Go Back   Honda Civic Forum > OFF TOPIC > General Automotive Discussion
Reload this Page

If you want a Civic, get one made in Japan!

General Automotive Discussion General automotive discussion and chat. Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, Ford. It doesn't matter, just talk about it here.


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 07-17-2002   #1 (permalink)
davidl340
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pass Christian, Mississippi, US
Posts: 8
davidl340 is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
If you want a Civic, get one made in Japan!

I bought a 2001 white lx coupe automatic when they first came out. The car was great. Had very little problems with it, except for the tranny! It shifted like crap. BUYER BEWARE, if you are picky like I am about how a car shifts and when it shifts, make sure you drive the particular car you are going to buy for a while! to make sure you like the way it shifts, mine never wanted to downshift at the right time, if it ever did, it would stay in that gear just long enough to shake the car, and then go back into the higher gear. There was other shifting problems, but, from what I hear, that is just the way Honda Civics shift.

So I traded it in a week ago for a Civic LX silver coupe with a 5 speed. It seems to shift the way a manual should, it is a little more difficult to shift into 2nd smoothly than a lot of cars I've driven, but pretty good so far. BUT the quality of a lot of the part is BAD. The trunk lid did not align correctly, so I told the dealer that it has to be realigned like new. Well, after the dealer has now replaced a tail light, and bent the trunk lid, they are ordering me a new one.

There were clips missing from the interior, Missing floor mat hold downs, Raddles under the dash board, Paint does not match correctly between the quarter panel and the passenger side door. I asked the dealer what ever happened to Honda quality?

I found out from the service manager that the Civics made in Japan (J in serial #) have many times less warranty work done on them compared to the ones made in America (H in serial #). Too late for me! but maybe not for others. If you are in the market for a Civic, get one made in Japan! not in USA. They build them better over there. From what I hear, all the Civic SI's are made in Japan.

This is from a service manager that knows! and I've seen the quality defects with my own eyes. I just pray that there is no loose or missing pieces in the drivetrain like there was on the body.

David
davidl340 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #2 (permalink)
mullinad
Super Member
 
mullinad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Buffal00000
Age: 28
Posts: 756
mullinad is on a distinguished road
iTrader: (5)
thats one hell of a first post.....
mullinad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #3 (permalink)
VNlilMAN
The Standard One
 
VNlilMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: City of Angels, California, US
Posts: 11,648
VNlilMAN will become famous soon enough
iTrader: (7)
all coupes are made in the US.
VNlilMAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #4 (permalink)
davidl340
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pass Christian, Mississippi, US
Posts: 8
davidl340 is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
Oh, I guess some of the 4 door civics are made in Japan.
davidl340 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #5 (permalink)
RedDragon333
Stage7 Head
 
RedDragon333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Houston, Texas, US
Age: 28
Posts: 7,027
RedDragon333 will become famous soon enough
iTrader: (4)
TYhe Hondas and as well as many other cars are nade in different places all over the world parts from Japan and then other countries as well but i would love to get a JapSpec Civic
RedDragon333 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #6 (permalink)
LJ
Fernando The Donkey Lover
 
LJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Westerville, Ohio, US
Age: 23
Posts: 1,956
LJ is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
Hey man, dont be bashing the quality of the civic's made in marysville ohio, I have about 50 friends that would love to beat the snot out of you for saying they made the cars crappy.... BUT.... they make so many cars there a day, there are bound to be a few things wrong here and there. Its normal, think about really how many freakin civics there are out there
LJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #7 (permalink)
NeoMagus
Ultimate Member
 
NeoMagus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Central PA, Pennsylvania, US
Age: 25
Posts: 3,636
NeoMagus is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
funny how the 6th gens were made here and no one complains (1 as the first digit instead of J, not an H, H stands for Honda as the manufactuer). Also the Civic Si's are not made in japan. The EM1 99-00 Civic Si was made here in the US, and the EP3 Si is made in the UK. The things that came from Japan were the tranny and engine...then the car was assembled in Ohio.
NeoMagus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #8 (permalink)
davidl340
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pass Christian, Mississippi, US
Posts: 8
davidl340 is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
True, don't want to piss your buddy's off, BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT MY CAR TOGETHER RIGHT! about 4 thing were messed up or missing.

YES I know, no car manufacture is perfect, but I went and looked at all the silver civic coupes at the Honda lot, and everyone but 1 had misaligned trunk lids!, one even had a run in the paint. I'm sure Honda makes good cars, but the Silver 2door coupes (where I live at least) have obvious flaws that should have been caught before they left the factory.

I looked at the Accords, civic si, cr-v though, and I didn't see any problems on the exterior.
davidl340 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #9 (permalink)
escapeartist
Member
 
escapeartist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas
Age: 32
Posts: 45
escapeartist is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
The Si is made in England. I really think you just had a little bad luck. Maybe you should have really looked the car over as well before buying. Such as when you test drove it.
escapeartist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #10 (permalink)
Grifter
Super Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US
Posts: 681
Grifter is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
leave him alone.. he a newb at buyin cars too.... didnt know you were supposed to examine an drive the car you want before you buy......
Grifter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #11 (permalink)
Snowman
Diamond Member
 
Snowman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1,217
Snowman is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
Misaligned trunk lids? That's the biggest problem you have with your car? You need to go find other cars that catch on fire, have trannies fail in the 1st year, and generally roll over unexpectedly. Complain about those cars not misaligned trunk lids.
Snowman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #12 (permalink)
davidl340
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pass Christian, Mississippi, US
Posts: 8
davidl340 is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
Well, I KNOW that I don't know where all Civics are made, I apologize for not being correct on everything. I am going on information from the service manager. His words were approximately:

"cars with H in the serial number mean they were put together at Honda , American division, J means they were put together in Japan. The ones with J in the serial number have MUCH LESS warranty work done on them."

That's all I'm sure about, and I don't have any reason not to believe what he said.

I did test drive the car, and it drives like a dream so far! and it still does right now, but you don't notice missing clips, hold downs, small raddles, and very slight paint discolorations on a test drive. The trunk lid I assumed that the dealer could fix in 15 minutes of adjusting the trunk lid, so that was not a big deal. I expect a new car to be very close to not having any defects, this car does not quite meet that requirement, mostly due to the trunk lid being warped, not just misaligned. Unfortunately, I was not aware of them until after I bought the car. Thank goodness they are just superficial defects though. I am much more concerned about the quality of the drivetrain. So far, the drivetrain seems to be pretty good.

Has any of you ever installed the keyless entry system that Honda sells?
davidl340 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #13 (permalink)
davidl340
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Pass Christian, Mississippi, US
Posts: 8
davidl340 is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
True, trunk lid doesn't seem that bad, but I just built Honda up so high after reading all the good things about them, when I could finally afford one, I expected it to not be like that. Once all of it is fixed, I will be happy (but still will be leary)
davidl340 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #14 (permalink)
mohawkboom
Post Master General
 
mohawkboom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Car Audioville, Quebec, Canada
Age: 27
Posts: 6,205
mohawkboom is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (1)
I find this almost funny.. My DX Sedan was made in Japan... Serial # 000136 . My car was 136th Sedan off the assembly line in Japan..I've had TONS of problems...now I don't even bother taking it to the dealer I just fix em myself...
mohawkboom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2002   #15 (permalink)
NeoMagus
Ultimate Member
 
NeoMagus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Central PA, Pennsylvania, US
Age: 25
Posts: 3,636
NeoMagus is an unknown quantity at this point
iTrader: (0)
Read this before talking about vin numbers.
NeoMagus is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

To avoid seeing this ad in our forum please register at CivicForums.com

By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features.


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


  
User Login
Our Partners
used new
Top 10 Threads
Take Pics of Local Ricers
Two New Spyshots of the 2009 Acura TL/TSX Mule
Manual vs Auto
Official: 8th gen civic thread (UPDATES on first post)
All of 7thGenCivic.com ROLL CALL !!!!!! HOW DEEP ARE WE ???
Official 2006 Honda Civic Hatchback
Find the 8th Gen Civic
your top speed
Whats your biggest mistake you ever made while DIY?
So what IS an Acura EL anyway?

Site Supporters


aluminum radiator

Honda car spoilers

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:07 PM.

   
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.0.0
All Content Copyright © 2007 CivicForums.com