I tried reaching out to customer support but that didn't help at all.

BHPian SouraC recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Everyone, I need urgent help.

Both the wheel rims of my bike got damaged by a pothole (I still don't understand how) although the air pressure was as per recommendation.

I argued with the service centre about why it got damaged by a not-so-dangerous pothole and I really never expected it can damage the rims and asked for a warranty claim for the manufacturing quality issue, but they forced me to claim it from insurance.

Now the bike is at the service centre since 14/05/2023 as the parts are not available. Logging a call with Honda has not helped at all. Can't take it out of the service centre as the Insurance claim will get rejected.

Can anyone help with any contact in Honda India who can help in this regard?

Attaching pictures of the damage

Update

It's been 40 days and my 4-month-old CB300F is still lying at the service centre due to the non-availability of spares.

Here's what BHPian gharika had to say about the matter:

I had similar damage on my 2014 Duke 390, there was no air leak and the alignment was good so I kept using it as such for many years before I sold it. It will be hard to get a warranty for damage due to an impact, it's not considered normal to drive into potholes, availability of parts is a totally different issue.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say about the matter:

This is definitely an insurance issue and not a warranty issue. But it's really disappointing that even for a mass-market product like this, Honda is not able to immediately provide replacement rims. Alloy wheels bending is not unusual at all, especially in our conditions and for Honda to not sport a ready inventory of such parts really is inexplicable.

This is my principal gripe with Honda on their premium bikes but I’m shocked to see it extends to their mass-market offerings as well. Perhaps escalate this via Twitter or something in the hope of resolution although knowing Honda, not sure whether they will even care.

Worst case scenario, please consider whether you’d want to get the rims “fixed” / straightened if they are damaged within the tolerance limits of such a repair job. Not ideal I suppose but this is not an uncommon solution and one you may want to consider if there is simply no assurance from your SVC on availability.

Here's what BHPian dinu2506 had to say about the matter:

Actually, these bends can be easily repaired by alloy wheel specialists. I had the same issue on my Bonnie in the front rim. There was no leak so I continued using it for 3 years. When it was time to change the tire, I anyway got the bend also removed by a local specialist. They have rotary machines that push out the rims and make it true. Working perfectly for the last two years.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The contenders are Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, Honda Elevate and Mahindra XUV700.

BHPian Iyencar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My soon-to-be 70-year-old father is looking to replace the Venue he currently has. He is a sedate driver who drives around 40 kms daily to our factory.

• Budget: ~25 L
• Current drive: Venue Petrol Manual
• Previous drive: Grand i10, Wagon R (both manual shifts)
• Location: Trichy
• Home parking: Street and a bit small

What he would like to have

• Ground Clearance
• Petrol, 5 seater SUV
• A true top-end model: No saving money up front and having accessories fitted later. Need everything factory fitted
• No downtime due to niggles: the car will be in use every single day and cannot afford to be without one

What I would like for him to have

• Nice to have features: Sunroof, ventilated seats, good cabin, 360 cam, etc. He's worked hard all his life and deserves to have a feel-good vehicle now
• Good automatic
• Reliable
• Mass market and easy serviceability
• Safety: 6 airbags, TC, ESP, ABS, good body shell

The contenders

Kia Seltos

The car he wants which is why it is number 1 here.

Pros

• Feature loaded
• Facelift next month
• Decent service
• Sorted engine gearbox combos

Cons

• Crash test rating
• DCT is an animal with a mind of its own. Is the TC good enough and has the nice-to-have features that we are looking for?
• Stiff suspension

Toyota Hyryder Full Hybrid: The car I want for him

Pros

• Superb mileage and cutting-edge hybrid tech providing for a relaxing ride
• Toyota's reliability
• All the good features I want him to have

Cons

• Only one service centre in the city, Annamalai Motors. Can anyone shed light on the quality of service?
• The old Innovas, Crystas and Etios-es seem to be the most common cars on that side of the country. Will the service centre be able to handle the modern tech?
• The very thin sunroof curtain: Summers can get quite hot there and don't want this to become a nuisance. So how bad is it really? Does it make the car difficult to live with? Has anyone tried tinting the roof?
• Unknown build quality: probably more Maruti than Toyota

If any Bhpian can shed some light on Annamalai Motors or life with the Hyryder down south then that would be extremely helpful. Is Toyota service as excellent as it is in Tier-1 cities?

Honda Elevate

Pros

• The best GC
• Honda reliability

Cons

• Very poor feature list
• Possibly lethargic engine gearbox combos, considering the weight of the vehicle and the engine specs combined with BS 6.2 regulations (have the BRV CVT so am familiar with the specs. No, I'm not saying the BRV is underpowered)
• A new car so not much is known about it-good or bad (shared parts bin not withstanding)

What are the Honda dealers like down there? Google reviews of the two dealers there are good.

Wild card: XUV 700

Pros

• Loaded with everything possibly needed in a car
• Proven safety
• Blockbuster hit
• Initial niggles sorted out
• Great engine gearbox combos

Cons

• Odds of niggles popping up are much higher than for the other cars listed above.
• Maybe a bit too large. Don't need 7 seats and may have difficulty parking- will the 360 cam help?)
• Poor FE in the petrol. DEF issues if he goes for the diesel

Not considering the Compass, Kushaq and Taigun for their reliability, niggles and service centre experiences in general. Not considering the Nexon, Exter, Punch, XUV300 since they aren't much of an upgrade from the Venue. No Creta because we don't want another Hyundai. No to Renault, Nissan and Citroen because of their poor service network and lack of any aspirational models. Not considering the Vitara because I would rather we get the car from the same co which makes the hybrid, i.e. Toyota. Any other vehicle I've missed? Looking forward to your opinions.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Kia has now made the suspension in the Seltos way more compliant, based on customer feedback & complaints. The current car rides very differently from the launch Seltos.

Seltos Facelift launch is also around the corner. I'd consider that for the OP's Dad, along with the Toyota Hyryder Hybrid & MG ZS EV.

Please also make him take a test-drive of the Elevate. It looks handsome, that 1.5L motor is the best NA engine in the country and the CVT is very smooth.

The Seltos Facelift & Elevate could be worth waiting for. Test-drive all of these and bring home the one that makes him smile.

Here's what BHPian mgastor2022grey had to say about the matter:

For us BHPians, driving is our life and we respect it very much. I know that you will choose the best car for your father.

I will not recommend the Kia Seltos for your father. Considering that he is a sedate driver, the performance is pretty much useless. The stiff suspension is good for highway comfort, not for sedate driving, which will make people uncomfortable. Also, it scored only 3 stars in the NCAP, not to mention it splitting into 2 in an accident.

I would also not recommend the Grand Vitara/Hyryder too, as it would mean a significant downgrade in terms of interior fit and finish, and misses out on a lot of features too. It also has a significantly weak bodyshell and misses out on even basic features like TPMS!

The XUV700 should be ruled out too, as considering that your father is 70 years old, he would find it difficult to navigate a big car, and stating that you have street parking, will be cumbersome to park too. But it can be taken into consideration if your father has no issues with it, as it is a very safe car, and is extremely luxurious.

I would personally suggest the MG Astor. It is a very comfortable car, and it has lots of safety features like 6 airbags, ESC, TPMS, ABS and more. Your father will also like the car due to its small presence and ease of manoeuvrability. It is a petrol-5 seater, and fits all his boxes correctly. However, it has missed some features like auto-dimming IRVM and ventilated seats. It is also fuel-efficient and drives inspiringly. The fuel efficiency is around 10-12 kmpl and has very less downtime. Being an Astor owner myself, the car is very nice, and is packed with features.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Here's what BHPian bijims had to say about the matter:

The Mahindra XUV700 would be my pick here, but the AX7 L variant in the petrol guise costs around 29 lakhs on-road in your place, so if you are fine with that, I would recommend getting it, but mileage will be poor in the petrol, we have a diesel XUV700 AWD AX7 L in our family and we are loving it.

As regards the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, it feels more like a Maruti, and parts quality and fit and finish are as such too, not worth the money for the "premium" feel in my opinion, but the Hybrid setup has its advantages and may be considered for the same if you have relatively high running.

The upcoming Seltos facelift would be the best pick under a budget of 25 lakhs and the Diesel TC AT is an excellent, tried and tested combo with good fuel efficiency and sufficient power as well. It will have all the features you ask for in your budget barring the 3-star safety rating.

So, if you plan on extending your budget to 30 lakhs, the XUV700 is the way to go, but I would prefer the Diesel over the Petrol in that scenario, ese under 25 lakhs, my pick would be the upcoming Seltos, followed by the Hyryder Hybrid.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say about the matter:

I think you should go for an EV or a proper Hybrid. Simply because there is a lot to be excited about the technology, a lot to learn and familiarise oneself with how stuff works and the great feeling of being at the cutting edge of things - he would appreciate it. These cars make you curious like a child, which is a very good thing to happen when you are at an age feeling you have seen it all.

Don't buy a Honda - they sell boring utilitarian cars in India. Avoid gigantic cars like XUV700. Go for sophisticated and cutting edge - that would be EV or Hybrid in my opinion. All the best.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The budget for the replacement car would be Rs 10-12L for a used model and Rs 18-20L for a brand-new vehicle.

BHPian car_guy1998 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHP'ians,

We own a 2014 Honda City iDTEC VMT at home, which was purchased "preowned" in 2017 when the odometer was at 35k Kms and has now run nearly 1.7L Kms (1.68L Kms to be precise). In effect, we did 1.33L Kms in 6 years of ownership, and the car is still in good condition, except it needs timing kit replacement, which I'll be getting during the next service. I recently restored it by getting the whole car repainted and replacing the engine mount and gearbox mount in December 2022. In March 2023, I replaced the tyres. The car has done 23k Km since December 2022 and 12k Km since March 2023.

A year and 33k Km ago, we got the whole suspension overhauled. In 2022, we spent around ₹2L on getting the car refurbished/restored at ASC itself. Since we had sold off our other car (an Innova) more than a year ago, we decided to get this car restored, assuming that we'd be keeping it for another 1-2 years.

We usually sell off our cars within five years or before that, but this is the only car which has been with us for more than five years and selling off this car never come into my parent's minds yet, even after almost six years of ownership.

To let go of this car, firstly, I need to convince my mom, who is a daily user of this car and drives herself to her office on a daily basis. Whenever I bring up the topic of selling off this car, she tells me to keep my mouth shut as she hates the thought of selling things, and according to her, spending on a new car is just a waste of money. She couldn't find any reason to let go of this car yet except for needing an AT. But, someday, we should let go of some things for something new. To date, the experience with our Honda City is to fill it, shut it, and forget it.

The reasons I want to let go of this car are:

• Need for AT is increasing daily as my mom suffers from leg issues (her daily commute is 20 km a day, and she has only driven MT cars during her more than two decades of driving). Our City Diesel's hard clutch is making it feel cumbersome to drive in city traffic, which resulted in us looking for AT this time. The car will usually be driven within city limits, with occasional highway drives once in a blue moon. Our chauffeur, my dad, and I'll drive this car apart from her.
• Since the car will be turning ten next year, we might be seeing unforeseen or unexpected expenses on this car though the car is running well and the next expense I'd be seeing now is timing kit replacement, which is due at the next service and maybe the car might be requiring 3rd set of the clutch since the 2nd set of clutch has run nearly a lakh Kms (changed during 70k Kms service in 2019).
• In the near future, the car might also see less running, and Petrol would be a preferred option, which is also mom's choice, as there is not much of a price difference between Diesel and Petrol now though we are still okay with getting a Diesel and, if we get a Diesel car now, this would be the last opportunity for us to enjoy the Diesel torque before it goes extinct and also, gives good FE when compared to Petrol, which is an added advantage.

The budget for City's replacement would be ₹10-12L if used, and if new, ₹18-20L is the budget, and we don't want to go beyond that. We are ok with getting any version (sedan or C-SUV).

Any replacement car should be equal or similar to our City regarding rear seat space and comfort as we are spoilt with the comfort and space it offers. The FE of our City Diesel has spoilt us (it gives no less than 18 Kmpl in city traffic, even though the car has run nearly 1.7L Kms on the odo) but, since the car will be driven 20 Kms a day, FE will not be much of an issue and anything above 9-11 Kmpl in city traffic will be fine.

Which car can replace our City Diesel?

But, the purchase will take some time since we have to get a primary car for my Dad first (City is the only car at home for now after we sold off our old Innova more than a year ago and had a VW Taigun 1L TSI MT for a brief period, which we returned as nobody liked this car and, we found we could manage with one car).

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:

The Gen4 diesel City, for its lack of refinement and underhand cost cutting, is still a terrific urban commuter. Superbly reliable, cheap to run, light controls and good ride at low speeds, it has its merits.

Incidentally, your car is the same model as mine, is of the same vintage, and has done about the distance too!

It is obvious that your car needs a new clutch. That will make it a lot nicer to drive. But then, the 33000km old suspension will start losing its edge soon.

As for alternatives for a new car, there are only two like-for-like replacements - the City hybrid and the Hyryder/Grand Vitara hybrid. No petrol car can match the running costs of the iDTEC, and diesel cars no longer exist in this segment. From personal experience, once you are used to 18kmpl, 10-12kmpl becomes painful. All hybrids are automatic by default and are currently having zero road tax in many states.

If you are OK to forego the fuel efficiency, then simply go for the current Gen5 City in its CVT guise. Alternative option is Verna 1.5 IVT.

Here's what BHPian 07CR had to say about the matter:

You talked a lot about how the City was primarily used by your mom, but by the last paragraph, I got a little confused. Next car that you would buy would be for your mom or dad, or the same car would be used by both?

In case the use case and requirements remain the same which were for your mom, then I would suggest the following-

Used

• Amaze diesel CVT seems a great deal. You would find a 2-year-old at around 9-10L.
• Amaze Petrol CVT

Brand new

• Sonet DCT/Diesel AT
• Updated Seltos
• Verna IVT
• City V CVT

Here's what BHPian Clown Prince had to say about the matter:

It truly is a pinched situation. We got so many cars in range but no car that can be considered a good upgrade. As others suggested I will also say your best options are hybrids.

Go for either city hybrid or Hyryder hybrid. Updated Seltos also is a good option. BS6 Diesels are prone to DPF issues, so my recommendation would be to stick with hybrids.

Here's what BHPian shyampsunder had to say about the matter:

Apart from the usual comments about EVs, from a comfort POV, one-pedal driving in cities is a boon. Brakes are used only as an exception.

I have been driving the ZS EV extensively in Bangalore traffic and one-pedal driving with auto hold is a godsend in very slow-moving traffic.

If going with EV, just ensure you at least have the capability of adding 15A plug point in the office or home.

Ultimately, since it is your mom driving, give the highest preference for her driving experience and comfort. Costs come later in my opinion.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As per the owner, the car didn't hit anything on the highway. He just heard a loud sound, saw smoke and lost power.

BHPian ryzen13 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi Team,

Sharing this to help a friend of mine with a 2018 Honda City V variant. On the 28th of April, my friend started to Banglore from Chennai via the Chittor route at around 9pm time in the night. The car was functioning well the entire week which he uses to get to the office and back daily.

In his own words - the road trip back home started well and he was doing speeds of around 100-110KMPH, when he was near Palamneer he heard a loud sound and started seeing smoke and lost power. He immediately got the vehicle to the side of the road without causing any trouble to the fellow occupant in the car, other road users, animals, etc. Thankfully!

What he noticed then was a trail of oil below the car and since it was dark and late at night at an unfamiliar place - he decided to get the car towed to the Whitefield Honda - Bangalore by paying a huge sum to a private towing truck.

Now this is where the fun starts, Whitefield Honda took pictures and videos of the car engine and shared them with the Honda technical team and they have come back now telling that the issue happened due to High Engine Temperature whose warning - my friend ignored and kept driving. This is completely untrue - my friend's car was maintained immaculately and has done only 67K km in 5 years of ownership and lo and behold the extended warranty got over in March 2023.

Whitefield Honda has not shared error codes, error history codes from the ECU - they simply claim that this event happened due to engine overheating and user negligence. All this has happened via phone calls and is not documented by any means - all we have is a job card.

In this entire saga - ACKO too has been lethargic and the technical third-party surveyor who assesses such engine damages has still not visited the workshop to inspect the car. They are also not sure if this would be covered as a part of the Engine Protect cover and Comprehensive insurance.

Attaching the pics of the engine here for reference.

Please advise on the next steps - my hunch is that this could have been a manufacturing defect that has managed to rear its head only now after repeated use.

Another question we need to ponder is whether A Petrol ANHC(Arrow-4th Gen)'s engine has gone Kaput within 67k KMS! What does this say about Honda's quality control and commitment to the Indian market?

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say about the matter:

There is only one way in which such a failure happens - the car must have hit a big stone or something or scrapped on a big speed breaker at speed. Either way, the oil sump took the impact and got damaged, the engine oil leaked and the engine failed. You can clearly see the broken pieces of the sump, and the oil is all over the plastic guard. The explanation given by the service people seems totally legit.

These things only happen due to driver error or misjudgment, and the biggest mistake is driving on without stopping to check for damage. Maintenance or lack of it has no role here. The way forward here is to claim insurance - you’ll need the service people to cooperate. Most likely, half the engine will be changed.

Here's what BHPian MT_Hyderabad had to say about the matter:

Questions that I would ask:

• When was the last service done?
• Was the oil level checked after the service?
• When was the radiator and coolant level checked?

The engine must have overheated which led to this catastrophic damage. The oil may be underfilled or overfilled. The radiator may be leaking. Something may have hit the sump leading to loss of oil, resulting in overheating and more damage.

I do not think that it is due to any manufacturing defect. The engine ran 67 k kms without a problem.

If the engine overheated, there must be loud sounds heard inside the cabin for at least 20 kms, before the final thud which was heard in the end. Maybe the stereo was running at a high volume.

Here's what BHPian abhi_tjet had to say about the matter:

This doesn’t look like a manufacturing defect. Only ‘fault’ from Honda’s side is not providing a proper engine bash plate, at least as an accessory if not OEM.

Here's what BHPian svsantosh had to say about the matter:

Threw a rod!

(Google it if...)

The car did not touch or bump its sump or bottom anywhere. The bottom plastic cover seen in the boot would have taken a nasty hit and the sump is in mint condition. Not sure how one can say the sump took a bash! And the lower arm mounting point (on the frame) is also clean.

Since the water jacket is not punctured on the engine block (at least from the pics provided) the owner can do the following.

• Can check if the coolant level is intact. (proves engine didn't overheat)
• Can also check if there is oil residue in the water. (same as above)
• Check for head overheating symptoms - Gasket can be checked and a pressure test on the head.

Remember rapid oil starvation will destroy the bottom -- Water starvation destroys the top.

Choices ahead

• Legal - God help the owner
• Insurance - Hope the owner has it covered
• Trip to Mayapuri and truck an engine (75K all in - used engine + trucking to Chennai + local mech charges) - ensure to update insurance policy & RC book

Don't rebuild new-gen engines. It is just not worth it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

In a nutshell, consumers have their own set of reasons to purchase a particular car or a brand.

BHPian Emvi recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Which brands have you been a repeat customer of? Would you recommend the brands to others for their purchase?

Brand perception is something that many of us, both on this forum and outside of it, have. This perception extends beyond cars and encompasses various products we use in our daily lives.

Returning to the topic of cars, whenever someone comes up with a thread sharing their ownership experience(usually negative), I notice people taking sides by either bashing the particular brand or fiercely defending it. I find this quite amusing, to be honest. Owning a car(or cars) is a matter of personal choice, similar to many other things in life. If someone is happy or unhappy with their car, I don't see a reason why we end up vehemently criticizing or defending the brand. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there, people are often called names, ridiculed, and stereotyped based on their preferences. No matter the brand of car(s) you own, the way you drive or conduct yourself on the roads takes precedence over everything else.

IMO, brand perception plays a significant role in an individual's purchasing decision. This perception can either remain true or change based on the ownership experience. Despite the multitude of online reviews available, personal experiences and word-of-mouth recommendations remain influential in shaping brand perception for many people. Reliability, safety ratings, build quality, ease of maintenance, and a few other aspects are commonly associated with different brands. These factors are subjective, and ultimately, what matters most is the peace of mind your purchase offers you or how satisfied you and your family are with the acquisition.

In a nutshell, consumers have their own set of reasons to purchase a particular car or a brand. Reasons might include- budget, use case, ease of maintenance, build quality, features on offer, fuel type, proximity of dealership, resale value, or simply Brand Perception. On this note, let's focus on the main question:

"Which brands have you been a repeat customer of? And why?"

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Honda: The brand I've bought most. 1st-gen City Vtec, Civic & a used Accord. Nothing from their current portfolio interests me, other than the City. Sucks that this hallowed brand has completely exited the premium segments.

Mahindra: Because I love Jeeps! Have two Jeeps now, the 2023 Thar & a 1997 Classic.

BMW: Will repeat again. Love their engines, gearbox tuning, suspension & top-class reliability.

Mercedes: We have had 3 of their cars. Will repeat again, especially something like an S-Class or GLS.

Maruti: Had 4 earlier (two 800s, Zen, Esteem), but the last Maruti we bought was in 1996! The lack of good options in the 20-lakh and above segments is the reason. Even their top-of-the-line 1.5L motor is too boring.

Note: A poll has been added where you can vote if you are a repeat customer of a particular brand(s), intend to be one, or would recommend your current brand(s) to others.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Been a repeat customer of Honda, Jazz 2012 followed by City 2014. Sadly, none of their current products excite me anymore. However, I will be happy to be a repeat customer of two other makes whose cars I own, Tata and Jeep, purely on merit of their current lineup. Also had a Scorpio for 15 years, I can definitely consider any current Mahindra.

This list will be dominated by Honda, Toyota and Maruti. The last Maruti we bought in the family was back in 2000, the original WagonR.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

Brands we’ve been repeat customers off, specially many years ago, are Maruti, Hyundai and Honda. Its just that they currently aren’t really active in the segments I actively consider and even if they were, there’s a high chance I wouldn’t pick offerings from Maruti at least.

Other brands I’ve owned just once are Nissan (Sunny), BMW (3GT) and Jeep (Meridian).

Based on my above experience, including perception of brands that I haven’t directly experienced, in a “2023” and forward looking context, brands I’d actively consider are as below:

BMW, Toyota and Honda (assuming Honda in particular only if it brings a product relevant to my use case - as of now I see nothing). Other brands I’d be very open to are Kia and perhaps some newer age EV brands like BYD and MG (but unsure). I doubt I would go to brands like Nissan / Renault, VAG, Jeep, JLR etc. If it comes to EVs, I may be more open to considering Tata and Mahindra as well (in that order) but I might still prefer MG / Byd in comparison.

I would be very open to Mercedes and Volvo but would be a bit concerned about upkeep cost of the Mercedes in particular and overall dealer / service footprint of Volvo. Again, this is based on second hand experiences and perceptions, not direct ownership.

Here's what BHPian ABHI_1512 had to say on the matter:

To see Ford not listed in the list itself is a bummer. It’s a shame that Ford doesn’t sell new cars in India anymore. Have been a user of the first generation Figo and then upgraded to Ecosports diesel and have been a happy customer ever since. The frugal engines, brilliant after sales support and very competitive pricing of spare parts have made us- the Ford owners after 2010, a very hard to please bunch of car owners. A happy repeat customer of Ford here. Wish I could continue the trend but alas !!

Here's what BHPian rrsteer had to say on the matter:

Toyota

Till a couple of years back I had an all Toyota garage - Innova, Etios & Hiace (bought in that order). Innova was later replaced by a Kia Carnival chasing better interiors, more luxury and space.
I can still be made to think I made a wrong decision by not getting a Crysta then.

The reason I trust Toyota is because of their reliability and excellent after sales service. As I have grown older and other responsibilities have taken preference, I have come to think of cars as essential tools more than anything else. I now hate to spend anymore time looking after them than it should be required (unless a special car or bought for a special need). Hence going against popular opinion of this forum - in my books I had blacklisted: Tata, Mahindra, VW and Skoda. Recently added Kia/Hyundai to the list.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Honda also announced that they will not be supplying power units to "any other parties" apart from Aston Martin from 2026 onwards.

Honda has announced a full-scale return to Formula 1 as a works power unit supplier to the Aston Martin Cognizant F1 team. The Japanese manufacturer will re-enter the sport in the 2026 season when the new engine regulations come into effect.

Honda stated that its quick decision to return to Formula 1 was due to the sports sustainability ambitions for the future. With F1 aiming to be net carbon zero by 2030, the sport will switch to sustainable fuels from 2026 while the new power units will also be boosted by a greater proportion of electrical power.

Honda announced its exit from the sport in 2020 and officially withdrew from F1 at the end of the 2021 season. The Japanese manufacturer currently has a supply deal with Red Bull, which will continue till the end of the 2025 season. Red Bull went their own way with their own in-house power unit division and a new partnership with Ford from the 2026 season.

The Silverstone-based F1 team, now Aston Martin, on the other hand, has been powered by Mercedes engines since 2009. Mercedes will continue powering Aston Martin till the end of the 2025 season, while also supplying them with the gearbox and rear suspension.

Honda also announced that they will not be supplying power units to "any other parties" apart from Aston Martin from 2026 onwards.

Source: F1

The cabin unit was already clean so it didn’t need to be serviced. Most of the plumbing is done in flexible pipe.

BHPian Ovais recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Time for the latest updates on the project.

The car was now ready for its first test drive. I took the car for a short test drive, it didn’t have the hood and the bumper on though. The car is very stable, even though there is a slight change in the dynamics with the engine being slightly heavier than the previous one and the allied parts also make it a little heavier on the front, but it doesn’t feel that way, feels very even. There are no odd vibrations at all, the car drove very smoothly. I have to say, the power to weight ratio makes for a very quick car! There’s worlds of difference between the performance now and back when it had the F10. The best part is, you don’t have to rev the bolts off the engine to gain speed, it accelerates effortlessly. There were some little tweaks that needed to be done though, and a couple of errors too but nothing major, only minor ones.

Next up is the air-conditioning. Originally, the condenser installed was about 60% of the width of the current radiator. While it worked great for the original ac setup, it wouldn’t be enough for the volume of gas moved with the new compressor and the heat dissipation requirements now. So, I looked around for a condenser that would fit and finalized the ac condenser from a Swift. It has a built-in filter so I didn’t have to worry about making space for fitting the filter. I just needed to remove the brackets on it for it to fit in the space that I have.

Since the original condenser wasn’t as wide, there was enough space for the bonnet lock in the center and its support to be installed. Now that the condenser and the radiator are wider, the hood lock could not be installed in its original configuration. I had to modify the lock itself and make a new support for it so that it clears both the radiator and the condenser.

Originally, the spring mechanism is on the back of the lock. I had to cut off the mechanism and build the mechanism under the lock and towards the front in order to clear both the radiator and the condenser.

This is what the lock looks like after the modification, along with the custom support that I’ve made. The springs are all installed on the front as well. I had to do multiple iterations of this setup for it to work correctly. Now I have enough space behind this to install the condenser.

The condenser fits perfectly with the new hood lock mechanism and its support. There’s about 30mm of space between the closest part of the lock and the condenser. Enough for it not to foul with the condenser.

The car was then taken to the A/C shop to plumb the air-conditioning system to the original evaporator inside. The cabin unit was already clean so it didn’t need to be serviced. Most of the plumbing is done in flexible pipe. About 30% of the plumbing are aluminum hard pipes, the rest are flexible pipes. The reason for this is, there is very little space in the engine bay, in case something needs to be removed, it would be a lot easier to move the flexible pipes around without damaging them compared to hard pipes.

The system is charged and the cooling is excellent. The original ac of the PKDM HA12 Alto was already very good in the smaller vehicle category, now, the original internal unit combined with the Honda Compressor and the bigger Condenser made for some very effective cooling.

The hood lock was then painted. I wanted to have it zinc plated but with the busy schedule, I had to settle with paint. The support is also painted.

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I've come to realise that this is a true fill-it-shut-it-forget-it kind of car.

BHPian ManasN95 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi everyone, Almira has been trudging along quite nicely, with some minor scares here and there - none of her fault.

The engine oil was almost completely drained because the oil filter was not installed correctly, or something must have hit it from under while I was coming from Pune to Mumbai. I wish there was an engine check light which comes on for low oil level - does it? I was saved by a whisker.

She has been used like a workhorse, the maintenance has been infrequent, and there are some small rattles.

All four doors have been completely eroded due to rust, and I have been putting off that expense for far too long - guilty as charged.

Recently a tyre burst on the highway because it was far too old, thankfully I was able to control it and no other vehicle was in the vicinity.

All in all, I have been extremely negligent of her, probably one of the few confessions of Team Bhp of outright negligence towards their automobile.

All said and done, I expect a few scoldings in reply to this update, and I will be maintaining her more religiously again from now on.

All these points are being highlighted that the City just keeps trudging along, a true fill-it-shut-it-forget-it kind of car, and whatever niggles there would be, would be because owners are not paying attention over long periods of time.

I will be getting her serviced through Nelly's Auto in the coming week, and plan on getting the transmission oil changed as well along with a comprehensive service. I want to bring her in top shape mechanically before moving on to the doors replacements and other cosmetic needs.

I have flirted a lot of times with "If I was in the market for a second-hand car right now for 4-5L which one would I have opted for" and I still can't find a better option than the 2012 Honda City.

I need to wake up from my slumber and treat her right.

Posting some photos from a recent trip - until further updates soon.

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I have challenged myself to find a solution and allocated a budget of 8-10K for the replacement.

BHPian tc89 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I need your advice about replacing the Digipad 1.0 on my 2017 Honda WR-V

Problems I have faced:

• Laggy and pathetically slow touch response
• Bluetooth takes its own sweet time to pair to my phone every time
• Sometimes I need to go to setting and select Honda WRV to pair
• Changing a track takes 3s to reflect
• The UI is shitty

I want to replace this however I feel that the speakers are okay and to be honest I have challenged myself to find a solution and allocated a budget of 8-10K for the replacement. I need your advice with the following options or any other option that you may suggest

Look for a 2nd hand Digipad 2.0 from the latest WR-V or City. Look for any 2nd hand Android Head unit

I want the solution to be plug and play and all existing 2 usb ports, all steering controls and if possible even the HDMI port working

Thanks

Here's what BHPian Libranof1987 had to say on the matter:

You’ll get basic androids for 7-8k, though my suggestion would be to get one with 4gb ram and 32gb storage, minimum, for a decent UI experience. All of them will be Chinese imports, but the USB ports and steering controls will all continue to work. I’ve got a basic one on my City, Haman brand, brought for 7k.

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The 8 speaker system sounds decent but could have benefited from a small subwoofer. I also like the unlock sensors on doors and the walk away locks.

BHPian inwester recently shared this with other enthusiasts,.

Honda City 5th gen owner since Nov 2021 with around 10,000 kms here (ZX Petrol CVT). I mainly bought this for city use, because every other car we considered had a waiting period during that time and with offers this was about 4-5 lakhs cheaper than the SUV rivals.

Here are my top 20 observations in no particular order:

• The build quality, fit and finish of interiors are VERY poor compared to similar priced cars.
• The whole thing rattles so much. The main culprits for me are dashboard, headliner and sunroof, all of which rattles so much.
• I understand this isn't a luxury car, but nothing has rubber or felt lining so that also adds to the rattling.
• LED Headlights also shake and you can see it dancing during the night while driving. I've seen similar reports here on the forum.
• The leather seats are an exception to the poor build quality theme, they're very comfortable and are well made (the brochure says it's leather and not leatherette, don't know if it's true).
• Getting in and out isn't very easy and my head always hits against the frame. I'm around 5'11".
• Headroom in front and back is very poor.
• The infotainment system feels like its from a budget 5 lakh car. It's also not very visible in bright sunlight.
• Digital / analog combo instrument panel is good actually and has enough information. However the glass (plastic) on it scratches so easily and now looks ugly.
• The 8 speaker system sounds decent but could have benefited from a small subwoofer.
• Rear camera plain sucks. Quality and functionality both are terrible. It doesn't have moving guidelines.
• Love the auto up / down windows on all 4 sides.
• The rear windshield sunshade is great, wish it came on rear doors as well.
• I also like the unlock sensors on doors and the walk away locks.
• AC works great, but I feel like cabin temperature sensor isn't calibrated properly as it will get COLD at 25c.
• The engine and gearbox combo is slouch. I haven't bought a naturally aspirated engine car since 2012 and this is my first CVT. They both suck the joy out of driving. This will also be my last NA and/or CVT.
• Fuel economy I'm struggling to get it to double digits in the city (Kochi, Kerala).
• Ride is comfy but handling is pretty bad for a sedan that used to be a driver's car.
• I actually don't find the cabin noise a big issue, honestly it's fine for me with tyres upgraded to Michelin Primacy 205 55 R16.
• Honda Connect never works properly and sometimes it just doesn't connect to the car. The app also is poorly designed with limited functionality. Such a subpar experience when compared to Kia Connect.

All said and done, if I had to redo this all over again, I'll choose one of the 20 lakh compact SUVs. I honestly regret buying this car and will sell once I get an opportunity.

Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but as a first gen Honda City VTEC owner, the tryst after 25 years has been very, let's say unromantic.

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