No, I don't. Some times when I push a button it feels like it jumps out of the track for a quick second but it is smooth moving after that. My sun roof has occasionally got stuck, though. The power seat works w/out the key in the ignition, I would just go to the dealer lot and try a few cars on the lot for myself before talking to the dealer again.
I still hate the seats in Honda Accord. That hump in seat back is totally out of place. Honda needs to take a look at the seats in cars like Mercedes E430, Lincoln LS and get a clue. There is a difference between firm and intruding. Another complaint, ouside temp reading should be standard in all Accords and not in $26K and up Accords.... and yes, the power seat when moving back and forth on the track makes some hesitating noise like the gear teeth are not quite right.
With 4300 miles so far, I love everything else about the car. The 08 Accord has heavily copied the BMW 3 series inside and out.
The Honda Sport 4 Concept was introduced at auto shows in 2005 and hinted to the new styling on the current/future Accords, TSXs, and even TLs. Here's an old link....
When you say "hump", are you referring to the lumbar support in the lower back of the seat rest? You probably already know this, but that lumbar is fully adjustable. The button can be felt with your left hand next to the other adjustments for the seat. I can't feel my hump since I have the lumbar adjusted all the way down. If you haven't tried this, give it a shot. If you have tried it, is it possible that your lumbar adjustment is defective? There's a huge difference between the maximum and minimum settings in my Accord's lumbar control.
To me the Accord seat is firm, supportive, and quite comfortable. I'm 6'4", about 185lbs, with much of my height in my legs. I've previously owned a Mercedes E Class and an Audi A4, and IMO, the new Accord seats are as comfortable as the seats in either of those cars.
Was it just my imagination? Was I hyper-sensitive because it was a "test drive"?
Test drove both the 2008 4cyl and 6 cyl models and found them to be the noisiest Accords ever made. Engine noise, Road noise, Wind noise. What a disappointment! I've been buying Accords faithfully since the early 80's. Even my 99 EX 6cyl that now has 130k miles on it is quieter than the '08.
Next brought my wife out to test drive the new Accords. I didn't taint her by saying anything about all the noise I heard in the test drive a few days before. Sure enough, she drives it and it's the first thing that she says, "Why is it so noisy", "Why do I hear the high pitched winding sound of the engine?"
I really wanted a new Accord but just couldn't accept the noise. Bought a 2008 Acura TL instead (even though new model coming out soon).
Were we oversensitive to the noise in the 2008 or are things really different (for the worse now) with the new Accord?
You were correct in your observations. The '08 Accord is quite noisy. It was actually documented on another forum to be louder than the previous generation.
Is the TL much quieter? I heard the Honda road noise issues carried over to the Acua line also.
Thanks for your comments on the 2008 Honda noise issues. Any yes, the Acura TL (2008) was found by me to be much quiter than the Honda. But, note that the 2008 Acura TL is in it's last year of production while the 2008 Accord is a brand new model. That's why I bought the end of the run TL. Not sure if the nosie issues on the 2009 (coming in Sept or so) Acura TL will be.
Believe it or not I think our 2008 Accord EXL V6 Sedan is noisier than an old 1989 Acura Legend I recently rode in!! Road noise is the offender in our car - plus the ANC I suspect - a form of ambient noise designed to mask the noise from the VCM. I do not understand where Honda is going with all this and why they just didn't come up with a 6 speed tranny with a tall overdrive to make the car more economical.
I have been reading about road noise in the 08 Accord. We have an 08 Accord EX 6 cyl and I do not detect any excessive road noise. We also own an 04 Acura TL and find them quite comparable as to comfort and lack of noise. This is my 4th Accord and find it to be the best, although we did have to have a header replaced early on in the engine. Finally, our dealer revealed to us that there is a bulletin from Honda on a ticking noise in the engine, which was what ours was doing very early. It's fine now--our dealer had told us that if Honda could not fix it, he was prepared to replace the car with a new one. I suppose when you buy the first year of a new model, there may be some problems, but this is the only one we have had.
I have been reading about road noise in the 08 Accord. We have an 08 Accord EX 6 cyl and I do not detect any excessive road noise. We also own an 04 Acura TL and find them quite comparable as to comfort and lack of noise.
Have you ever owned any other brands besides Honda/Acura?
Consumer Reports publishes excessive road noise in all of the Honda lineup year after year.
Having owned Hondas, Toyotas, Fords, Dodge, in the past, I can attest that Hondas are the nosiest by far of all (road/tire noise). They are also the best cars I've owned as far as quality, fit/finish, ergonomics, mpgs, & the list goes on.
jans57, Thanks for your comments regarding road noise/other noises. Maybe we were just hypersensitive because when you are taking a "test drive" you are really listening carefully. I seemed to notice the road noise. My wife (in the test of the 4 cyl EX), notice the high pitched winding sound of the trans. (note, she currently drives a 6 cyl 1999 EX so maybe the gear sounds were just the difference between the current V6 she has vs. a 4 cyl in the new model she drove). I ended up buying a TL but have not crossed off the Accord yet since I will need another 2nd car in 6 months.
I also have a 2004 Accord 4 cyl EX and can say with no doubt that it's much noisier than my 99 V6. That 99 was the best car I ever owned but a 130k miles on it, I wanted to chnage. Thanks again, and will test out the Accord again in another 6 months. I'm really hoping it's ok.... I really wanted one on this round.
As for other cars, I did own a Pontiac Grand Prix about 4 years ago; decent car (while still had 50k miles b4 I sold it) but the depreciation was brutal compared to the fantastic honda.
I take an exception to Honda being noisier than Ford and Dodge. I have driven Ford Fusion and Chrysler Cirrus 4 cylinders, there is NO WAY they come close to Honda Accord quietness. I drove my co worker 08 Altima. Altima is a very competent car. The front seats ( my only sore point with Accord) are more comfortable. While shopping for new car, Altima should be on your list. The only issue with Altima is that the basic design is 4-5 years old.
I am considering purchasing the above in white pearl. What are people accually paying for this car? I am getting ready to hit the trail negotiating a purchase price. Also, goods and bads to be aware of before I make my final decision. Thanks everyone!
Im not in the negotiating stage yet(on any accord model), but I think youve stumbled onto the prevailing caveat with the V6.
Seriously, as has been stated in this thread...drive and decide what YOU like or dont like about it. Aspects of the car that bother one poster may not bother you. Good luck!
I went to the dealer on Monday, the price difference between the LX and the LX-P was just shy of $900 at that dealership, and I decided to finance the car at 0.9% for 36 months. I said to myself, what the heck. So I spoiled myself a little and took delivery of an LX-P.
I have been driving the LX-P for the past 2 days, and I can honestly say that this is one FINE car. I just LOVE it. The handling is great, plenty of power for a 4 cylinder. Now I just need to figure out what to do with all those hidden storage compartments. :P
As to the road noise, I don't know, I find it very tolerable. I usually have the radio on during my commute, haven't really been bothered by any road noise.
Well, I finally got to drive an EX-L I4 Coupe yesterday and have the following observations:
1) I stand 6'1" and have a long torso/short legs (32" inseam). I fit comfortably with the power seat all the way down and seatback raked upright as is my preference, although there was little headroom to spare (I'd probably get bonked in the head if I drove over a speed bump at speed accidentally). The leather seats were soft and comfy; I was not bothered by any stray lumps in the seatback but the drive was admittedly short (10 mins.?) as the weather was lousy. 2) The 190HP I4 is surprisingly strong (this coming from a guy used to driving a Beetle TDI with 90HP diesel engine). I would be very happy with it, especially considering today's fuel prices. 3) Superb handling and turning radius. We did a tight U-turn at one point and it was a piece of cake. However, the ride was more harsh than I expected. Perhaps the sedan is a bit more supple? 4) I thought I'd like the ivory interior (this was a white/ivory model) but some of the dash plastic looked cheap. Perhaps the black interior looks "richer"? I really wish they'd include wood trim with the ivory interior as is the case with the sedan - the aluminum trim clashes with the ivory IMHO. 5) The dual A/C was a nice feature. When I told my wife of this, she looked at me and said "This is an ACCORD. Why would you need this in an Accord? How BIG is this car, anyway!?" :P 6) Salesman loved fooling around with the XM radio. Great sounding stereo, even when playing Tammy Wynette... 7) Since it was raining, I didn't open the trunk. That's a real concern, as I play bass guitar and need to be able to load a 2x10 cab and other gear and would prefer doing so without folding down the rear seat all the time.
Overall, a great ride but I'm not sure it's for me. I need to take another, closer look at the coupe and test drive a sedan as well to make that determination.
Also, goods and bads to be aware of before I make my final decision.
Check the VCM board - people's sensitivity to the VCM and its operation vary considerably. DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING FROM YOUR PREVIOUS HONDA EXPERIENCES - THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT PERFORMING CAR. You may or not may not like what your find. I paid $25,950 for my 2008 EXL V6 w/o Navi. You do not need it - save a ton and buy a Garmin.
I paid $25,950 for my 2008 EXL V6 w/o Navi. You do not need it - save a ton and buy a Garmin.
Why people are willing to drop 26k on a new car and talk about how clean the lines are and how nicely the interior is laid out only to put an ugly suction cup holding a big box in the middle of the windshield with an even uglier cord hanging down confuse me :surprise:
Also, the usability of the factory navigation, with its much larger screen and integrated controls with voice recognition seem to make destination entry much easier than on that tiny little screen. YMMV.
While you may have a point concerning integrated GPS vs. an add-on, I currently attach my suction cup mount to my dash - not the windshield. Very unobtrusive and works great. You're right about the extra cord hanging down, though. Luckily, my Beetle has two DC outlets up front so my GPS goes in one and my iPod xmitter in the other. On my wife's Jeep, however, there's only one outlet so if you want the iPod you have to run the GPS off of its limited battery.
I had originally thought not to get the NAV, but now I'm considering it. However, if there is a compelling reason that a Garmin or TomTom might be preferable to Honda's NAV, it's that Honda's offering is rather dated technology. If you're not interested in the Bluetooth then the Garmin might still be a better solution. This CNet video describes the Honda NAV and other Accord goodies: http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchback/2008-honda-accord-ex/4505-10867_7-326570- 47.html?tag=prod.txt.2
I think the trend will be for these to be merged. In the future, systems like SYNC or the Hyundai system will pull data from your cell phone and port over to an in-vehicle system. I believe the system in the Honda is either Pioneer or Alpine (I get mixed up) but there is no reason they couldn't partner with Garmin or TomTom in the future to support displaying information from a portable nav on a larger display. I like the bluetooth integration on the Accord, although I don't understand why the voice system for the phone and the voice system for the nav are independent. That typically doesn't work out so well, and for the cost of the two voice modules, they could've had improved recognition and larger vocabulary on a single module.
I own 4 Hondas, and 2 of them have stock NAV systems. I also have a Garmin Nuvi that is portable, easy to use, and a rather impressive little tool for which I paid $300. It has voice, bluetooth, MP3, and a nice 4.3 inch color screen.
My biggest issue with the in-dash systems in my Hondas, other than the somewhat dated map software and technology, is the cost. IMO, $2000 is crazy markup for technology that is becoming cheaper every month. In future model years, I'm confident that the extra cost for an in-dash NAV system will be less. However, for the 2008 Accord, I can't justify paying 2000 bones for an in-dash NAV.
I can also take my Garmin anywhere and use it in any car. I also travel a lot and am frequently in rental cars, and having the Garmin is light years ahead of systems like Hertz' Never Lost, beyond saving me the expense of renting one.
As you say, YMMV. For me, I'll gladly stick my Garmin on my windshield and motor on without missing an in-dash NAV.
"laid out only to put an ugly suction cup holding a big box in the middle of the windshield with an even uglier cord hanging down confuse me"
First - it works sitting on console or seat without the suction cup Second - if you own two cars it is transferable Third - it is portable - you can use it walking in a strange city like we did in Boston this weekend Fourth - The Garmin technology is way ahead of Honda Fifth - The Navi system "package" is $2000 versus $200-499 for a Garmin
You need more reasons than that? That last one alone is enough reason for me
RE road noise - I've owned the last two generations and now have a 2008 EX-L V6 w/navi. I found that most of the noise emanates from the hard tires. When I replaced my tires on our 2004 (Michelin's to Yokohoma's) there was a significant drop in noise. I believe Honda uses hard tires to get the mpg rating as high as possible. Anyone else notice this?
The Michelin tires on my V6 Accord have only a 300 tread life rating and retail for about $135. Long life (harder) tires should have a rating of 500 or more. However, I do agree the interior noise level is higher then it should be for a car of this quality. When you replace these tires, look at the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (replacement tires on my Infiniti G35). They handle better (AA traction), have a 400 tread life rating and cost just under $200.
Check out Falken tires - we have had great experience with them on Acuras for wear - great in the rain, quiet, and highly rated by Consumer Reports. Best part ? CHEAP - $91 each check them out
TSB Number & Issue Date TSB Title 05-032 JAN 08 Navigation System - DVD Information and Inspection 07-007 NOV 07 Tire Monitor System - Warning Lamp ON/Pressures OK 99-082 NOV 07 Navigation System - Warranty Exchange/Repair 07-054 OCT 07 Navigation System - Setup and Operation Information 06-072 OCT 07 Tire Monitor System - Usage of TPMS Sensor Tools 07-030 OCT 07 A/C - Refrigerant Leak Detection 06-068 OCT 07 Steering - Vehicle Pulls/Drifts to the Left/Right 07-044 AUG 07 Body - 2008 Paint Codes
No need to subscribe - get them from your Honda dealer
Why people are willing to drop 26k on a new car and talk about how clean the lines are and how nicely the interior is laid out only to put an ugly suction cup holding a big box in the middle of the windshield with an even uglier cord hanging down confuse me ...
If you think this is bad, you should visit some luxury car boards. It's amazing that someone would pay that kind of money for a BMW, et. al., and cheap out on the Nav systems. The el-cheapos usually give the argument about portability. Instead of moving it from car to car, why not just drive the car with the built-in Nav (or that already has the Garmin gadget in it for that matter?) That's a weak excuse, IMO. When looking at the cost of built-in Nav systems, they need to look at the big picture. It's not just a Nav system. Most of them nowadays have the climate controls, radio, car data, Bluetooth, etc. integrated into the unit. There is your cost justification.
You raise a good point....the "cheap-o" analogy may certainly apply if we're talking about luxury cars. But let's also not get into the pros and cons of i-drive and equivalent systems that are bundled as required features in addition to navigation.
We're talking about a Honda Accord here, which is basically a $22K to 25K car. $2000 for NAVI is pretty big chunk of MSRP, in my opinion, and an investment that will not be recouped at trade-in or resale time due to the drastically declining cost of navigation technology.
If we're using a $45K to $55K BMW as an example, okay, then maybe the NAVI is more justifiable. But to spend the extra $1500 to $2000 on a $20K to $25K Civic or Accord is a questionable expense, when portable systems with better technology and data (including bluetooth, MP3, etc.) are available for $150 to $300 today.
Accord sales remain very strong, with May figures just being released.
43,728 Accords were sold in May, up +31.9% vs. May 2007. It's a new May sales record for the Accord, surpassing the previous high of 43,589 set in May 2004.
Overall, Honda set 8 new sales records last month. More Civics were sold last month than in any month ever in Honda's history.
Total Honda sales are up +11.3% in 2008 through May. Meanwhile, GM announced the closure of 4 truck plants. "The dramatic increase in car sales appears to be one of the most profound shifts in automotive buying patterns in more than a decade," according to Dick Colliver, exec VP of American Honda.
Man, if that number was extrapolated out over 12 months, Accord sales would actually be:
524,736
Of course, that won't be the case, but it will be interesting to compare Accord and Camry sales at year's end. In fact, I'd like to compare them now. Anybody have a source for that?
Since I purchased my 08 EX-L V6 Sedan in late September 07, I've had it washed many time by various touch less drive thru automated systems. Last weekend I got the equipment out and gave it a thorough cleaning inside and out. This is my first Honda having owned various Ford & Chrysler products for the last 30 years. Compared to my last Chrysler, the fit and finish on the Accord is, as expected, miles ahead when looking at panel gaps etc., and better then my Fords, although the Fords held up over time much better than my Chrysler's ever did. I'm impressed with how the finish has held up after 8 months of total exposure to the elements. The black interior requires weekly attention as every little speck is quite apparent and with the warmer temps now a daily occurrence the sunroof is usually left tilted to try to combat the intense interior temps, allowing pollen & various other particulates to enter what is usually a climate controlled cabin with no windows ever opened. Once again I will state that, while not the perfect car, Honda has delivered a lot of bang for the buck, and in the world of family sedans I now know why this is the benchmark by which all others are measured.
Just about to pick up my EX-L V6 in Nighthawk Black (AT Coupe, Non-Navi) $25,533.00.
Regarding the GPS, here is a cost effective solution...
Sprint carries a plan called the everything plan 69$ month that includes minutes and unlimited web/data service, the GPS service (turn by turn) is included also.
I thought of using my cell for GPS purposes, but I have a hard time with the small screen due to my aging eyes. For those with better vision at that price it's certainly a viable alternative.
My husband, myself, and my adult son just completed a two-week road trip from Virginia to Key West and back in our 08 EX-L V6. With the car fully loaded, driving about 80 mph on the interstate, and the AC running, we averaged 30.5 mpg. The seats were VERY comfortable (we're not young) and we were not fatigued or overly stiff. We had loads of room. XM and iPod were very fun. The climate control worked beautifully...love the unlocking feature that opens all the windows and sunroof to release hot air. Had absolutely no problem with VCM or cruise control...in fact I would say our VCM IS seamless. My only "complaint" would be road noise which I've noticed since we bought the car, but I'm used to it now. Our car now has about 8500 miles on it and we love it more every day.
This will sound like a silly question....but on (I believe) only Accords with leather, there is a small object near the center of the back edge of the top of the car. Is this decorative or does it serve any purpose?
Wow. Might I ask what your typical driving style is? Also, what has your in-town MPG been? I'd pretty much written off the V6 with reports of $5.50 gasoline by the end of the summer, but your experience so far has been encouraging! It's also good to hear you speak of the Accord's comfort - there have been quite a few comments to the contrary so that, too, is encouraging.
WOW - I would have to say that it the highest actual average mileage I have seen anyone report on here for the V6. Mine has never done better than 27 with pure highway driving. Of course the topography can affect things a lot and my reciollection of I-95 south of Virginia is that it is pretty flat. Most of my highway driving is out through PA and or into Upstate NY - very hilly and rolling.
Comments
Does anyone know how to remove the shift knob on an automatic trans for the 08 Accord?
If so, please share how to do this.
Thank you.
Tom
With 4300 miles so far, I love everything else about the car. The 08 Accord has heavily copied the BMW 3 series inside and out.
Joe
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=107644
To me the Accord seat is firm, supportive, and quite comfortable. I'm 6'4", about 185lbs, with much of my height in my legs. I've previously owned a Mercedes E Class and an Audi A4, and IMO, the new Accord seats are as comfortable as the seats in either of those cars.
Good luck.
Test drove both the 2008 4cyl and 6 cyl models and found them to be the noisiest Accords ever made. Engine noise, Road noise, Wind noise. What a disappointment! I've been buying Accords faithfully since the early 80's. Even my 99 EX 6cyl that now has 130k miles on it is quieter than the '08.
Next brought my wife out to test drive the new Accords. I didn't taint her by saying anything about all the noise I heard in the test drive a few days before. Sure enough, she drives it and it's the first thing that she says, "Why is it so noisy", "Why do I hear the high pitched winding sound of the engine?"
I really wanted a new Accord but just couldn't accept the noise. Bought a 2008 Acura TL instead (even though new model coming out soon).
Were we oversensitive to the noise in the 2008 or are things really different (for the worse now) with the new Accord?
Is the TL much quieter? I heard the Honda road noise issues carried over to the Acua line also.
Have you ever owned any other brands besides Honda/Acura?
Consumer Reports publishes excessive road noise in all of the Honda lineup year after year.
Having owned Hondas, Toyotas, Fords, Dodge, in the past, I can attest that Hondas are the nosiest by far of all (road/tire noise). They are also the best cars I've owned as far as quality, fit/finish, ergonomics, mpgs, & the list goes on.
I also have a 2004 Accord 4 cyl EX and can say with no doubt that it's much noisier than my 99 V6. That 99 was the best car I ever owned but a 130k miles on it, I wanted to chnage. Thanks again, and will test out the Accord again in another 6 months. I'm really hoping it's ok.... I really wanted one on this round.
As for other cars, I did own a Pontiac Grand Prix about 4 years ago; decent car (while still had 50k miles b4 I sold it) but the depreciation was brutal compared to the fantastic honda.
Thanks again for your comments!
Joe
The LX-P adds a power driver's seat and 16" alloy wheels. I don't miss those at all.
Seriously, as has been stated in this thread...drive and decide what YOU like or dont like about it. Aspects of the car that bother one poster may not bother you. Good luck!
Try that forum, I think it has EXACTLY what you are looking for! Best of luck!
I went to the dealer on Monday, the price difference between the LX and the LX-P was just shy of $900 at that dealership, and I decided to finance the car at 0.9% for 36 months. I said to myself, what the heck. So I spoiled myself a little and took delivery of an LX-P.
I have been driving the LX-P for the past 2 days, and I can honestly say that this is one FINE car. I just LOVE it. The handling is great, plenty of power for a 4 cylinder. Now I just need to figure out what to do with all those hidden storage compartments. :P
As to the road noise, I don't know, I find it very tolerable. I usually have the radio on during my commute, haven't really been bothered by any road noise.
1) I stand 6'1" and have a long torso/short legs (32" inseam). I fit comfortably with the power seat all the way down and seatback raked upright as is my preference, although there was little headroom to spare (I'd probably get bonked in the head if I drove over a speed bump at speed accidentally). The leather seats were soft and comfy; I was not bothered by any stray lumps in the seatback but the drive was admittedly short (10 mins.?) as the weather was lousy.
2) The 190HP I4 is surprisingly strong (this coming from a guy used to driving a Beetle TDI with 90HP diesel engine). I would be very happy with it, especially considering today's fuel prices.
3) Superb handling and turning radius. We did a tight U-turn at one point and it was a piece of cake. However, the ride was more harsh than I expected. Perhaps the sedan is a bit more supple?
4) I thought I'd like the ivory interior (this was a white/ivory model) but some of the dash plastic looked cheap. Perhaps the black interior looks "richer"? I really wish they'd include wood trim with the ivory interior as is the case with the sedan - the aluminum trim clashes with the ivory IMHO.
5) The dual A/C was a nice feature. When I told my wife of this, she looked at me and said "This is an ACCORD. Why would you need this in an Accord? How BIG is this car, anyway!?" :P
6) Salesman loved fooling around with the XM radio. Great sounding stereo, even when playing Tammy Wynette...
7) Since it was raining, I didn't open the trunk. That's a real concern, as I play bass guitar and need to be able to load a 2x10 cab and other gear and would prefer doing so without folding down the rear seat all the time.
Overall, a great ride but I'm not sure it's for me. I need to take another, closer look at the coupe and test drive a sedan as well to make that determination.
Check the VCM board - people's sensitivity to the VCM and its operation vary considerably. DO NOT ASSUME ANYTHING FROM YOUR PREVIOUS HONDA EXPERIENCES - THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT PERFORMING CAR. You may or not may not like what your find. I paid $25,950 for my 2008 EXL V6 w/o Navi. You do not need it - save a ton and buy a Garmin.
Why people are willing to drop 26k on a new car and talk about how clean the lines are and how nicely the interior is laid out only to put an ugly suction cup holding a big box in the middle of the windshield with an even uglier cord hanging down confuse me :surprise:
Also, the usability of the factory navigation, with its much larger screen and integrated controls with voice recognition seem to make destination entry much easier than on that tiny little screen. YMMV.
I had originally thought not to get the NAV, but now I'm considering it. However, if there is a compelling reason that a Garmin or TomTom might be preferable to Honda's NAV, it's that Honda's offering is rather dated technology. If you're not interested in the Bluetooth then the Garmin might still be a better solution. This CNet video describes the Honda NAV and other Accord goodies: http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchback/2008-honda-accord-ex/4505-10867_7-326570- 47.html?tag=prod.txt.2
I like the bluetooth integration on the Accord, although I don't understand why the voice system for the phone and the voice system for the nav are independent. That typically doesn't work out so well, and for the cost of the two voice modules, they could've had improved recognition and larger vocabulary on a single module.
My biggest issue with the in-dash systems in my Hondas, other than the somewhat dated map software and technology, is the cost. IMO, $2000 is crazy markup for technology that is becoming cheaper every month. In future model years, I'm confident that the extra cost for an in-dash NAV system will be less. However, for the 2008 Accord, I can't justify paying 2000 bones for an in-dash NAV.
I can also take my Garmin anywhere and use it in any car. I also travel a lot and am frequently in rental cars, and having the Garmin is light years ahead of systems like Hertz' Never Lost, beyond saving me the expense of renting one.
As you say, YMMV. For me, I'll gladly stick my Garmin on my windshield and motor on without missing an in-dash NAV.
Peace.
First - it works sitting on console or seat without the suction cup
Second - if you own two cars it is transferable
Third - it is portable - you can use it walking in a strange city like we did in Boston this weekend
Fourth - The Garmin technology is way ahead of Honda
Fifth - The Navi system "package" is $2000 versus $200-499 for a Garmin
You need more reasons than that? That last one alone is enough reason for me
When you replace these tires, look at the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S (replacement tires on my Infiniti G35). They handle better (AA traction), have a 400 tread life rating and cost just under $200.
CHEAP - $91 each check them out
http://www.discounttirezone.com/FALKEN-ZIEX-ZE-912-22550VR17_p_336-2165.html
Especially important to those of your with navi systems
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/24/082401aE.html
TSB Number & Issue Date TSB Title
05-032 JAN 08 Navigation System - DVD Information and Inspection
07-007 NOV 07 Tire Monitor System - Warning Lamp ON/Pressures OK
99-082 NOV 07 Navigation System - Warranty Exchange/Repair 07-054 OCT 07 Navigation System - Setup and Operation Information
06-072 OCT 07 Tire Monitor System - Usage of TPMS Sensor Tools
07-030 OCT 07 A/C - Refrigerant Leak Detection
06-068 OCT 07 Steering - Vehicle Pulls/Drifts to the Left/Right
07-044 AUG 07 Body - 2008 Paint Codes
No need to subscribe - get them from your Honda dealer
If you think this is bad, you should visit some luxury car boards. It's amazing that someone would pay that kind of money for a BMW, et. al., and cheap out on the Nav systems. The el-cheapos usually give the argument about portability. Instead of moving it from car to car, why not just drive the car with the built-in Nav (or that already has the Garmin gadget in it for that matter?) That's a weak excuse, IMO. When looking at the cost of built-in Nav systems, they need to look at the big picture. It's not just a Nav system. Most of them nowadays have the climate controls, radio, car data, Bluetooth, etc. integrated into the unit. There is your cost justification.
We're talking about a Honda Accord here, which is basically a $22K to 25K car. $2000 for NAVI is pretty big chunk of MSRP, in my opinion, and an investment that will not be recouped at trade-in or resale time due to the drastically declining cost of navigation technology.
If we're using a $45K to $55K BMW as an example, okay, then maybe the NAVI is more justifiable. But to spend the extra $1500 to $2000 on a $20K to $25K Civic or Accord is a questionable expense, when portable systems with better technology and data (including bluetooth, MP3, etc.) are available for $150 to $300 today.
43,728 Accords were sold in May, up +31.9% vs. May 2007. It's a new May sales record for the Accord, surpassing the previous high of 43,589 set in May 2004.
Overall, Honda set 8 new sales records last month. More Civics were sold last month than in any month ever in Honda's history.
Total Honda sales are up +11.3% in 2008 through May. Meanwhile, GM announced the closure of 4 truck plants. "The dramatic increase in car sales appears to be one of the most profound shifts in automotive buying patterns in more than a decade," according to Dick Colliver, exec VP of American Honda.
524,736
Of course, that won't be the case, but it will be interesting to compare Accord and Camry sales at year's end. In fact, I'd like to compare them now. Anybody have a source for that?
Total Toyota sales fell -7.9% compared to last May, so trucks and SUVs took a major hit. Toyota Division is down -6.3% and Lexus is down -19.3%.
Regarding the GPS, here is a cost effective solution...
Sprint carries a plan called the everything plan 69$ month that includes minutes and unlimited web/data service, the GPS service (turn by turn) is included also.
I just purchased a Garmin Streetpilot C580 for $200. Love it, absolutely love it. I would definitely recommend a standalone GPS to a cellphone GPS.
Bud H