Re: "New" OLD Honda - ripoff!
I learned recently that the motor on our 1998 boat (which we bought used in 2000) was actually a 1997...nothing like the situation you're dealing with, of course. It's understandable that it might take 6 or 9 months, or even a year, for an engine to work its way from factory to distributor to dealer to the transom of a boat. But 5-6 years is a different story.<br /><br />It definitely sounds like the dealer was the villain in your case. He knew darn well that the motor was, at best, a "leftover," and should've been up front about it. What did he say when you called the date discrepancy to his attention? <br /><br />On one level, the "if it runs OK, and you got the warranty, what the heck," perspective is correct - the point of all this is to enjoy your boat. But all the hoses, gaskets, etc., that degrade over time are a lot older than you'd been led to believe, there could be a small hit on resale, and you got sold something that wasn't as represented.<br /><br />Since this all happened four years ago, it's a more difficult situation than if it were a recent transaction. If it were me, I'd propose to Honda and the dealer that they offer you 2-3 extra years of warranty coverage for free. That would give you extra peace of mind, and probably not cost them anything out pocket. Sometimes in these situations, offering the other side a relatively easy way out can make the difference between a drawn-out argument and moving on to activities that are more fun.
