**IMPORTANT** the lifecycle of parts for CB7!
So about a week ago, I wrote a nasty letter to Honda bitching about the price of parts for my car, leather particularly [see letter below]
Okay, so some guy from customer service called me today with some very interesting news. First, the reason why some parts are so expensive is because they must still be manufactured to this day by (mostly) japanese vendors. Since Honda doesn't want to inventory 10,000 spoilers for a 93 SE coupe, they order very small quantities thus hiking up the price. As far as the leather price I bitched about: it is because the leather used in SE's was just that.. 100% leather. Honda now uses a combination of "pleather" and real leather which is why an '06 seat cover is $260, not $1124.
but the important thing is that apparantly the federal government mandates that an auto manufacturer must provide replacement parts for their vehicles only up to 15 years after the date of production which is quickly approaching
So what's the big deal?? obviously, things like timing belts, distributors, fuel filters, brakes etc.. will be available for many years to come. But what about things people like us (who go to a web-site devoted to these cars) actually buy? alloy wheels, fenders, bumpers, door handles, emblems, etc. guess what? gone. I found it interesting that a set of anniv. ed./coupe wheels I bought for my car were made in 2004! this in mind, Honda is eager to ditch the responsibility of making old parts now more than ever. They now have over 30 years of car parts to deal with in America. The guy basically told me to start looking in the aftermarket for things real soon...
February 7, 2006
Honda North America
Customer Relations (Parts Division)
1919 Torrance BLVD
Mail Stop 500 – 2N – 7D
Torrance CA 90501-2746
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing today in an effort for some type of explanation or help with a parts issue. I currently own a 1993 Honda Accord SE. I am in the market for a new Honda, but plan on keeping this car for a long time.
My problem is this: I have been looking into replacing the leather seat cover on the bottom cushion of my driver’s side seat. Upon some research, I found the part and the MSRP is $1,124.52. It came as no surprise. I have been finding that many parts specific to my car seem to be extremely gouging. I have owned many Honda’s and found this to be true when it comes to items such as carpeting, upholstery and trim pieces. My concern is that these steep price parts only seem to apply to older generations of Honda’s. Enclosed, you will find a parts catalogue from your web-site estore.honda.com.
I have printed out Front Left Cushion Trims for the following cars: 1993 Accord SE, 1998 Accord EX-L, and a 2006 Accord EX-L to compare similar parts. As you can see, the price for the newest Accord seat cover is a reasonable $243.28; a fair price for a quality leather product that must bear the cost of design, research and manufacturing. The 1998 Accord prices at $469.00 for a leather seat cover. Still a fair price. However, the 1993 Accord is priced at an outrageous $1,124.52!
From a Lehman’s point of view, they all appear to be very similar parts. All quality leather surfaces, all stitched at the seams, and all designed for use on a Honda. My misunderstanding comes in the basic logic surrounded by the prices. Why would Honda still maintain such extreme prices for a car that is now thirteen years old; whose value could be matched by reupholstering the two front seats?! I have spoken with many people who own or have owned the SE and they voiced the same complaints. The leather seating surfaces are usually the first to become worn or damaged because of their very nature of being sat on and exposure to heat and sunlight. It is a shocking experience to be told that a new panel would cost roughly ¼ the value of the entire car.
This being said, I am hopeful that possibly Honda Parts has overlooked this situation. I know that a seat cover for a 1993 Accord is probably not an important topic, but maybe Parts could take another look at some of the pricing for the older cars to better suit the current owners. A response would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ian S.
Canton, Ohio
Okay, so some guy from customer service called me today with some very interesting news. First, the reason why some parts are so expensive is because they must still be manufactured to this day by (mostly) japanese vendors. Since Honda doesn't want to inventory 10,000 spoilers for a 93 SE coupe, they order very small quantities thus hiking up the price. As far as the leather price I bitched about: it is because the leather used in SE's was just that.. 100% leather. Honda now uses a combination of "pleather" and real leather which is why an '06 seat cover is $260, not $1124.
but the important thing is that apparantly the federal government mandates that an auto manufacturer must provide replacement parts for their vehicles only up to 15 years after the date of production which is quickly approaching
So what's the big deal?? obviously, things like timing belts, distributors, fuel filters, brakes etc.. will be available for many years to come. But what about things people like us (who go to a web-site devoted to these cars) actually buy? alloy wheels, fenders, bumpers, door handles, emblems, etc. guess what? gone. I found it interesting that a set of anniv. ed./coupe wheels I bought for my car were made in 2004! this in mind, Honda is eager to ditch the responsibility of making old parts now more than ever. They now have over 30 years of car parts to deal with in America. The guy basically told me to start looking in the aftermarket for things real soon...
February 7, 2006
Honda North America
Customer Relations (Parts Division)
1919 Torrance BLVD
Mail Stop 500 – 2N – 7D
Torrance CA 90501-2746
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am writing today in an effort for some type of explanation or help with a parts issue. I currently own a 1993 Honda Accord SE. I am in the market for a new Honda, but plan on keeping this car for a long time.
My problem is this: I have been looking into replacing the leather seat cover on the bottom cushion of my driver’s side seat. Upon some research, I found the part and the MSRP is $1,124.52. It came as no surprise. I have been finding that many parts specific to my car seem to be extremely gouging. I have owned many Honda’s and found this to be true when it comes to items such as carpeting, upholstery and trim pieces. My concern is that these steep price parts only seem to apply to older generations of Honda’s. Enclosed, you will find a parts catalogue from your web-site estore.honda.com.
I have printed out Front Left Cushion Trims for the following cars: 1993 Accord SE, 1998 Accord EX-L, and a 2006 Accord EX-L to compare similar parts. As you can see, the price for the newest Accord seat cover is a reasonable $243.28; a fair price for a quality leather product that must bear the cost of design, research and manufacturing. The 1998 Accord prices at $469.00 for a leather seat cover. Still a fair price. However, the 1993 Accord is priced at an outrageous $1,124.52!
From a Lehman’s point of view, they all appear to be very similar parts. All quality leather surfaces, all stitched at the seams, and all designed for use on a Honda. My misunderstanding comes in the basic logic surrounded by the prices. Why would Honda still maintain such extreme prices for a car that is now thirteen years old; whose value could be matched by reupholstering the two front seats?! I have spoken with many people who own or have owned the SE and they voiced the same complaints. The leather seating surfaces are usually the first to become worn or damaged because of their very nature of being sat on and exposure to heat and sunlight. It is a shocking experience to be told that a new panel would cost roughly ¼ the value of the entire car.
This being said, I am hopeful that possibly Honda Parts has overlooked this situation. I know that a seat cover for a 1993 Accord is probably not an important topic, but maybe Parts could take another look at some of the pricing for the older cars to better suit the current owners. A response would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ian S.
Canton, Ohio
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