CR-V: U.K. vs. Japanese build/reliablity

I traded in my 1997 CR-V last week for a 2006 CR-V SE. The Air
Conditioning blew on my '97 the week before and I had nearly 9 years
of trouble free use out of it. One thing I noticed is that the dealer
had mostly CR-V's built in the UK. The one I purchased was built in
Swindon, UK (VIN starts with a 'S').

Is there any difference in build quality or reliability for CR-V's
built in the UK vs. Japan? In doing some research of old usenet
postings it seems some buyers in the USA have a preference for
Japanese built CR-V's. Of course, this preference may not be based in
reality as I haven't heard anything negative about the UK built
CR-V's.

 

How often does A/C get used in the UK anyway?

 

What does your reply have to do with my original question?

To answer my own question the UK quality seems pretty shitty so far.

My front right wheel had 3 lug nuts fall off after 400 miles (I'm
lucky I caught them missing before I had a fatal accident). The glove
box light flickers on and off. The rear tailgate is leaking water
around the gasket and the rear tailgate sensorintermittently thinks
the tailgate is open when it's not (this causes the remote lock/key
fob not to lock the doors remotely because the gate reads as being
open). Yeah, great quality on a new car. Sure, the dealer promises
to make it all right but c'mon, these are not the kind of problems one
expects with Honda's. My 97 CR-V never gave me any grief until the AC
blew out at 97k.

Before anyone complains I'm anti-British let me state for the record
I'm half English myself. I've lived in the UK from time to time for
stretches of several years. Right now I happen to be living in the
USA.

 

I made sure that mine 05 was built in Japan.
Had 2 warranty claims so far, moisture in tail light, and rear seat belt
bunged up.
Had a high pitrched sound under dash when coming to stop now but after 2
trips to dealer they of course cant hear it, and it seems to have gone away.
I am sure the paint jobs are similiar but I must say there is very little
clearcoat on mine as it rubs through fast.