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talon95 .. I think he meant that the 03 Accord's ride is better than his 99 EX. And I agree, I also had a 99 EX 5-speed and test drove a 03 EX 5-speed and the 03 is quieter, rides better, and has what is now a more modern interior.
bodydouble: Invoice for a CL-S is $28,600 (in the Atlanta area you can get one for invoice with enough determination) and from what I hear the Accord 6-speed will be sold at sticker or above for a while. So if MSRP for a 03 EX V6 6-speed is close to $27,000 then the CL is only $2000 more. But for that $2000 you get a better warranty, BOSE stereo, HIDS, 20 more HP, driving lights, memory seating, etc. Only downside is that the CL is based off of the 98-02 Accord so you are riding on an older platform.
This kit looks like just the ticket as it is integrated and works with most popular phones.
Now, I had a rental Sonata and managed to skim through the owner's manual and noticed something very interesting being mentioned. It recommends staying away from nearly empty gas tank, as it could damage the engine and/or sensors or cause the check-engine light to come up.
Could this be the reason why almost all automakers prefer to light up the warning light early?
Specifically, I'm addressing the people who say the Accord has gotten bigger and less sporty. Have you looked at a 98-02 Accord recently? Do you own one? Don't worry, nobody thinks you're sporty looking in that car. The Accord was already a solid looking automobile... Honda isn't trying to dupe anybody. Yeah, style is a matter of preference, but Accord buyers have had years to figure out what the car is about.
Handling is in the same class as the Camry (sorry) which is to say safe and controlled but not sporty, no where close to Integra. I was expecting the rear seat to be smaller than Camry, but to me it weemed larger. The trunk is smaller than Camry, and has bad hinges.
Noise and ride are close to Camry, but not quite there. Engine was at 2400 rpm at 60 and Camry is more relaxed at about 2100 rpm. For some reason the Automatic Accord is closer to 2100.
I liked the seats. They are larger and the seatback is taller. In most cars my shoulders are above the seatback, but not in the Accord.
Still a toss up for me between the two. I would really like a lumbar support, but can't get that unless I get an EX, which is out of the question, because it has two inches less headroom, and headroom was just adequate in the LX. I can get a Camry more to my liking - in theory, but nobody seems to carry the manual tranny with ABS. Camry also has outside temp gauge and CD/Cassette standard (both features I like, but not deal breakers), and you can get a power seat with lumbar support as a stand alone option.
If I could delete the sunroof from an EX with leather, the car would be perfect - especially since that would take about a grand off the price.
Manufacturers are trying to cut costs more by basing a a lot of models on a few platforms so the internals are switchable and tunable rather than start from scratch on every model. I think the 03 accord is based on a NEW honda midsize platform. Correct me if I'm wrong.
One cheapo deapo thing about the US Accord.
INKY
My understanding is that the chassis of the new Accord is basically a significanly revised structure that dates all the way back to the '90 model. In fact, the trunk stamping is supposed to be the same in the new car as the '98-'02.
Frankly, Honda had little reason to consider a complete redesign. The previous gen platform was all new, and remained extremely competitive through that generation's entire life cycle, despite new designs from major competitors (Camry, Altima) in its final year. With the improvements made for 2003, the platform has everything it needs to remain among the top designs among mainstream midsized cars.
This information was mentioned in several of the early press previews of the 2003 Accord.
This is not uncommon... for example, the two generations of Camrys prior to the current generation shared a common basic platform. The 2002 Camry was all new from the ground up.
You are correct regarding the Accord and Acura relationship... the global midsized platform is the basis for both the Accord and the Acura CL/TL.
I have not driven the new Accord yet, but my 98 Accord seems to have 'passive steering' ability via the rear suspension. Going around a corner, steering and throttle input can be manipulated to bring the rear around. During 2003 road test, C&D pointed its absence in the new Accord. I have not driven the new Accord yet to see if that aspect of Accord's handling has changed. and it may have to do with the changes Honda incorporated in the 2003.
Acura TL/CL were already using stiffened up chassis compared to 98-02 Accord to the extent that neither has a folding rear seat and used sub-frames.
Is it my left-foot driving or has anyone else noticed 'more than usual" amounts of dust on the wheels?
Plus my car tends to pull to the right-- anyone else having that issue?
I find that a bit too simple, but truth is often stranger than fiction.
Is it my left-foot driving or has anyone else noticed 'more than usual" amounts of dust on the wheels?
Plus my car tends to pull to the right-- anyone else having that issue?
Leather really smells good in this car. Much better than 02 and earlier "pleather"
Funny I remember I had shocking problems that were widespread in my early production 94 Accord EX. These were Michelin tires. It was so bad, toll booth operators (15 toll roads in OK) refused to take my money hand to hand! I about knocked one down once. Anyhow these tires were eventually recalled and new ones given to all.
INKY
running car, plenty of pickup and energy for city streets and handles great at 70-80 mphr.
In comparing it with the Camry or Avalon, I find
it to be a rougher ride. You feel the bumps in the streets. With the seats being firm, you no-tice it. Also, when stopping at a stop-sign, there is a slight vibration in the steering wheel
Has anyone found the same to be true?
You can figure out which tire is bad, by switching them back so that the car pulls right again, and then moving front to back on one side at a time, the side that fixes the problem is the side with the bad tire. It is easier for them to just replace both tires and be done with it though.
What little effect a modern A/C unit has on mileage and performance, you probably wouldn't even notice.
Greetings from sunny Miami.
darmarm: test drive another v4 and see if it happens on that also. Get the tire presures checked out.
ahossa: Maybe IYO "the Atima is much better". You didn't clarify in what way but the interior of the Accord is much better then the Altima's IMO and from the sounds of it...almost everyone on this board. Did you ask the dealership why the steering vibrated as such? Did you take another V4 for a test drive just in case? I would hope when making such an important decision a little more time and testing would be worth it.
my guess is that the two people who experience roughness/vibration had defective tires or the alignment may be off.
my only complaint of our car, a sporadic rattle on my driver's side. only audible with the radio off, but annoying to this picky owner. i think the car being quiet accentuates things like rattles. the problem seems to come and go. my guess now is that it is somehow related to the window sitting in the door channel since i seemed to get rid of it this morning bringing the driver's window up and down...
overall, the ride of this Accord is a significant step up from previous generations. i still think the Toyota Camry wins in terms of quietness and isolation (wind noise, road noise, etc), but the Accord has better driver feel IMHO.
to each his own, i guess.
I have 2 cars that I will sell next year (lexus es 300 and a 2000 corolla) privately. I will then take the cash and buy the new EX-V6 accord.
I've recently looked at 97-99 Crv at the dealerships and they want $17.5K to $21K (canadian). I live in Calgary.
Hope that helps.