Alabaster Silver Civic V AT

[sgiitk]

@Kinshuk: I think technically old plates are legal on vehicles older than a a particular date.

Reversing sensors are good. They beep faster and faster as the object gets closer. There are four - two for behind and two for objects on the sides in the rear. The first pair starts beeping from 150cm and the latter from 60cm (when in reverse).

I have to see how audible they are when I am in a noisy area. The road in front of our house is still being done up so I do not take out the new car much

[udaykiran]

and u hav finally got it htere sir...yor carz lookin stunning,but the color can be more catching if it is a bright one..however u r old enough to think look yo car executishh huh..interiors are damn good ..

[sgiitk]

@sgiitk: talking illegal number plates' date=' there are many who are still using the old black plates! [/quote']

Went shopping. Saw black plates on a UP78AD..., i.e. about 10 years old!

Got a call from Pushp Honda. The alloy rim has arrived. They are still

waiting for the illuminated sills.Will get both taken care of at the

same time.

sgiitk2010-06-09 18:11:38

[anjan_c2007]

UP 78 is Allahabad I believe.Black plates?? Fossil I feel. In Maharashtra they are a bit stricter with such violations.

[sgiitk]

No anjanda UP78 is good 'ol Kanpur. See my plates! Some quick ones UP32 Lucknow, UP80 Agra, UP77 Kanpur Dehat (the refuge of BS3!)

[sb-alto]

Sir,

Saw a White Civic V today. It is the same model as yours with company fitted parking sensors and indicators on ORVMs. But this guy got a Mugen Body kit along with some snazzy wheels, tyres, headlamps, projector fogs and a sunroof. Made it look neat but super stylish.

May be you can steal the show someday by getting something like this on your civic.

Sharing some images here :

[sgiitk]

He is welcome to what he has done. Spoilers + side skirts just lower the car further. He has also gone for 16" or 17" wheels. Neither are kosher here due to rough roads.

Least interested in the rest.  I will rather keep my warranty! 

[Kinshuk]

I sencond what Dr Gupta's mentioned. To me there nothing better or eye-catching then a stock car maintained in almost pristine condition - there's a reason - 97% keep their vehicle stock and dont maintain them well, 2% mod them and just 1% maintain their vehicles properly - so end of the day this 1% stands out in the crowd better than the 2%!

[rahulgupta3101]

I sencond what Dr Gupta's mentioned. To me there nothing better or eye-catching then a stock car maintained in almost pristine condition - there's a reason - 97% keep their vehicle stock and dont maintain them well' date=' 2% mod them and just 1% maintain their vehicles properly - so end of the day this 1% stands out in the crowd better than the 2%![/quote']

Agreed..

A well-maintained stock vehicle is a delight to see than to look at a modified avatar of it..

[Durango Dude]

Yep, a well looked after stock car thats around say 4-5 years old makes me go weak in the knees.

[BonFre]

It would be a sight well worth seeing the Prof. drive a souped up Civic complete with 17inchers, skirts & spoiler!

[sgiitk]

@BF: I am afraid your dream will remain just that.

[CYRUS43]

Ahem Ahem!!

[Kinshuk]

@cyrus: nahem nahem! )

If were to look at a performance car and had access to Type R I would go for the coupe and not the sedan.

Kinshuk2010-06-11 20:54:11

[CYRUS43]

But in INdia we get the Sedan, so I put the other picture!

[sgiitk]

Lousy day at the WorkShop

Yesterday I took the car in to the Pushp Honda workshop for the alloy wheel and illuminated door sills (Step Garnish in their language), as they had finally arrived. The working hours of the workshop are 9:30 to 6:30, and I was told to be there by 9:30. As usual arrived a couple of minutes early. Activity started only about 9:45.

The SA said, why not do the first free service/inspection (1000km / 1 month) at the same time, and I agreed. I was unlikely to do even 150km in the rest of teh month.

The workshop is neat and well organised, and the customers lounge is

also quite good, but with no window overlooking the workshop area. The drivers lounge has a window.

They took the car (it was #1 on the list) in and promised delivery by 13:00. He tried to sell me undercoating, which I refused. Then I saw  Rs.138 for Nitrogen in the tyres in the estimate. This was done by him on his own. I scratched it out, and told him to give me the free nitrogen with 78% purity. Also, I had had found three tiny ball pen marks the inside panel of the drivers door. That too remains undone.

The car was ready only at 4:00pm. Then about 1km from the workshop I saw the battery warning light come on. I drove back to the workshop, and they were at it till 18:30 and could not fix it. At about 17:30 I  went in and the chap and his supervisor were working methodically with a laptop hooked up to the OBD. Also, they had the documentation available and were referring to it. It was an intermittent problem. So I left the car there and they have promised to fix it today.

Earlier while waiting for the car I mentioned that I will get my own oil (either Mobil 1 or Shell Ultra). He said we do not allow outside oil. I told him that Honda Specifies API-SL and as long as the oil SL or higher, of the right viscosity, they cannot refuse. Also, added that it will be a matter for the consumer court / MRTPC. He gave in immediately.

The previous day I had gone to Lucknow and was pleasantly surprised to see about 13kpl! I had tanked up before leaving and immediately after my return. On the way back from Lucknow I could feel the engine starting to 'open out'.

sgiitk2010-06-18 05:08:44

[sb-alto]

He tried to sell me undercoating' date=' which I refused. Then I saw  Rs.138 for Nitrogen in the tyres in the estimate. This was done by him on his own.

, I had had found three tiny ball pen marks the inside panel of the drivers door. That too remains undone.

. Then about 1km from the workshop I saw the battery warning light come on.

. So I left the car there and they have promised to fix it today.

Earlier while waiting for the car I mentioned that I will get my own oil (either Mobil 1 or Shell Ultra).

[/quote']

This push-sale is a habit of every Service Centers. This job is actually not done by any Manufacturer. It is done by local companies which earn commissions by selling these underbody coats. So is the case with oils. The bigger service stations blankly refuses to accept better oils. Again it is a matter of bulk sale of cheaper oils.

Shell Ultra is too costly. Mobil1 or genuine Castrol Edge seems more value for money for a full-synthetic oil.  BTW What is the viscosity that Honda recommends?

Nitrogen is worthy only if it is available near to your place, but then Rs138 for filling tyres is a bit too much. Normal air with weekly pressure check up is just fine.

Lousy work indeed.

Battery light coming at first check up is bad. May be too hi-tech killed working skills. But please get the battery checked. As in my case, the earlier battery did not show any light but leaked. Thus caused Acid-water corrosion and rust. I hope your battery is maintenance free.

[sgiitk]

This push-sale is a habit of every Service Centers. This job is actually not done by any Manufacturer. It is done by local companies which earn commissions by selling these underbody coats. So is the case with oils. The bigger service stations blankly refuses to accept better oils. Again it is a matter of bulk sale of cheaper oils.

Shell Ultra is too costly. Mobil1 or genuine Castrol Edge seems more value for money for a full-synthetic oil.  BTW What is the viscosity that Honda recommends?

I have bought enough new cars' date=' and been to enough A$$s to know their habits.

As for the oil as long as the oil you have meets the specs they cannot refuse. Ask them to give it in writing - they never will. Oil viscosity can be anything from 0W20 to 10W40.

Honda accepts once in 10k/12 months with a full synth. Otherwise oil change is twice a year... All synths cost about the same. The original fill is a 0Wxx ot 5Wxx looking at its viscosity, and most probably a synth. Normally I will go synth only after 15,000 or so, but do not fancy switching around.

Nitrogen is worthy only if

it is available near to your place, but then Rs138 for filling tyres is

a bit too much. Normal air with weekly pressure check up is just fine

In my view Nitrogen is in the same class as snake oil. Total rubbish n a normal car. I have survived for 40 years with air and expect to do so for the rest of my years. There is an old thread on Nitrogen in ACI>

Battery light coming at first check up is bad. May be

too hi-tech killed working skills. But please get the battery checked.

As in my case' date=' the earlier battery did not show any light but leaked.

Thus caused Acid-water corrosion and rust. I hope your battery is

maintenance free.

[/quote']

When you diagnose a fault also look at the age. The car is all of 17 days old (and VIN tells me it is of May manufacture). The problem is intermittent, and almost certainly from the loom.

Just remember I have been with cars (incl. auto internals) for over 40 years!

[Durango Dude]

13kpl is fantastic, that too for an automatic. How was your trip to Lucknow and back?

[creativebala]

13kpl is fantastic' date=' that too for an automatic. How was your trip to Lucknow and back? [/quote']

That too on Running In period, simply awesome. I think this is what people call as Expert Drives.

 

SG sir, do post some tips 'n tricks for newbies on How to extract more miles per litre?

 

@FRG, theres another FRG on the making.

creativebala2010-06-18 09:06:51

[Kinshuk]

@Dr Gupta: Surprised that you're facing such a problem with an absolutely new Honda!! I hope they've been able to diagnose and rectify the problem - pls keep us updated!

@creativebala: FYI, I've been constantly getting 10kmpl on my Altis - in city with A/c!

[sgiitk]

@DD & Kinshuk: Finally picked it up. They had messed up the wiring in installing the Illuminated Sills. Also, had another tiff today. When I heard nothing till almost midday I tried calling up the SA who was dealing with me yesterday. The follow basically said, I know nothing, I am out of town, you can go to the company. Then called up the service chief, Ex services. He was very apologetic, and called me back after 10 minutes that the job was done. I arranged for them to send the car to the showroom and picked it up around 15:30.

As for the mileage I am myself surprised. But the the AT is very tall geared (about 55kph per 1000rpm in 5th). The US EPA ratings of the AT are 1mpg higher than the manual on the highway! Also, since it downshifts with alacrity you are 'encouraged' to keep your lead boots off, since otherwise you are two gears down in a jiffy with the Tacho & Engine crying. This car upshifts very quickly as well. Of course you have a 5-speed box and torque converter lock up.

According to my estimate even taking account the vagaries of a full tank the mistake cannot exceed 0.7kpl. I was not exactly soft footing (the system is unhappy with p****) it and did cross 100kph on quite a few occasions. Kinshuk you know the road and traffic well any going much above 110 or so is stupid.

sgiitk2010-06-18 14:25:37

[rssh]

@sgiitk can you tell what was your milege when you went to the first service ?Also what was the service cost?

Pls post the pics of the side step garnish I love that cool glow . Also I think the rear side step doesnot glow so I have seen after market lighting system to fix it .

[dtandon]

@sgiitk - off topic - but does amuasi still have all the tempo's queuing up for CNG and blocking the road ?

[sgiitk]

@sgiitk - off topic - but does amuasi still have all the tempo's queuing up for CNG and blocking the road ?

Have not seen them for the past three or four months. The polics is managing them better.