<p>We are a Honda family and have had great luck with them; this after a terrible experience with a Ford Windstar. Talk about transmission problems! The Windstar drove like a dream, but after 60k the transmission went out (replaced under warranty), the at 65k the gaskets blew, but were paid for by a recall, then at 85k the transmission went out again (another paid for by a technicality) and at 116k there was a fluid leak where they only needed to put in a new plastic cap that cost $1.00, but it rqd taking out the entire engine to replace the cap, so it was going to cost $1,000 to replace a cap! We traded it for an Odyssey.</p>
<p>We also own two CRVs. The one the kids share was in a 5 car pile up (caused by a guy on a cell phone) and the car was pancaked with my two Ds inside. The girls were fine, no injuries and the insurance refused to total the CRV cause it was worth more than we paid for it new (!) so the math for totaling didn’t work out. It was 8 weeks to repair and after looked like new and drove like new - still does. You would never know that car had ever been wrecked and it’s now almost 6 years old. So I’m sold on Hondas.</p>
<p>fwiw - we origlly decided on getting a CRV when a good friend was in an accident that did total her year old car (must have been really bad based on our experience) and the friend walked away w/o a scratch. She got a brand new CRV with the insurance and still drives it almost 10 years later.</p>
<p>Well, I was just getting ready to brag on my 2000 Honda Civic when a coworker came in to tell me he had just backed into it with his Suburban. Not a fair fight.</p>
<p>I have a 4 year old CR-V. It is too early to tell if it is going to be a reliable car. I only have 110,000 miles on it. I had 3 recalls in the first few months. All were very minor issues. I also had a sticky all wheel drive mechanism that required an gearbox oil change on warranty. I just paid for the only dealer service which was the 100k maintenance. That was well over $1000.</p>
<p>We have had Hondas in our family for 18 years - A total of 5 over the years, 2 currently still in the driveway. </p>
<p>First there were two Civics that got traded in when we out grew them (2 doors cars don’t work well with larger kids)- both having more than 150,000 miles on them at tradein.</p>
<p>Then an 1999 Accord which went nearly 300,000 miles. Note that this was a V6 Automatic - ran like a charm.</p>
<p>Currently a 2003 CRV with more than 100,000 miles on it (yes we drive a lot - joys of the living in the country and having a long work commute.) and a 2005 Accord Hybrid - great car.</p>
<p>Total of probably 800,000 miles on the five cars - and NEVER a transmission problem. We serviced the cars regularly and nothing ever went out that wasn’t due to mileage (e.g. brakes needed new pads etc.). </p>
<p>My inlaws have had Hondas for 20 years plus and I don’t ever recall a tranny problem there either.</p>
<p>I am planning on a Honda Civic or a Fit for my DD when she is ready - she will learn on the two that are in the driveway now!!!</p>
<p>The manual Honda transmissions are among the most reliable on the planet. The automatics - they could learn a few things from GM (who has stone cold reliable transmissions).</p>
<p>Does anyone have experience with the redesigned 2008 Accord? Have heard great reviews from friends but am disappointed in the fuel efficiency. What about the 2008 Civic? Need responses ASAP :)</p>
<p>I have owned 3 Honda Civics over the past 16 years and loved each one of them. They are great cars. Not one of them has given me any trouble other than some normal wear and tear after about 80,000 miles.</p>
<p>I have a '98 Civic with over 175K miles on it. The manual transmission has needed nothing. A mechanic who changed the oil in it – actually, the car has a small oil leak and there was nothing in it to drain…! – said that only a Honda would keep running under that condition.</p>
<p>Someday, I’m gonna have to get that leak repaired.</p>
<p>Test drove a variety of small SUVs, and bought the 2008 CRV at the end of April. Love it. Put 1000 miles on it in 12 days and have averaged 25 mpg (about 90% of my driving is highway commute to work).</p>
<p>I love Hondas. I think they are the best cars, period. I bought an Accord LX, traded it in, the trade in value was incredible. I practically got to drive the car for three years for free. The card was PERFECT. I traded it in for an Odyssey. Also PERFECT. There is not one incorrect design decision in either car, and I never had any maintenance issue either (though they were both still relatively new). They both had fantastic handling. The transmission on the Accord was so smooth, the acceleration was fantastic for a 4 cylinder.</p>
<p>The thing about Hondas is that they evolve over time. So one year isn’t going to be THAT much different from a previous year. That is how they maintain quality, by not over-innovating but by relying on tried and true engineering.</p>
<p>Was told by my Honda dealership where I always had my Civic serviced, that the 1997 Honda Civic was their best car ever put on the road. I never had a single problem with the car–just had it serviced at the required times and it never as much as belched. Also held its value very well when it finally came time to say goodbye. (wanted a new one)</p>
<p>check a site called edmunds.com about the 08 models you’re looking at. it usually has a good breakdown of any changes and quality ratings, plus their people test drive and do mechanical analyses too. they give you a breakdown on price as well so you can negotiate better. hope this helps.</p>
<p>What about Honda Pilots? I want to ditch our 95 Explorer, with 125k miles. I’d like to get an '05 Pilot to replace it. I know it will use more gas than a CRV, but I’m looking for something large enough to move kids to/from college, and to load 4 people up for a ski week or a weeklong beach vacation. DH works from home and my office is only 6 miles away, and DD will be driving herself around in our existing Camry this fall. So gas mileage isn’t a huge issue, because I really don’t anticipate driving that many miles in the truck on a routine basis. But we are driving 1000 miles for vacation this summer, and I want something reliable and comfortable for 4 adult-sized people. I recently read in the paper that car dealers have tons of SUVs that have been traded in by people looking for cars with better gas mileage, and no one is buying them, so I figure maybe now we can get a bargain on a used Pilot?</p>
<p>L84–
Our 2004 Pilot has been good so far…83,500 miles and no trouble. Not great on gas milege, but comfy for the long haul driving you will be doing. Edmunds.Com should have parameters you can enter for calculating the value of used cars in your area. They do for new cars at least. Those existing Camry’s are great too, aren’t they? Ours has 102,000 miles and I have every reason to believe it will break the 200,000 mile mark…</p>
<p>I did actually have transmission problems with my 1999 Odyssey, but Honda replaced it (twice, actually ) and gave me a loaner car, so it was a minimal inconvenience. Other than that, no complaints from me. Last June we bought a 2007 Civic for our third family vehicle (which DD drives and DS will soon take over when she’s off to school). 37 mpg actual on the highway and about 30 mpg around town. Very happy with no problems. We also had a 1992 Accord before the Odyssey and had no problems at all with that–gave it to mother-in-law who still has had no problems. I’d definitely by another Honda.</p>
<p>Edmunds.com does indeed have a search function for used car prices. Also a way to estimate trade in value and a price for sell it yourself. It goes by color, options, mileage, etc. It’s a great resource. Plus it’s amazing how well Hondas hold their value.</p>
) and gave me a loaner car, so it was a minimal inconvenience. Other than that, no complaints from me. Last June we bought a 2007 Civic for our third family vehicle (which DD drives and DS will soon take over when she’s off to school). 37 mpg actual on the highway and about 30 mpg around town. Very happy with no problems. We also had a 1992 Accord before the Odyssey and had no problems at all with that–gave it to mother-in-law who still has had no problems. I’d definitely by another Honda.</p>