A great car with some caveats
A great and reliable vehicle, perfect for a first time stick shift car. Clutch is effortless but incredibly engaging. My car has over 150,000 miles, all driven by myself. I am still on the original clutch assembly save it from about 5 clutch master cylinder replacements early on. The only check engine light I've ever had on the vehicle is when my starter motor finally went, which lasted all the way to 147,000 miles. There has never been a crack in the windshield and I've only ever had to replace one AUX brake light. Now onto the caveats. The A/C system is utter garbage. I've been through 2 compressors and after the warranty ended, it failed a third time, and I have yet to pay to get it fixed, which was over 2 years ago. I'd rather sit in 100 degree heat then pay to a substandard product. I hardly ever used it in my 12 years as a owner and there is no excuse Honda can give me for such a lousy system. Why there was never a proper recall is beyond me. The paint is another caveat. I had the paint warranty work done when it started blistering on the roof, but the trunk was a delayed fuse and is now starting to peal and blister, which can't be repaired under warranty, as that ship has long since sailed. I detailed professionally for over a decade and my car was given a proper hand detail as much as once a month, so this was certainly not negligence. The fit kits on the tires also dry rot and leak air, so I recommend replacing those when you go in for new tires or wheels. Finally the last caveat is the crappy faux leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. It's not even synthetic leather, but some kind of leather paint, that is pealing off in my hands like tar. On a humid day It's quite disgusting. I've since replaced the shift knob with a Type R version, but the steering wheel wrap is going to cost me at least $100 and take several hours to install, so no thank you. All in all I love this car and it still makes me smile when I turn back and look at it. I have traveled the East Coast with this car and it's given me plenty of joy and surprisingly great MPG's, despite it's refined taste in premium fuel. This was my first new car and it's hard to believe 12 years later, I still use it as my daily driver, when all of my friends and family have all had to buy new cars over the years. Knock on wood twice
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