(Courtesy of Honda City Club Indonesia)

Yance Arvan was busy greeting guests coming to the celebration of the Honda City Club Indonesia’s (HCCI) eighth anniversary in Kuningan City Mall in South Jakarta.

“Our mailing list records some 1,800 members, 570 of whom have completed the registration form. We call our members ‘cityzens’,” said the club’s fourth chairman, adding that people who drove the car were called the Cityzen family.

The event provided booths, including a children’s playground corner, free medical check-ups and a service bazaar.

He said that previously there were four Honda City communities, the Honda City Club Indonesia, Honda City Indonesia, Honda Type Z Indonesia and Honda Club Indonesia.

Leaders of the four communities met in an automotive event in Jakarta and decided to fuse the groups into one club on Sept. 4, 2004.

Having a problem with your car’s noisy shock absorber? Just report any difficulties you may be experiencing with your car on the club’s mailing list or social media and members with more experience of the sedan will happily
offer suggestions.

While their mailing list and social media accounts in Facebook and Twitter daily host hot discussions surrounding technical automotive issues, the gathering event has become something members look forward to.

“They enjoy the friendly nature of the club. When we meet, we like to discuss our families, work and business,” he said.

Yance said under his leadership, club members met more frequently than before. Every Friday after office hours, they will gather at a meeting point in South Jakarta.

Once every two weeks, on a Saturday or Sunday, they usually bring their families to meet up at an agreed location.

“Usually, our mailing list members outside Jakarta will request a gathering in a restaurant near their area. They will suggest a restaurant with a large parking area and delicious food. Then, we will go there in a convoy,” he said.

The club does not require any mem-bership fees, but official members can buy attributes such as stickers and polo shirts.

Becoming a member of the club may be just as easy as completing a registration form but it does not mean that they can do whatever they like on the road.

Yance said members had to obey at least two rules of the club, which were made to support traffic regulations on the street. They should not break into the exclusive TransJakarta busway lane or use the toll road hard shoulder. Getting involved in a crime that might tarnish their club’s name could also jeopardize membership.

“This is not an automotive club that just sits around and wastes money,” he said.

When asked why the Honda City, Yance said he first bought a second-hand New City 2003 car and felt satisfied with the performance.

Last year, when he had enough savings, he sold the car and upgraded it to a brand new All New City model.

He said the common weakness of all Honda Citys was in their suspension system.

But regular alignment and balance checks, as well as having the wheels rotated every 10,000 kilometers of use, prevented the condition, he added.

“My top reason for choosing the same car is because it is fuel efficient. The engine is also tough and we can predict the times to change spare parts,” he says.

Types of Honda City:

1996-1999 SX8

2000-2003 Honda City Type Z
2003-2005 Honda New City
2006-2008 Honda New City facelift
2009-2011 Honda All New City
2012-All New City facelift

Source:
HCCI Mailing list:honda-city-indo-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Facebook: Honda City Club Indonesia
Twitter: @CityzenID

Popular

Batam to destroy illicit US e-waste, abandons reexport plan

Could the Strait of Malacca be the next global flashpoint?

Inflation won’t stop at pump