Thegonagle
Diamond Member
- Jun 8, 2000
- 9,773
- 0
- 71
Sweet Jesus! You did it! Well congratulations.
The SE is perfect for anyone who prefers an automatic. I?d go for the SE myself if I didn?t want a manual transmission. I?m just that kind of driver though.
Do read the manual. They tell you what you need to know about breaking it in. Basically, it says to drive gently for the first 500-1000 miles, and avoid driving at one constant speed for very long.
From the break-in section, move on to the maintenance schedule. You can keep this thing running great almost forever if you do all the things suggested in that section, particularly the oil (every 3,000-3500), the transmission fluid, and the coolant (every 2 years max, mileage basically doesn?t matter on the coolant).
Remember, the Hondas that I see running forever were mostly serviced at the dealership or a really good, non-chain (like Midas) mechanic with (this is important) genuine Honda parts. It can be a selling point for sure. Real gear heads know that genuine parts are generally preferable, unless the cost is prohibitive (like for alternators).
I?d get a coat of wax on there as soon as possible, and try to wax it at least twice a year. Contrary to conventional wisdom, new cars are not waxed at the factory. If you really want to make it look great, buy a buffer for $40 (or find a hot deal!), and use that. You get better results in less time with a buffer.
Enjoy your new Honda. (Times like this, I wish I had a real job already.)
The SE is perfect for anyone who prefers an automatic. I?d go for the SE myself if I didn?t want a manual transmission. I?m just that kind of driver though.
Do read the manual. They tell you what you need to know about breaking it in. Basically, it says to drive gently for the first 500-1000 miles, and avoid driving at one constant speed for very long.
From the break-in section, move on to the maintenance schedule. You can keep this thing running great almost forever if you do all the things suggested in that section, particularly the oil (every 3,000-3500), the transmission fluid, and the coolant (every 2 years max, mileage basically doesn?t matter on the coolant).
Remember, the Hondas that I see running forever were mostly serviced at the dealership or a really good, non-chain (like Midas) mechanic with (this is important) genuine Honda parts. It can be a selling point for sure. Real gear heads know that genuine parts are generally preferable, unless the cost is prohibitive (like for alternators).
I?d get a coat of wax on there as soon as possible, and try to wax it at least twice a year. Contrary to conventional wisdom, new cars are not waxed at the factory. If you really want to make it look great, buy a buffer for $40 (or find a hot deal!), and use that. You get better results in less time with a buffer.
Enjoy your new Honda. (Times like this, I wish I had a real job already.)