By Moses Akaigwe
That Honda cars are very popular in many countries is a fact that has always kept the brand in the forefront in many markets across the world.
In Nigeria, for instance, it is one of the most popular car brands, while in the US market, it is currently ranked among the Top Five automakers.
Anywhere, the first reason why a car buyer goes for a Honda is its reputation for building durable cars that also perform exceedingly well in terms of fuel-efficiency, ease of maintenance and being fun to drive.
However, in Nigeria, providers of the cars believe that Honda owners can benefit even more from their cars, irrespective of the model, if they are mindful of two major factors: Ensuring they avoid gray imports (at the time of purchase) by patronising only the Honda made for the Nigerian motoring environment, and being more maintenance-conscious.
They want Honda owners in the country to always adhere strictly to the service/maintenance schedules for their cars in order to enhance the performance of the vehicles and the benefits derivable therefrom.
At the recent press launch of the All-new Honda HR-V in Lagos, both Honda Automobile Western Africa Ltd (HAWA), and its partner, THP Limited (The Honda Place), advised the large population of Honda users in the country to always be prompt and proactive in their attitude to the maintenance of their vehicles
Both the HAWA Manager, Sales, Marketing & Logistics, Remi Adams, and The Honda Place director of sales, Deepak Daryanani, decried a situation whereby some Honda owners get carried away by the performance of the cars and won’t remember to take them to a THP workshop for routine service until something goes wrong.
They advised Honda owners to always take advantage of the attractive Honda warranty package which includes free service for the first five years.
Adams lamented that some owners also ignore some clear signs that should normally indicate that there is a need to take the vehicle for trouble-shooting at the workshop.
“You get the best performance from the car and help to enhance its durability when you don’t wait for a breakdown before you take it to the workshop. But, what we see often is a situation where people don’t bring the cars for regular service, and we will now be calling repeatedly to remind them,” Adams remarked.
The HAWA and The Honda Place representatives were responding to a question on what causes the issues some cars have around the wheel areas, such as the shaft.
Daryanani had explained that most of the cars involved in the incident of the shaft pulling out suddenly are gray imports not made for Nigeria, and not Honda vehicles assembled by HAWA or officially imported by it for the local market.
Intending Honda buyers were, therefore, advised to always ensure they source their vehicles from the stock provided by HAWA and The Honda Place, because they are built with Nigeria’s motoring condition in mind.
However, having purchased your Honda, it is very important you handle her with care; treat her like a pet, not as a beast of burden.
Going for regular service is as important as paying attention to any unusual sound or watching out for a telltale sign of a mechanical, electrical or electronic fault
Don’t ignore a click¬ing sound from the front axle when turn¬ing. It is likely to be a sign that the car is having a bad front axle shaft. This is not peculiar to Honda, but whatever brand, it is the kind of ‘warning,’ which, if not attended to by a trained mechanic, may lead to a breakdown in the middle of the road.
The Honda providers reiterated their pledge to continue ensuring that owning a Honda is a always passport to peace of mind in motoring by sustaining the satisfactory after-sales support network for users of their cars in Nigeria.
The new generation HR-V is backed by a five-year/100, 000 kilometre warranty. This is in addition to five-year free service including labour and genuine parts available to the owners within the period of the warranty.
Part of the Honda warranty offer is access to Honda Genuine Motor Oil (HGMO) for the next five years for free from the day of purchase of the vehicle. HGMO, which is not available in the open market, is the same oil that comes with each vehicle from the factory.
The same warranty package is available to owners of other Honda vehicles assembled by HAWA and marketed by THP Limited.
The Honda team at the media launch of HR-V explained that the high premium placed on efficient after-sales support is derived from the brand’s philosophy of not just manufacturing and selling vehicles, but also fostering long-lasting friendship with owners of the products by ensuring they enjoy smooth motoring from the day of purchase.