99.9% owner of a new Clarity. Couple of questions...

Olimpia

Olimpia

Member
So I just got back from one of the local Honda dealerships and put a deposit on a 2018 base Clarity :)
Reason I didn't drive the car home tonight is that the car just got dropped from the delivery truck to the warehouse (some 30 min. away from the dealership) so they will be doing the final delivery inspection and I will be (hopefully if everything is right) picking up the car and signing all the paperwork tomorrow. I strategically looked for a high VIN number just to be on the safe side. A couple of questions to all you Clarity experts:

1) Is there anything specific (paper/forms) I need from the dealer to file the EV tax credit?
2) Any up-to dates lists of recalls/ TSB bulletins that I need to be aware? Any way to confirm that they will be applying all the latest updates and recalls? I'd like to think they will be taking care of all these things but you never know.
3) Anything specific I should be in the lookup when inspecting and test driving the car to make sure I'm good to go?

Thanks for all the input and looking forward to partake in this community! :)
 
Olimpia said:
So I just got back from one of the local Honda dealerships and put a deposit on a 2018 base Clarity :)
Reason I didn't drive the car home tonight is that the car just got dropped from the delivery truck to the warehouse (some 30 min. away from the dealership) so they will be doing the final delivery inspection and I will be (hopefully if everything is right) picking up the car and signing all the paperwork tomorrow. I strategically looked for a high VIN number just to be on the safe side. A couple of questions to all you Clarity experts:

1) Is there anything specific (paper/forms) I need from the dealer to file the EV tax credit?
2) Any up-to dates lists of recalls/ TSB bulletins that I need to be aware? Any way to confirm that they will be applying all the latest updates and recalls? I'd like to think they will be taking care of all these things but you never know.
3) Anything specific I should be in the lookup when inspecting and test driving the car to make sure I'm good to go?

Thanks for all the input and looking forward to partake in this community! :)
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(1) No. You'll need the VIN next January, assuming certain politicians don't get rid of the tax credit this year.
(2) Four of the updates comprised a "recall" which included a physical part, and was sent out in September, so hopefully will have already been done before you get the car.
(3) Four rubber plugs in holes under the body near the wheels. They're presumably holes for attaching the car to the hauler during transport. Without the plugs road noise is much more significant. They're part of PDI, but apparently many dealers are lazy and don't bother actually doing the PDI. A few reports of washer fluid not being filled. Many reports of the dealer delivering a car with a dead battery. If that's the case, you can probably convince them to give you cash back, as it's also part of the PDI that they miss.
 
Along with checking for the underbody plugs, be sure to check the tire inflation. We have many reports of dealers not adjusting it down from the shipping 55 psi to the correct 36 psi. Make sure the tire inflation kit is present on the right side of the trunk and that it’s not expired. And check that the OEM Level 1 EVSE (commonly incorrectly called the charger) and it’s carry bag are in the storage area under rear of the trunk.
This may save you a return visit.

Attached is the PDI that has some good info and shows where the plugs go.
Welcome to the cub of pioneering early adopters. You won’t regret your purchase!
 

Attachments

Thanks all! The salesperson did "warn" me that there is a good chance the car won't have a full charge by the time I get there to pick it up since they don't have a level 2 charger at the dealership (really Honda?). Do you think this will be an issue?
 
Olimpia said:
Thanks all! The salesperson did "warn" me that there is a good chance the car won't have a full charge by the time I get there to pick it up since they don't have a level 2 charger at the dealership (really Honda?). Do you think this will be an issue?
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Not as long as they gave it a partial charge that is enough to get you home. If you don’t have enough EV range to get home, switch to HV before you get to 0 EV range and two bars of battery. It’s a much better driving experience in HV with a little charge in the battery (especially on hills or at high speed).
Oh, and try to resist the temptation to watch all the gauges and try out all the menus and settings on your ride home. I found it easy to be distracted and not keep my eyes on the road on my first drive. Enjoy!!
 
Let me echo what KentuckyKen said. The driving experience is much different in EV than it is when the battery is completely exhausted. Do not be unduly concerned if the engine noise is more aggravating than you expected if there's nothing left in the traction battery. And I find it amazing that Honda delivers this car with nothing in the battery (this happened to me) when they wouldn't think of delivering a traditional car with an empty gas tank.
 
Just on principle be sure to give them a mouthful about installing a Level 2 charger. We all have to fuss about this at our dealers. "Never mind a free car wash. How about a free charge."
 
If they are using the service tool correctly when doing the PDI and activating the airbags, it should notify them of any ouststanding service bulletins. Doesn’t mean they’ll pay any attention, but they’ll get notified. You could ask specifically about this. Be sure they check the tire pressure as mentioned above.

They are also prohibited from using the EVSE included in the vehicle. That’s why so many get delivered with no charge. I’m sure some dealers are just using them anyway, but most are probably following that rule despite the fact it means delivering with no EV range.
 
AlanSqB said:
They are also prohibited from using the EVSE included in the vehicle. That’s why so many get delivered with no charge. I’m sure some dealers are just using them anyway, but most are probably following that rule despite the fact it means delivering with no EV range.
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Doesn't the dealer have to use the EVSE to complete item 19 in the PDI?
19. Check the Portable Charging Cable
 
Well, just a quick follow up to this thread, I am now the owner of a new Clarity.
And you guys were right, they did NOT perform a full PDI as most of you reported (even after the fact that I texted the salesperson the day before taking delivery asking him to make sure service dept was going to take care....)
The did have a check on most items on the PDI easy tasks such as checking the horn, removing the protective tapes and so on but they forgot to put the plugs, update the bulletins, etc. Battery was charged halfway.
I'm supposed to bring the car in 2 days so they complete the bulletins/recalls and do a full check-up to make sure the PDI was properly completed, and to also get the windows tinted since it was part of the deal.

Thanks for all the advice here and looking forward to bugging y'all with dumb questions about my Clarity :)
 
Congratulations and it amazes me that some dealers don't do their jobs when it comes to PDI. Buyers can't purchase a car without completing what the dealers need to sell the vehicle, at least they can just follow their own rules. Sorry for the rant but I can just see glimpses of Bill Belichick saying "DO YOUR JOB!"
 
MPower said:
Just on principle be sure to give them a mouthful about installing a Level 2 charger. We all have to fuss about this at our dealers. "Never mind a free car wash. How about a free charge."
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they could just plug into into the wall the night before- no need for level 2 charger at the dealer.
 
The Service dept has at least a L2 charger in their service bays.

I know because I had to take mine to the Service dept and plug her in while I waited for the paperwork to start.

The service tech said they don't have chargers for customers but their chargers are only for their dept use. Although when I arrived with my Clarity, the charger was being used by an employee to charge his/her car. The service tech just pulled it out and plugged mine in to be helpful.

I wish the dealership would offer customer free charges at the dealerships since it would only help the dealer get more sales by having customers get a free charge.

Ironic that other dealers: Nissan, BMW, Chevrolet, Audi and VW offer customer chargers in front of their dealerships...
 
4sallypat said:
The Service dept has at least a L2 charger in their service bays.

I know because I had to take mine to the Service dept and plug her in while I waited for the paperwork to start.

The service tech said they don't have chargers for customers but their chargers are only for their dept use. Although when I arrived with my Clarity, the charger was being used by an employee to charge his/her car. The service tech just pulled it out and plugged mine in to be helpful.

I wish the dealership would offer customer free charges at the dealerships since it would only help the dealer get more sales by having customers get a free charge.

Ironic that other dealers: Nissan, BMW, Chevrolet, Audi and VW offer customer chargers in front of their dealerships...
Click to expand...

I was astounded last week to see that my local dealer has actually installed TWO L2 chargers -- one in the service area and one outside the dealership for customer use. Maybe, just maybe, they are starting to understand Clarity's market potential....
 
I often come onto this forum to discuss every single detail that is confusing, frustrating, or I wish were a little better.

However, I really like the car a lot.

My quick 2 cents:
Even though black does the best job of hiding the horrible wheel wells, do not get that color as it's impossible to keep clean.
 
Texas22Step said:
I was astounded last week to see that my local dealer has actually installed TWO L2 chargers -- one in the service area and one outside the dealership for customer use. Maybe, just maybe, they are starting to understand Clarity's market potential....
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1 down. 999 to go. (Best number I could find is about 1,000 Honda dealers in the US.)

I wonder if mine will be ... The ... Very ... Last.
 
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