The honey moon is over.
 

When I first got my HCHII I was pretty excited. Well, that's over. I would not buy this car again, and if this car is an indicator of what Honda does in it's car division then I won't be buying any more Honda cars at all.

Problems so far: Driver side window won't stay in the track, it "pops out" when rolling up. Fixed once, started doing it again the next day.

Windshield wipers, who designed this IDIOTIC SYSTEM. I've bought THREE sets of windshield wipers NONE of them fit. I've never owned a car where I had to buy OEM wipers (which SUCK by the way, last less than 6 months).

The car creaks, groans and rattles on anything but the smoothest pavement. There's so many squeeks and moans coming from inside on a bumpy road I long ago gave up thinking about fixing them all.

The seats stain easily, making my "new" car look like crap after only a few months.

The rear defroster takes about two weeks to defrost the window.

The center console is just a chasma where everything gets lost.

I can't find a comfortable setting for the driver side seat.

The montana-size piece of real-estate called the dash holds so much heat the car is like an oven in the summer (middle of winter and I still remember it).

Rear head rests are RIGHT in the way of the rear view mirror field of vision (removed them but I shouldn't have to).

Mileage not as advertised.

Nice warning gong when I leave the headlights on. Even my Toyota Tundra TRUCK is smart enough to just turn the lights off when I open the door so I never even have to think about turning the headlights on/off.

I should've bought a Prius. I'm so glad this is a company car, if I'd shelled out money for this car I'd be at my dealer taking a big loss on it trading it in.

If you're thinking about buying one of these.... things... don't. After the "cool" wears off you're left with a mediocre car that acts like it's 10 years old after only 6 months. Get the Toyota Prius. I should've figured there was a REASON the Prius is so much more popular.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Do you feel better!!!:zip:

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Uhm... no. Because I still have to carve time out of my personal life to go to a dealer to get WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES INSTALLED. Utterly ridiculous. Not to mention having them fix (yet again) the broken driver-side power window.

I never thought I'd see the day I had to make a trip to a dealer to install windshield wiper blades. If I'd known that when I bought the car, I honestly would not have bought it. That kind of idiocy indicates a much broader failure to understand consumer needs.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

The honey moon is over; now a spouse, not a girlfriend
 

Sorry to hear about your experience. I do not have most of your problems; original wipers at 20,000 miles and 14 months. Of course, I had a Volvo prior to this so noises, frequent repairs, and OEM parts were par for the course. I am delighted how reliable the Honda is by comparison. I hedged my bets; after all it is an all new model so one might expect a few problems and got the extended warranty for 6/100,000 and I hope I wasted my money. You may be happier only buying cars out for a while rather than a first year model. By the way, just for more aggrevation, you may have to take it in for the latest recall (see other threads). Check the date of manufacture

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

I can see how you'd be pissed about these inconveniences. IMO this car was designed more for So. CA. None of those complaints really make a huge difference when you think of car pool advantages and not really having to deal with cold weather hassles. The car works well for me in this location and no real complaints at all.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Okay, I gotta defend the HCHII -- one of the greatest cars on the road today. :)

Honda is well-known to make cars of the highest quality. Lemons can happen to any manufacturer (of which every state has a mediation process).
This is a valid complaint. I'm sure your "fix" was prior to an appropriately designed one. Give Honda another chance to fix it.
Honda cannot be held at fault for the sizes of aftermarket winshield wiper. Likely, because of the newness of the HCHII, aftermarket replacement wipers have not yet been designed as perfect replacements.
This is a valid complaint and I empathize with you. I do not think it is representative of all HCHIIs or Honda in general. You should note all of them and bring the car in to the dealership. If your dealership cannot satisfy, then find one who can.

This does not seem to be a common complaint here. I suggest you clean and scotchguard your seats.
Again, not common; bring it up with the dealer.

Maybe you can elaborate on this vague complaint.

This is an issue that you could've discovered on a lengthy test drive - which is your responsibility. Personally, I dislike the upper rake of the seat angle and added cushion from a seat upholstere to fix the issue.

This is a result of the aerodynamic shape of the car which helps your FE. You should get a sun visor like everyone else here.

I don't have this problem. This is a safety feature to protect your rear occupants from whiplash.
Advetised Mileage is an EPA rating -- which are off for ALL cars. And guaranteed your HCHII is still getting twice the FE of most cars on the road. (Prius dissapoint you as well, by your measure)

Common, this is nitpicky. Do you want a $22k hybrid or a $30k one.

Some people like the Prius more, some the HCHII more. That's why many of us test drove both before deciding.

If you're thinking about buying one of these and are reading lots of reviews to help you make your decision, remember the bell-curve and write off a few reviews on the uber-high and -low ends.

The HCHII is a great car! Molex, I am truly sorry you had a negative experience with your car. I hope you find happiness with a Prius. Peace!

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Gotta agree with noflash, here. Sorry the honeymoon is over for you, but many of us really still like our Civics!

First year models (of ANY make) are notorious for a multitude of minor issues. At least they usually ARE minor. The HCH-2 certainly has its share. And Honda has been somewhat slow to address them all, IMO. I understand your annoyance here, but this is just "par for course" with most new models.

Complaining about the MPG. MOST vehicles on the road will get under EPA if you drive them 60+ MPH and use the AC at all. Which is what most people do. The Prius is no exception to this rule. In fact, you may be MORE dissapointed in its MPG vs. its EPA rating. I'm getting 44+ MPG in the winter (admittedly in Dallas, but it HAS been cold here). That's only 12% below the EPA 50 MPG. In the summer, I get 46+ MPG (and average 47-48), or less than 8% under EPA. And I USE the AC.
An EPA-rated 20 MPG car getting 17 MPG (for example) is getting 15% below the EPA rating. At 18 MPG, it is still 10% under the EPA rating. Many people don't see it like this - if they are even looking at their gas mileage closely.

Also, remember this is an entry-level car, the Civic. Now it has become quite expensive for an entry-level car, but nevertheless. It is NOT an Accord, or Camry, or Lexus. Comfort is relative, and I find it acceptable. Quite a few people have complained about the too-far-forward headrests. This is a new thing for Honda, in trying to reduce whiplash injury. I find the headrests OK. I do think they are a little bit too far forward as well. To me, they are not uncomfortable, but transfer the road vibrations directly to your head, if you let your head rest directly on them.
My rear defroster works fine.
I DO find the rear-view partially obstructed by the rear headrests, but it's not enough to bother me. The super-wide front pillars are more bothersome to me, and take some getting used to.
My 30K Tribute doesn't turn off the lights automatically, either. Neither did my prior car, a 60K Jaguar XJ6. It's a nice feature to have, but again, this is supposed to be an entry-level car, hybridized. I didn't expect this feature. However, you can add an aftermarket auto-light shutoff. They're not that expensive, as I recall.
Many of us did get a sun shade for the massive greenhouse of a front windshield. Mine works great.
Most of these issues are design issues with the Civic, whether or not it is a hybrid. I find them minor, and have accepted them.

What a whiner!
 

Not to be rude, but you have a great car, but to get it to shine, you have to make an effort.

You have had one manufacturing defect that seems to be recurring, but that is it. Most other automobile manufacturers would kill for such a high level of quality.

Your other complaints look like they are self-induced.

For example all of my cars seem to have unique wiper blade refills. All that means is that I have to buy them from a Honda parts dealer instead of Pep Boys. Big deal. Chances are that there was nothing wrong with your wiper blades in the first place, except that you did not keep them clean of the gunk they sweep up off the windshield.

You complaint about the upholstery being dirty means that the people that ride in the car probably have clothes that are just as dirty, and it is rubbing off on the car. Try wearing clean clothes or if that fails, apply a good application of Scotch Guard to the cloth. It works wonders in helping minimize dirt.

Don't like the gas mileage you are getting? Then learn to drive in a way to get those number. I drive for maximum mileage and so do many other folks. we get the advertised numbers.

The rest of your complaints are just silly. If you had bought a Prius, you probably would be complaining about the same things.:D

Re: What a whiner!
 

LOL! Yep, it's all me, it's all in my head. And when $20k plus has been shelled out for a car with this many issues I have absolutely no right to complain or, for that matter, even bring them up. You hit the nail on the head there, I should just close my mouth and pretend this is the greatest car out there so I can fit in and be accepted by the crowd, right?

Thank you for presuming to tell me that the things I observe are "silly" and that all I'm doing is "whining". Next time you buy something and it disappoints you be sure to remember your own advice, m-kay?

FWIW, I bought a Toyota truck 4 years ago. It had one problem (improperly formed fuel filler neck) which was fixed under warranty (the first time around, mind you). Outside that, the more I've driven the truck the more NICE things I've discovered about it. Exactly the opposite of the HCH, which the longer I drive the more PROBLEMS I find with it.

I recognize that my laundry list of complaints contains nothing significant or earth-shattering. But that doesn't mean my complaints aren't valid. This car is nothing special, and in some ways falls rather short of the mark set by the folks who seem so intent on supporting it.

Sounds like it is time
 

to trade the Honda for a Toyota.

Re: What a whiner!
 

Sounds like there's some misplaced rage going on here. (The problems you cite do not warrant the extreme reaction you are having.)

This is a hybrid, and that alone would (seem) to cause one to think about what trade-offs would be necessary in exchange for increased gas mileage. And that means research before you buy. (Did you know that how you drive the car actually has a great impact on your gas mileage?)

Aside from the window not "rolling down" - you should should raise a stink about that and persist in getting it fixed - and a bad set of wipers, everything else is something you could have known about before purchase, by either test driving the car, inspecting the car, and/or by doing a little reading about it.

But then, as you say, it is a company car, so my guess is you may have been less inclined to take care of it (Scotchguard), make adjustments for comfort, learn about how to drive it, compare differences (gas guzzlers and other hybrids), and so on.

By the way, you would do well to thoroughly examine and test drive the Prius before you buy. After driving one myself, I was very surprised at how disappointed I was -- I found it impossible to see through the rear, the navi on dashboard is not tilted toward driver so it's very difficult to view, the little knob to change gears was very toy-like and cheesy, the handling was lacking, and there's no comparison in hp.)

Every car has its strong and weak points. Folks here are friendly, helpful, honest and forthcoming. No one is posting only good news or agreeing just to "fit in." Dig in a little and you'll find all kinds of useful and varying information.

Good luck (sincerely)!:)

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

So the guy doesn't like the car? He's entitled to his opinions. You'd probably get a better ear over on the "other" board, that is if you haven't already done that. :angry:

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

I am sorry you did not have a better experience with your vehicle, but I agree with the recommendations & suggestions others offered in previous postings.

BUT...

I can guarantee you that you do not know what you talking about when you refer to the Prius as being a better quality car.
I would humbly suggest that if you do not want to embarrass yourself any further that you read some of the interesting stuff over at Priuschat. Maybe then you'll know that the grass on the other side is not that green after all. :omg:

Also, how do I know that? I own a 07 Prius and an HCH-II.

Cheers;

MSantos

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Gotta say this is my 2nd HCH and I could not be happier. The only reason I got the new one is a Ford F250 hit me and I liked the style of the HCHII.

Everyone has different expectations.

Why do you think that you would be so much happier with a Prius? I have a friend with one and I get about 10 mpg better than he does.

Good luck finding happiness.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

is that you, demanda?

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

THough he does have a point about OEM wipers (replacing the blade inserts takes forever and is a pain to say the least), aftermarket blades are now available as a complete unit (saw them at WM for $13, they look and are shaped exactly the same as OEM), I've seen less drama from teenage girls. Yes, my HCH II hasn't lived up to ALL my expectations (35-36 mpg now on long rides in 5-10 deg. weather, poor traction in the winter with stock tires, and a couple of squeaks on pothole filled roads) I've overall been happy with the Honda. No, the lights don't turn off like on my wife's Ridgeline, but it was also significantly cheaper than a comparable Prius with Nav. Some people are picky about their cars as I was until it got hit the first (or second) time, stuck in a hail storm, etc. I empathize with the feeling of frustration when a new car isn't perfect. If someone really thinks their Honda, or Toyota, is sooooo bad, let them rent an Ford for a week and see what poor quality and workmanship really is (I can say this from 12 years of former ownership experience with 3 Fords). Remember, though, the reason the grass is greener on the other side is usually because it's astro-turf, so don't set yourself up to get disappointed.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

You appear to have short man syndrome. Are you fat as well?

The wiper system is very cool. Just use carburator cleaner on the blades and Rejex or rain-X the windows and your blades will keep going just fine. Another poster gave me that idea- not an original.

The driver side window auto-up mistrack has a fix and wont cost you anything. Big deal.

Creaks/groans/rattles-- I dunno. Mine doesnt have ANY. Its been a year in April.

Seats stain easy-- NO THEY DONT. I had mine fabric protected. Do you eat in your car? Stop doing that. It will help you in other ways as well.

Rear defroster- mines very fast. Dont use it much though.

Center console-- is perfect for setting up my XM Radio. Its not a chasm. Huh?

Seat Comfortable- remarkably comfortable. Lose weight. It isnt quite up to my Volvo I had previously as far as seat comfort. But its pretty good.

Heat holding-- whatever. I live in scorching Houston Texas. No issue. Lose weight.

Rear head rests are in the way- No they arent. How tall are you?

Mileage not as advertised-- UM YES IT IS. I get 51-52 easy on the highway. Combined is usually between 48-50. Not even a challenge. Lose weight. Seriously though- I find that not having stuff in the trunk and not running the air too much allows the car to get its EPA estimate without much difficulty.


Headlight warning- is normal. I dont like auto on off stuff--inevitably-- it confuses folks.-

Prius- The Prius isnt designed well from a driver standpoint. I didnt like it. I also think the technology and how its applied makes more sense in the Honda Civic offering.

These are all interim step vehicles before whatever comes next. I think the car is a leap forward myself and I wish more folks drove them personally.

Anyway, your post is basically full of it and you are talkin bull.

Have a nice day.:D

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Hell, at least you GOT a honeymoon! For me, it was right back to work the day after I got the car. I didn't even get to spend the night with her (she sleeps in the garage).

Count your blessings!

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Folks,

I am going to side with the OP on some of this stuff...

Have a 2007, no problems so far.

Have not had to replace them, but I like the wipers.

I agree totally. We have a 2006 Pilot, and the build quality is much better. My old car is a 2000 Subaru and it has no sounds. The HCH-II definitly rattles and makes sounds and feels cheap.

Agree totally, but we bought the car with this seat color. Pleather would have been better :-)

Never noticed that....I think the Pirius is worse.

I agree. In Norhtern CA it has a life average of 42 MPG after about 8 tanks. Not bad, but I expected better.

I think it turns the lights off if you leave it for a while and saves the battery.

Perhaps....

Perhaps. They are both good cars.

Dobe

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

I don't think the reason for Prius popularity is build quality so much as the features and availability, and a degree of "oh, look at me in my Prius!" for some. My purchase was based mainly on the fact that it has the cargo capacity and configuration of a miniaturized SUV whereas I had been struggling with my 2-door Accord. But put a HCH wagon in front of me and I would have had a very tough decision to make! Unfortunately I couldn't even find a HCH to test drive, whereas the 25 Prius sitting on one particular dealer's lot gave me a pretty solid bargaining chip.

There are also a few gearhead reasons that I thought the Prius **might** be a bit more reliable over the long-haul, though those reasons are probably unfounded. But there are other gearhead reasons that make me almost certain that a Civic would give me slightly better fuel economy in the kind of driving that I generally do (plenty of city but biased toward highway overall.) So I had to choose what is most important to me. I bought the right car for my needs, and a Civic just as easily could have been the right car under different circumstances.

Speaking of which, you must have gone through the decision making process that led you to a HCH over a Prius. At least some of those reasons must remain valid, yes? What were they?

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

That is a good question. I started a new thread just for this question. I'm sure I'll learn a lot more about pros and cons of both cars - looking forward!

cheers

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

I have had my HCHII for about a month and a half and overall I am very satisfied but I agree about the seats being uncomfortable. After about an hour driving, my back is really feeling it, the seats are like rocks. I am going to have to strap a pillow to the seat or something.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

You might like this:

http://www.tempurpedic.com/TempurCMS...omfortcushion/

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

LOL. Thanks, I just might get the lumbar one.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

try good quality sheepskin seat covers. They make a dramatic difference in comfort by filling in low spots and add a bit of extra cushion. Plus they really do keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

They also block the side airbags.

Try seat "vests".

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

That only applies if you get generic covers. Custom fitted sheepskins accommodate safety and specific seat dimensions.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Can you post pics? I've never seen them with custom cut-outs for the sideairbags.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Here's a pic of how much room the side airbag would need. I'd like some more information on this custom seat cover that doesn't impede this safety feature.
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/image.ashx?rh=605&id=2

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Just call any of the reputable sheepskin manufacturers and talk with them. They will confirm that their covers accommodate side airbags.

Take a look here; http://comfysheep.com The online form even has space for side airbag option.

I don't use this company, as I have mine made by a local shop.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

I am impressed. Thanks for the link.

Here's a pic:
http://www.comfysheep.com/images/seatcovers-custom.jpg

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

Molex - You are entitled to your opinions and emotions and others have already covered these in the post. I will step up to say that your Company is one of the few I have seen to offer a Hybrid to an employee for a company car - bravo to them (where do you work?). If you do not want to drive this car then you are saying that you would be willing to drive your Tundra pick-up at 20 mpg vs. the Civic at 50 mpg? Your company would be paying you $2.50 for 1 gallon of gas to drive 50 miles but you would be paying $6.25 to drive the same distance (consuming 2.5 gallons). That is $3.75 per 50 miles ($0.075/mile) out of your own pocket to not drive the Civic Hybrid. How many miles do you drive in a week? If you drive even 200 miles then you would be paying $15 out of your own pocket each week to drive your Tundra. Maybe that is enough for you to park the Civic and drive the Tundra. I drive 1,000 miles a week so if I were in your boat it would be costing me $75 a week to drive a Tundra instead of my Civic and I don't think any car would be worth driving each week for $75 out of my pocket each week (except perhaps Schumacher's personal Ferrari or Danica Patrick's red Civic Coupe from her commercial).

Very few of us have gotten less than 40-45 mpg in the car so I'm not sure how your mileage claims are making you so mad. Even through 3 months of winter I am still averaging within 0.5 mpg of the bottom EPA number and in the heat of summer I'm well above the EPA numbers as are most other owners. Good luck I guess.

Re: The honey moon is over.
 

I love this car. It feels solid and tight going over speed bumps. The rear headrests do get in the way tho. I also noticed that other drivers don't give me the respect that I got driving my expedition. That's the hardest thing to get used to. They assume I'm a tree hugger. Not. Just environmentally responsible. And saving over a 1000 a yr on gas is nice.