[GTO]

Originally Posted by vasoo

I have a 2000 Santro which has never been to a garage except for regular servicing, battery and tyre changes.

So true! I'd rank Hyundai's reliability as good as any Japanese. The Santro ages very well and built Hyundai's reputation in India.

I have a friend in US who still keeps his first car, a 1996 Accord, which has crossed 180k miles and without any trouble so far in spite of being driven most of its life in extreme weather conditions

Reminds me of my '93 Accord which I bought in '01 with 90,000 miles / 150,000 kms on the odo. Used it for another 20,000. Damn car never let me down, not a single breakdown, despite the harsh Boston weather. In my 2 years with the car, all I added was new tyres, front ball joints and straightening an alloy wheel (bent on a bad road).

Originally Posted by Maky

My Maruti Suzuki Esteem lasted 17 years almost

We used our '96 Esteem VX for 200,000 kms. It served us brilliantly with no mechanical breakdown. Amazing how a 200,000 kms Esteem just goes on & on, while brand-new Europeans break down with failed gearboxes, electronics etc.

[rrsteer]

I believe that statement to be true.
For me the best test for evaluating the reliability quotient of a car is to give its keys to my elder bother.

Sample this:
1)A butter smooth running Indica (2002 gen) handed over to my brother --- in 9 months the car was tore apart and ultimately bought by his milk man for peanuts.

2)Opel Corsa - Mechanically wrecked in under 3 years. Though is still around.

3) Mahindra Scorpio - I really don't want to describe the end result.

So when he bought the Honda City in 2010, I really took that as a fair test to evaluate the halo that precedes the badge.

The tyres and the alloys regularly take a beating but the overall condition is not awful at all. It does seem to run pretty well. Its still with him and his sole car. It has helped though that he spends more time in a plane nowadays than in a car.

[saket77]

Originally Posted by rrsteer

I believe that statement to be true.
For me the best test for evaluating the reliability quotient of a car is to give its keys to my elder bother.

Brother, I am laughing rolling on the floor!
I don't know if you were praising Honda or your brother! We sincerely hope that he is not on TBHP and that he does not comes around this post of yours!

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by GTO

Honda is definitely among the best when it comes to reliability & durability, although Toyota does maintain an edge over it, especially the body-on-frame diesels (Qualis, Innova, Fortuner).

Within the Indian context, consider the 1st-gen Honda City. We still see so many of them around. In comparison, how many Opel Astras or Ford Escorts do you see? For every 100 1st-gen Honda Citys on the road, I might see 1 Astra or Escort (though the difference in sales wasn't 100X). Fact is, these cars are also incredibly simple to maintain & repair.

I had a Corsa (Oct 2003) which went well till around mid 2005 but started giving electrical trouble. Also have a Corolla (March 2007) that so far has survived with periodic service and 20K brake pad replacement. Just works as a car should.

If Honda says it's car last the longest, then I have no reason to not believe. Reflects in their resale values. They are usually sold because the owner got bored with it, and not because they started dying.

[RajaTaurus]

Originally Posted by GTO

Honda is definitely among the best when it comes to reliability & durability, although Toyota does maintain an edge over it, especially the body-on-frame diesels (Qualis, Innova, Fortuner).

Within the Indian context, consider the 1st-gen Honda City. We still see so many of them around. In comparison, how many Opel Astras or Ford Escorts do you see? For every 100 1st-gen Honda Citys on the road, I might see 1 Astra or Escort

GTO, but don't we see more Lancers than Cities on road? Though out of market in Indian context, Lancers last longer than any of its co-runners. From my 15+ years of Middle east experience, Nissans last the longest, followed by Toyotas and Mitsubishis and Hondas are nowhere near. (Considering sedans).

[DWind]

I believe the above claim of Honda is only for USA and not world over. Each country might have its own endurance champ but I do agree that Honda's do last, a testimony to the resale value it holds everywhere.

[wilful]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

[*]Steering rack - Honda refused me warranty, that is okay. Consulted a FNG who is an ex-Honda A.S.S. employee. He says "steering rack is an issue in 8/10 Civics". He is now an 'expert' in repairing steering rack issues for Honda cars. Another BHPian who owns a garage simply says that 'Honda parts are fragile'! If that is the case, why does Honda not honour warranty?

Having owned 3 Honda Citys in succession, I would agree with the steering rack issue. My second one - ANHC CVT started having problems after 50000 kms and a friendly service chap mentioned to me in private that this is indeed a problem with quite a few Hondas.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by RajaTaurus

GTO, but don't we see more Lancers than Cities on road?

There's a reason for that. As surprising as it might seem today, the HM-backed Lancer used to actually outsell the City in some months. The two ran neck to neck for a while (eventually, HM's incompetence killed the Lancer).

And of course, the Lancer is mechanically sound and supremely reliable. I had a Lancer for 100,000 kms. Except for an air-con compressor, the car required absolutely no unexpected parts in that time.

[prkiran]

Originally Posted by GTO

There's a reason for that. As surprising as it might seem today, the HM-backed Lancer used to actually outsell the City in some months. The two ran neck to neck for a while (eventually, HM's incompetence killed the Lancer)

And the fact that while the 1st Gen Honda City was sold for about 5-6 years (1998-2003), Lancer was available for almost 15

[Superleggera]

I agree. Honda's longevity is unbeatable. The only problem is that thay are prone to rust a lost faster compared to Amreican and German counterparts. They can live a lot longer in places like Arizona where there is no snow.

[Jomz]

Here is my ownership report of a Honda with ~300K miles

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-d...r-here-us.html

It was this 300k mile car which made me a Honda fan.

I bought a 1999 Accord after this one, Sold that and bought a 2005 S2000, Sold the s2000 and bought (leased) a 2013 Acura TSX.
The most reliable was the 1991 Accord. The TSX also, but it is too new for any issues.

[sgiitk]

I am inclined to believe them. My cousin has a City Mk.I still going strong in Mumbai with about 150,000km on the clock. Also, no rust issues. Not many cars/makers can claim that.