CU2 Build/Compliance Date

[H.T]

Hi All,

Just asking this out of curiosity...

My car has a build date of Jun 08, but a compliance date of Feb 09, I would have though that eight months is a long time between the car being build and arriving in Australia and being complianced, but I am curious as to whether any of you owners have similar dates...

[8wg8]

Hi,
I got my euro 3 weeks ago (9/03/09) and guess what the build date is 07/08.iam really shock when i pick up the car eventhough only 5kms on the clock when i picked up the car.

[SPQR]

I hope you did not pay 2009 price increase and got a discount!

A former boss of mine bought a "new" Citroen for $45K in 1988 (a lot of money then and yes, I know, it's before most of you were born). When the boss tried to trade it in, the original selling dealer told the boss that even though it was compliance plated in 1988, it had actually been built in 1986 and so it was only worth $4K as a trade.

[primetimex]

I think I have also encountered this with my previous car a Hyundai it was complianced in 2002 but was actually built in 2000!.

Although the dealer at the time did mention that this should not have an effect on trade-in price!

I think I'll try and go find out what the build date of my CU2 is!

[Joystick]

I think I have also encountered this with my previous car a Hyundai it was complianced in 2002 but was actually built in 2000!.

Although the dealer at the time did mention that this should not have an effect on trade-in price!

I think I'll try and go find out what the build date of my CU2 is!

Look under your pasenger side wiper blade.

[H.T]

I purchased it when the sale was on, so was aware that it would be a 08 build, just didn't think it would be Jun 08 and complianced in 02/09.

[rodericb]

Oh gee, watch out for that - you'll get stung big time come trade-in time! "Blah blah blah we go by the build date, compliance date means nothing etc etc so we'll have to give you next to nothing for your car...." Dealers are usually pretty quiet about it when you're actually buying the car though! Grrr.

[primetimex]

Look under your pasenger side wiper blade.

Thanks Joystick! Looks really classy, Build date is built right under the Windscreen! Something I've not seen before in previous Hondas!

So my Euro which was complianced in March'09, it was built late last year in Oct'08 which I believe is one of the latest built CU2 in this forum!

[primetimex]

Dealers are usually pretty quiet about it when you're actually buying the car though! Grrr.

You're absolutely right rodericb, they will not mention the build date unless you ask about it and assume ppl are gullible that compliance date = build date = new car. This is not the case!

So everyone who buys a new CU2 demand to know the build date in advance - the newer the better! Mine's Oct'08 so I think that's very recent and would not have been in Dealer's hands very long before I purchased in Mar'09!

[primetimex]

Does it mean dealers do not mention build dates but assume people will pay new prices for older built CU2s ??? People like H.T who purchased a CU2 and compliance in Feb'09 but the car was built way back in Jun'08 (8 months ago)?

So people who buys in 2009 at new and higher 2009 have every right to demand 2009 built CU2 Euros? I think it is only fair, otherwise the older the build date, the more discount you can demand to compensate?

[rodericb]

There are three dates for a car - the build date, compliance date and registration date. Plus the model year as well (make it four "dates"). I was looking at buying a Corolla recently and they were Jan and Feb 2009 builds - real 2009 models - so I don't know why it takes so long between a Euro being built and complied. Maybe they stick the compliance plates on when they leave storage and go to the dealer?

As for the "big con" thing, I think it is a bit of a con with these as you'll get whacked with the build date thing when you're trying to sell it to a dealer (i.e. trade it in). They'll try anything to get a few more bucks out of you. Whether you care about it is another thing - I do, but a lot of people probably wouldn't bother about it as it might be a few hundred dollars when it comes down to it.

[primetimex]

so I don't know why it takes so long between a Euro being built and complied. Maybe they stick the compliance plates on when they leave storage and go to the dealer?

That's correct the practice is now that the cars will be shipped from Japan / Thailand then it will sit in a holding yard (Honda Australia's) then Dealer will request the car as per their requirement. Gone are the days when the car will go straight to the dealer - reason they do this is that they save on holding cost or something.

At least with your Corolla example you're getting a 2009 built vehicle in 2009 NOT a 2008 one. I think ppl should be more aware of this practice by Honda of giving people older build cars in the new year! Especially also they'd have to cough up up to $2 - $3k for supposedly price increase to cover a weak $AUD!!!

I also imagine build dates would be of great interest to those having pinging issues - obviously like software the later the build date the better (fingers crossed!)