Caveat Emptor

[Tyke57nz_imp]

That must be a NZ thing. Here in the U.S. we use the model year for motor vehicles. Model year determines resale value as well as taxation values (where motor vehicles are taxed). The year digit in the VIN specifies the model year, which is why they also indicate the date of manufacture separately.

Back in '96 I bought my brand new '93 CB750 (still in the crate). It was sold and registered as a '93 model and I also paid less because that brand new bike was 3 model years older than the current model.

I know of a few cases over the years where a customer successfully sued a dealership for misrepresenting the model year of a new vehicle. The key was a contract stating that the vehicle was the newer year, when the VIN indicated that it was not.

Unfortunately the law here is as stated from the Honda dealer, I am considering contacting Consumer Affairs over it. Still brings a smile when I ride it, so its a lesson learnt.

I knew mine was a 2010 MY when I bought it new in 2013. It was actually advertised that way by the dealer. Different laws maybe?

Yes, haven`t bought a new motorcycle since 1976 so its all new to me; lesson learnt though.

[Cormanus]

Looks like the law in Australia might vary from State to State, but it appears the onus is on the buyer to check:

compliance date: the year in which the vehicle met Australian Design Rules and was certified legal for Australian Roads,
year of manufacture (build date): the month/year in which the vehicle was actually manufactured, and
model year: it's not clear what that is, but I'd have thought it can't be after the build date.

However, it would appear it's illegal in Australia to misrepresent the model year and I'd be a bit surprised if that isn't also the case in NZ. If it's bugging you Tyke, you should definitely check with consumer affairs. On it's face, it's hard to see how Honda could legally sell you a 2013 model when it's unlikely that model year was ever imported to the country. It seems to me there's a misrepresentation there.

For what it's worth, I'd be pissed about it, but I'd try really hard to focus on how much I really enjoyed the bike before I had that bit of information. Nothing about the bike or how great it is to ride is changed by that.

Keep smiling.

[enzo_imp]

I don't think much changed between 2010 and 2013.
It came out here in Qld. at $15000 on the road 6 months rego.
I bought mine in 2013 for $10500 New. They told me it was a 2012 model.....it actually is a 8th month 2011.
It might be that 2010-2011 are the Australian model U only.
I could be wrong.

[Tyke57nz_imp]

I don't think much changed between 2010 and 2013.
It came out here in Qld. at $15000 on the road 6 months rego.
I bought mine in 2013 for $10500 New. They told me it was a 2012 model.....it actually is a 8th month 2011.
It might be that 2010-2011 are the Australian model U only.
I could be wrong.

I agree with you that there is probably no major differences in 3 years; looking through the workshop manual I have, it all seems to tie up. But the main difference is I wasn`t told it was a 2011 (U4B - August 2011, same as yours) and the asking price was and still is NZ$17995 with 6 months rego. Check out http://www.trademe.co.nz and type in CB1100. The rules appear to favour the dealers over here which is wrong in my humble opinion. However it was a nice sunny day here and it was a blast taking it for a ride over the hills. Looking forward to the time I can change out the exhaust for something similar to Aussieflyer`s unit.

[Cormanus]

I don't think much changed between 2010 and 2013.
It came out here in Qld. at $15000 on the road 6 months rego.
I bought mine in 2013 for $10500 New. They told me it was a 2012 model.....it actually is a 8th month 2011.
It might be that 2010-2011 are the Australian model U only.
I could be wrong.

I agree with you that there is probably no major differences in 3 years; looking through the workshop manual I have, it all seems to tie up. But the main difference is I wasn`t told it was a 2011 (U4B - August 2011, same as yours) and the asking price was and still is NZ$17995 with 6 months rego. Check out http://www.trademe.co.nz and type in CB1100. The rules appear to favour the dealers over here which is wrong in my humble opinion. However it was a nice sunny day here and it was a blast taking it for a ride over the hills. Looking forward to the time I can change out the exhaust for something similar to Aussieflyer`s unit.

That's the thing, really.

[Aussie_imp]

I don't think much changed between 2010 and 2013.
It came out here in Qld. at $15000 on the road 6 months rego.
I bought mine in 2013 for $10500 New. They told me it was a 2012 model.....it actually is a 8th month 2011.
It might be that 2010-2011 are the Australian model U only.
I could be wrong.

You could be right as well. Never thought of it like that, makes sense though.

[Capo]

You got a pretty fair discount sales price, and love the bike. And life is short. Perhaps, rather than dragging out a legal battle, you can have a one to one with the owner of the dealership. Express your unhappiness, and angle for complimentary accessories or service or something to offset the clearly improper behavior of the dealer. Arrive at a satisfactory number, promise to put it behind you. If he doesn't make you good, then he can suffer the legal and public relations consequences. But do it as calmly, forcefully yet collaboratively as possible.

One of my friends did this with Triumph based on his new Tiger Explorer being laid up for months. He calmly worked his way up the food chain to TUSA, and is now fully kitted in the finest Triumph gear and farkles. Worth a shot, and keep us posted!

[Tyke57nz_imp]

You got a pretty fair discount sales price, and love the bike. And life is short. Perhaps, rather than dragging out a legal battle, you can have a one to one with the owner of the dealership. Express your unhappiness, and angle for complimentary accessories or service or something to offset the clearly improper behavior of the dealer. Arrive at a satisfactory number, promise to put it behind you. If he doesn't make you good, then he can suffer the legal and public relations consequences. But do it as calmly, forcefully yet collaboratively as possible.

One of my friends did this with Triumph based on his new Tiger Explorer being laid up for months. He calmly worked his way up the food chain to TUSA, and is now fully kitted in the finest Triumph gear and farkles. Worth a shot, and keep us posted!

I fully agree with you if in fact I had the discount that Enzo enjoyed and I was fully aware of the facts, then this thread would not have been started; but unfortunately I didn`t and the price quoted was the showroom price of $17995 NZ$ (about AU$16700 or US$15100) for in reality a 2 year old machine, so perhaps another Kiwi out there might read this and have the info before buying.
I have already been down the track you have suggested to no avail both with the dealer I purchased from and the NZ Honda importer; so I have gone as high as I can in NZ and I don`t really think Japan would give 2 hoots to be perfectly honest.
So now I approach the Consumer Affairs or I kit up go for a ride over to Kaiteriteri have a cold beer and a steak whilst enjoying the scenery and thinking about what I need to do.

[flynrider]

Looks like the law in Australia might vary from State to State, but it appears the onus is on the buyer to check:

compliance date: the year in which the vehicle met Australian Design Rules and was certified legal for Australian Roads,
year of manufacture (build date): the month/year in which the vehicle was actually manufactured, and
model year: it's not clear what that is, but I'd have thought it can't be after the build date.

However, it would appear it's illegal in Australia to misrepresent the model year and I'd be a bit surprised if that isn't also the case in NZ. If it's bugging you Tyke, you should definitely check with consumer affairs. On it's face, it's hard to see how Honda could legally sell you a 2013 model when it's unlikely that model year was ever imported to the country. It seems to me there's a misrepresentation there.

For what it's worth, I'd be pissed about it, but I'd try really hard to focus on how much I really enjoyed the bike before I had that bit of information. Nothing about the bike or how great it is to ride is changed by that.

Keep smiling.

It is possible for the year model to be later than the build date.

Model year is what the manufacturer uses to separate the features available from year to year. For example, standard CB11s in the U.S. will have the new instrument panel not available in earlier years. These will be called 2014 models and will have an "E" in the year model digit of the VIN (and U.S. VINs will have a large "2014" on the VIN plate).

Manufacturers often begin building new models prior to the official model year. In the U.S. cars for a model year usually start rolling off the assembly line beginning in October of the previous year. Honda does this as well. My CB750 is a '93 model, with all of the characteristics unique to the '93 models, but the build date is 10/92.

[Cormanus]

Looks like the law in Australia might vary from State to State, but it appears the onus is on the buyer to check:

compliance date: the year in which the vehicle met Australian Design Rules and was certified legal for Australian Roads,
year of manufacture (build date): the month/year in which the vehicle was actually manufactured, and
model year: it's not clear what that is, but I'd have thought it can't be after the build date.

However, it would appear it's illegal in Australia to misrepresent the model year and I'd be a bit surprised if that isn't also the case in NZ. If it's bugging you Tyke, you should definitely check with consumer affairs. On it's face, it's hard to see how Honda could legally sell you a 2013 model when it's unlikely that model year was ever imported to the country. It seems to me there's a misrepresentation there.

For what it's worth, I'd be pissed about it, but I'd try really hard to focus on how much I really enjoyed the bike before I had that bit of information. Nothing about the bike or how great it is to ride is changed by that.

Keep smiling.

It is possible for the year model to be later than the build date.

Model year is what the manufacturer uses to separate the features available from year to year. For example, standard CB11s in the U.S. will have the new instrument panel not available in earlier years. These will be called 2014 models and will have an "E" in the year model digit of the VIN (and U.S. VINs will have a large "2014" on the VIN plate).

Manufacturers often begin building new models prior to the official model year. In the U.S. cars for a model year usually start rolling off the assembly line beginning in October of the previous year. Honda does this as well. My CB750 is a '93 model, with all of the characteristics unique to the '93 models, but the build date is 10/92.

Thanks, Flynrider. That makes sense. I'm not sure Tyke's case meets that perfectly reasonable test: he bought a bike he believed to a 2013 model that was, in fact, manufactured in 2011. I don't know for sure, but I suspect NZ was like Australia and Honda imported the CB1100 in 2010 and 2011 and then stopped.

I guess the question is whether Tyke was misled. That's a discussion he might want to have with NZ's consumer affairs.

Tyke, this page has some pointers: http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/for-c...e-vehicle.

I'm no lawyer, but I suspect any claim will turn on whether you were misled and suffered some detriment from it. Maybe you could ride to the Consumer Affairs department. It might be enjoyable and you could ask your questions.