Now that we have this "Dear Honda" forum, just thought I'd submit this again, with some updates:

Dear Honda:

Let me start by saying I love my E. I was looking to buy a new car and it filled a niche I didn't know I needed filled. I was going to buy a Jeep Wrangler, but the girlfriend suggested I get something more practical. After all, I kept the 2-seater Del Sol, so I needed something more usable. Overall, a great car. I can't speak for all the "E faithful" but, there are a few things I would love to either haveor have changed:

1) either a center console standard or optional.

2) keyless entry/alarm standard. It comes on other vehicles in this price range (hello Jetta). Make remote start the option. update- HA! now it will be. Still think remote start should be an option....

3) REAL stereo speakers!! What's with the cheap paper things in my doors?!?!

4) Only 2 power windows, so why can't they both have auto up/down? See previous mention of VW Jetta....

5) Bigger/better tires. Stock tires wear quickly and look wimpy. You should see what my Dunlop Rover all-terrains do for looks AND ride quality.

6) Either a way to open back side windows and sunroof from the driver's seat, or at least a dash indicator that they are open when you shut off the engine. My brother's '84 Mazda 626 coupe had power rear quarter windows. As for the dash indicator, you put one in my Del Sol that tells me when I leave the rear window open or if I didn't lock the targa top. It'd be nice to have SOMETHING here.

7) Is there ANY way to have even a small sunroof up front? PREEEETTY PLEEEEASE?????

8) Better tilt on the tilt wheel. I can't see the top of my gauges. Telescope would be nice.

9) Better accessories!!! Half of the stuff I've done to my E is made up of things I found elsewhere and modified to work. If you came out with some better/cooler accessories, you'd already have a market of people waiting for them.

10) More power under the hood. I don't think a 6 is the way to go. It would ruin the essential indentity of the vehicle. You have the technology to give us more HP with the existing platform....


That's really all I can think of. A lot of people probably won't agree with me, but so what? I'm entitled to my opinion and likes/dislikes.

I've had my E since 4/1/03 and have 15,000 miles. It still makes me smile to drive it every day. A great product and all this car for $22,000? You can't beat it unless you buy a Kia (not).....

I share your concerns and would add the following:

1. A bigger battery, especially for us northerners.

2. Real arm rests and include one for the passenger - afterall, I'm sometimes relegated to being the passenger. ;)

3. Move the cruise on/off button to where it is accessible while driving and backlight the control buttons.

4. A better way to hold your coffee in the morning...I dislike the floor cup holder as I find myself fumbling around when setting my coffee down.

5. A larger gas tank. The E is ideal for sight seeing adventures off the beaten path, but the E needs its gas and the tank it comes equipped with is too small for my liking.

My wife and I just purchased our E a couple of weeks ago and have around 1,200 KM on it. We love it and hope to see future models being produced (but not too many 'cause we like how it is unique...just like the new Bug until it was mass/over produced).

Cheers, Derek

I agree with two of the above...

Better Tilt ... even with the seat in the lowest position and the wheel in the highest position I find it hard to see the top of the speedometre. That is where the critical 80-100 KM range is. If you could add 2-4 CM more to the upper range of the tilt that would take care of a lot of the visibility issues.


macphail has it right when he requires a bigger battery. My engine turns over fine at my parents who live the wind driven, tree barren farming area of the upper Ottawa Valley [/u] when it is plugged into my block heater. However, in Toronto at minus 5 celcius it is sluggish to turn over. What about minus 25 celcius?

I disagree with the cup holders comment. I like them. I'm 172-173 cm tall and I reach the holders just fine. In fact I can find one of the two no problem without looking while drivine. I think a non-slip bottom and better sizing would improve them.

Dave

Now, granted, I've only had my E for 2 days...
but already I know that the tilt wheel issue is a real one. I'm 6'0" and with the wheel all the way up and the seat all the way down, I can't see the 60mph range(rather important in the land of the speed traps I live in) :wink:

peace -
jesse

[quote:9507383678=" "]It still makes me smile to drive it every day.[/quote:9507383678]

X, I agree with you 100%, I also like some of your suggested mods. Way to go!!!! :D

E On!

Kerri
AWD SOP E
Mastiffs On Board

Has anyone taken a good look at the rather large openings in the wheel wells from the drive and steering controls, that lead directly into the engine compartment? :shock: I just sprayed off all of the salt thrown up into the box from the wells and tires and Frankly I am a bit taken aback! I am looking into adding some sheet rubber or something to sort of protect the engine box a little more but c'mon! Why should I have to do this? If you live in the midwest or eastern seaboard and have driven through this past winter, you have loads of salt debris in and around your whole engine box. I can only imagine a place with lots of dust.

This sucks HONDA. I understand why it's there, I guess, as the design dictates the placement of the front end controls, but who thought this was okay and why isn't there some more protection? :?

Okay, this is just me bitching...I'll diligently wash out the compartment but really, I shouldn't have to. Are there any other cars out there like this? ANYbody??

Thanks

I opened my hood Friday and was aghast to see mud spattered everywhere, literally on every engine surface and the underside of the hood, and everything in between. I understood how the dust got in last summer (road dust infiltrates everywhere), but how did mud get in some of these places? :?

I used to get dust in the engine compartment of my Saturn, but not mud! Is this because of the openings that you're talking about, STO7M? And, what should I do about it? Hose out the engine compartment?

YUP! You found it man! I am working to find a fix for this really stupid design! I have no clue as of yet. It will involve fitting something over the holes that will not restrict the movement of the control arms and rods and whatever else is under there. WHy this car I ask? I have not found this design on any other vehicle I have ever had the time to crawl under! There have been quite a few in my time too! HA :lol:

Until we come up with a solution or fix just spray it out. be careful of spraying too hard though. You don't want to be stuc somewhere with your E not starting.

Jeesh! Can you believe this design? Such a great little vehicle and such stupid design afterthought. HONDA, you should be ashamed.

DO a search and ask questions friend, someone will have an answer and then let me know! :wink:

[quote:bc9c5c1ac2=" "]Has anyone taken a good look at the rather large openings in the wheel wells from the drive and steering controls, that lead directly into the engine compartment? :shock:

Are there any other cars out there like this? ANYbody??[/quote:bc9c5c1ac2]

Apparently Civics are the same.

Not that I'm happy about it. I'd like for all that outside stuff to STAY OUTSIDE of the engine compartment.

Bill

Wow...I guess all of them do it then and HOnda has solved the sludge problem. I think I'll go have a beer now... :?