Mrs MacP's new car

[macplaxton]

I've performed a major U-turn in household car buying policy

Until today, I've never had a car less than 10 years old, or costing more than 1400 quid. Now I have broken both those rules. Since the Pug 106 has been off the road far too long (22 months now - between work, weather, tardiness and time-vacuum kids), I decided a couple of days ago to resist no more and raid the never-going-to-be-used-for-house-deposit-in-the-foreseeable-future-funds and just green-light the purchase of a domestic transport appliance. I quickly whittled the list of possible of cars down to one make and one model and went looking.

Went up to Norn Iron and got this:



As a Scotsman, I'm still a bit ill for having my wallet prised open so wide.

Hopefully, being a Honda, I shouldn't have to approach it with spanners very much. And whilst it is not a licensing requirement for either of us, it just had to be a CVT.

[thebear54]

Am I seeing things...or are you having a bit of a FIT (just as Brian did).

John

[macplaxton]

(FIT) Good one John! and no, you're not seeing things! Now I should get some peace and quiet to play with MY cars instead of being a chauffeur.

[33grinder]

Good choice that man! I've heard lots of good things about the Jazz CVT. I had a Jazz courtesy car whilst the Civic was in for service but sadly wasn't a CVT, but the Jazz seemed a nice enough ride (notwithstanding a very odd fuel gauge. Pete's tip, always brim it every refuel!).

Mrs G is still very happy with her Civic, Honda is a quality brand.

[macplaxton]

Well it was a quick back-of-the-envelope choice.

Checked the reliability top ten - see the usual suspects. Thought of what was half useful for a small family car - "magic seats". Thought of what does some mega mpg. Thought of something that the taxman isn't going to hump me too much on registration tax (€820/£675) or Motor Tax (€385). I pushed for the CVT. Whilst she said that her mother's new Hyundai i10 Auto is "noisy", her experience of this one was far more favourable. It has two cheap Chinese tyres on the front (why, oh why, oh why???) that are going in the bin shortly. Although it has too many spark plugs (8) for the sequential ignition, it has a real cam chain and not a Mickey Mouse belt. Yay!

Right, I've got a head gasket to do on the BB....

[Sigmund Fraud]

That's far too sensible a car choice for a DAF owner ! You should have convinced her to buy a late 340 variomatic ;-)

[howard]

I've got a 340 variomatic in my workshop, Richard

Still can't fathom the smokiness mind you - we really need to get that sorted. She's a good car

[macplaxton]

Indeed Howard. That car will have to go up the M6 eventually. Smokiness? Do PM me a reminder description of this.

The flaw in SF's plan is that a "late" 340 is 720 EUR of VRT, before stumping up the 385 EUR Motor tax every year. (The solution was to pull over Abby, as she's over 30 and is 200 EUR VRT and 56 EUR p.a. Motor tax.) All that aside, I'd have a hard time convincing 'er indoors to drive a ancient Volvo. A modern Honda on the other requires no convincing. Remember, I need peace and quiet, not more earache!

[pauldaf44]

Ive driven a couple of these now and they are nice little cars. But they do have a quirk that needs to be attended to.

You need to change the CVT oil every 18months minimum, and use Honda CVT-F oil as normal ATF screws up the gearbox. Make sure the oil in the box is yellow not red! Also the transmission has a weakness, the start clutch pack is prone to failure, the symptoms are juddering as you pull away and excessive engine braking, if it does fail the whole CVT has to be replaced but thankfully Honda will do it for free as long as the car is under 10 years old.

Apart from that issue ive found them really nice little cars.

[macplaxton]

I've 2x 4L Honda CVTR here Paul