Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Car Comparison Test at the Edmunds homepage. The Accord and Passat were the top two cars in the test. As for the Galant, they rated the backseat as abysmal and with two growing kids you will never get five people in this car. I owned a 94 Galant LS fully loaded and had awful luck with the transmission (replaced), electrical system (gremlins everywhere), and bad squeaks and rattles etc. I bought a 00 Accord EXLV6 for the wife and a 00 Passat GLX for myself. While I like the Accord, wife loves it, I love my Passat, best car I've ever owned. While the Accord is a great transportation car, the Passat is truly a "drivers" car. Both have excellent visability and the best backseat room of any cars in this class. Good luck with your search, but I wouldn't even bother with the Galant. Yes, I know it's cheaper and gives you a lot of features, but you get what you pay for.
DAmnit let me jump start it....
#1 Accord
#2 Passat
#3 Camry
Accord felt more sporty than the Passat...the Passat leans more, and the Accord felt like it had more power even though they have the same power....probably its the Accord's 150 lb/ft torque peak @ 2750 rpm (as stated in another forum) and another VTEC peak 152 lb/ft @ 4500 rpm...nice!
Passat has nicer interior look, but not ergonomics.
ACCORD is the best of the 3 IMO....actually it is the best of the 3.
there was someone reporting transmission failure with an accord ex v6 with production date 04/2000 and the car only had 30 miles on it!!! and sure enough the owner noticed a clunk after she bought her car!!!!!!!!
numerous owners have been reporting oil leaks, transmission leaks, misfires, speedometers being off, harsh shifting, transmission whine, various rattles and squeaks, engines conking out at 70 mph, fuel boilover problem, high road and wind noise and the list goes on and on with new cars that cost $25,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and numerous owners have reported failure with their older model(94-97) accord that are failing due to various causes including rocker arm failure.... i guess the high revving nature of honda engines does take its toll on metal......
after all the indy(champ) cars do go fast but the engines barely last 500 miles and often times not even that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and they get rebuilt after almost every race!!!
here's the link... that shows the owner of the accord( production date 04/2000) whose transmission failed at 30 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think it was post #470. also #482 is related to it.
the following is topic #1886 in the Smart Shopper forum called
'honda accord issues'
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?t=1886&c=Smart_Shopper&w=E
then there are the forums in the Maintenance forum #720 that has owners talk about quality problems with the honda accord called
'does honda really live up to its name'
in the first post #0 you will find an owner of a 1998 honda accord ex v6 whose transmissions failed at 30,000 miles along with a plethora of other problems....
then 3 posts later in post #3 you will find a 4 cylinder accord owner whose car failed at 5500 miles and the car was only 3 months old!!!!!!!!!!
(note: the oracle setup at edmunds will only let you go foward to the end of a certain topic so you may have to go forward 40 topic then back, to see post #3, or you can just put in #3 in the goto box)
here it is...
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?
c=Maintenance&f=0&t=720&q=0-
but the thing that blows me away is the fact that the regional office and american honda assured him that a new transmission would be put in when indeed a remanufactured( read: some else's broken tranny: used) tranny was put in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i mean the sounds like he is beside himself with rage that
honda lied to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
there was another owner whose tranny was replaced that was told by the service manager of the dealership that 28 remanufactured tranny's were on back order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i wonder how many other customers were lied to or not told the truth..........
so the honda accord transmission problems do go back to 1998 and does affect 4 cylinder models!!!!!! and recent (04/2000 production) accords as well.
yeah isellhondas has been telling you otherwise but that not what the actual owners are saying. and besides he is a honda salesman so what is he gonna tell you???
then there's another topic pertaining to the reliability or lack of it in the maintenance forum #903 called
'HONDA ACCORD PROBLEMS'
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=Maintenance&f=0&t=903&q=0-
and the clunk that so many people are complaining about is not even clunk or jerk that one hears or feels when the gear is moved from P to R or D to R but rather an audible clunk that is heard and sometimes felt after the car has been moving 5 to 10 feet like one owner with a replaced tranny pointed out!!!!!!
and this noise is known to happen when in drive as well!!!!!!!! then there's the issue of tranny whine and the shudder that won't go away!!!!!!!!
along with numerous other problems!!!!!!!!!!
check 'em out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i was flabbergasted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No data for 1999/2000 Honda's, Hmmm...
I do recommend replacing your factory spark plugs with Bosch Platinum +4's. I recently did this right before I took it to the dealer for the 30,000 mile service and it makes a big difference. I also use Synthetic oil. Not sure if it makes much difference but I have used it in every car I've owned.
This person who went on and on about how unreliable Honda's are must be a big Ford, GM or "something" lover. I currently own a '91 Accord and totally love the car. It never really gave me problems and never broke down on me withing the 132,000 miles I put on it. In about a year or so, I am considering on buying a new car. My top choices are the Passat and the Accord, since I prefer sporty-handling cars. The Passat does seem pricey and the dealers do not make deals since it is a high ranked car. However as the case may be, I might buy another Accord. Then again, I may wait for the replacement for the Acura Integra. I'll just have to wait and see!
PS to any other females within this forum: I hope you don't find my name offensive, it is just that when I first entered this forum that is how I felt like a little lady but now I feel much more confident. Thank you.
I can't comment on a Camry 4 cylinder 5-speed because I have never driven one. However, if I am not mistaken the 5-speed is EXTREMELY hard to find in the Camry. Accord's seem to be a little easier to come by with a manual transmission.
If anyone else has comments on this topic, I would appreciate them.
I was not so impressed when I first test-drove Passat. I bought it because of its standard features, a lot of car for the money. But as days go by, the more I drive, the more I like it. Smooth, excellent seats, powerful, and quiet. I tested the brakes in one windy and stormy night. The car stopped straight and short from high speed. Excellent!
But, I wish the VW quality control could be as outstanding as Honda’s. The MPG display in the MFD has been out of order after just 3 days. It went crazy! Sometimes goes up to 140, even 200 miles per gallon! Although it really has no effect to the driving performance, but everything should work as it is supposed to, period. The fabric of the seats is too easy to trap lint; there is no small compartment for tokens and changes; the cup holders are a joke. No big deal, but an amazing car like this should not let details like these escape.
For 5 years, I had ZERO trouble with my ‘95 Accord. Let’s see if this Passat can be as reliable.
The Accord is the wife's car and the Passat mine. While I like the Accord, great value for the $$$$$, I love my Passat. The two cars are really different, just goes to show Japanese thinking versus German thinking. Yes the Passat uses better materials and the fit and finish is the best I've ever seen in a car in this price class. There are numerous things better on the Passat, such as the stereo, memory power seats, rain sensor wipers,trunk Hinges, auto trans, ride and handling, solidity, etc. etc. That said, the Passat should be better, it cost me $4500 more than the Accord. Both fine cars, but the Passat is just a dream.
trying to research a used Volkswagon I've had my
eye on all week! Presently I'm weighing my options
between a 1991 Accord EX and a 1993 VW Passat GLS VR6
"Special Anniversary Edition"? Does anyone have
info pertaining to this particular VW model. The
only models I've discovered for that year are the
GL or the GLX - and nowhere have I found info on
the VR6 for that year, not to mention the existance
of an Anniversaty edition. Any news would be much
appreciated by me and my wife.
My other car is a '95 Accord EX 5-speed coupe, purchased new. Car has 93,000 miles in over 5 years. Not a single problem; I've done nothing other than routine maintenance. But for the dings, dents and scrapes that come with parking at the malls, this car could pass for new. I still get anywhere from 31 to 34 miles per gallon, something I'm much more conscious of now with gas going for $1.50. The seats are confortable, car handles the road exceptionally well. My wife and daughter think I'm crazy when I tell them I'm keeping this car another 10 years. By then I should still be under 300,000. I think this car just might do it.
So, all you owners of "00 Camrys and Accords, you got yourselves cars that will go the distance. Treat 'em right and enjoy.
My questions: Is wind/road noise characteristic of these cars? I'm not an audiophile, but spend 20+ hours/week in my car and a good stereo is key. Will I be disappointed? Have decided to test drive another one for sake of comparison and to spend some more time with the car. Probably most important, what kind of deal can I expect to get in the Chicago area. Dealer's initial price was $1450 over invoice, I'd buy at $300 over but don't know if that's realistic on Hondas in this area. Thanks in advance for your input.
P.S. Spent some time reviewing this topic and really enjoyed the back and forth.
I'm going to get the Accord, hopefully this week, but have to sell my car first. The amount I was offered as a trade was completely unacceptable.
They must want to move some inventory, cause I was able to get them to match CarsDirect.com's price, which is under invoice! (So. CA)
I wanted to compare it with Camry, but the toyota dealers have been unwilling to let me take an extended test-drive on my own. (I can't learn enough about the car in a 10-minute test drive with a salesperson talking about the car the whole time.) So, based on a couple of short drives in a Camry, and that a similarly equipped Camry is $3000 more than the Accord, looks like the Accord wins! (And so do I)
It's kind of funny, cause when I first started looking, I was mainly considering Camry. I started seriously considering Accord after reading all the posts here on Edmunds about how great it was. After driving it, I gave it much more consideration!
From all the postings I've read lately (hundreds!), there seems to be a common thread about the wind noise. However, it may also be due to everything else being a little quieter. Shouldn't be a significant issue. Regarding sound system, Honda's system is absolutely terrible. Rear speakers are pathetic. No dynamic range whatsoever. That said, you could probably replace the rear speakers with a higher quality pair and be happy. It's not the system, its the speakers (door speakers are good, though?!?). Just my $0.02...
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Good Luck
1. It's gusty outside.
2. I'm going too fast (80+ mph).
Road noise is little more pronounced but depends on the surface type. Perhaps the Michelins don't like concrete surfaces or roads that have not been re-surfaced for years. These look like hard tires, but will last longer than most. My car's tires will ask for rest in about 15-20K miles from now! That's about 60K miles from the original set of tires.
I have taken several long distance trips (from as little as 200 miles one way to 1200 miles one way), and the car is comfortable, responsive and fuel efficient (31-32 mpg on highway, in Dallas, averages 25-26 mpg depending on weather). I LIKE THE SEATS, so does my wife. They can be better, but not in terms of firmness, rather thigh support. Rear seat is extremely comfortable. I have not driven an Accord with cloth seats so can't say about it.
I think invoice price on EXV6 must be around $22.5K, which is what I would had paid in October '97, instead I picked four cylinder model. LXV6 is about $2K less. This was when the car was new and there was no waiting time. Couple of months later (after my purchase), Accord V6 was in high demand, and selling at MSRP. Not sure if that continues in any way. Good luck.
'98 Accord EX (black/Leather/auto)/42.9K flawless miles
'00 Prelude (black/5-speed) / 9K fabulous miles
Always been a honda fan, this is my 2nd accord.
oh yeah...I do have 2 complaints about the Accord
1) there is a strange tendency for it to fog up on the inside, but a quick application of rain-x anti-fog solves the problem.
2)being an 18 year-old testosterone driven kid, this car does not attract any attention from the chics...unless I roll down my window....>-)
1. Try keeping the 'circulation' button on fresh air instead of re-circulating it.
2. Unfortunately, to keep the windows rolled up and yet have them look at you (or was it your car?), is possible in a few ways that Accord cannot fulfil the car has to either look terribly ugly or nice looking, and in either case, it should be rare (which can also take care of price tag at times!).
But there was a news item on NBC in Dallas area a few months ago, as to what is the easiest way to get a 'date'. A good looking man was given the chance on camera to try a few things, and get phone numbers.
1. A toddler.
2. A Golden Retriever
3. A Jaguar XK8.
Guess what yielded the best results. In fact, exactly the same order. XK8 yielded no response, Golden retriever helped getting four numbers, and the baby helped in 7!
Also, I've heard that it's wise to change the transmission fluid on a new car after about 5k miles (my brother did it on a new Sienna and the fluid was almost black after 7k miles)...can anyone comment on this advice?
Thanks.
1) Follow the recommended service intervals in the owners manual. I doubt that there is a trans fluid change required before 24K miles, it would be crazy to do it before. Absolute waste of money at 7K miles.
2) Do not perform the first oil change before the mileage/time recommended in the manual. Most cars now use some sort of break-in oil to "seat" the engine and this oil should not be changed before it is necessary. All this talk about having to change oil/filter every 3K miles is B.S. perpetrated on us by the Jiffy Lubes of the world.
3) If you don't believe me, call your Honda dealer and talk to the service manager. He will tell you the same thing.
Selected excerpts:
"Passat V6...upper crust lineage shows clearly...its overall sense of solidity and refinement".
"IF the Passat could pass for an Audi, the Honda Accord could pass for an Acura TL. The Accord is roomy, refined, comfortable, and quick, with capable handling and a compliant, nicely controlled ride. But its transmission isn't as smooth as the Passat's and road noise is more pronounced.
Passat 'Highs': Comfort, quiet, roominess, handling, safety. 'Lows': Storage space in cabin, premium fuel, price.
Accord 'Highs': Visibility, handling, roominess, price. 'Low': Road noise
CR faults the Passat for having virtually no storage in the cabin, glove box barely has room for the owner's manual and the cupholders are too shallow. Mirror controls and cruise control are 'awkward'.
"The Accord lags slightly behind the Passat in several areas." "The Accord features a deep glove compartment and assorted bins, map pockets and pouches." "The controls are logical and mostly convenient." "The automatic climate control system works powerfullly, quickly, and quietly." In a photo sidebar: "The Accord has a sound system and climate controls that are well designed and easy to use."
Obviously I'm taking liberties with CR's article to make a point. In the areas that matter to me, the Accord is a better car. I think the Passat's interior is unrefined -- I think American car when I see it -- while the Honda's is near luxury, IMHO. The Passat's exterior styling is more eye catching than the Accord, but once you're sitting behind the wheel, how much does it really matter what the car looks like on the outside? I need places to put my 'stuff' so it doesn't end up all over the car, ESPECIALLY beverages.
YES, I like the Accord much more than the Passat.
As for mergers... < just kidding ;-) > although I have yet to experience first hand a corporate merger that came anywhere close to achieving the benefits touted up front.
Sorry this turned out to be so long !!!
If you can afford the difference between the Accord and the Passat, buy the Passat. I bought the wife the Accord because she is in sales and will beat a car to death in 4 years so I had a 23K budget. I refuse to spend more than that for a work car that will be driven to death. As I explained to my wife, it beats a Taurus. As for the Passat, it's our pleasure and driving car. I could have bought another Accord or TL, but the second I drove the Passat I had to have it.
P.S. - The Camry was out of the question. I refuse to buy a Buick even if it is a well made Japanese Buick.
Just out of curiosity, which interior control(s) did you find in Accord that felt fragile. Haven't seen any of them so far with 43K miles on odometer, and would love to know if I can avoid something breaking off!
that was funny!
I never would have known that the Jag yielded no responses, I'd have thought of the order the other way!
Well, I can't count on the looks of the Accord to attract any attention then...It's all up to me, which is why I'd have to roll down the window.
I am very impressed with the interior of my Accord SE. The plastic feels nice and is EASY to use. The Passat had better seat cloth, but this year's Accord SE has nice cloth too...an improvement from last year's cloth, at least I think so. The material is the same, but the 2000 cloth FEELS much nicer.
The Accord feels like a family sedan that is trying to be something more--a la "TL" or otherwise. However, the Passat has the handling and feel of a much more expensive German luxury car--firm grip to the road, and roomy, too. Just upgrade your tires to 16" and see what you get! Believe me, I've owned VW, BMW, AND Honda--Honda has many strong points. But, if you are a driving enthusiast and want a car that is capable of doing what you are, without breaking the bank, the Passat is a great choice.
I come in at the lower end of this market. Wife and I just bought a 00 Accord LX 5spd, with remote entry/alarm and spoiler. We test drove the Jetta. Upon sitting in the Jetta we immediatly noticed the lack of space, compartments, pockets, ect.. The Jetta was very solid, handled great too... styling was outstanding. Room, was the sticking point. We needed a larger family sedan. The salesperson took us over to a Passat, Sticker shock!! We walked out. Upon more investigation into long term reliability Honda won every where I looked.
VW wins the styling war no doubt, maybe a slight edge in interior feel. I must stress I am not trying to put VW down, they make very nice looking vehicles..
I guess I am just into reliability. They can put in all the features they want but my main concern is all about keeping my wallet intact and in my pocket.
rd
Drive both the Accord and Passat again. The Accord is best in it's price class if you are looking for a family car that's got some pizzazz, above average ergonomics, and decent ride and handling characteristics. However, if you are looking for a "drivers" car with a real "smile" factor at an affordable price you will love a Passat.
P.S. - as for reliability, both my Accord and Passat have been perfect. Also, consumers upgraded the reliability on the V6 Passat to acceptable based on 1999 numbers, and I can vouch that the 00 model is even better.
I've priced out the EX Accord and the 1.8T Passat. It comes out to about 2K more for the Passat.
So far I have the Passat in the lead. It also costs more too. It comes with more features/better features. It also comes with a 5spd tip compared to a 4spd, as well as traction control (the tip is a nice "extra" for us people who HAVE to get an auto).
Something more important than features is the safety(especially for a family car). The Passat has a higher rankings in the gov's test (5 stars vs 4 stars) as well as higher in the IIHS test.
Another plus factor for me is the 1.8T. I have no problem with aftermarket mods and the 1.8T has many chip upgrades(with huge gains).
I find the interiors different, but equally pleasing. exterior: the Accord is a very good looking car, and the Passat is very beautiful
Gas mileage is similar Passat 24/31 vs 25/31 mpg
I've driven the Passat, but have yet to drive the 4cyl Accord (driven a V6), this will be a late year decision(to get the 2001 models)
I haven't driven the S40 yet, but the price does seem to get higher than a similarly equipped Passat.
I'm not too concerned with Ford's input(they did pretty good with Jag), but from what I've read (mags and here) the quality/reliability isin't up to par with other Volvos.