[ajmat]

The headers seem to have pulled my wallet in another direction. Psycho suggested to make the most of it, I needed to liberate the inlet and exhaust flows further.

As it so happened, I went to the US to the Riceboybowl of the US - California. Consulted Psycho and decided on the Obx manifold - the short intakes meant that it would be a good fit. Identified a supplier on ebay ......my card never went through.

Next alternative was to find a dealer. OBX site went down. Managed to locate specialist in Sacramento who was recommending Skunk. Used to deal in OBX but cliamed quality not on par. Later research backed this up. Poppoed over and got a 68mm (yes you heard right) throttle body (65 was my target but not in stock) and an pro series racing one. Guy heard me wrong and gave a B series, he ordered a D later and swapped it later. Good service.

Planned to get get this done during my vacation but the track day came earlier. Over to Vasu's for fitment. It was not easy. Firewall clearance was tight and various adaptors had to be created. There were a couple of small leaks that cropped up.

an FPR was added. first test drive showned that stock injectors may not cope so larger ones were fitted. It seemed okay but then they needed to clean out. Car had more torque but there were a few flat spots and car felt constipated. It was running rich. However, engine would spin at 4000rpm to 7000 rpm in a rush.

Just before track day, went back in , stock injectors were put back and a straight through TRD muffler and larger exhaust added. Picked the car up the night before and drove to Chennai. Car sounded and felt good. However, cold starts were a bit diificult as also idling.

Journey to Chennai, i took it wasy (bit difficult when following Tadu). spent time monitorong temperature adnd fuel. It was time for the track. Tadu mentioned that the car sounded awesome

I fitted steelies on the front with new 185 Falkens. Made the car look like a skunk lifting its tail. On track , the car was sweet, it was not the fastest due to high centre of gravity but the car had torque to help maintain its line.

I was on track during the latter part of the evening and car did around 35 laps virtually non stop. The reliability was outstanding. Temperature never rose into alarming ranges. The headers did turn from orange to blue though. Next day, switch to alloys and drove to Bangalore. Did toll gate launches, it really spins its wheels.

Needs some fine tuning on the fuel mix but car is running well.

Note - Bolt on - not mere bolt-on , there will be teething problems and one needs to plan this well.







wonder what next...port ahoy or is it a single malt

[mclaren1885]

Originally Posted by ajmat

wonder what next...

Im telling you that madman is addictive , makes one spend more than what you intend to and yet you will only want more .. Or maybe its just that you just cant have enough of power ..

Funnily your Honda is running a Toyata exhaust ..

Though you should have gotten yourself a slightly smaller throttle body to make matters better .. But alls well that ends well .. I guess next will be a Hondata revving upto 9k ??

[ajmat]

Time for a service

Call whitefield - yes saar, pick on 28th morning 8.00 am
Driver will call and confirm the night before

No call

9.30 am - working from home and got a meeting at 11.00 - no sign
Ring whitefield honda and told that the driver should be on his way. They can't contact him

9.45am - call back - driver is stuck in traffic (apparently, he picked one car up took it there and is going back into town again!) - can we send another driver. Please speak to him. I blow up - you mean, i have to hang around till 11.00 am , the car will reasch by 12.00 and I may not get the car in the evening.

Piece of my mind regarding no respect for customers time. My guess is that they forgot to allocate a driver

Car is booked for saturday but I am tempted to cancel and try Dakshin Honda
Any recommendations whether i should go this route ?

[Dippy]

Ajmat just reading back on your thread, I noticed that you changed over to Mobil 1 at the 40k service. That is exactly what I plan to do. Can you give me a heads up on the difference after you changed to Mobil 1 at 40k considering you were on mineral oil before?

[Jaggu]

@ajmat its always better you drive the car to the garage as well as pick it back, i somehow dont like these drivers to take care of my car. yes its lil inconvenient and usually requires planning ones schedule but getting a early morning appointment really helps. and wow the car has come out real well

[mclaren1885]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

@ajmat its always better you drive the car to the garage as well as pick it back, i somehow dont like these drivers to take care of my car. yes its lil inconvenient and usually requires planning ones schedule but getting a early morning appointment really helps.

Completely agree with Jaggs. I have seen most of these pick up drivers harass customers cars. Infact, when I leave it at RNS for service/repair I make it a point to drive the car to the service bay myself and get it out too. I sit in the works manager's room for as long as possible and keep a check on the car. And NO test drive's happen until I get to the showroom. All this seems improbable but I have no choice but doing it. Cant have some nincompoop press the throttle thinking its a stock car and have it wrecked.

Best way to do is wake up early, reach the showroom by sharp 9. Finish the job card by 9:15, get out by 9:30 and head to work/home/college etc in a rick. Thats what I do.

[ajmat]

Ok - so do I go with Whitefield or will Dakshin offer better service ?

[hondadude]

Originally Posted by ajmat

Car is booked for saturday but I am tempted to cancel and try Dakshin Honda
Any recommendations whether i should go this route ?

I switched over to Dakshin Honda. They were pretty good when they started, but off late, the service quality is going down. I gave my OHC VTEC for service a couple of days back.

I drove there myself and had to wait for 25 minutes before someone can come and inspect the car. Also depending on where you live, same day pick up can be nightmare because you hit the peak Electronic City traffic. So, if you are planning to give your car to Dakshin Honda, either be the very first in the morning and try to get your car by 3:00 pm or pick it up the next day.

[mclaren1885]

Dakshin Honda will be a nightmare if you get stuck in peak traffic hours. And most often than not you will. Stick to Whitefield Honda if you are satisfied with their work (I see this pick up issue is what is making you want to look at DH). Both are almost the same when it comes to service experience.

[Jaggu]

@ajmat: havent tried dakshin yet, and i generally prefer to stay with same garage unless and until the work is absolutely bad.

[Pankaj401]

I am a regular at Dakshin. It's no better than Whitefield. Average again.

[ajmat]

Car was picked up ahead of time by a middle aged person who understood my instructions well.

Car delivered - the bill - 2000 excluding the oil. 450 for a heater cable, 250 for the side beading which a low life ripped off, Nothing else extra. Amazing!!!

Apparently, the car got a lot of attention in WH, the mechanics noticed the mods and the service manager personally took the car for the test drive.. Drove it briefly and it seems ok. Need it to settle and see over the next few days.

[GeekSrik]

jaggu, how many cars do you own? you have a honda too? you must be stinking rich dude

[ajmat]

Quick update

Late last month, was leaving office and 4.00 pm and joining ORR when snap the accelerator cable went. The skunk inlet is set up for LHD so the old accelerator cable which had formed over 5 years in its regular form was getting kinked, abrased and gave up the ghost.

Rang the helpline. Guy was in Jayanagar and would need to go to whitefield, pick up the part and return. My mental calculation said 7.00pm minimum and head on into Bangalore's peak traffic. Car moved barely on idle so I moved the car into office and asked the mechanic to come at 11.00 am the next day. He was happy with that

And 11.00 a, he was there and car was on the road in 15min. Can you imagine 4000+ hondas in Bangalore and two mechanics (assuming Dakshin have same working model). What do guys do stuck on highways ? While he was repairing , two more calls - one ith a battery problem so he delegated to a battery person and some dolt locked the keys in.

The way Maruti have centralised their system and ensure the nearest delaer rescues the car. Less grief to all.

Although, premature, I gave it in for a service - wanted to change timing belt, door beading and a small leak in the boot. I decided to give car in myself. It is sure crowded in there but it made a difference, talking to the supervisor. Worth the taxi fare !!!

Car was delivered a little late 40 min since they needed to sort the water leak. The bill was .......Rs 2200 (no oil change), 500 for service, 400 for the beading and rest for the timing belt change. this usually costs big mney abroad.

Whitefield honda service has improved. I was happy

[Shan2nu]

The waiting list at Whitefield is insane. I remember waiting for hours just to get my car serviced.

From what i've seen, the salesmen and engineers at Honda aren't very passsionate about what they do (except for one Bengali chap who used to work at Whitefield when we bought our car). They're there coz they get paid for it.

Can you imagine 4000+ hondas in Bangalore and two mechanics (assuming Dakshin have same working model).

Thats real sad. When the Peninsular Honda (Mlore) guys come to Hubli, they bring atleast 4 mechs. So, they might have employed around 6-8 all together.

Shan2nu