Honda Accord vs. Toyota Camry vs. Volkswagen Passat

niceguy

Hi there,
The tinted glass is standard and you don't have to pay for it. BTW, I've just got mine 00 EX also. For 21,500 I got the EX, 5sp with leather, foglight, wind deflector, mud guards, floormat and the price is out-of-the-door price. Hope you'll enjoy your new car

NiceGuy

whills

Phil93- I had the very problem with my 90 Accord LX. Does it most often happen during extrememly hot weather? That's when mine wouldn't start. The engine would just turn and turn but never catch. Of course, the car wouldn't "act up" for my mechanic, but he kept it long enough that he finally saw it in action for himself. I'll have to check my invoices to see what it was that he replaced, but it is definitely fixable!!!

ethmcd

I thought that the "tinted" glass on my new '00 EX V6 was so transparent...was so hot inside the car during these So Calif summer days. Just got the front side windows tinted 35% and the back and rear 30%! Sooo cool looking....and feels cool too!

drummerboy2

My wife and I are visiting a retired couple that have a 1994 Honda EX 4dr fully loaded with only 51K miles. They are asking $11,500 OBO and I only have $10K to bargain with. Can anyone tell me if I'm crazy to ask? Also, my family has owned Honda's in the past and they run forever. This certain model is Auto transmission since my wife can't drive stick. When should the "timing belt" be replaced. I heard a story when some folks timing belt went out and it bent the cylinders or something within the engine itself. Could this be a falsehood? If anyone can help please respond quickly. Thanks a bunch!
Glenn

awong22828

I own a 1994 Accord Ex with the automatic transmission. It has 125,000 milies. When I put the car in reverse it sometimes makes a loud clunking noise and then the car drives normally. This usually happens after the car is out int reverse and driven about 25 feet. Does anyone know what this problem is? Has anyone else had this problem before? How can it be fixed and at what cost? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

silvercoupe

$11,500 is an excellent price for that car. You might offer $11,000.

The timing belt needs to be replaced at 90k miles.

phish18

imm looking at sellin my car, which is a 1989 volvo. selling that and buying a 1994 honda accord... ive done so much research on the car, i know just about everything about it! the question, that year of making i heard is pretty good.. is it really!? and is it reliable? give me ANY input u have! thanxs a lot!
liz

mhurricane

1990 and above Hondas don't bend valves when timing belt breaks, so change it timely on 90000mi and don't worry about it, but if you don't all that is gonna happen is your engine will stop and won't start till fixed.

wenyue

Acutally, Honda use interference engine design.

That means, if the timing belt breaks, the piston will hit the valve and will cost major bucks to repair.

Check this webpage to see if your car is interference or free-running design.

http://www.theautoshop.com/timing.html

Honda use exclusively interfrence engine. I don't know about the current generation Honda Accord though.

So replace that timing belt on time every 60,000 or 90,000 miles, just be safe.

bwel215

I have a 1990 Honda Accord with 170,000 miles. It is a great car and have had few problems. At this time I am experiencing a problem with the car's ignition. The starter will engage but there appears to be no fuel flow thus the engine will not start until several attempts have been made over 1-2 minutes. I have been told it is the electric fuel pump, but usually an electric fuel pump will just fail, also that the fuel filter is periodically becoming blocked this explanation makes no sense to me. If any one has had similiar problems and had it fixed would you please let me know what was found and a reference cost. I would like to drive my Honda for 100,000 more miles once this problem is fixed.

miked67

To the questions of hard starts on 90-93 Accords, here was my fix to the situation. My 91 Accord LX would not always start right away on very hot days. If I let it sit for about 3-5 minutes after initially trying to start it, it would start up. It ended up being the main relay. It is a gray colored box(approx. 2"x2"x3") about 6 inches above the fuse box by the drivers foot rest. You have to get your head right by the brake and clutch pedal and look straight up. The part cost me $40 over the internet and I got the part number from Honda. You will need a socket wrench and a 10" extension to get it out. I found out about it on Yahoo from others with the same problem. Hope it helps.

rmorella

As mentioned here, the PGM-FI 'main relay' is a common fault. The symptom is a no-start condition caused by lack of fuel. The mr is located above and to the left of the steering column, directly above the silver cruise control module (US models). The problem is that solder connections on the main circuit board get cracks and then fail when ambient temps are high. Solution is to resolder the main board, or replace the relay.

phillimor

Give it to me

whills

I had the same problem and just had the main relay replaced and haven't had any problems since then.

jreat

Had the same intermittent starting problems in warm weather with my '91 accord last year. Replacing the "fuel pump relay" (gray box described in a previous post) seemed to fix it at first, but the problem returned. Eventually had an "ignition module" replaced in the distributor and the problem has not returned in over 20k mi. Dx/Rx was by a local independent shop.

booboo2511

I own a 2000 Accord EX. I'm wondering if anyone knows where to purchase a rear license plate frame that would bare the words Honda or Accord. I'm trying to put some finishing details to the car and would like to also find a Honda key chain. Anybody know some good web sites that specializes in Honda accessories. Thanks!!!

milindc

hparts.com
honda-accessories.com
partscheap.com

jakeblues

Tonight, the better half and I are off to deal on a 00 Accord EX V-4 5-spd, priced at invoice ($18726) by the dealer. We'll try to get it below that. The car's still in diapers (wrappings and 40 psi in the tires). The 01 have slightly improved lines, cleaner edging on the hood and rear panels, but it's not worth beating this deal.

If you're looking for an Accord, settle with the 00 line and shop around.

(I have recently test driven the 01 Civic EX 5sp and have commented in the "Honda 2" topic list. See it if interested.)

cg2074

hi jakeblues,
i'm planning to buy a new HONDA ACCORD. The deal you have mentioned sounds GREAT !
i'm in NEWJERSEY. can u tell me where can i get good deals in NJ and where is this dealer you are talking about ! did u get the deal you mentioned ? waiting for your update !

thanks,
cg

jakeblues

Hi, cg,
I purchased mine in the Midwest - Sorry I can't help you in terms of dealers in NJ. Be persistant in your search. I used dealer websites within 100 miles from me to pin down year 2000 specials. Have the dealers near you beat that price. Make sure to get the care thoroughly inspected before delivery to you. Best of luck!

m9431

After trading in my '93 Accord EX, I just now passed the 100 mile break-in period for my new 2001 Accord EX 5-speed and wanted to post my findings here. I've been test driving every generation since my '93, as well as other vehicles like the Audi A4, VW Passat, Nissan Maxima, and Toyota Camry. Some good and bad news. First the good. The 2001 is certainly quieter than all previous Accord models I've driven. The 5-speed manual trans. is a joy to shift, and the car handles quite well, a good step up from my '93. It's still not in the league of a Passat for handling and overall fun, but there are noticeable improvements in its road-holding ability and feeling of being "solid." Ergonomics are typical Honda--excellent, and comfort is another big plus. I loved the the V6, but with gas prices, and the need for a family sedan, the 4-cylinder mated to a 5-speed was my choice. After all, my '93 5-speed achieved 28 to 35, yes--on long trips 33-35MPG was common. Besides, the 4-cylinder 5-speed combination provided quite acceptable, bordering on fun, acceleration. Back to the new one. Honda claims in their lieteature that they are 'foremost and engine building company.' Having had 3 Honda automobiles as well as other Honda products (lawn tractors), I can attest that Honda can build an exceptional engine. But this leads me to the bad news: my 2001 Accord EX 5-speed's ULEV VTEC engine is a BIG disappointment! Acceleration is poor at best and I've seen gas mileage as low as 24MPG! The engine appears to be operating normally. Flogging it up a hill in 4th gear, it could not maintain 65MPH; my '93 could do the same stretch of road in excess of 72 MPH. The '93 was MUCH better off the line although not as smooth. Gees, how could Honda, an engine building company, take such a step backward? Yes, I'm going to take this matter up with my dealer's service manager and probably Honda at the first service visit. At this point, I'm disappointed in an otherwise excellent car.

m9431

My earlier note incorrectly stated 100 miles; 1000 miles were allowed for break-in per the Owners Manual. Sorry for the typos...

ivan_99

I can actually relate to what you're saying. When I would drive my brothers old 89 Civic Si (108 hp), it was great. Excellent clutch and VERY responsive. I purchased a 96 Civic EX (127 hp). When I took it for a test drive I thought it was ok, but it didn't impress me.

The 89 Civic was much better off the line than my 96. For my 96 to achieve good acceleration, I would have to drop it from over 4500 rpm. The clutch was also a granny clutch with take up "somewhere" in the middle. The 96 was smoother, and quieter, but since I had to drive it so hard to get "acceptable" acceleration, I only got 26mpg.

So I still bought it after all that (it still was the best out there in it's class...and $'s)

For me, the Honda's have lost the "edge" Now that I can afford a little more, I drive an A6.

Question???why didn't you notice the poor acceleration before you paid for it. Did you take it for a test drive? I'm not sure if Honda will take it back.

Good luck.

m9431

That's a good question... I did think that the demo car I drove was somewhat sluggish but reasoned that the engine was probably 'tight' from not being broken in. Also thought that the engine had to be AT LEAST as good as my '93's-- after all Honda had more time to refine, add VTEC, etc. Poor assumption. Seems, however, that most test drives are way too short to really get to know a car very well. From my past experience working on cars in my younger years, I think that this engine could do much better but Honda opted to 'detune' it for ULEV status. Advancing the timing and doing some other tweaks could be helpful. These adjustments are not obvious (no visible mechanical distributor timing adjustment) and are probably set up by computer or changing a chip. Seeking out a performance tuner may be my last course of action if all else fails.

My wife is the primary driver and likes the car. But I find it very annoying to drive!!! The engine is a major glitch in an otherwise fine vehicle. Another alternative is to replace the Accord next year. Could be my last Honda.

I agree that Hondas seem to have lost their "edge." My first choice would have been the Passat, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Why didn't I buy it? Actually the postings here on Edmunds citing reliability issues are what deterred me. Had a good experience with my '93 Accord, it got excellent gas mileage, and had no problems in all my years of ownership.

skibry1

Fred, here in west cental IL We picked up a brand
new(how do you Say the new millenium)Mazda for 16K
and our 14yr old rust bucket.130horses matched to
a left leg flexor and we could'nt be happier. Havn't
checked resale 'cause we run it till it drops. The
reliablity issue,however,was important.All our
research shows that they put together a good car in
Flatrock MI. Our 2pennies worth

pat

It is entirely possible to make your points without employing negative personal characterizations of the person/people with whom you are having a, um, er DEBATE.

When disagreements of opinion deteriorate into personal sniping, the person who descends into the character assaults destroys his or her credibility.

I really am totally mystified as to why some of you do that. It is SO self-defeating.

m9431

Being SO very disappointed with the performance of my new 2001 Accord EX 5-spd, I went back to the dealer. They were very helpful, allowing me to take the same model out for a test drive to compare. The good news was that the test car ran much better. Of course the bad is that mine has something really wrong. The service manager promptly inspected but found no problems. Aiming to please, they requested that I leave the car and take a loaner. I received a call that they worked on mine for over a day and still could not find anything wrong (!), but they stated that it "doesn't have much power." They pulled much of the engine apart after doing ECU diagnostics, etc. (no problems) but are now baffled and planning to contact Honda tech support. Mine has some other issues, like rattles, sloppy interior assembly, etc. Of course the engine is the BIG problem, especially after seeing how well the loaner--a 2001 Honda Accord LX automatic--runs. So... at this point the issue is in Honda's court. Being very unhappy with my new EX because of the engine and other smaller problems, and with all the 'work' spent ripping the engine apart, I'm not going to feel comfortable unless Honda helps out by replacing it. Gees... never expected a lemon from Honda. If, and it's a big IF, they come thru with a replacement car, they will again have a happy and loyal customer. I'll report back!

ed1026

On Sunday morning I awoke to find the passenger side window of my 4 week old Accord 2000 shattered. The car was parked in my driveway along side my Civic. There was no sign of impact (the whole glass was shattered but no hole indicating a rock or anything was thrown). It was cold Saturday night in NJ and the morning sun was beating down on that window on Sunday morning. Could the glass have shattered on it's own? I'm trying to make this case to my dealer and naturally I'm having trouble. Also, the alarm system never made a sound.

ivan_99

I don't think you have a case there. I would think that the glass could hold up to normal thawing (why didn't the civic shatter).

Though...I do remember reading in C&D a few years back about a BMW which they had out in the cold (very cold as I remember). They let the car warm up for a long time, then cranked the heat on MAX. The windshield ended up cracking (and they did get it replaced).

Good luck...

scape2

I would have to agree, very unlikely the window shattered because of cold weather. I would say its a case of new car envy. I know it may sound funny, but new car envy is very real. When ever I buy new cars or people I know buy new cars I tell them to take off all the dealership license plates, clean off the stickers on the windows, don't wash it until the plates come. Get the plates on asap..
Sorry this happened to your new Accord.

titopuente

I live in Toronto and it gets even colder up here in the winter, I always crank the heat to max otherwise my body (designed for tropical weather) would stop working. Nothing's ever happened. I even go to the $2 car washes with ice on the car and spray that warm water all over it and nothing happens.

But hey, what Ivan said could actually happen. Who knows.

jonazag

Six months ago I bought a 2000 4 cylinder Honda Accord EX. Everything runs O.K. except when I start the engine up, some times I hear a popping sound. This pop or snap sound only does it when the starter starts the engine. I asked the Honda dealer about this and they said, it's not unusual to hear that noise. What bothers me is that I don't hear that same kind of noise on other Honda's. Does anyone out there have had any problems like this or any knowledge of it.

caycej

Hi guys...im so far happy with my 6 month old accord..great car
I have noticed that the 2001 ex 4 cylinder models come with standard steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Can anyone tell me if its possible to put this on my 2000 accord i.e as an accessory?

carfreak10

Hey everyone.

I need help pretty fast. My 92 EX sedan's battery died and when my friend and I attempted jump starting the puppy, the alarm went haywire and wouldn't shut off until we yanked the cables. Can anyone please tell me a go around for this problem? We tried disconnecting the alarm and then the engine will not turn over. I tried calling Honda, but our service dept. opens on Monday and AAA and the local station have no idea and said the refused to touch it.

HELP!!! Susan O'toole

m9431

As a follow-up to my earlier post regarding my 2001 Accord EX 5-spd, the dealer was able to fix my new car with help from Honda Technical... turns out that the catalytic converter was defective. Glad to see that they came thru; the car does have more power and gas mileage is in the high 20's.

cassano1

I just picked up a gorgeous silver w/ black leather EX coupe 5 speed. I have driven nearly 3000 miles so far in the last three weeks and have been nicely surprised by the gas mileage (30+) and the performance. I really wished that the V-6 would ahve come in a manual, but I was told that mating the 5 speed with the V-6 would have classified the car as a sports car for insurance. I did test drive the passat and A-4, and although I did really enjoy the A-4's handling and performance, I could not justify nearly 10k more for the car. The Accord was the hands down best bet for my money. I do not know about he Toyota, but I wouldn't trade this car for anything (except maybe for a manual V-6). Talk to you later, I am having fun driving...

davids11

We spent the last two weekends comparing the Passat and the Honda Accord. Important factors were (aren't they always?) price, performance and rear seat room (we have two teenage sons).

My wife was leaning to the Passat. she wanted something a little different - European engineering (we currently have a Camry)etc. We were just about set to buy the Passat when I drove it for the first time, and we discovered that the CD player is not included in the GLX. The performance, specifically the acceleration, was very disappointing. The poor acceleration lead us to re-estimate the value of the 2 year warranty, the lesser room in the rear for the boys, and $3-4000 price difference and the additional $$ for the CD - an old ploy.

We bought the Accord for $23,000 (the dealer accepted Edmunds TMV as an offer)- including the 6 disc CD player. Better resale value, longer warranty (3/36) and more rear seat room ... and better acceleration (3.0 litre/200 HP vs. 2.8 litre 190 HP).

I can understand why a single person would still pay more for the Passat (looks and styling)... but the performance and the value are just not there compared to the Accord EX.

This forum was helpful to me, so I thought I would return the favor.

Dave

viktoria__r

Hi everybody. I guess maybe some of you have test-driven new Accord lately. Did anyone drive a 98 Accord before? Is there any difference in ride, noise? I had a 98 accord, and it was a bit too harsh and noisy to my tastes. Edmunds said that they addressed NHV this year. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance

bottgers

The majority of reliability problems with the Passat were pre '99 passats. The '99 and newer models are much more reliable.

If you are looking to purchase a car with only reliability in mind, buy the Honda or Totota. If you want a car that isn't your typical run of the mill cookie cutter mobile and you want some individuality, then the choice is easy, buy the Passat.

m9431

Well, I've been driving my new 2001 Accord EX 5-spd (4 cyl.) for a few weeks since getting it back from the dealer. (See earlier post... it spent a week at the dealer for poor engine performance. Lots of diagnostics, no problems found; catalytic converter replaced). Seemed to be OK at first but now I'm sorry to report that gas mileage was measured at a low 23.8 MPG and up-hill performance... let's just call it lack thereof... insulting to have a Hundai Sonata pass me up hill as my accelerator was floored in 4th gear! Acceleration "off the line" leaves something to be desired, too, certainly not as good as the '93 EX that I traded. So it's another letter to the dealer with a copy to Honda Customer Relations. Needless to say, I'm VERY disappointed in my new Accord EX. Hope they can make good--at this point I want a replacement--or it just may be my last after owing three Hondas.

ivan_99

That gas mileage does seem very bad. My old Honda Civic (96' EX) didn't get very good gas mileage either (drove very hard).

I actually got 23.4 MPG in my A6 Quattro (hills) 80+mph. I would think a 4 cyl Honda SHOULD get better.

Maybe they could give you a deal on a new Accord V6. Nothing worse than spending good money on something that doesn't cut it.

ramblinwreck

Just bought one Fri on the spur of the moment- mainly because the dealer (Ed Voyles- Atlanta) took my first offer which was basically the Edmunds TMV of ~$21,500 (w/leather). When they tagged on the $200 doc fee, I didn't have the heart to argue since I received 2.9% financing from Honda. I've always preferred the Camry's smoother ride; feels more like a luxury car; but it's just too institutional looking for my taste (at least slightly moreso than my Accord). The Camry is also apparently significantly more expensive when equipped to the level of my EX. The Passat is the most exciting of the bunch, but the higher price was a strike and I can't get past the poor reputation for hardware and electrical integrity in past years. The 2 year standard warranty on those components just says to me that VW still doesn't have enough confidence in their product quality to offer at least a 3 year standard warranty

score4na

The posts have been most helpful, and probably looking at the EX. Just undecided on which engine. Haven't tried either yet, but the need for premium in the 6 is a little steep (with 2 in college). Any comments on perfomance between the two (outside of the obvious power)? Will the 4 cyl have enough guts?

ramblinwreck

I hadn't even considered getting the 4cyl until I drove it. Very peppy even with the auto trans and I'm very happy with it (although I usually drive solo). Honda is not currently offering low financing rates on the V6s which was the other major factor in selling me on the 4. I haven't driven the 6, although I imagine it's much like the Acura TL looking at the hp/weight ratios. I've driven the 2000 TL and it definitely has a lot of kick, but the 4cyl Accord does the job if cost is a consideration. Test drive the 4 first and if you're impressed, don't try the 6 or it might ruin you for the 4!

captainchili

The Honda manual indicates only that one should use 86 or higher octane. So, it seems premium fuel is not required for the V-6 as some have been posting. My dealer also confirms this. I have been using 87 octane in my ex-v6, it has excellent power and has been delivering 20mpg in town. At 70mph recently I got 24.4 mpg over a 125 mile trip in hilly areas. This isn't the 28mpg epa estimate though. Has anyone been getting 28 with the v-6 automatic?

RonaH

Test drive an Accord the other day. Tried botht eh 4 cylinder and the V6. Found the 4 cylinder to be powerful enough but the car and steering wheel vibrated when at a stop and between 60 and 65 mph there was a vibration as well. The V6 didn't vibrate at a stop but had the same vibration between 60 and 65 mph. Anyoen with a similar experience? I really liked the car and it is a good value. Don't know if that's characteristic of the 4 cylinder and if incorrect tire pressure could be causing the vibration on the freway. None of the cars I test drove had been prepped. Would appreciate some feedback from owners of these cars. Thanks!

stoner420

I have a 2000 ex coupe with the 5spd, 8600mi, and it is a @#$@#$@#$ great car! (although I am somewhat annoyed by the idiot light that came on at 7500 miles and doesn't shut off until I get the service...) What I'm wondering though, I see a lot of posts, people are reporting 30mpg, one guy said he even got up to 36mpg! Is it the gas?? Is it strictly highway driving with no city at all? I do about 20 highway miles per day with a bit of city traffic thrown in and average about 26-27mpg... our gas is mtbe-added around here, which possibly accounts for a few mpg... any other advice?

(ps, just bought my wife an 01 ex (auto, what a wimp!) at the 2.9% rate for 20675, seems like a reasonable deal)

caycej

Hi guys, Happy new year.. I have my 2000 ex-manual Accord coupe with black leather and satin silver.one word:GREAT CAR!.
i have the canadian edition and im wondering guys,how to calculate the mpg (in kilometers on my odometer). just for the sake of confirming how real efficient my car is.

take care

sunilpereira

Me an my wife were in the market for a new car. We narrowed out options to the Camry XLE, S60, Passat..and Guess who won.

The Accord V6 with the Leather (Standard Feature) is a real luxury car in the 23,000 range. and ofcourse i paid Edmunds TMV though it said 23,121..i got the dealer to throw in the wood trim option..though this car..really comes with everything..ITS AN AWESOME vechicle...but buyers..take the V6...its worth the difference..and of course chose the EX model.

I was happy with my purchase. and of course with honda.

If anyone lets me whine..ok..i would have liked the heated seats and the memory seats options..bu ok!! i guess thats aking for too much for 23,000 when we talk of traction control, full leather, sun/moon roof, climate control, V6 200 hp, Automatic trasmission, 6 CD Changer..and yes..The Sound on the audio system is good!!

I took the Dark Emerald Green with Beige Leather. It looks Impressive..and of course.."classy"
and yes..you dont have to pay MSRP.I just paid $200 over invoice...thanks to Edmunds TMV!!!!

sobers

A few posts before there was a talk about Accord Xmmissions. I have to say that I don't think that way. Pre 98 Honda AT were aggressive & abrupt shift & they were designed that way to impart sporty feel. There wasn't any reliability issue with those xmissions. NOW, after 98 Honda 'soften' the AT, due to consumer demands & now it is as smooth as it can be. The 98+ ATS are model of refinement but do respond aggressively when pushed. Accord is prob'ly the only car in this segment which hold its first gear to REDLINE.
When VTEC appears at around 4000+ RPMs U can feel the immediate surge of power with bigger cam in action. Accord EX-V6 is prob'ly the BEST CAR for the price. (Especially when u can get a very good deal). Passat's price makes it compare with the TL, where TL is much better car with extra features & power. So comparing Accord to Passat is disadvantageos to both these good cars.