Dunlop SP Sport 185 55 R16 is the 16inch alloy wheel on the EX-T 2010 top of the range 1.4 I've got (the one with panoramic sun roof and every toy in the book) - we paid this week £150 fitted at Kwik fit for a puncture replacement (Continental) and £110 is the cheapest anywhere on internet fitted etc - see ATS / Kwik fit etc. The issue is that the size is unusual, and is only made by Michelin, Bridgestone, Dunlop... not a Hang Kookk in sight.
As you can imagine I'm not impressed with 13,000 miles tyre life - and the attitude of Honda UK customer services was unbelievable. I've bought cars from auctions and had timing belts go and valves burn out and both Ford and Rover at the time immediately conceded that all was not well with the design of their cars and contributed 75% to repairs if not 100% - out of warranty / bought at auction / no actual responsibility - but both came across without asking. I've bought a Honda - at well over the odds and with no discount worth talking about because my wife wanted to be safe and secure and feeling looked after. The first warranty work for a door sill trim not stuck down properly resulted in weeks of taking the car to and from the garage, pictures, Honda UK getting involved and finally Honda dealer applying an inch of sticky tape! This latest encounter was in an alternative universe - 13,000 miles for front tyres to wear out on a car treated like a persian lap dog. Honda UK position - I buy new tyres (£240 the pair) , I get old tyres to the Honda garage, they send them to Dunlop for their opinion on whether they are OK - and if Dunlop say they are Ok Honda do nothing. Sounds like a very fair and reasonable approach to me, considering the car is under warranty and should in all respects be of merchantable quality - no way could that end up with Dunlop saying they are fine and Honda refusing to make an ex-gratia payment! Point is if Honda just say wear is reasonable - where does that end - clutch at 20,000 miles? Cat at 15,000?
You might have gathered this is not a good Honda Jazz week for me - thus far the Honda experience has simply not been worth the expense. I can report that BMW are also dreadful as well - but at least you expect to be ripped off and after while go to an alternative servicing outfit, lastly Aston Martin is superb and as I see you have just bought a new eco Jazz I can let you know that today you can pick up a very nice DB7 with full AM service history for about the same money you spent on the Jazz. Servicing £750 every 15,000 miles, insurance £600 for track days, full 12 month comprehensive european cover inc breakdown / recovery and business use. OK the Jazz is no BMW or Aston Martin - but it's no cheap runaround either - and thus one should expect it to be faultless.
