I had a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, and a Nissan Cube, and they both use the snap-together technique of connecting body panels. I hate that method. On the Gold Wing and Cube forums, there are many threads and tips about repairing those broken plastic tabs.

I removed the front bumper on my Fit to install new, louder horns. Removing the upper screw from the right side of the fender, I noticed that the tab where the screw went was broken. I figured it must have been broken at the factory. Then I remembered that I had brought it in for the recall for the front bumper support. That's when it was broken - by a Honda tech.

As I was putting the bumper back on, I found it extremely difficult to get the final snap clicked into its slot at the top of the bumper on the driver's side. It got bent back and forth a few times and became useless. I had to cut it off to get the fender in place, and that upper corner is not held tightly in place. It's barely noticeable, so it doesn't really matter, although I was thinking about putting some kind of adhesive in there. Finding one that will adhere to the plastic would be a challenge, though. As a result of this, I decided that I will not be installing the horns in my son's car.

Give me nuts and bolts and screws any day.

 

The production line hates nuts, bolts, and screws. And that's what drives these design choices.

 

Right, and there is no weight and no parts to stock. If enough snaps break, they get to sell another part.