How Honda is screwing me.

[Audi Junkie]

Alright. Here we are again.

After a lot of delays, I had my trial!

My damages were $1100 from my shop's estimate.

I had another Honda dealer est at $750, but that was out of town, so I added a rental car for $250. This way, the judge had a range of options.

At first, I objected to the cust service rep acting as a legal counsel. The judge was lil annoyed, not too bad. I explained what happened and the second the judge saw the pics, he basicly flipped out. He actually has some paint issues with his MK-Z, but the dealer is giving him 100% satisfaction.

Anyway, I went in really not wanting another dealer re-do, but it was a forced solution, Jedi-style. He told them to give me a nice loaner car, paint my whole car, which I did not want, but he said if they cannot match it, paint the whole car. They said they could match it and would do the whole front which is what I want. So, a hood respray (all those chips!) and the missmatched fender and the other one too.

I explained to the shop I did not want the same [censored] again, to do it right. I'd prefer not to have it done going into winter, but at this point I just don't care.

So, I took the deal and the Honda dealer is getting another shot at it. Is that a win? Well, their original position was no redo. After I filed they offered to "repaint it", which probally meant just the fender. So I held out and got more...not everything I wanted, a check to go to my own shop, but the Judge said for them to pay the court costs too...so that's a win in my book.

This whole thing really tried my patience and ruined my ownership experience, with this particular car, the dealership and Honda. I really almost traded it in a few times. For the $375 I pay, I could do better, but I only owe under $12k. I kind of want a Saturn Vue if I could get one cheap. However, I probally will be loggin a lot of miles when I turn my attention to an out of town project I have coming. Lots of miles on the hwy will not come as cheap in a new SUV. I might be back to 20k miles a year. I can get 30 mpg in the Accord, so...that leaves a VW CC, awesome for the lease cost, but I'll need to drive too many miles.

btw- my friend got a CC and it is incredible. $359/mo nothing down, 6sp manual sport with the 2.0t.

 

[Quattro Pete]

The CC is super nice. I also sat in the new GTI today in the showroom... yummy! I loved the seats and the overall tightness of it. I'm definitely downsizing for my next car.

 

[silverrat]

If you don't like the way Honda is treating you get ready for VW of America's incompetence once you have to deal with them.

 

[fdcg27]

One reads lots of bad stuff about VW dealers.
In my personal experience, Honda dealers are the only downside of Honda ownership.
Just as an example, we stopped by a Honda store for a couple of quarts of Honda Genuine MTF, pretty reasonable in price even at full retail.
We were of course approached by a salesman.
Since I will be buying one in the next 0-12 months, I asked whether they had any 5 spd Accords in stock, since I wanted a test drive.
Nope, not a one.
It is enough to make an old-school Honda buyer cry.
Quattro Pete, there is no excuse for the treatment you got in this instance. Both American Honda and the dealer conspired to ensure that you'll be buying your next new Honda when you see pigs flying past your window.
A real shame that your ownership of such a nice car had to be ruined by indifference and incompetence.

 

[GMBoy]

Well atleast here is a place where all import and domestic fans can agree - ALL DEALERSHIPS SUCK!

 

[PT1]

I would say you won. But am surprised the dealer is such an idiot. This kind of stuff is exactly how GM got to where they are right now. It is also surprising AHM did not step in and rectify the whole issue since the root cause is their fault to begin with. Now they have ruined what could have been a repeat buyer relationship. Had they stepped in and simply repainted the entire front clip on the car you would be boasting instead of complaining.

I have been through this type of thing with GM over major structural defects in their products over 3 times and it is emotionally exhausting. I just don't understand why these car companies don't get the idea of "lose the battle...win the war" with the customer.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Yeah, that "root cause" being Honda's bad factory paint is something I never really stressed.

fwiw, my VW/Audi dealer is AWESOME. I could detail that for people, but let's leave it at that.

Hopefully when my car comes back, it'll be good enough for me to regain some affinity for it. I hate the idea that I'm stuck with it, but it IS a decent car and I am not really ready to go through buying another new car....although I could do better for the same money (monthly).

 

[Vizzy]

In the future if you have ANY factory defect (defective paint is one) please request that the dealer have the factory district service representative check out the problem!!!!!!!!!

In general you will have a better time when dealing with the manufacturer directly. I would bet that if you requested that the repair be done at a shop of your choice it would have been granted by the DSM.

As a rule I always would get the factory rep involved on ANY issue with a new car problem/concern that is a mfr issue.

DO NOT let the dealer deter you from this. If the dealer balks at this request simply tell the dealer manager or owner that you will be contacting the mfr directly if they do not honor your request, you'll be amazed athow quickly they will comply. It may take a few weeks to have them look at the issue but be patient, the results you get are almost always worth the wait.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Sounds good.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Alright. Here we are again.

After a lot of delays, I had my trial!

My damages were $1100 from my shop's estimate.

I had another Honda dealer est at $750, but that was out of town, so I added a rental car for $250. This way, the judge had a range of options.

At first, I objected to the cust service rep acting as a legal counsel. The judge was lil annoyed, not too bad. I explained what happened and the second the judge saw the pics, he basicly flipped out. He actually has some paint issues with his MK-Z, but the dealer is giving him 100% satisfaction.

Anyway, I went in really not wanting another dealer re-do, but it was a forced solution, Jedi-style. He told them to give me a nice loaner car, paint my whole car, which I did not want, but he said if they cannot match it, paint the whole car. They said they could match it and would do the whole front which is what I want. So, a hood respray (all those chips!) and the missmatched fender and the other one too.

I explained to the shop I did not want the same [censored] again, to do it right. I'd prefer not to have it done going into winter, but at this point I just don't care.

So, I took the deal and the Honda dealer is getting another shot at it. Is that a win? Well, their original position was no redo. After I filed they offered to "repaint it", which probally meant just the fender. So I held out and got more...not everything I wanted, a check to go to my own shop, but the Judge said for them to pay the court costs too...so that's a win in my book.

This whole thing really tried my patience and ruined my ownership experience, with this particular car, the dealership and Honda. I really almost traded it in a few times. For the $375 I pay, I could do better, but I only owe under $12k. I kind of want a Saturn Vue if I could get one cheap. However, I probally will be loggin a lot of miles when I turn my attention to an out of town project I have coming. Lots of miles on the hwy will not come as cheap in a new SUV. I might be back to 20k miles a year. I can get 30 mpg in the Accord, so...that leaves a VW CC, awesome for the lease cost, but I'll need to drive too many miles.

btw- my friend got a CC and it is incredible. $359/mo nothing down, 6sp manual sport with the 2.0t.



1st - congrat's on your win. I am glad to see someone not let a bad dealer/car mfg get away with [censored] like that. I traded the Toyota with all the problems( paint was one of them )rather than fight it but I hated the vehicle. You like yours so kudos for fighting and winning!

I had a feeling though the Judge was going to allow the dealer to redo it but at least you got more than just a fender redo. Also, if they do this job poorly you can take them back to court and this time the judge will allow another shop to do it plus you will be awarded compensation for all your time and troubles.

2nd - Obviously with the falling through of the Penske deal Saturn is more than likely going away so it would probably not be a good idea to buy a new Vue. However, if you would like something in the Vue class( cross over SUV ), but you have MPG concerns, go take a serious look at the new 2010 Chevy Equinox. It is getting rave reviews, it is very similar to the Vue, and the FWD 4cyl version has a 32MPG highway rating( 22 city ).

 

[Audi Junkie]

They did my chipped hood, the fender they *** up and the other fender too. The kicker is, I asked for a decent price on painting the bumper too. They never got back to me and after a full week of waiting, it came out awesome with the front bumper done too! It was sanded after spraying, the paint is as smooth as an old Jag.It has a nice clear, without being overdone and the friggin' colour matches!

I almost feel bad sticking them for the court costs. The Judge said it was on them, but I dunno, I may pass but I have a reputation to maintain. I would not want some adversary to see I got a zero award, but that's not a big deal at this point.

I had to work them pretty hard to git 'er done, even after trial, but I was polite. I'm glad I always maintained character, and never blew up at anyone.

After a full year, I feel like I got "my" car back. It really does look awesome and the lesson is it pays to take it to court.

Time to order a clear bra.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Looks nice. How about a full car pic? I love the Accord coupes.

I wouldn't put a clear bra on there until the paint cures. Don't wax it for at least a month for the same reason.

 

[Audi Junkie]

I love Accord Coupes too. I did so even back before this car when I got my RSX, but was mistaken about how good a price I could get on one and many other things.

Here are the car pics...

For reference:

 

[Scienceman]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Well atleast here is a place where all import and domestic fans can agree - ALMOST DEALERSHIPS SUCK!

agreed

 

[AntiMatic]

Recently bought an 09 Accord (1 of several past and present Hondas I own/have owned) It was not easy to find a 5sp manual. I found 1 LX-P in NC and 1 in SC: I now happily own the dark gray one I bought in SC. I have never had to deal with a dealership except to buy: never taken in for service or problems. I only buy parts (some) from them.

 

[ecotourist]

As stone chips have been a problem you might consider getting a clear plastic film (it's 3M I think) appied along the leading edge of the hood and the top front of the fenders. It's almost invisible. It costs a couple of hundred dollars.

I had it done on my 2007 Accord sedan and have very few stone chips. Don't know if there is a waiting time after fresh paint but that would have to be checked out.

Ecotourist

 

[Audi Junkie]

Wow, I JUST got done with the last part of a clear bra. I swapped hoods back to the carbon one and stored the fresh one. Sorry I deleted the fresh paint pics. Anyway, I put a 3M clear bra on the CF hood and a generic one on the bumper. The generic on the Astra is good. I would probably get the 3M again. It only cost about $50.