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Comments
I bought an '02 EX-V6 Coupe a few months ago. Very glad I did. I love the current car, it's got everything I need, and as others have pointed out, I'll be ready to trade mid-generation of the new car. Any bugs or tweaks will have been made by then, and I feel pretty sure that some minor bugs will creep up that need to be adressed and other minor changes will be made to the new Accords, once they've been around for a model year.
I would not hesitate to buy another 6th generation car. I also agree with pj23 above about getting into the car's mid-generation cycle. With Honda, a model is typically "updated" mid-cycle meaning it will have a fresh appearance over proven mechanicals.
I do understand your concern about the power increase rumored to be availale in the new car. I would only caution that it is not certain that the new car, especially the sedan, will have 240hp. "Reports" have ranged from saying the V-6 will be a carryover, to being similar to competitive makers. If this is a primary concern, maybe holdoff long enough to get specific details on the new car before making a decision.
The Paul Lienardt artical at Detroit News today (http://www.detroitnews.com/2002/insiders/0207/10/inside-533378.htm) says that all specifcs are embargoed until the end of this month, meaning more information will be available soon.
Frankly, I don't find the wind noise to be a problem in my 2000 EX sedan... road noise is the main area that needs work, IMO.
By the way, off topic, but has anyone else found it painfully slow navigating within TH in the last few days. It seems it's only slow in TH. I'm already on cable. Christ, if I was on a dial-up, I would have fossilized!
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
One thing I noticed that no one has said anything about is how the front windshield makes you feel like you have no front end on the car. I don't know how to explain it, and I know that it gives you a clear view, but it feels like I don't have a front end and I am just looking through a huge window. I wonder if anyone has noticed this and if anyone has had any trouble in judging how close they are to cars in front of them when parking and such?
That is not so great.
~alpha
PS- If you want less body roll... try Passat.
Pros: 2001 Accord EX V-6 coupe owners like myself undoubtedly enjoy the 200 hp V6. The interior is comfortable. The radio/CD is top shelf.
Cons: At highway speeds, the interior noise level -- especially the whistling coming from the front of the sunroof when the roof is closed but the plastic shade is open - is hideous. I've owned four hondas, including two preludes (1988 SI, 1994 SI, 1983 civic 4dr). I've never heard such a racket, even after turning the radio up. The honda people tell me they hear the noise, as well. They say it's normal. Such clatter for the $25,000 top-of-the-line accord coupe is ridiculous. I've driven quieter used hondas with four times as many miles.
Also, the handling is dicey. You better be ready to make a turn. The transmission shifts oddly, sometimes even going up a hill.
If I had it to do it over, I wouldn't have purchased this bird. I should have tried the Volkswagen Passat V6 or maybe even a used Acura.
vincent
So they're going to scrap the prelude and keep the accord v-6 coupe, which handles like an empty shopping cart. What a joke.
Has anyone else heard the whistling and interior road noise on their accord 2001 EX-V6 coupe? Please, let me know.
vincent
**I have seen a couple of these writings and the "dicey handling" and the no adhesion comments worry me most. I am definetely understanding that there is no perfect vehicle, but things seemed to be narrowing down to the Accord Ex V6 coupe for myself. These issues that I have mentioned definetely give me doubts and I don't have 24000 to blow any day of the year.
But I find that I can quickly adjust to the size of a vehicle after driving it for a short while. It may be different for you, though.
I have said repeatedly that all of the obsessing about the styling was/is misplaced - I am wagering that the actual driving experience in this car is going to reset the standard for the class.
INKY
Under handling, he said, "The rigid body, excellent suspension and high-quality tires of adequate size (LX and EX) result in neutral handling under most circumstances."
Yes, that's just one man's opinion, but he tests many, many cars and is in a very good position to evaluate the Accord's handling relative to the competition. And his reports reflects my experience exactly.
I just don't get the comments like "handles like an empty shopping cart".
And I believe the '03 is going to take this a step further - we'll soon know.
The fact that you don't see much hood outside the front window of the Accord isn't that uncommon. I can't see anything but windshield wipers in my Contour and don't remember seeing that much in the Passat either. You get use to where the front of the car is anyway after a while, so is it really that big a deal? To me, Honda greenhouses are so much more open than the interior of other cars so as to be a real positive characteristic of the car.
It appears that 120K miles, I should have gotten a tuneup. Does that count as a tuneup?
The tuneup plan does do something with the values. Is that important to do?
I do notice that power decreased since the last tuneup.
Can anyone tell me the interest rate they got if they bought a recent accord? I was told three years was at 2.9%, but was just told yesterday that that ended July 1st, I don't know if this is true. I was told that 4.75% is available now for both three and five years.
Is this the best I can get? I thought they wanted to move these cars?
Can anyone tell me from past experience if the 03 Accords will have a much higher interest rate or does Honda keep it about the same?
No reason for a company or a dealer to do this on a new model that will be in high demand.
My advise...to anybody...if you happen to LIKE the 2002 Accords than you should buy one! You'll get clearance pricing and low interest rates.
Besides...who knows? you might not like the 2003's as well!
The '03s MSRP will firm until such time as production is fully ramped up and the supply in place. I wouldn't look for much dealing room or incentives until next summer at the earliest...
I look forward to a review on the rumored 240 HP 5 speed automatic.
INKY
5-speed auto? Head curtain airbags? 240hp? 220hp? C'mon, spill the beans!
I haven't used this service, but you might want to check out:
http://www.swapalease.com/
Honda always manages to keep things "close to the vest" when a new model rolls out and I don't blame them. We need to sell what we've got!
Next month, the Ride and Drive for the 03 Accord takes place. I'll report my thoughts and opinions after that.
As I said before...the initial comments will be completely predictable...
I love it!
I hate it!
Why did they....?
You would THINK they would have....
I love the tailights!
What UGLY tailights!
What a crappy color!
Oooh, I LOVE that color!
Looks like a cross between a xxxxx and a yyyyy.
What an improvement!
Why did they screw up a good thing?
Why didn't they make XXXX standard equipment?
Why did they have to raise the price?
I could go on and on....happens every time!
1. Body roll: C&D rated the Accord's handling as better than the Passat's, and my own test drives confirmed that. I actually went looking for a Passat after reading the road test reviews, but the Accord steered and handled better, and that's what I bought in the end. The Passat was a bit more "supple" on chuckholes, etc., but definitely leaned more on turns than the EX v6 sedan. In addition, if you want even quicker handling, spend about $190 and buy a Neuspeed rear sway bar kit. You can bolt it on in just about one hour. The bar is 3 mm larger than stock, the same diameter and stiffness as the Acura TL Type S bar. The handling is MUCH sharper, and the ride penalty is almost undetectable.
BTW, the Accord coupe uses a slightly stiffer rear bar (1 mm larger diameter) than the sedan, and slightly lower-profile tires (205/60x16 instead of 205/65x15), so it handles slightly quicker. Fairly subtle difference, though.
2. Windshield: once you get used to it, the low hood and large windows of the Accord are great; when you get back into something else, it feels a little like a cave. Also, do you know where your feet are when you are walking without looking down? Then why do you need to be able to see the end of the hood to know where it is?
3. Wind noise is annoying with the screen under the moonroof pulled back; closed it is very quiet. Moonroof squeaks when the gasket gets dirty, but a wash job cures that!
4. Fuel mileage: during break-in it was mediocre, but now gets 28-29 consistently on the road, at 78-80 mph. City seems to be about 20-22, near as I can tell (I never get a complete tankful without any highway miles).