2 definitions by WheelsOnTheLine
Extremely reliable and well-engineered car for the masses. Excellent market focus and superb assembly have made this THE best selling car in North America for many years running.
We love it when people come into the $hop with a "competitive" American car complaining about low power and a smoky exhaust (worn rings, destroyed valve seals, and myriad other malfunctions) at only 60,000 miles, saying "I saved $1,500 and bought this (insert name of Ford, GM or Chrysler product in same market segment) instead of a Honda Accord."
Of course, over the "life" of their American car they will pay me many thousands more than they saved on the initial purchase price. Life is good!
Crappy American cars that TRY to match the reliability of a Honda Accord?...well, keep buying them, America. American cars that break down a lot keep my $hop and my six employees afloat with plenty of work! :-)
If it weren't for American cars, I'd be a two-man shop doing only preventative maintenance (oil and trans fluid changes, a/c checks, spark plug changes once every 100,000 miles, yada yada).
We love it when people come into the $hop with a "competitive" American car complaining about low power and a smoky exhaust (worn rings, destroyed valve seals, and myriad other malfunctions) at only 60,000 miles, saying "I saved $1,500 and bought this (insert name of Ford, GM or Chrysler product in same market segment) instead of a Honda Accord."
Of course, over the "life" of their American car they will pay me many thousands more than they saved on the initial purchase price. Life is good!
Crappy American cars that TRY to match the reliability of a Honda Accord?...well, keep buying them, America. American cars that break down a lot keep my $hop and my six employees afloat with plenty of work! :-)
If it weren't for American cars, I'd be a two-man shop doing only preventative maintenance (oil and trans fluid changes, a/c checks, spark plug changes once every 100,000 miles, yada yada).
Customer: "My warranty just expired on this Dodge Stratus, and it won't run."
Mechanic: "The PCM failed completely. I can get a used PCM from a salvage yard for the same model year for only $250.00"
Customer: "A used one? This car is only 3 years old. Did the other guy wreck his Stratus?"
Mechanic: "No...he did regular oil changes, but his engine seized at 43,000 miles due to sludge buildup from poor Chrysler design of the oiling system. Oh, a new PCM from Chrysler is over $400.00, but no warranty since Chrysler doesn't warrant their OEM electrical parts."
Customer: "Maybe I'll get a Ford Focus..."
Mechanic: "Sure, why not." (Me smiling at a customer for life; if he bought a Honda Accord, we wouldn't be having this conversation)
Mechanic: "The PCM failed completely. I can get a used PCM from a salvage yard for the same model year for only $250.00"
Customer: "A used one? This car is only 3 years old. Did the other guy wreck his Stratus?"
Mechanic: "No...he did regular oil changes, but his engine seized at 43,000 miles due to sludge buildup from poor Chrysler design of the oiling system. Oh, a new PCM from Chrysler is over $400.00, but no warranty since Chrysler doesn't warrant their OEM electrical parts."
Customer: "Maybe I'll get a Ford Focus..."
Mechanic: "Sure, why not." (Me smiling at a customer for life; if he bought a Honda Accord, we wouldn't be having this conversation)
by WheelsOnTheLine June 25, 2007
Despite having a later start (due to having risen from the ashes of WWII) than other marques, Honda has enjoyed a rich racing history in many venues.
Teaming with Frank Williams in the 1980's Formula One arena, they took both the Constructors' and Drivers' World Championships on multiple occasions, at one time taking both in the same year. The 1987 season saw Honda power take a 1-2-3-4 finish at the British Grand Prix, which set the stage for pushing Ford and its Cosworth series of V8 engines off of racing's most prestigious motorsports podium for keeps.
On an interesting note, Honda took a Formula One victory in a car featuring their own chassis and V12 engine in 1965, nearly two years before any American car and engine combination could claim the same.
Honda's performance in all levels of motorcycle racing (250cc, 500cc, 1000cc, SuperBike, the list goes on) can only be described as legendary.
The latest hit on American cars attempting to keep up has been at the Indianapolis 500. The 2006 running of this race saw Chevrolet giving up completely and not supporting one single team, fearing that Honda would completely thrash its Chevy V8 (an Ilmor 256 design). The 2006 race saw a perfect reliability record by all of the Honda-powered cars, with all race finishers being powered by Honda. Any DNF's were usually caused by driver error and crashing (with that Honda engine still running hard).
That cowardly decision by Chevrolet Racing to simply give up proved to be a huge PR failure for General Motors.
Teaming with Frank Williams in the 1980's Formula One arena, they took both the Constructors' and Drivers' World Championships on multiple occasions, at one time taking both in the same year. The 1987 season saw Honda power take a 1-2-3-4 finish at the British Grand Prix, which set the stage for pushing Ford and its Cosworth series of V8 engines off of racing's most prestigious motorsports podium for keeps.
On an interesting note, Honda took a Formula One victory in a car featuring their own chassis and V12 engine in 1965, nearly two years before any American car and engine combination could claim the same.
Honda's performance in all levels of motorcycle racing (250cc, 500cc, 1000cc, SuperBike, the list goes on) can only be described as legendary.
The latest hit on American cars attempting to keep up has been at the Indianapolis 500. The 2006 running of this race saw Chevrolet giving up completely and not supporting one single team, fearing that Honda would completely thrash its Chevy V8 (an Ilmor 256 design). The 2006 race saw a perfect reliability record by all of the Honda-powered cars, with all race finishers being powered by Honda. Any DNF's were usually caused by driver error and crashing (with that Honda engine still running hard).
That cowardly decision by Chevrolet Racing to simply give up proved to be a huge PR failure for General Motors.
Two guys watching ESPN at the local sports bar:
Race Fan: "Man, that Honda-powered Formula One car just blistered out a 1.7 second 0-60 time. A great example of Honda Racing making its mark."
Neck-boy: "My 2002 Chevy Camaro can do that!"
Race Fan: "Oh, really...by the way, where is your Chevy?"
Neck-boy: "Back at home. I'm all greasy from crawling under it every week because it breaks down all the time...but Chevy's rule! YEAH! Mine's a cherry with only 24,000 miles on it!"
Race Fan: "Sure. Only 24 thou'? Wow, it must break down a lot. Hey, you need a ride home in my Honda Civic? Granted it's a bone-stock 1993 with 287,000 miles on it with the original motor, but it still runs great."
Neck-boy: "Uh, no thanks. I'd rather walk the 7 miles to my house in this 106-degree heat and risk a heat stroke rather than be seen in your intelligently designed, financially-smart and incredibly reliable foreign car. Nothin' personal, but my friends would make fun of me...you know, peer pressure."
Race Fan: "Suit yourself. Hey, why is your Camaro a 2002? Can't you get a newer one?"
Neck-boy "No, GM quit producing them after the 2002 model year because nobody was buying them."
Race Fan: "Man, that Honda-powered Formula One car just blistered out a 1.7 second 0-60 time. A great example of Honda Racing making its mark."
Neck-boy: "My 2002 Chevy Camaro can do that!"
Race Fan: "Oh, really...by the way, where is your Chevy?"
Neck-boy: "Back at home. I'm all greasy from crawling under it every week because it breaks down all the time...but Chevy's rule! YEAH! Mine's a cherry with only 24,000 miles on it!"
Race Fan: "Sure. Only 24 thou'? Wow, it must break down a lot. Hey, you need a ride home in my Honda Civic? Granted it's a bone-stock 1993 with 287,000 miles on it with the original motor, but it still runs great."
Neck-boy: "Uh, no thanks. I'd rather walk the 7 miles to my house in this 106-degree heat and risk a heat stroke rather than be seen in your intelligently designed, financially-smart and incredibly reliable foreign car. Nothin' personal, but my friends would make fun of me...you know, peer pressure."
Race Fan: "Suit yourself. Hey, why is your Camaro a 2002? Can't you get a newer one?"
Neck-boy "No, GM quit producing them after the 2002 model year because nobody was buying them."
by WheelsOnTheLine June 25, 2007