Murry101
Member
- First Name
- Matt
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2023
- Threads
- 4
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
- 19
- Location
- New Hampshire
- Car(s)
- 2024 Integra Type S, 2014 GLI Autobahn
- Thread starter
- #1
It's been a frustrating first year of ownership for me. I consider myself to be a patient, relatively laid-back person, but I'm genuinely vexed at this point. I took delivery last November and got to drive my shiny new car, the first one in 10 years, for about a month before I put it away for the winter. I took it out of storage in April. In May, I went for an evening drive and a deer RAN in front of me. It emerged from the tree line when I was cruising at 45 mph on a winding back road, and I only had a moment to react. I managed to hit the brakes, but it was too late to avoid contact. The car struck the deer square in its side and sent it flying. Fast forward a couple of months...The vehicle repairs were complete except for the air box. I picked up the car in early August, so I missed most of the summer, but that's not the reason for my frustration. Since then, the car has been in and out of the body shop and the dealer (for a different reason) several times.
When I picked up the car in August, I knew I had to bring it back because the cracked air box still needed replacement (there were no new air boxes in the country and none expected until late August). In addition to the air box, there was overspray on the passenger side rear door and questionable panel gaps between the hood and adjacent panels (but I'll get to that later). I was told to bring the car back after they received the air box and they would take care of it and the overspray. I felt comfortable with the plan and understood these were simple problems. On my way home from work that day I noticed the steering wheel was about 15° CCW off TDC when driving straight, so I called and let them know I wanted the alignment done again, no big deal.
A couple of days later I was washing the car in my driveway when I noticed a small bump on the hood and another glob that looked like a dried drip on the corner near the driver's side of the cowl. Not the end of the world, but frustrating. Also found a small puddle on the passenger side front sill because the winow seal was not seated properly....Minor issues, but more than I would have expected in total and my confidence began to wane at this point.
I showed the paint defects to the service advisor when I dropped it off the second time (for the air box and alignment). He reassured me the bump was just a "nib" and they could fix it this go around, but the drip was not an issue. I didn't like the dismissal of the glob as an issue, but it's not that big of a deal and I wasn't gonna die on that hill. We also talked about the panel gaps, but I'll get to that later. When I picked up the car he told me it wasn't a "nib" on the top of the hood, but something foreign in the paint and they would need the car a third time to repaint it...On they way home I noticed the steering wheel was now a few degrees CW of TDC, so I decided to take it to the dealer and pay for a proper alignment and severe gas pedal vibration. A couple of days later I noticed the horn was very faint.
I dropped the car off at the dealer in late September for the alignment, vibration issue, and to check the horn. They had it for a month, but they did fix the gas pedal vibration (some faulty bearing/drive assembly that bolts to the transmission was the culprit). They also informed me that the horn was cracked from the accident. I decided to drive the car for a week or so before taking it back to the body shop for the third visit.
I dropped the car off at the body shop about three weeks ago for the hood repair and horn replacement. I was told it would take a couple of days, but things did not go to plan, and they still have my car. The repairs were delayed because they ordered the wrong horn (apparently there are two, a low tone and a high tone) and two paint booths broke down. I got a call from the service advisor last Friday. He let me know that they dented the tailgate while it was in the shop and would repair it, but they need to keep it longer. Ugh. I understand things happen, but it has been one thing after another with these clowns. Shows what a certified Acura repair shop title is worth....
As for the panel gaps...my car had minor issues from the factory; however, the gaps after the repair are way bigger and less consistent. The front end looks like it was assembled by toddlers. It's a bit uneven. I asked the body shop if they could do anything to improve the gaps and get them closer to what they were from the factory. They told me there is absolutely nothing they can do. The insurance company is no help, they said it was a quality repair and they "fulfilled their legal obligation." Unsatisfied with these responses, I asked the body shop for the panel gap specs, which they provided. The nominal gap between the front fender and the hood should be 3.5mm according to the Acura document. I measured 5.6mm between the hood and the driver’s side front fender. No way the tolerance for a gap is +/- 60% of nominal. Acura refused to provide information beyond the nominal measurement. I went to the dealer and inspected the four Type-S cars they had on the lot at the time. None of them looked as bad as mine. Not much I can do at this point. The car runs and drives great. The problems are aesthetic, but I'm not happy with the car. I may trade it in and take the hit. Too much money to not love the car.
When I picked up the car in August, I knew I had to bring it back because the cracked air box still needed replacement (there were no new air boxes in the country and none expected until late August). In addition to the air box, there was overspray on the passenger side rear door and questionable panel gaps between the hood and adjacent panels (but I'll get to that later). I was told to bring the car back after they received the air box and they would take care of it and the overspray. I felt comfortable with the plan and understood these were simple problems. On my way home from work that day I noticed the steering wheel was about 15° CCW off TDC when driving straight, so I called and let them know I wanted the alignment done again, no big deal.
A couple of days later I was washing the car in my driveway when I noticed a small bump on the hood and another glob that looked like a dried drip on the corner near the driver's side of the cowl. Not the end of the world, but frustrating. Also found a small puddle on the passenger side front sill because the winow seal was not seated properly....Minor issues, but more than I would have expected in total and my confidence began to wane at this point.
I showed the paint defects to the service advisor when I dropped it off the second time (for the air box and alignment). He reassured me the bump was just a "nib" and they could fix it this go around, but the drip was not an issue. I didn't like the dismissal of the glob as an issue, but it's not that big of a deal and I wasn't gonna die on that hill. We also talked about the panel gaps, but I'll get to that later. When I picked up the car he told me it wasn't a "nib" on the top of the hood, but something foreign in the paint and they would need the car a third time to repaint it...On they way home I noticed the steering wheel was now a few degrees CW of TDC, so I decided to take it to the dealer and pay for a proper alignment and severe gas pedal vibration. A couple of days later I noticed the horn was very faint.
I dropped the car off at the dealer in late September for the alignment, vibration issue, and to check the horn. They had it for a month, but they did fix the gas pedal vibration (some faulty bearing/drive assembly that bolts to the transmission was the culprit). They also informed me that the horn was cracked from the accident. I decided to drive the car for a week or so before taking it back to the body shop for the third visit.
I dropped the car off at the body shop about three weeks ago for the hood repair and horn replacement. I was told it would take a couple of days, but things did not go to plan, and they still have my car. The repairs were delayed because they ordered the wrong horn (apparently there are two, a low tone and a high tone) and two paint booths broke down. I got a call from the service advisor last Friday. He let me know that they dented the tailgate while it was in the shop and would repair it, but they need to keep it longer. Ugh. I understand things happen, but it has been one thing after another with these clowns. Shows what a certified Acura repair shop title is worth....
As for the panel gaps...my car had minor issues from the factory; however, the gaps after the repair are way bigger and less consistent. The front end looks like it was assembled by toddlers. It's a bit uneven. I asked the body shop if they could do anything to improve the gaps and get them closer to what they were from the factory. They told me there is absolutely nothing they can do. The insurance company is no help, they said it was a quality repair and they "fulfilled their legal obligation." Unsatisfied with these responses, I asked the body shop for the panel gap specs, which they provided. The nominal gap between the front fender and the hood should be 3.5mm according to the Acura document. I measured 5.6mm between the hood and the driver’s side front fender. No way the tolerance for a gap is +/- 60% of nominal. Acura refused to provide information beyond the nominal measurement. I went to the dealer and inspected the four Type-S cars they had on the lot at the time. None of them looked as bad as mine. Not much I can do at this point. The car runs and drives great. The problems are aesthetic, but I'm not happy with the car. I may trade it in and take the hit. Too much money to not love the car.
Sponsored
. I looked at the Cayman on Porsche's website, but it was not within my budget. My oldest will be off to college in two years, so I gotta resist the urge to spend more...I'm not a fan of the Supra's looks, although I can appreciate the performance. I saw a You Tube video where either Throttle house or Jason Cammisa (Haggerty) did a side by side with the Supra and the Z4, and preferred the tuning of the Supra (I guess it's really the same car).
