Despairing of my VW Passat again (see separate thread re intermittent ABS problem) and swearing that I'll never touch another VW, it seems that my mother-in-law may soon provide the answer. She has an '04 Jazz 1.4 se with the CVT gearbox which should be available to me at a significant discount - I'm hoping about £3.5k to £4k.
As someone who tries to perform most of his own maintenance, my main concerns are the valve adjustment and the CVT gearbox. I used to do the valve clearances on my Yamaha 600 and was hoping never to tinker with shims again. The CVT has been great to date - 45k - but it hasn't yet had a fluid change. Any views? Would you buy it?
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Hello
As a Jazz user I would think a used one makes good sense.
Before you buy get a price for the valve adjustment and a CVT fluid change - I think there is an up-rated fluid available now.
Otherwise, things like the oil and air filters look quite easy. Plugs [8 of them] ok but a bit of a fiddle.
If things go wrong then Honda bits can be expensive.
Recently, an '02 Jazz CVT sold for £4500 at a local garage - it was not on the forecourt for more than a week.
It should be worth the risk - I think it is a good car.
Perhaps other people will give you some more info.
Good luck, anyway.
screwtape
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Have you looked at the Car-by-Car Breakdown page?
There definitely are some issues with the CVT box - lots of reports of problems in Australia where the box is more widely used, although they do have a more powerful engine.
I do wonder if, while it's been fine with MIL driving, a slightly more forceful male driver might show up problems?
I don't think valve clearance is an issue - our dealer told us they never need adjusting although they were adamant that they had to be checked - but it's only every 25K (same as plugs) regardless of time. I'm extremely dubious that ours where really checked - it they were, then the mechanic left not a mark and didn't disturb dust and dirt or leave the slightest mark on an fasteners.
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As your car has done 45k it should have had the valve clearances checked at 25k, due again at 50k.
Like Bill Payer I doubt mine were actually done at the 25k service (at a Honda dealer)-I would echo his last sentence absolutely right to the full stop.( except,did you mean "any"-not "an"?)
If, as reported they never need adjusting you could check them yourself-just to look.
I think you will need a new inlet manifold gasket. I think Honda may do a complete kit for this particular job.
It would seem to be worth replacing the transmission fluid with the latest type.
It sounds like a good buy.
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Took our Jazz in for service today and had an auto as a courtesy car.
It was an 08 model and certainly rode a lot better than our 53 reg one, and I thought it quite nice to drive. OK, it's not an involving drive, but for beetling along in a mindless kind of way, it's just fine.
My own car (Merc) is a conventional auto, and in the Jazz there's no lag whatsoever on take off - I had to join a couple of fast roundabouts and it gave me no concern, just press the pedal and off it goes. MPG display showed 52MPG on the display after a mixed 15 mile journey including about 5 miles of 70MPH motorway.
Separately, I also find myself being unusually happy with the dealer (TwoMills, nr Chester) service - it was just the most basic service this time and I argued the price down to £160, still a lot for an oil change, but they didn't make any attempt to try and charge me for the courtesy car and they're giving free Honda Assist (or whatever it's called) full breakdown and recovery cover with every service. As this is my wife's car, and I pay £70 for Brittania Rescue which expires in a few days, then that's a useful benefit.
The car was very clean and they even "valeted" (sprayed stuff on the black plastic parts) under the bonnet - I've never had that anywhere before! Perhaps they do it as a matter of course so you can't tell they haven't done the valve clearances!!
The car had no reported issues, and the brake pads, which last year were reported as needing to be changed soon, were less worn than a year ago!!
Edited by Bill Payer on 28/08/2008 at 16:24
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Checking the Jazz valve clearances and work on the CVT gearbox, along with all sorts of other maintenance, is covered by this excellent website.
www.hondafitjazz.com/manual.htm
If that does not suit you, Haynes has just published a workshop manual for the Jazz and it appears to be available at a discount through Amazon's "marketplace" sellers.
There's a Honda technician who posts on this forum and he says that he's not known the Jazz valve clearances needing adjustment which is good news because, as you say, it does involve replacing shims which may need a special tool.
I don't have experience of the CVT 1.4 Jazz, only the manual version but would recommend you do buy, especially at that price. With its low depreciation, good fuel economy, reliability, relatively low road tax and cheap insurance the Jazz represents about the cheapest motoring you can find for such a spacious interior. It is also easy to drive and fun to drive in its own way.
Go for it!
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SWMBO has a Jazz manual, which she is very happy with. I think the engine is better suited to the CVT, which is quite entertaining if you trouble to use the various modes. In town the CVT may be left to its own devices. Or you can use it in faux "7 speed auto" mode, or operate the paddles to change ratios as you like. On the M-way it runs at a lower engine speed than the manual, which is itself OK at 80ish. I think it works extremely well in CVT: its the only transmission sold in Japan, IIRC. Madam only chose the manual because she has Scottish genes:)
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If its the facelift model - door mirrors have the indicators - then pay the asking price.
The CVT need new oil every 3 years or 30K, the job is a 10min task. Order your CVT oil 4 litre pack from LINGS Honda they will deliver FOC and look at the link mentioned above for the honda manual. Change when oil is warm, do not overfill.
The value adustment is a right B88gger! so take it to your local Honda specialist/independant garage negotiate the price 1st though.
We have had 3 Jazz 2 with CVT nothing to match them for carrying capacity, with dogs in and out of the back via magic seats and fuel econmy 48-56mpg on CVT.
But what to replace them with ? - the Mk3 2009 Jazz has the semi auto box U/S on the civic .
Good luck with your 2004 Jazz
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Nobody but nobody ever tells the truth about mpg. I had a Jazz CVT for approx 18 months my normal trips never exceeded 14 miles there and back not driven hard my fuel consumption was approx 34 mpg although I had seen 50 mpg on the useless display. The main thing to worry about wiith a Jazz is the diabbolical finish (sam e on the Kia Ceed) of the top front door edge, I nearly lost an eye and damaged my face due to its jagged dangerous finish. Do not buy any car that has this fault. No'Power of Dreams' only nightmares of safety & security
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The main thing to worry about wiith a Jazz is the diabbolical finish (sam e on the Kia Ceed) of the top front door edge I nearly lost an eye and damaged my face due to its jagged dangerous finish.
You've posted this several times now and it's something I didn't recognise so I just went out to look at our Jazz.
The top outer edge of the door is completely smooth and is anyway covered with a double rubber lipped seal. The inner edge of the door is perfectly smooth body colour painted metal. There are no protrusions, not even screw heads, and certainly nothing "jagged".
I had no idea what you were talking about before, and, having looked at the car, I still have no idea.
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Ditto. Can't see any difference between the door finish of the Jazz and any other car door.....
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You both need glasses
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You both need glasses
So we, and everybody else who is pretty happy with their Jazz, are wrong. Any you, clearly with some sort of axe to grind, are right. Hmmm....OK then.
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As a potential Jazz buyer, I feel I can ask this question:
How on earth do you damage your face on the top of a car door?
In the only scenario I can imagine, I wouldn't be fit to drive the car anyway...
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As I do not agree with your reply, I have just been to a Honda showroom and looked at a new Jazz , whilst they do have a rubber/neophrene strip on the top of the door the corner top edge still has the same very rough dangerous edge as on my previous Jazz, try running your finger over it and you will note the roughness. Furthermore this same very bad finish is also on the absolute rubbish design 4 door Civic.. Honda have tried to disguise it as the cars I examined had a piece of black plastic tape acroos the edge joint which is totally useless. I agree that the Jazz drives OK and the CVT is excellent. However I do not know how long it will last . You must have more money than commonsense to pay £160 for a oil change service. When I had my Jazz I received a House magazine from Honda Bushey which stated that they had a reduced price service for cars that were more than three years old only £79 instead of the much higher normal Ist service price. I said I would let them service my I year old car if they would do it for £79 and they immediately agreed.
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By 'new Jazz' do you mean the new model due out in October?
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try running your finger over it and you will note the roughness.
Nope - been to look (and feel) again and not rough in the slightest.
I said I would let them service my I year old car if they would do it for £79 and they immediately agreed.
No main dealer could do the Honda scheduled service, inc fully synth oil required on Jazz, for £79.
My dealer said they could service the car for £99, but they wouldn't be able to stamp the service book as the service wouldn't be to Honda spec. If you have an non-approved service on a 1 year old car then you could have trouble in the (unlikely) event of a warranty claim. I'm not thrilled about the cost, but the fact they included Honda Assist (which is in fact the top level AA cover) free, when I was paying £70 for lesser cover with Brittania Rescue, more than makes up for the extra cost.
I can honestly say that it's one of the *very* few times I've come out of any car dealership feeling happy. I paid in excess of £200 for random work on my daughter's 4yr Ibiza the other day, on top of the service cost. You just don't get that on Honda Jazz.
Edited by Bill Payer on 31/08/2008 at 22:12
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Hi Bill Payer,
In my opinion you are a real chump the garages must love unaware customers like you.I have just visited another Honda Showroom and met a man who was just purchasing the current Jazz, he said he was well aware of the rough finish door top corner also found on the Civic and was prepared to overlook same. He preferred the current Jazz because it still has a spare wheel & CVT not to be found on the new model. I fail to understand why you were paying £70 for Honda Assist when free three year breakdown cover assist comes with new Hondas ? Next the current List price for the Honda Dealer Level I service is £90 and Crown Motors Bushey told me it is the same as the Honda Service and they stamped my service booklet. In any event it is not necessary to go to a franchise dealer for service to maintain the Manufacturers warranty. I am on my second Dodge Caliber I always change my cars before the second service usally every 18 months. On my Ist Caliber I purchased the Chrysler /Dodge Mopar oil filter and sump plug for £15 from the Dodge Dealer, I then went to my local friendly mechanic a one man band who charged me all of £15 to change the oil and check the car over. he then stamped my service booklet stating Dodge Mopar oil & filter was uused. When I changed my car the Chrysler Dealer was quite happy witth this arrangement. Depending on the recommended oil you can therefore get cheap service without Franchised Dealers rip-off prices and still retain Manufacturers Warranty.A first service takes approx 30 minutes. Bill wake up.
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I am on my second Dodge Caliber I always change my cars before the second service usally every 18 months.
:rofl: And you think I'm a chump?
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d
I'm with Bill on this. I cannot imagine any way in which you could do damage to yourself on the door of a Jazz. I've just washed the wife's and it's inconceivable.
Have you tried a similar approach with the door frames of other cars for comparison? It seems unfair to single out the Jazz if you encounter the same problem with other models.
JH
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to JH I suggest that you look at the top corner edge of the Dodge Caliber and compare it to a Jazz and you will see a very big difference. The car magazines etc. criticise the build of a Dodge but it is vastly superior to the tin box Jazz.
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I confess to being mildly intrigued by this topic. I haven't got a Jazz, so don't speak with authority, but have never seen the Jazz descibed as a tin box before and never heard about or read about this potential hazard which is, evidently, capable of inflicting serious bodily injury to the unwary individual seeking ingress to the car. I do know someone who has a Jazz - a reasonably sound fellow (an accountant, actually - so not completely daft) who has never mentioned it....and I confess to having negotiated my way into and out of the car without incurring facial trauma.
Are you, disbeliever, absolutely sure about this? You're not having a little bit of a joke, or something? The Jazz is one of the few cars that, over many years, seems to have found almost universal praise amongst mature and sensible folk who seek quality and reliability combined with practicality and sound residuals and something tells me that all these people would, by now, have recognized whether or not their, well researched, vehicle was inherently hazardous and likely to open up the side of their face every time they popped down to the Post Office.
KB.
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You both need glasses
Could you upload a photo somewhere so we can see the problem?
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OK people, let's let this guy save his facial injuries by sticking to the Dodge Caliber - at least he'll know he's unusual - and call a halt to this 'Three Billy Goats Gruff' stuff.
To the OP: go for it and don't think that all threads in the Back Room get hijacked like this one.
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I got a jazz too, and i dont see any problems with the door edges, just wondering how did disbeliever injure himself with you either drunk or get in a fight to get that injury or blind, take your pick.
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He wasn't wearing his glasses.
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