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Comments
cds12, it's more like buying house because it the hinges on the front door don't snap off every time the door is opened to far.
Bob
if its a matter of the fact that you just dont want it, then consider it a resale value bonus. the price is more than competitive with comparable models, AND you get a moonroof. i could care less if i have a moonroof or not, but if it comes with it, then so be it...i'll get more money for it in the end.
Bob
lets say the seal DOES wear out after 10 or 15 years. wouldnt the fact that you got the car you want and like the best be worth a $20 seal, and maybe $30-$50 of labor? over 24-30 YEARS???
heck...even add the cost of replacing that seal 5 or 6 times, and you STILL get a better value than the other cars. my ex-wife has a '89 accord ex with a moonroof...it has 241k miles, and has never had an issue with the moonroof seal. i would also assume that newer materials are more reliable and longer lasting.
BTW...freezing cold does FAR more damage to rubber and plastic than hot sun.
all i am saying is if you are keeping a car for that long, you better get the one you like, or you're gonna hate yourself for a long, long time. i made that mistake a few years ago, and i only had the car for 2 1/2 years. i regret the dollars i spent, and will remember the regret i felt every time i got in the car.
sorry to rant, just my personal experience.
With the wraparound drivers position and lean-back seating, it makes the Accord feel smaller overall, despite what all the reviews point to "roominess on par with the Camry" (sit in a new Civic and it is very similar to the new Accord). Entry/exit is also more difficult than the Camry.
I'm thinking the Accord's adjustability better addresses driver preferences like those of my wife, who's 5'2 but heeds my advice for the hands to be at 10 and 2 with arms just slightly bent (in short, she's not the occasional steering wheel hugger). She really likes the telescoping/tilting feature.
So, I drive a camry instead of an accord.
Some might like the available rear sunshade on teh Camry
Cheers
I saw a fully loaded Camry LE about a week ago, it had the adjustable pedals. This Camry had EVERY option! That's rare on the Camry LE. It also had useless accessories. The SE market is known for this.
http://www.toyotaofglendora.com/camrynewfeatures.htm
I presently own an Oldsmobile 88 Royale that's loaded to the hilt. I am looking to replace the old thing since its got about 220,000 miles on it and is showing it's age a bit. It has cost me some money over the years. The a/c quit several thousand miles back and was repaired at a cost of $1,500 CDN, broke down again, said forget it. Time to move on.
Over the past several days, I have test driven the Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry SE and the Accord EX. I am leaning towards the Honda Accord although the one I have picked is a 2002 still new, just a left over.
I found the Altima to be poorly finished and wrote it off early. The Toyota SE was a nice car but the ride was pretty stiff. The Mazda was a fun car but a new model in it's virgin year is never a good idea, even though the wife gets the "X" plan deal from Ford. The Accord was the only 5 spd out of the bunch that we tested so I can't really compare that feature. Overall, the Accord was a better car in my opinion. The ride was superior to the Camry SE and it just felt better. All of these cars were 4 cylinders so they were not overly peppy when compared to my Olds, but still adequate.
I'm sure that the Camry equipped with a 5 spd would be an acceptable car but it just doesn't seem right for some reason. It's a big car, or at least gives the appearance of being a big car. But, my wife and I were quite comfortable in the Accord.
Decision...Accord. Even though it's a 2002 it's a most enjoyable car. I would have preferred a 2003 Coupe but the discount on the 2002 is hard to pass up. It almost compares to the "X" plan price that my wife could get on the 2004 Mazda 6
The price was knocked down $1700 below list and my wonderful wife called the dealership and had it knocked down another $250 in order to bring it in line with her best price on the Mazda 6.
Can anyone tell me what magizine & month had this test? I'd really like to read it again.
Dave
How many people actually use the Navi system in our daily routine? Or even use it enough to justify the investment?
Also shouldn't the Accord LX be compared to the Camry LE price wise?
In fact, most of the new Honda models beat Toyota models in crash test results.
On the other hand, Honda makes the head/side curtain airbags available only on the V6. I think that's irresponsible. You can get them as options on most, if not all, of the current Camry models. No one should be priced out of good safety features.
That said, I'm going for the Accord EX-V6, since it's currently the safer car. If you're sliding into an SUV (or an SUV is sliding into you), you want to be in a car that you might get pulled out of alive.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0304_fam/
My wife currently has a 91 Accord we are replacing. The air has died and cost of fixing is about the same as the cars book value...and summer is around the corner. My 92 Toyota clone Prizm runs great - no problems.
OK - we've done our homework, researched and driven the Accord, Camry, Altima, 6, and most other import midsize sedans, and have narrowed it down to the Accord vs. the Camry. Problem is, we are having trouble deciding.... We will use the vehicle as a daily work car (short, easy commute) and a family hauler for long trips with our children (currently 2 and 5). Obviously, we keep our cars a while - so the reliability issue was #1. Result - Tie.
Safety is next. Both the Accord LX 5A and Camry LE 4A have pretty much the same safety features. We would opt for the ABS option on the Camry. We can't find crash test results for the '03 Accord, however - but assume they'll be as good as or better than the Camry. The Camry has better driver vision. The Accord handles better and has much better brake feel. Result - Tie (?)
Comfort comes next. My wife is an ergonomic consultant and has worked in a car seat manufacturing plant, and she feels that the seating of the Accord is better - although lower to the ground and a little harder to get in/out. (Not a big deal in our late 30's). Being taller, she also finds the longer pan of the driver's seat in the Accord more comfortable. The Camry is more upright and higher, and has the adjustable seat and lumbar support. We also agreed the back seat of the Camry is more comfortable. The Camry rides much more smoothly, but the Accord seems more responsive. Result - Close, but advantage Accord.
Next- Features. The Accord has remote/keyless entry and an engine immobilizer, better steering wheel adjustment, nicer instrument panel, better front seat center storage, auto-down windows, and break-away mirrors. The Camry has a cassette player (kids!), much more trunk space, a full-size spare, outdoor temp gauge, and split folding rear seat. Again - TIE
Last - Colors. Here Camry wins hands down. The Accord has few choices. The black (hot!!) and tan (way too light - dirt - KIDS!) interiors are awful. That leaves us with a dark blue or graphite car with gray interior. Anyone with knowledge if these choices will change in '04?! Camry has many more choices and a nicer, medium gray interior. It also offers a red exterior - which Accord only offers in the V6 or EX packages. Winner - Camry.
So you can see our quandary. Any additional information, especially about reliability of the models, or suggestions would certainly help! Thanks!
There have been many reports here in Edmunds about issues with the current Accord. I believe the way to avoid that is not buy a first year re-design vehicle. My humble opinion. Both cars are excellent, just a matter of personal preference, and what deal is avail, and the dealer experience.
The Camry has so-so side impact scores (3 stars) so that might be a factor as well.
But like someone said, if they are that close, then just buy the one you get the better deal on.
With SUVs all over the place, you may want to consider that. A study that I recently read (on the IIHS or NHTSA site?) showed that the side curtain airbags make the difference between life and death (or permanent brain damage) in side crashes with trucks and SUVs.
If you want to keep your car for a long time and feel safe in it, it might be a good idea to spring for the car with the most safety options -- in this case, the Camry. You might have to pay extra for the side curtain airbag option, but it's probably worth it. The other option is to go for the EX V6 Accord (which can be had for close to $23K right now).