From: LJ09735@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM (JEFF)
Subject: Re: Honda Civic Bashing continues...
Organization: O/19-61
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 92 15:16:22 GMT

In article <1992Aug20.203505.8231@bnr.ca>, dwjz@bnr.ca (Doug Zolmer) writes:
> 
> In article <1293@bridge2.NSD.3Com.COM>, mtt@ESD.3Com.COM (Michael Throm) writes:
> |> Well your NOT alone.  I have a '91 civic hatchback and have had workmanship
> |> and petty design problems tarnish my belief in Honda.  The doors don't fit 
> |> properly and rattle when driving on silghtly rough city streets. The dash
> |> doesn't align properly, and little pieces have fallen off here and there
> |> either by themselves or by doing something as simple as adjusting the 
> |> rear view mirror.  I've also had the exhaust system taken apart to find
> |> a rattling noise there too.  I'll not think of Honda first this time.
> |> I guess hoping for two good Hondas in a row is too much to expect.
> |> 
> |> 
> 
> Definitely not alone.  My '92 Civic EX, which I've had for four months now
> has the following problems:
> 
> 1) There's a rattle behind the instrument panel.  The whole dash needs to
>    be taken apart to find it.  The rattle is really annoying.
> 2) The air-conditioner is wimpy.  The one in my '88 Civic could get it
>    cold enough inside that I could see my breath!  Not so in the '92.
> 3) The car came with a wheel balance problem; the steering wheel "shimmies"
>    at 120km/h (70mph?).  Dealer says "I had it up to 140km/h and 
>    couldn't feel a thing.  Go away."  I'll look at it when I buy some
>    winter tires.
> 4) The clutch pedal sticks when cold.  It sticks right at the friction point,
>    so to switch gears I have to put my foot _behind_ the clutch pedal and
>    pull it out with my toes.
> 5) The front passenger door is 1/8 of an inch out of alignment.  One of
>    these days I should get the dealer to rehang it, since it doesn't close
>    very well and rattles when going over bumps.  I had the same problem
>    with my previous civic.
> 6) The 1.6l 125HP engine is NOISY.  Definitely the noisiest car I've ever
>    owned.  Road noise is very apparent.  Argh!
> 7) The storage compartment marked "pocket" under the ashtray doesn't want
>    to open.  If I pull really hard, it will open, but then I have the same
>    trouble getting it closed.
> 8) The speaker wiring to the rear speakers doesn't work.  I had to install
>    another set of wires because it was nearly impossible to determine 
>    where the break in the wire is.  Since I took delivery of the car with
>    the awful factory installed radio and only the two front speakers,
>    the dealer figures the wires to the rear speakers were damaged by me
>    when I installed a CD player.  Therefore, no warranty.  Sheesh.
> 9) The 5-speed shifter has gotten really loose.  I'm worried that it will
>    start popping out of gear whenever I go over a big bump.
> 10) 'nuff said.
> 
> |> Mike T.
> |> 
> |> 
> 
> -- 
> dwjz@bnr.ca  Voice: +1 613 763-8217  Disclaimer: my opinions only  
> 
> 
Sad but true!!  I agree completely.  My 1989 Civic DX hatchback is the third,
and last, Honda I will own.  I have had problems too numerous to mention.  All
of them small (relatively) but, taken as a whole, they show what I feel to be
a decline in the overall quality of the machine.  It's a shame to see a product
line degenerate this way once a loyal customer base has been developed!  My
next car will be a Nissan, Mazda, or Saturn.  Live and learn, I guess.

-Jeff