The subframe on my Accord had to come out to replace the clutch too, but it wasn't anything like a 12 hour job. Which rated Honda as one of the more expensive by average cost of a repair, but the cheapest of all by overall cost of ownership, because the repair costs were offset by the reliability. It had the clutch done once in 180,000 miles.
My own Honda civic needed a new sidelight. It needed wheel removal and prising enough clearance for a plastic panel underneath, so I can confirm supposedly simple tasks can be a balls' ache. I got the garage to do it as it was already in for an MOT
By way of anecdote I had to replace
the headlamp bulb on my Saab. Huge
palaver unscrewing access panels, which I put down to the hassle of owning an executive car, then found the other side had blown as well. About to grit my teeth and spend another couple of hours on it, then "hang on, what'a this clip?". Sure enough it should have been a five minutes job, rather better thought out than it would have been on a cheap car!