here is the funny part. This Civic rattles now like a $5 hooker!! Not one of my previous cars rattled this much.
O-yes, and the seats look like crap. Should have gone for the leather.
I probably left a lot of stuff out. It's been a battle with this car from
week 1. Dealers dont care, Honda SA don't care. What these dealers don't understand is that it's critics like us who make their cars better. Which equales more sales. And WE are the ones returning after just three years to buy the new model. The other people who never complain will keep the car for 10 years and on (Don't think my civic will last that long.) They will not be returning anytime soon. Which means less cash flow for the dealer.
This made me think. The only reason why I probably bought the car was for looks and looks alone. Will i buy a Honda again, unfortunately yes. I believe in the Manufacturer. Wish all Honda's could be manufacturered in Japan. And all the dealers around the world must be Japanese who shares the passion for Honda. But that will never happen.
So, to end. Will I buy another Honda, unfortunately Yes. Will any of my friends buy a Honda, HELL NO!!..They are still laughing at my problems.