Honda's reputation for reliability is well earned.

[Bounce]

I pod interface

the old 30 pin connect or the new Lightning one? does the support continue when there's a change to iOS? some mfgrs end up with "issues" as the tech side of things change.

[Rogue]

J.D Powers Initial Quality Ratings for 2012 in order:

Lexus = 73
Jaguar = 75
Porsche = 75
Cadillac = 80
Honda = 83
Acura = 84

Industry Average is 102

http://autos.jdpower.com/ratings/quality-press-release.htm

Bringing up the rear in order
VW = 124 (still at the bottom   )
Mini = 134 (goes to show you can have low quality and STILL sell)
Fiat and Smart = 151

[falconati]

...but Initial Quality isn't a great metric.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/the-trouble-with-jd-powers-initial-quality-study-feature

[gritsngravy]

the old 30 pin connect or the new Lightning one? does the support continue when there's a change to iOS? some mfgrs end up with "issues" as the tech side of things change.

Lightning......iOS.   No clue as to the tech details.  The system accepted an iPod touch just fine,  controlled it using stereo controls or controls on steering wheel.   Did everything we asked of it, seemed ok to me.

[Bounce]

Lightning......iOS.   No clue as to the tech details.  The system accepted an iPod touch just fine,  controlled it using stereo controls or controls on steering wheel.   Did everything we asked of it, seemed ok to me.

check the docs to see if it supports the new generation of iPods and iPhones. it's the inflexibility of interface that has lead to mfgrs like BMW scrambling to change their cars in response to an industry that changes each year.

[Rogue]

...but Initial Quality isn't a great metric.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/the-trouble-with-jd-powers-initial-quality-study-feature

It's one metric and not THE metric.  However, if it's used consistently it gives a good indication of initial quality, design, and/or any common flaws.  Is it any wonder that VW consistently ends up at the bottom when even VW admits they NEED to improve the quality of their cars, and many owners of VW's experience lots of quality issues?  No it's not a surprise.  It's also not a surprise that Lexus consistently occupies top spot.  Owners of most Lexus' are probably customers for life.  It's not possible to try out every single car make/model so JD powers & Associates IQS is a good way to judge how reliable or unreliable your car will be.  It's not a guarantee that it will be but from a statistical standpoint, it's close enough.

[Baz]

You are correct here Rogue.

If you follow these ratings long enough, the data tends not to lie. Initial problems usually extend themselves down the road.

However, one case I can use for an example was our Corolla. Remember the acceleration issue? It took that car from tops of the quality food chain to the bottome due to the size of the recall. Then back up again once the problem was corrected.

Through that whol time ( 3 years) our Corrolla did not cost us a cent, and the recall was a 20 minute stop at the dealer. So while the car had a poor rating for a brief time, the reality was that the car still remains an outstanding econobox in my books.

When you see a substantial drop in JD powers ratings, it usually comes from increased cutomer complaints. So that is something I would not ignore.

[Rogue]

Agree with the causes of yo-yo IQS ratings on certain cars/make.

An even better metric is when you look at the IQS by model.  Now that is very useful, because some models are just dead stone reliable and are built to a high standards.  Meanwhile some models from THE SAME manufacturer has an IQS rating that is at the bottom.  If you look at these then crosscheck against Consumer Guide's ratings and others online, consistently reliable cars will always pop up.

Having said all that, it's obvious many people buy cars and bikes for reasons other than quality.  I know I do.  That's what warranties are for!  

[Bruce Bogtrotter]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/First-rides-tests/2011/January/jan0311-top-5-reliable-sportsbikes/_/R-EPI-128413

More than 12,000 MCN readers have responded to our Biking Britain survey this year, and your combined scores on the bikes you own and love (or hate) have allowed us to put together this definitive list of your top 5 reliable sportsbikes.

1. Honda
2. Honda
3. Honda
4. Honda
5. Honda

Honda reliability -- zombie myth that will not die!

[gritsngravy]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/First-rides-tests/2011/January/jan0311-top-5-reliable-sportsbikes/_/R-EPI-128413

1. Honda
2. Honda
3. Honda
4. Honda
5. Honda

Honda reliability -- zombie myth that will not die!

Never!!  

[Silverbird]

I think Honda's reputation for "Durability" is well earned.  You can let 'em sit for years and they'll fire right up.  Beat 'em down with neglect and they keep running like new. They also run like new no matter how many miles you put on them.  All bikes are reliable these days, but Hondas have that little something extra that makes them very special bikes.  Too bad they don't seem interested in making anything but "practical" bikes that get a zillion miles to the gallon.

[Royal Tiger]

So Hondas eating stators often enough to show up in Motorcyclists jeers section and CBR1000RR's drinking oil like an old English bike are signs of Hondas continued reliability dominance?  Gotcha.

[veefer800canuck]

So Hondas eating stators often enough to show up in Motorcyclists jeers section and CBR1000RR's drinking oil like an old English bike are signs of Hondas continued reliability dominance?  Gotcha.

I changed the stator on my VFR800 at the 12 year mark, and 50,000 miles because I felt like doing something nice for my bike, just in case.

It was still putting out 13.8 volts all the time, battery was being charged just fine.

And I still haven't added any oil to it in the past 13 years........

Now how about those final drive failures..........

[coucours grad]

And I know of 3 Civic's well over the 400k mark on a clutch and a cabin air blower motor....



    Hell, the 1500 Goldwings dont even really start shifting right till they get 75k on them then keep running till the owners just got tired of them.


   And I think part of the CBR's problem is that the bike loves to live at the red-line and lends itself to being there.


    I used to be a "anything BUT a Honda" kinda fellow....This ST and working on nieghborhood cars has taught me to look beyond that.


    They make a first class product. Compare fit and finesh on a ST to a Connie. Honda wouldnt put out a bike with plastic parts hanging out...Ill fitting bodyworks dont exist on the Honda's.


    Unless the monkey in the dealership couldnt read the assembly directions.

[Royal Tiger]

All liter sportbikes "like to live at the red line", yet only the Hondas drink oil.  Of course they didn't have the catastrophic frame failures like Suzuki.  I think all modern bikes are "reliable" at a much higher level then as little as 15 years ago.  My aprilia was dead on reliable.  Do we owe Honda a debt of gratitude for the way they pulled motorcycling out of the dark ages?  Absolutely.  But everyone else has caught up and there really is no clear advantage.

[birdrunner]

Back to the origional post:

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

I've never heard of a serious  (or even fun) endurance race where all entries FINISHED.

[Silverbird]

So Hondas eating stators often enough to show up in Motorcyclists jeers section and CBR1000RR's drinking oil like an old English bike are signs of Hondas continued reliability dominance?  Gotcha.

Name one make with fewer issues.

[birdrunner]

Name one make with fewer issues.

TONKA

[Royal Tiger]

Name one make with fewer issues.

Kawasaki
Yamaha
Triumph
Hell my aprilia never had a single issue.

The CBR oil issues are well known.  My point is just about any new bike is sure to be of high quality these days.  He'll even Moto Guzzi has become semi main stream.  I already stated Honda did more then anyone else to make motorcycles reliable, practical vehicles.  However everyone has caught up.

[kevinwilly]

Over the last 10 years, Yamaha has consistently been the brand of motorcycles with the fewest service visits.


I'm not saying honda doesn't make reliable machines, but they are NOT the most reliable thing out there (whether you talk about cars or bikes), and almost anything on the road today can be made to last with scheduled maintenance.

With their cars, they are made to be boring. Boring means less features. less features means less things to break. Sure- BMW and Mercedes will always require more service on their cars. But they are also jam-packed with neat shit. From my (fairly vast) experience, the build quality is higher on many other cars than on Hondas as well. The "initial quality" reports do not really tell the whole story with the car.

Also- Hondas are a total pain in the butt to work on. Which means a LOT in my book.

As far as the endurance race. Sure- they were racing CB500's. A simple, ancient motor by todays standards with a VERY low specific power output, all things considered. I'd never expect anything to go wrong with something like that. You try and get ACTUAL power out of an engine, and it'll have issues. Something with lower power like that will of COURSE be very reliable.


Anyways, I've worked on everything under the sun. My buddy's CBR929RR has been the most troublesome bike I've ever had to deal with. Has some kind of strange electrical failure almost once a year. Injection harness burning out, R/R going bad, a few other things.

For the most part, though- they are built almost identically to every other bike out there.

The whole bit about Hondas being super reliable is just the product of them making cheap, simple shit for so long. That being said- the civic is a cheap, reliable car. Perfect for someone who just needs something to get around in. I'd never be caught dead owning something that boring, though.