I have nothing but good things to say about my Honda. It's a CRX from the Reagan era ('88), and in retrospect was one of the most forward-thinking cars of its time. Sure, it's a little two-seater, but it has plenty of cargo room and gets 35 MPG. It's taken me across the country twice, clocking an impressive 200k miles (and still going strong).
Reliability is paramount to me, and it's delivered this very nicely. It's never broken down on me; keeping to the scheduled maintenance no doubt has helped, but most cars have problems even then. Honda dealer service is great (if a bit pricey), and they've never had a problem with getting parts even with a car this old.
My next car will most certainly be a Honda.
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My family has owned several Hondas and Acuras--a 1992 Acura Legend, a 1994 Acura Integra GS-R sedan, a 1997 Honda CR-V, and a 2003 Honda Accord. They were each different, tailored to their different markets, but they were all made *well* in a way that the domestics that I've owned weren't. They all lasted despite eager abuse and multiple crashes in my teenage hands.
They were all fun to drive in their own way, with nice interiors that were well-laid out, thoughtful touches, and engines that love to scream.
I almost made this a four-star review, because the CR-V lagged behind the others and because I haven't loved the newest Hondas. But despite that, I think of Hondas as being well-engineered and the combination of Toyota's reliability with something extra that Toyota doesn't have. I wouldn't call it passion or soul quite exactly, because these aren't Alfa Romeos, but the machinery loves to work. That in turn makes me love the machinery.
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I bought my Ridgeline based on it's advertised towing capacity, and Honda's reputation for quality. It has the Honda Factory hitch and factory trailer wiring. All trailers over 1,500 lbs are required to have brakes. With the Ridgeline you can't back up with a trailer with brakes. The ridgeline does not have the wiring to release the trailer brakes when you put it in reverse. Honda says it works as designed. It wasn't designed to tow what they advertise it will tow. If you are going to tow over 1,500 lbs better get a Toyota or a Ford.
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The origins of the modern Honda Motor Company trace back to 1946 with the founding of the Honda Technical Research Institute by Soichiro Honda in Japan. In 1948 the Honda Motor Company Ltd. was established to produce motorcycles and scooters. In 1960 Honda began producing cars, primarily for the Japanese market, and by the 1970s Honda had become the top producer of motorcycles in the world....
The origins of the modern Honda Motor Company trace back to 1946 with the founding of the Honda Technical Research Institute by Soichiro Honda in Japan. In 1948 the Honda Motor Company Ltd. was established to produce motorcycles and scooters. In 1960 Honda began producing cars, primarily for the Japanese market, and by the 1970s Honda had become the top producer of motorcycles in the world.
Early on, Honda's small cars, while popular in Japan, were a hard sell in the U.S. It wasn't until 1972, with the introduction of the Civic, that Honda started to gain popularity with the American buying public. The Civic's CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine was the first engine to pass Low-Emissions Vehicle standards without a catalytic converter during the energy crisis that hit the United States during the 1970s. With the introduction of the Accord in 1976, Honda further solidified its position as a top producer of reliable fuel-efficient vehicles that didn't sacrifice fun for functionality.
Honda introduced its variable valve timing system, VTEC, in 1989; the technology offered greater efficiency and performance across a variety of engines and has subsequently become much emulated by other automakers. Other innovations include the Honda Insight, which became the first gas and electric hybrid car produced in the United States in 1999, and the Honda FCX, which had the distinction of being the first fuel-cell vehicle to earn certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2002.
Today Honda continues to build on its reputation for well-designed vehicles offering value, strong fuel economy and outstanding safety records--a reputation enhanced by the automaker's numerous awards. Kelley Blue Book awarded Honda with its 2009 Best Resale Value Award in the automotive brand category. The Accord, available as a midsize coupe or a family-oriented sedan, has won numerous awards, including being named on Car and Driver's 10 Best Car list 23 times. The Accord Sedan has been recognized as the "Top Safety Pick" for 2008 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as well as receiving the highest safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Civic is available as a coupe, sedan, hybrid sedan or the near zero-emission natural gas-powered GX. The Civic GX has been named "America's Greenest Car" for five consecutive years by the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy. The Honda FCX Clarity is zero-emission hydrogen-powered fuel-cell sedan that emits only water vapor into the air. Rounding out Honda's passenger cars is the S2000, a fun roadster comparable to a Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the Honda Fit, named as part of Car and Driver's "Top 10 Urban Vehicles for 2008." The Honda Odyssey is Car and Driver's 2008 "Best Van", as well as being recognized for its outstanding safety features by both the IIHS and NHTSA. In the SUV category, Honda offers, from smallest to largest, the boxy Element, the compact CR-V, the mid-sized Pilot, and the Ridgeline truck.
