Brian Smith

<isquat@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172731599.454447.135480@k78g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>
> My experience might be BS but I can assure you that the money flushed
> the drain on my old Subaru were very real. No old used cars for me jap
> or otherwise thank you very much. The reliability is way overhyped.

You're badmouthing Honda based on your experience with Subaru. That
makes no sense what-so-ever.

Doug B

isquat@gmail.com wrote:
> On Feb 26, 2:17 pm, "DodgeDriver" <wing...@invalid.net> wrote:
>> We are in the USA. Granddaughter is looking to buy her first car. She is
>> talking Honda Civic. Don't know why, but she believes that is what she
>> wants. She will have about $5,000 (US) to spend. I lean toward something
>> not more than 5 years old. Haven't started looking but thought I would ask
>> this group for opinions re: a Civic. Are all Civics created equal or are
>> there certain models/years to stay away from?
>>
>> Thanks for any help.
>
> For $5k I'd buy an american over a jap car anyday.

Your bias is evident in your use of an ethnic slur in your reply, making
your opinion even more worthless than most.

isquat@gmail.com

On Mar 1, 1:06 am, "Brian Smith" <Hali...@NovaScotia.Canada> wrote:
> <isq...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1172731599.454447.135480@k78g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>
>
>
> > My experience might be BS but I can assure you that the money flushed
> > the drain on my old Subaru were very real. No old used cars for me jap
> > or otherwise thank you very much. The reliability is way overhyped.
>
> You're badmouthing Honda based on your experience with Subaru. That
> makes no sense what-so-ever.

I was explaining to the OP that there are better deals and that
for $5k he can get a car in better shape if he shops elsewhere.
I don't have a problem if he buys a new Civic but a used one
is not a good value that's all. I think I explained already
that CIvic Si is on the list of my protege replacements
along with RX-8 and EVO. (Mazdaspeed 3 won't cut it for me).
In case you wonder what I'm doing on this NG in the first place.

Brian Smith

<isquat@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1172769362.483037.44050@31g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
>
> I was explaining to the OP that there are better deals and that
> for $5k he can get a car in better shape if he shops elsewhere.
> I don't have a problem if he buys a new Civic but a used one
> is not a good value that's all. I think I explained already
> that CIvic Si is on the list of my protege replacements
> along with RX-8 and EVO. (Mazdaspeed 3 won't cut it for me).
> In case you wonder what I'm doing on this NG in the first place.

From the experiences I have had over the years with any of the BIG 3
companies products, there is no way that any of them come close to being
better than a Honda.

I have owned GM and Ford vehicles that have more rattles, squeaks and
shakes than a ten year old Honda.

Mike Smith

isquat@gmail.com wrote:
>
> My experience might be BS but I can assure you that the money flushed
> the drain on my old Subaru were very real. No old used cars for me jap
> or otherwise thank you very much. The reliability is way overhyped.

Well, you're the poor sap who bought a used Subaru. Hondas and Toyotas
are much more reliable. Nissans are more like VWs - they'll last a long
time too, but demand careful maintenance.

--
Mike Smith

Mike Smith

Brian Smith wrote:
> <isquat@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1172769362.483037.44050@31g2000cwt.googlegrou ps.com...
>> I was explaining to the OP that there are better deals and that
>> for $5k he can get a car in better shape if he shops elsewhere.
>> I don't have a problem if he buys a new Civic but a used one
>> is not a good value that's all. I think I explained already
>> that CIvic Si is on the list of my protege replacements
>> along with RX-8 and EVO. (Mazdaspeed 3 won't cut it for me).
>> In case you wonder what I'm doing on this NG in the first place.
>
> From the experiences I have had over the years with any of the BIG 3
> companies products, there is no way that any of them come close to being
> better than a Honda.
>
> I have owned GM and Ford vehicles that have more rattles, squeaks and
> shakes than a ten year old Honda.

I got rid of a Saturn (LS2) after 2 1/2 years 'cause of the rattles and
noises it was making. And it was only book valued at $8k by that time,
after having spent $21k for it new. I hear the Aura is much better, but
I'll let someone else risk their money.

--
Mike Smith

E Meyer

On 3/2/07 10:38 PM, in article 12uhuus5j7l371a@news.supernews.com, "Mike
Smith" <mike_UNDERSCORE_smith@acm.DOT.org> wrote:

> isquat@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>> My experience might be BS but I can assure you that the money flushed
>> the drain on my old Subaru were very real. No old used cars for me jap
>> or otherwise thank you very much. The reliability is way overhyped.
>
> Well, you're the poor sap who bought a used Subaru. Hondas and Toyotas
> are much more reliable. Nissans are more like VWs - they'll last a long
> time too, but demand careful maintenance.
>
> --
> Mike Smith

Where did you get that tidbit? I have found the opposite to be true. The
Hondas need more tlc than the Nissans.

My Nissans (6 and counting) have all required less maintenance than my
Hondas. Their ABS doesn't fail if you don't change the brake fluid every
two years, their transmissions don't fail if you don't change the tranny
fluid every two years, etc.

Brian Smith

"E Meyer" <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote in message
news:C20EE20E.20447%epmeyer50@msn.com...
>
> Where did you get that tidbit? I have found the opposite to be true. The
> Hondas need more tlc than the Nissans.
>
> My Nissans (6 and counting) have all required less maintenance than my
> Hondas. Their ABS doesn't fail if you don't change the brake fluid every
> two years, their transmissions don't fail if you don't change the tranny
> fluid every two years, etc.

Brake fluid deteriorates as does transmission fluid. It only makes sense
to change fluids to prolong the life of the machinery.

E Meyer

On 3/3/07 8:32 AM, in article lGfGh.2690$Du6.2230@edtnps82, "Brian Smith"
<Halifax@NovaScotia.Canada> wrote:

>
> "E Meyer" <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:C20EE20E.20447%epmeyer50@msn.com...
>>
>> Where did you get that tidbit? I have found the opposite to be true. The
>> Hondas need more tlc than the Nissans.
>>
>> My Nissans (6 and counting) have all required less maintenance than my
>> Hondas. Their ABS doesn't fail if you don't change the brake fluid every
>> two years, their transmissions don't fail if you don't change the tranny
>> fluid every two years, etc.
>
> Brake fluid deteriorates as does transmission fluid. It only makes sense
> to change fluids to prolong the life of the machinery.
>
>
Whether it makes sense is not the point. The point is that it doesn't
matter with the Nissans and it definitely does on the Hondas.

In fact, unlike Honda, changing brake fluid is not on the maintenance list
for any of the Nissans and changing transmission fluid is only by condition,
not time or mileage.

Brian Smith

"E Meyer" <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote in message
news:C20F1105.20465%epmeyer50@msn.com...
>
> Whether it makes sense is not the point. The point is that it doesn't
> matter with the Nissans and it definitely does on the Hondas.

But it matters to people who perform preventative maintenace on their
vehicles.

> In fact, unlike Honda, changing brake fluid is not on the maintenance
> list
> for any of the Nissans and changing transmission fluid is only by
> condition,
> not time or mileage.

Just because Nissan forgot to include it on heir 'list' doesn't mean
that it doesn't have (or shouldn't) be changed.

Brian Smith

"E Meyer" <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote in message
news:C20F1105.20465%epmeyer50@msn.com...
>
> Whether it makes sense is not the point. The point is that it doesn't
> matter with the Nissans and it definitely does on the Hondas.
>
> In fact, unlike Honda, changing brake fluid is not on the maintenance
> list
> for any of the Nissans and changing transmission fluid is only by
> condition,
> not time or mileage.

I should add that I am the manager for a truck fleet (all automatic
transmission equipped), the transmission fluid and filtres are replaced
every year as part of the fleet's preventative maintenance program.

jim beam

Brian Smith wrote:
> "E Meyer" <epmeyer50@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:C20F1105.20465%epmeyer50@msn.com...
>> Whether it makes sense is not the point. The point is that it doesn't
>> matter with the Nissans and it definitely does on the Hondas.
>>
>> In fact, unlike Honda, changing brake fluid is not on the maintenance
>> list
>> for any of the Nissans and changing transmission fluid is only by
>> condition,
>> not time or mileage.
>
> I should add that I am the manager for a truck fleet (all automatic
> transmission equipped), the transmission fluid and filtres are replaced
> every year as part of the fleet's preventative maintenance program.
>
>
what's that based on? analysis? manufacturer spec?

Brian Smith

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:IsSdnbINqdMXRHTYnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>
> what's that based on? analysis? manufacturer spec?

Common sense, really. Since implementing this procedure, transmission
problems and failures have ceased to occur. The replacement of the
transmission fluid and the filtres cost in the range of $300.00 to $400.00,
much less expensive than repairing or replacing an Allison transmission in a
large truck.

jim beam

Brian Smith wrote:
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> news:IsSdnbINqdMXRHTYnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> what's that based on? analysis? manufacturer spec?
>
> Common sense, really. Since implementing this procedure, transmission
> problems and failures have ceased to occur. The replacement of the
> transmission fluid and the filtres cost in the range of $300.00 to $400.00,
> much less expensive than repairing or replacing an Allison transmission in a
> large truck.
>
>
i'm interested to know - have you established from testing that the
lower failure rate is a function of this maint. schedule, or has allison
changed anything in their transmissions? and what was the failure mode?
metal fatigue for instance is not known to be influenced by oil filter
cleanliness. clutch life isn't rally affected by it either. operation
tends to get less smooth as particulates accumulate, but that's not
necessarily going to affect overall life of the transmission.

Brian Smith

"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:RJOdnX0uKYdcf3TYnZ2dnUVZ_qSrnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>
> i'm interested to know - have you established from testing that the lower
> failure rate is a function of this maint. schedule, or has allison changed
> anything in their transmissions? and what was the failure mode? metal
> fatigue for instance is not known to be influenced by oil filter
> cleanliness. clutch life isn't rally affected by it either. operation
> tends to get less smooth as particulates accumulate, but that's not
> necessarily going to affect overall life of the transmission.

In the past the transmission fluid and filtres hadn't been changed
except when the transmissions displayed problems (not shifting correctly,
jumping in and out of gear). Once I implemented the yearly changes, there
have been no further issues with any of the transmissions. The down time
that was experienced in the past was a killer on the schedules. They are
specialized trucks and one can't rent replacements from Ryder, so they have
to be working properly every day, all day long.