DaveFJ
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 posted on 13/8/07 at 02:58 PM |
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Roof bars damaging tin top
Well just got back from holiday (sadly missed Pauls BBQ  ) and removed the roof bars from my 7 week old Honda Civic.....
I got the proper Honda roof bars with the car.
It has a glass roof which reduces the load carrying capacity to 30Kg so I bought the extension clamps which up the capacity to 50Kg... so far so
good....
the standard roof bar setup is quite novel and very neat using allen bolts and special feet. But, the extension clamps are the sort that hook over the
edges of the door frames. I fitted them in accordance with the instructions and used the supplied tool to tighten the nuts (not too tight!). when I
got back from holiday I removed the roof rack and found that the clamps had bent the bodwork above the door frame
I have called the dealer to complain and they say their warranty guy will have to look at it - but I guess they are probably going to deny
responsibility and try to blame me...
I have had loads of cars over the years with this type of fitting and never seen them do damage like this. the bars are a bit flexible so I thought
the flex caused by the bike carriers as we went round corners etc may have added to the tension on the clamps?
when talking to dealer I asked about oil consumption fiugures as I have already topped it up.. was told 1l per 750 miles is normal.
I am also getting an average of 30mpg - not exactly what you expect from a diesel....
anyway - just wanted to whinge
I am so disapointed with this car - I want my Fiat back!
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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nick205
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 03:06 PM |
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The oil/fuel consumption doesn't sound overly surprising.
Both our current diesel cars (Pug 306 HDI + Leon TDI) used oil and needed topping up during the first service intervals from new (10k miles). After
that neither has ever needed topping up between intervals.
Can't remember MPG early on in the 306's lifetime, but the Leon struggled badly for a while and then levelled out at 50-55mpg average. If
driven sensibly it'll easily top 60mpg too.
I bet the Honda delaer will tell you that the car is still running in and will improve with miles.
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DaveFJ
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 03:21 PM |
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I did actually think that the oil consumption could be put down to it being brand new... wil monitor it and see how it goes from now on!
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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britishtrident
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 03:25 PM |
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Honda don't have the reputation they used to ie They used run perfectly without openning the bonnet for 12 years then everything self destructs
within a month.
Oil consumption close to pint per 300 miles is ridiculous, it sounds to me like the piston rings may not have bedded in --- however the vehicle is
still relatively new and this may improve over the next few weeks.
Fuel consumption, roof racks add a lot of drag but even so sub 40 mpg on diesel is not good.
If it the first diesel you have owned be aware diesel driving technique is different from petrol engines, the loud pedal is purely a fuel valve and
has more effect on fuel consumption than the throttle does in a petrol engine.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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Hellfire
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 03:34 PM |
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Personally I've never rated Honda's anyway unless it's THE PETROL ENGINE. Poor build materials and quality of fit... I'll
never have another.
That amount of Oil usage is typical until 3000 then it drops significantly until 10,000 miles, then it levels out. My VW engined Skoda 2.0 deisel 30
months old and at 88K miles now uses about 1 ltr every 15,000 miles. I'm on longlife oil (HAHA!) so this lasts about 28K before a change. Usage
initially was very heavy.
MPG sounds very low actually but as stated by BT if you feather the throttle is pays massive dividends! They take some getting used to... when new
diesel engine change gear at about 2000 revs and watch those MPG's soar!
Regarding your roof problems I think you will get knowhere as it's weighted too much against your fitment of them. But it's worth a
try...
Steve
[Edited on 13-8-07 by Hellfire]
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whitestu
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 03:38 PM |
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Our C8 diesel does over 30mpg so that sounds poor for what it a much smaller car.
My Passat TDI improved with miles, but even brand new it did around 40 on a run.
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graememk
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 03:48 PM |
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my vectra was crap for a start but never used oil and still dosnt 110k on
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 05:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveFJ
I want my Fiat back!
Not many people say that and mean it 
The fuel consumption is crap, assuming the car wasn't fully loaded with people
My transit connect has a freezer conversion and does 38mpg.
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Brooky
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 06:04 PM |
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I once mentioned to a guy from Ford that our Fiesta ST was giving crap fuel consumption, he asked how many miles it had done and explained that the
fiesta had 3 maps built into the ECU. As the car clocked the miles, the map altered and the fuel efficiency got better.
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John.Taylor
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 06:42 PM |
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I've got one of the new CRV's on an 07 plate and it only did 32mpg for the first 600 mile or so. Now it's done 10k it does 45mpg or
500/tank of diesel costing roughtly £42
If I go 56mph on the motorway I get roughly 58mpg, if I go 65mph on the motorway I get roughly 49mpg, if I go just over 70mph I get less than 40mpg.
I haven't asked Honda yet as the first service isn't due until next week. but I assume that the 4wd kick in above 70mph for stability
purposes or something so reducing the mpg.
I must say that I've got the CRV for family reasons following an Audi A4 and I was expecting life with a Honda to be much better than it is.
Exterior paintwork and interior plastics scratch really easily and there isn't a soft touch interior surface in sight. Honda upgrade hifi
isn't half as good as upgrade Audi Concert system and there are already several interior rattles. Driver window sounds like it's just
about to fall down whenever you drive with it open (at any level). Seat fabric isn't looking too hard wearing and rubber heel mat is nearly
through.
I had Audi for 4 years and 100k and it was like new when it went back, god knows what CRV will be like.
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Hellfire
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| posted on 13/8/07 at 08:43 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John.Taylor
I've got one of the new CRV's on an 07 plate and it only did 32mpg for the first 600 mile or so. Now it's done 10k it does 45mpg or
500/tank of diesel costing roughtly £42
If I go 56mph on the motorway I get roughly 58mpg, if I go 65mph on the motorway I get roughly 49mpg, if I go just over 70mph I get less than 40mpg.
I haven't asked Honda yet as the first service isn't due until next week. but I assume that the 4wd kick in above 70mph for stability
purposes or something so reducing the mpg.
I must say that I've got the CRV for family reasons following an Audi A4 and I was expecting life with a Honda to be much better than it is.
Exterior paintwork and interior plastics scratch really easily and there isn't a soft touch interior surface in sight. Honda upgrade hifi
isn't half as good as upgrade Audi Concert system and there are already several interior rattles. Driver window sounds like it's just
about to fall down whenever you drive with it open (at any level). Seat fabric isn't looking too hard wearing and rubber heel mat is nearly
through.
I had Audi for 4 years and 100k and it was like new when it went back, god knows what CRV will be like.
They are a bit BRICK LIKE though for gods sake... 
Any mpg at all is a bonus...
Steve
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 14/8/07 at 09:02 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by John.Taylor
I was expecting life with a Honda to be much better than it is. Exterior paintwork and interior plastics scratch really easily and there isn't
a soft touch interior surface in sight.
Did you buy it without a test drive?
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DaveFJ
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| posted on 14/8/07 at 09:16 AM |
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Thing is, I have found it's easy to overlook things on a test drive....
One of the things I just 'assumed' would be on my top of the range fully loaded car were adjustable lumbar supports! I can't
remember the last car I drove that didn't have them!
The Fiat was better built and out of better materials - no honestly! not a squeak or rattle to be found and one breakdown in 2.5 years aint so awful
(AC Pump failure)... plus it had a 180Bhp 2.4l 5 pot petrol engine which returned the same mpg I am seeing on the diesel. It also had much more
'kit' fitted and was far better ergonomically designed....
I should have known really.. It may be a Honda but it is built in the UK.. !!!
[Edited on 14/8/07 by DaveFJ]
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
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John.Taylor
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| posted on 14/8/07 at 11:22 AM |
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I generally don't go trying to scratch the paint and interior trim when borrowing a demonstrator, and it only had 300 mile on the clock so
hadn't loosened up properly.
It didn't have the hi-fi upgrade which I assumed would make a difference - there's supposed to be a sub in there somewhere but it's
effect certainly isn't sub, it just adds a fluffy booming to the music rather than sound pressure so you have to keep it set low.
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