So disappointed with my Honda experience

[ncbill]

With all this talk of poorly made new cars, I might have to stop telling DW to get rid of her 1998 Camry (25 yrs old) and buy a new car already.

I am happy with my new-to-me stretched Camry (Avalon) of that generation.

Bought a 3rd generation manual tranny Honda Accord to learn to drive stick.

It was not nearly as reliable as I had been led to believe Hondas were.

With OP's problems, gas dilution of oil on the turbocharged engine, & bad transmissions on the V6 models (e.g. Odyssey) I don't plan on buying Honda ever again.

 

[RetMD21]

With all this talk of poorly made new cars, I might have to stop telling DW to get rid of her 1998 Camry (25 yrs old) and buy a new car already.

Keep it. I'm not sure mechanics are able to handle the complexity of newer cars. Local mechanic misdiagnosed the trouble light on a 10 year old Ford and tried replacing the alternator before fixing a LIN bus connection (sort of a car computer network). We didn't pay for the alternator but more hours of labor than would have been required had he listened to me about my you tube findings.

 

[Koolau]

We drove our '99 Honda CRV to 170K. One day, it would not start (turned over, but nothing!) Could not diagnose it ourselves or with help from more knowledgeable people in the building. SO, we decided to just give it to the guy who had helped us try to get it started. He eventually had to junk it as he cold not fix it and the car was just transportation at that point. Maybe worth $1000 to the right buyer IF it would run.

BUT other than it simply dying on us that way, the car was completely reliable and a great ride for such a small SUV. It was just the perfect size for DW and she now hates the RAV4 we replaced the CRV with.

But everything I hear about Hondas now is negative, so, scratch one more car off my used-car list. YMMV

 

[Another Reader]

I am sadly dumping my 2017 Accord because of multiple issues. Although I don't want a hybrid, that's the only Camry model available now. As a grumpy old person, I'm thinking of downsizing to an old fashioned Corolla. Had several over the decades, all reliable if boring. Any suggestions?

 

[Koolau]

I am sadly dumping my 2017 Accord because of multiple issues. Although I don't want a hybrid, that's the only Camry model available now. As a grumpy old person, I'm thinking of downsizing to an old fashioned Corolla. Had several over the decades, all reliable if boring. Any suggestions?

Just about any used Toyota product (that fits your needs) dating back 5 or so years (low mileage.) 7 years ago, we bought a 5 year old RAV-4. One minor coolant issue in that time plus a couple of batteries. Still going great. Check consumer reports for the best reliability year(s) (almost all of the models and most of the years are all above average.) YMMV

 

[Teacher Terry]

I read recently that the older Toyota cars were more reliable than the newer ones. I have a 16 year old Toyota Corolla with 71 k miles that has only needed brakes, tires and oil changes.

 

[Music Lover]

I read recently that the older Toyota cars were more reliable than the newer ones. I have a 16 year old Toyota Corolla with 71 k miles that has only needed brakes, tires and oil changes.

To be fair, 71k miles isn't very much. Most brands will go that long without any major issues.

 

[Teacher Terry]

To be fair, 71k miles isn't very much. Most brands will go that long without any major issues.

I realize that. I got lucky and bought this car from a friend after I retired and she only drove it in retirement. Although I have to add that on my other cars by the time I hit 71k miles I had some repairs.

A friend of mine still drives a 28 year old Camry and she started having repairs at 18 years. It has 280k miles. I guy in my condo building is driving a 23 year old Corolla with 230k miles.

 

[Another Reader]

Just about any used Toyota product (that fits your needs) dating back 5 or so years (low mileage.) 7 years ago, we bought a 5 year old RAV-4. One minor coolant issue in that time plus a couple of batteries. Still going great. Check consumer reports for the best reliability year(s) (almost all of the models and most of the years are all above average.) YMMV

Thanks, but I buy new. That's the issue with the Camry, new ones are hybrids. Anyone sold on the Camry hybrid?

 

[Koolau]

I read recently that the older Toyota cars were more reliable than the newer ones. I have a 16 year old Toyota Corolla with 71 k miles that has only needed brakes, tires and oil changes.

Keep it as long as you can! It's just now broken in.

I've heard the same thing about reliability though I suspect a lot of the issues with most newer cars are the use of turbochargers - Toyotas or other brands. It's my opinion (without data) that turbos have more issues than naturally aspirated. Why wouldn't they? Higher pressures, higher temperatures, more moving parts, needing higher octane in many cases, more oil changes, etc.

My last review of Consumer Reports STILL shows Toyotas in general as the most reliable (as a make) of all the cars listed (unless I missed something.) YMMV

 

[ProspectiveBum]

Thanks, but I buy new. That's the issue with the Camry, new ones are hybrids. Anyone sold on the Camry hybrid?

Toyota’s been in the hybrid game as long as anyone (think original Prius). I’d have zero issues buying a new Toyota hybrid.

 

[Koolau]

Toyota’s been in the hybrid game as long as anyone (think original Prius). I’d have zero issues buying a new Toyota hybrid.

Never owned a hybrid, but if I did, it would definitely be Toyota. They seem to understand the concept and the execution. YMMV

 

[ncbill]

Thanks, but I buy new. That's the issue with the Camry, new ones are hybrids. Anyone sold on the Camry hybrid?

What's your concern?

They've got arguably the best hybrid system out there.

I'm still trying to convince an older relative to sell me their hybrid Camry, no luck so far.

 

[REWahoo]

Thanks, but I buy new. That's the issue with the Camry, new ones are hybrids. Anyone sold on the Camry hybrid?

You might be interested in this thread: Consumer Reports survey: Hybrids are most reliable vehicles

 

[Koolau]

Thanks, but I buy new. That's the issue with the Camry, new ones are hybrids. Anyone sold on the Camry hybrid?

If I were to buy a new car, I would have no qualms about buying a Camry hybrid - other than the cost. We drive so few miles that buying new doesn't make sense for us. If we drove 25K/year, perhaps it would.

We haven't put 25K on our '12 RAV-4 since buying it used in '17. We paid $13,000.01 (I'm serious about the .01) Cost Out The Door for the RAV-4. If the car died tomorrow, that's over 50 cents per mile JUST to own it (no insurance, tags, gas, routine maintenance.) My point is that buying new would have made that part of the calculation look even worse as far as ownership per mile is concerned. That's why I suggest used vs new. And that's also why I suggest Toyota over other makes. Your chance of a lemon is smaller with a Toyota IMHO.

Still, I have no problem with anyone other than me buying new. Full disclosure: I'd love to have a new C-8 Corvette.

Returning you now...

 

[MC Rider]

Dealer around the corner has a '95 corvette on their lot for $11,500. A V6 engine with 96,000 miles.
A V6!? What? Looks nice in black anyway.

Every OEM including Honda and Toyota have their duds. I'd research the specific model I was interested in. I'd avoid a V6 Accord. The one I had was a real nice car, but who cares if it sits at the dealer for a month and costs you $1,000+ because the engine design sucked. The real fix is new piston rings?!

 

[freedomatlast]

I'm sure you know there weren't any '95 Corvettes that came out of the factory with a V6.

 

[MC Rider]

I misread. It's a 6 cylinder V8 they say.

 

[ls99]

Be interesting to see what is under the hood.
For fun, ran vincheck, it is 5.7 V8

 

[MC Rider]

Be interesting to see what is under the hood.

I notice they can't tell if it is 4.0 liter or 5.7.
I don't know Corvettes and I suspect they don't either.
Maybe 2 cylinders of 8 have low compression. Now it's a V6.

It's got a cassette player though!

 

[OddGuy]

This thread was started in December 2023 about a 2017 model year Honda, which may well have been sold in 2016.

Once an individual car is 6 or 7 years old, and on its 2nd or 3rd owner, what happens next is often more an indication of how it was maintained (or not) by prior owners, and whether it was a city or a highway car, whether it was in the rust belt or the desert, etc.

Basically, while FIRE types can be very savvy about many things, there is a real danger that can come from playing around with the "fire" that is modern automobiles. New cars are ridiculously complex and are largely considered to be disposable items. Does anyone here think a 2024 Toyota or whatever will be at all viable in 2039?

 

[Music Lover]

This thread was started in December 2023 about a 2017 model year Honda, which may well have been sold in 2016.

Once an individual car is 6 or 7 years old, and on its 2nd or 3rd owner, what happens next is often more an indication of how it was maintained (or not) by prior owners, and whether it was a city or a highway car, whether it was in the rust belt or the desert, etc.

Basically, while FIRE types can be very savvy about many things, there is a real danger that can come from playing around with the "fire" that is modern automobiles. New cars are ridiculously complex and are largely considered to be disposable items. Does anyone here think a 2024 Toyota or whatever will be at all viable in 2039?

I bought a 2015 Acura (Honda) off lease in 2018. It only has 150kms (93k miles) on it and it's been flawless so far. Of course the mileage is still low but I'm hoping to get at least 5 - 6 more years from it before things start to happen. At that point it will be 15 years old.

 

[Tetto]

My 2007 Honda CRV has 220000 miles on her and the Knock sensor just gave up. Will replace shortly. Also the drivers side push-on map light bulb failed. Will replace this too. Otherwise the 2.4 Vtec engine/transmission has performed flawlessly. AWD and a tank in the snow too. I will put as many miles as I can on her. Currently doing 500/week.

 

[Koolau]

It's got a cassette player though!

Hey, I've got boxes of those! Stuck in the 90s, I guess.

 

[brett]

We have a 2006 full load Accord V6. Not giving it up for anything. Never an issue. Still runs like a charm. Ditto for our summer car, a 2007 Solara ragtop. Only 180K and 80K miles respectively so lots left in both. We no longer put a lot of mileage on either of them.

They have both been incredibly reliable and trouble free. Just regular mtce. So much so that we do not want to get rid of them.

Stopped with Honda and Toyota dealership mtce a long time ago. We have a small, local import repair shop that we deal with.