Honda's reputation for reliability is well earned.

[birdrunner]

Reading an article on the new 500cc twins coming out, this bit of information impressed me.

Honda has a history of using 500-cc twin-cylinder commuters as racers. A similarly spec’ed parallel-twin CB500, sold in Europe from 1994 to 2003, served as the basis for the CB500 Cup in various European countries, even culminating in a 24 hours endurance event at Le Mans in 1999, where every team running the bargain-basement twin finished the gruelling race without a single mechanical problem

[Papa Lazarou]

That was then. Now, finish, if not mechanical reliability, is on the slide.

[Silverbird]

Their cars are slipping too.

[coucours grad]

everyone is going to computer controls....


And as we all know, to really fuck something up you need a computer.


   Honda cars are still some of the best out there...


   


 

[sammyseaman]

10 pages easy

This post was brought to you by biceps and lead pipes

[gritsngravy]

Gotta get into this action!


From the reviews I've read the 2013 Accord is a great car with more standard features than ever like dual zone climate control, rear view camera, 6 speed manual, I pod interface & other stuff for around 22k.

Good, bad or ugly Honda's rep for reliability is here to stay.    From my personal experience it's mostly true and deserved.     My 04 Accord had a horrible rattle develop on day two of ownership due to an improperly sealed windshield.   Fixed under warranty on day two of ownership really didn't do much for my love for Honda.    Nine years 132k miles later no issues at all.  Burns no oil and drives like new.  

No issues with my vfr.   The quality is outstanding and I can't see selling it, ever.  


Multiple old twins and fours back in the days were cheap, fun and reliable.  

[birdrunner]

Their cars are slipping too.

Well the good engineers are in the bike business again, so the accountants are now in control of the auto business.

[veefer800canuck]

My 1986 VFR750 never used a drop of oil in 14 years of ownership.
Also the only time it broke down and left me stranded was due to a bad battery, shorted internally.

My 1999 VFR has likewise never used any oil. I have not had to add to it in 12 years of ownership.
I did the clutch at like 80,000km, but that was solely "because I wanted to" when I did the clear clutch cover mod. I figured I had the cover off anyway, so....

But the original clutch was working fine beforehand, honestly, it didn't really need to be done.

And it still pulls as hard as the day I got it, and gets 40++ MPG easy.

[Papa Lazarou]

My 1986 VFR750 never used a drop of oil in 14 years of ownership.
Also the only time it broke down and left me stranded was due to a bad battery, shorted internally.

My 1999 VFR has likewise never used any oil. I have not had to add to it in 12 years of ownership.
I did the clutch at like 80,000km, but that was solely "because I wanted to" when I did the clear clutch cover mod. I figured I had the cover off anyway, so....

But the original clutch was working fine beforehand, honestly, it didn't really need to be done.

And it still pulls as hard as the day I got it, and gets 40++ MPG easy.

As i said...that was then, this is now

[gritsngravy]

Well the good engineers are in the bike business again, so the accountants are now in control of the auto business.

All their engineers have been busy with several recent new bikes, scooters and cars.  

[Rogue]

My 1986 VFR750 never used a drop of oil in 14 years of ownership.
Also the only time it broke down and left me stranded was due to a bad battery, shorted internally.

My 1999 VFR has likewise never used any oil. I have not had to add to it in 12 years of ownership.
I did the clutch at like 80,000km, but that was solely "because I wanted to" when I did the clear clutch cover mod. I figured I had the cover off anyway, so....

 

Give it up man.  You won't convince the naysayers even if you had personal experience.    My '01 VFR was absolutely reliable and I beat on that bike.  Not a single thing went wrong.  Not a single part needed replaced.  So far my '07 has been just as reliable.  Ok I baby it.  But the quality, reliability, and refinement is all there.  But yeah that was then.....  

[Papa Lazarou]

 

[gritsngravy]

Give it up man.  You won't convince the naysayers even if you had personal experience.    My '01 VFR was absolutely reliable and I beat on that bike.  Not a single thing went wrong.  Not a single part needed replaced.  So far my '07 has been just as reliable.  Ok I baby it.  But the quality, reliability, and refinement is all there.  But yeah that was then.....  

Not sure which  "now" Hondas have poor quality.   The NC700X, NT700V, CB1000R, CBR600/1000RR,  CBR250, PCX150, VFR1200, Crossrunner,  Crosstourer, CB1100,  CRF250, not to mention their off road bikes are all newer machines...plenty of reviews out there and no talk about a decline in quality, reliability, refinement etc.       Of course we all have our own thoughts and feelings of what constitutes "quality".    If anything I find across all brands generally the newer the better.       Whatever the case the worlds largest M/C maker will continue selling all manner of bikes and cars throughout the world as they have been for decades.  

[sammyseaman]

Not sure which  "now" Hondas have poor quality.   The NC700X, NT700V, CB1000R, CBR600/1000RR,  CBR250, PCX150, VFR1200, Crossrunner,  Crosstourer, CB1100,  CRF250, not to mention their off road bikes are all newer machines...plenty of reviews out there and no talk about a decline in quality, reliability, refinement etc.       Of course we all have our own thoughts and feelings of what constitutes "quality".    If anything I find across all brands generally the newer the better.       Whatever the case the worlds largest M/C maker will continue selling all manner of bikes and cars throughout the world as they have been for decades.

Sarcasm, brah. Sarcasm

This post was brought to you by biceps and lead pipes

[Papa Lazarou]

Sarcasm, brah. Sarcasm

This post was brought to you by biceps and lead pipes

 

[atadaskew]

 where every team running the bargain-basement twin finished the gruelling race without a single mechanical problem[/u][/b]

So how many mechanical problems did they have?

My list:

1987 Wing 1200 (incidentally my fave Wing out of all I owned) stator failed at 80K miles, huge job replacing it as I had to drop that car motor out of the frame.
1997 VFR750  RR failure
1999 Valk IS - 100% reliable but a crappy bike compared to the two Wings
2001 Wing 1800 - overheating issues (never cured by the 'fix'), shaft drive seal failure, frame cracked .

I do think that Honda is now on a roll, building bikes that arewell priced and well designed.

[Cablebandit]

Meh. Every Jap bike I've owned have been dead nuts reliable.

None have been Hondas.

[gritsngravy]

Sarcasm, brah. Sarcasm

This post was brought to you by biceps and lead pipes

Just trying like hell to get close to those ten pages of Honda Glory you predicted.   Maybe interject some oil & tire stuff?  

[Baz]

   Honda cars are still some of the best out there...


    

We recently had a couple of Accords that turned out to have the highest maintinance costs in the company fleet. They beat out Ford, Chevy, and Dodge.

You would have a hard time convincing me to buy a Honda. Both of these Accords were rattle traps after 3 years and 90,000 km. Worst cars I have ever driven for road and wind noise.

Here is Consumer reports top rated cars. (Note that Honda did not make the list)

Tops in our tests
Make & model    Overall test score
Lexus LS 460L                   99
BMW 135i                   97
Infiniti G37 (sedan)                   95
Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE    93
Audi A6 (3.0T)                   93
Infiniti M37                   93
Nissan Altima 3.5 SR    93
Chevrolet Corvette Z06    92
Hyundai Genesis 3.8 (sedan)    92
Toyota Camry XLE (V6)    92
Audi A8 L                                  91
Lexus ES 350                   91
Nissan Altima 2.5 S                   91

Here are their best car for under $25,000 ratings (Honda shows up here with the fit. and Civic SI)

Make & model                                    MSRP
Chevrolet Cruze 1LT (1.4T)   $21,030
Chevrolet Sonic LT (1.8)          $17,455
Honda Civic Si (man.)    $23,429
Honda Fit (base)                   16,915
Hyundai Accent GLS                   16,320
Hyundai Elantra GLS    19,220
Hyundai Sonata GLS (2.4)    22,495
Hyundai Tucson GLS    24,920
Hyundai Veloster (base, manual)   20,475
Kia Forte EX (sedan)   19,525
Kia Optima LX (2.4)    22,775
Kia Rio EX (sedan)   17,545
Kia Soul Plus    18,475
Mazda2 Touring    17,845
Mazda3 i Touring (Skyactiv)   22,745
Mazda5 Grand Touring    24,820
Mazda6 i Sport (4-cyl.)    22,520
Mini Cooper (base, man.)    20,650
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE (AWD)    24,520
Nissan Altima 2.5 S 23,280
Nissan Juke SV (AWD)    22,280
Scion xB    18,612
Scion xD    16,900
Subaru Impreza Premium (sedan)    21,380
Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium    24,189
Toyota Camry LE (4-cyl.)    24,060
Toyota Corolla LE    18,975
Toyota Matrix S (base, 1.8)    20,910
Toyota Matrix S (2.4L)    23,210
Volkswagen Golf (2.5)    20,930

[Baz]

Reading an article on the new 500cc twins coming out, this bit of information impressed me.

Honda has a history of using 500-cc twin-cylinder commuters as racers. A similarly spec’ed parallel-twin CB500, sold in Europe from 1994 to 2003, served as the basis for the CB500 Cup in various European countries, even culminating in a 24 hours endurance event at Le Mans in 1999, where every team running the bargain-basement twin finished the gruelling race without a single mechanical problem

Just a fanboy here folks.