Older Honda Accords

pluto5

Personally, I wouldn't leave any dino oil in an engine for 10K miles. For six bucks you can get a jug of oil and a Champion Labs filter at Wal-Mart--cheap insurance.

anonymousposts

When I was at a Honda dealer Sunday I couldn't help but see the resemblence between the 98-02 and the 03. It's just a more evolved shape. It's not going to win any beauty contests but like I always say, it will still look decent 10 years from now.

bodydouble

Yup, there's been Honda's secret to success. Each new model still has that instantly recognizable Hondaness to it. I think the only exception was the '94 - '97 Accords. I think if you do a 180 with each model changeover, your customers lose the sense of continuity and the model loses brand identify. I think less successful companies, and cheaper brands, rely on wholesale changes to attempt to find a niche and an identity. Notice how MB, BMW, Audi all make evolutionary changes.

bodydouble

"But otherwise he's and idiot."

Yugoboy or the salesman?

martylaw

I have test driven the 03 Accord Coupe several times, and was concerned about the low seating position. We have a 2000 Accord Coupe, and I never felt that visibility was a problem, as you look down over the instrument panel and a portion of the hood. On the 2003, I find that it is different. I think the explanation I have seen here is correct, that the top of the dash is higher, and that this Honda does not have the low cowl design that Honda has been noted for in the past. Having said that, I think visibility is basically OK, and that they may be trying to give more of a low slung sports car feel to it, notwithstanding that the recent Japanese trend has been to taller cars. Anyone else notice the seating position?

s852

Actually the seating postion in the '02s was already lower than in the '02 sedans. Part of the reason was because the roofline is lower on the coupe and taller people cannot raise the height of the seat to the max without hitting their head on the ceiling especially if the coupe has the moonroof (EX).
I didn't realize that Honda lowered the seating position even more for 2003.
It is supposed to give you the low slung, low center of gravity feeling that is more "sporty" though.

umyaya

is the idiot.

accord7

I remember reading recently that customer surveys revealed that people like to be sitting "in" the car and not "on" it. In other words, the previous Hondas gave you great visibility of the road ahead, but you sacrificed the feeling of being enclosed in a larger, more substantial vehicle. The raising of the cowl will give some customers that SUV security that draws so many customers. I don't own a 2003 Accord yet, but my primary complaint has to do with the size and placement of the windshield wipers. They actually impede the forward view (especially the driver side) as much as anything else.

satishb

Hello,

I am looking to buy Honda Accord LX, talked to few dealers. There is this one dealer in chicagoland who is willing to sell the car much below invoice(approximately 600$ less), I have not visited them yet. But the dealer who are close to my house claim that he is selling the damaged car after being fixed. The advertisement does not exclusive say it is Brand New Honda, it only says 2003 Honda(that is the difference that other dealers pointed out).
If any one has any idea with this kind of situation, please shed some light.
I appreciate that.

Thanks

jeffrey15

I would be wary. Most dealers won't be selling the 2003 accord under invoice yet. If you can get it under it would take a lot of negotiating. If they are openly offering that price there must be a catch. Damage, just one available but not in stock when you get there, etc. If it were the end of the 2003 model year it might be more plausible.

Jeff

anonymousposts

I wouldn't buy a damaged new car. Especially if a dealer with a perfect unit is offering you the same car at invoice or below. What's the point of buying a new car if you get one that's already had paintwork?

satishb

Hi jeff and anomymousposts

Thx for your feedback, but still wanted to make a visit and checkout what they have to say.

Thx

s852

A low seat and high cowl does not make it feel more like a SUV. That does not make sense.
SUV drivers enjoy looking down on other cars from a high perch.

strager

In California, CarsDirect is selling the Accord for about $500 below invoice. That means the dealer can probably offer it for $600-750 below invoice, if CarsDirect is not involved.

I too have been disappointed in the high cowl of new Honda models lately, starting with the 2002 CR-V and now the Accord. Really bad move, IMO. I don't like the idea of the Accord becoming 'European', if the high cowl and bloated look is the price of admission.

s852

California is a big place. It depends on where.
In my area, the most common model (LX 4-door, automatic) is going for $100 below invoice from Carsdirect.com.
If I wanted one, I would just get it from them rather than hassle for a couple hours with a dealership salesperson to see if I could get another $100 off a $19,000 car.
They have the 3.0 EX sedan for $300 OVER invoice in my area and they don't even list the navigation models yet since navigation models are very rare since they weren't even scheduled to be available at all until January 2003.

gee35coupe

In Atlanta they offer $300 below invoice but we want another $1,429 (wholesale installed) in accessories. We are trying to get a dealer to match at least invoice + (mail order price) + installation from the Honda web site but it's like pulling teeth.

s852

If you don't want to haggle with the price of accessories, then buy the car through Carbargains.
This is a pay service. I think the fee is around $200, maybe less.
They allow you to include dealer-installed accesories in your description of what you want and then you get quotes from several dealers of out the door prices including the accessories. You can choose whichever dealer you want.
They gaurantee that you cannot beat the price (including the cost of their fees) without using their price quotes as a negotiating tool. If you can, then they refund the fee.
Since they go out and get quotes from several dealers for you (and let each dealer know that several other dealerships will also be making quotes and you are not just shopping for fun since you paid their fees up front), it takes a couple weeks to get the final list of quotes back form them. It doesn't make sense to use CarBargains if you need a car today.

maxamillion1

Honda dealers try the same thing up here in Upstate S.Carolina. They try to price accessories high. Some dealers, especially Toyota and Honda dealers try to charge $110 for mudguards and $90 for sunroof wind deflectors. When my mom brought her Odyssey last Sept., the salesmen wanted to add fog lights for $699.00 I told him H*** NO! They actually ended up adding mudguards, wheel locks and cargo cover for free.

bburton1

Used to live in Atlanta-when tried to buy a new Honda-all the dealers had a "required" package of crap that added over $1k to the price. Had to go to south carolina to get a car without the dealer's rip off package. Get on the horn and call some of the smaller towns over 150 miles from Atlanta - amazing the local dealers are still pulling the same stuff.

gee35coupe

But I've got mail-order prices on each add-on. It's driving them crazy.

robertsmx

Accord's 3.0 liter V6 pumping 270 HP/234 lb.-ft (32.3 kg-m) in some Asian markets? The number is from Honda's UAE website.

bolivar

Well, with the American 2003 one rated at 240hp, with the owner's manual giving 250hp on premium, I wouldn't think it would take too much more tuning, with required premium gas, to pump out 270hp.....

maxamillion1

A 3.0L reaching 270 hp.

robertsmx

I'm not surprised as much by 270 HP from 3.0 liter V6 (NSX had 270-280 HP from 3.0 liter V6 in 1989), but it is surprising for me to see J30A pull out as much power as it is doing, and especially the torque output (234 lb.-ft) for a 3.0 liter engine. This engine almost sounds like 3.0 liter version of the 300 HP 3.2/V6 showcased at 2002 SEMA.

tblazer503

to get horsepower up without having to qualify for ULEV CARB standards. =o)

geod

Hi, Just bought an accord exv6 in LA for 300 under invoice. paid 150 for mud flaps and wheel locks.

My question to you guys is the security system that comes standard sufficient. Or is there a need for an added system on top. +

s852

Don't bother. If anything, get a LoJack to supplement the security system.
You didn't say if you got a 2002 or 2003.
If you got a 2003, it will be a few years before there is much demand for stolen parts from your car.

steve_on

I just found a very slightly used (450 Miles!), 02 EX V6 coupe.

Here's the rub, all the online sites have dropped pricing for 02's so I don't know what a brand new one should cost.

Anyone got a target price for a vehicle as described. I like the 03 coupe, but was focused on the 4 because of price, if I can get a steal on this car might just go for it.

Thanks

anonymousposts

I would try for $19,500 at the most. New ones are advertised around here for $20,900 in the paper if you can find one.

jeffrey15

Edmunds lists pricing on 2002 models.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2002/honda/accord/index.html

pluto5

Concerning stolen parts I have a slightly different take on the problem. 03's will be stolen because parts are relatively expensive for Honda. Even new cars need parts.

steve_on

Thanks for the link to the Edumnds pricing, I do find that the TMV seems to be a bit higher than some of the online services. By higher, cars direct is showing a 03 coupe about $500 less than Edumunds.

Nothing like going into a dealer with lots of things to show them...LOL

gee35coupe

And there aren't as many needing parts nor are there as many.. period. They also have more anti theft devices. If you would read the list of most stolen it's usually the older cars that are on it.

cho7819

Is the stereo in the Accord DX prewired for all 6 speakers? I see the grilles (2 of which have speakers in them) and was wondering if I could add a pair of speakers atleast on the back deck without much effort. Please Respond!

maxamillion1

Per the Honda brochure. I wish it had all 6 like the LX

jeffrey15

The car has two speakers in front. Prewired for two in back.

http://www.collegehillshonda.com/instructions/03accord/rearspeakers.pdf

bigzheng17

I am on my way to Montreal, actually I'm in Toronto right now.

few impression:
*First day in Canada, someone throw an soda can at me. Right after I got on 401 from Windsor, a guy driving in front of me throw an soda can out of in window, spill coke all over my car and banged my car's underside pretty good.
*Is it just me or drivers in Canada are not as polite and patient as drivers in u.s.? people seems to like honking at others over small things, and speed up to block you when they can just tap brake to yield. or maybe I wasn't from big cities like ny.

one more thing, is there any website give car info in Quebec like Edmunds does in u.s.? thanks

ickes_mobile

while traveling over the holidays. Even in Iowa, which appears to be the last place Ford actually sell Taurus at retail, I saw five.

Their looks are really growing on me. The blue color look especially good. My only issue now would be that they look too much like the last generation Civic from head-on.

bodydouble

the soda-thrower was probably just an isolated act by an idiot. However I can't really say if generally Canadians are more, or less, polite than US drivers. My personal experiences indicate that the US mid-west has some of the most friendly people anywhere and the province of Quebec has some of the most aggressive drivers in Canada.

bigzheng17

I guess that explains why I feel that way, I lived in mid-east u.s. before I came here.

also 03 accord sale in canada seems to be growing, saw several sedan in a torono mall this afternoon.

bodydouble

Welcome to Canada! However, you picked the wrong end of the country. Out west in Vancouver, we have spring-like weather and our hockey team rocks!

anonymousposts

Over the weekend I saw no less than 10 Accords. No coupes though .. 'cept mine.

bodydouble

I have not seen even ONE coupe here!

maxamillion1

I LOVE that design. The new Coupe is beautiful!! The sedan can be seen quite often as well, but I usually don't pay them much attention. I love the Coupe though.

umyaya

I would second the Carbargains way of reaching a price, if you don't have time or energy to negotiate. But to be honest, we used them for our last two Acuras and this time to get my 03 EX-V6 with NAVI, I instead just used they're general format, explaining exactly what I wanted, and asking for any and all fees, one time price quote only, and got the car for $25,579, leaving only tax by emailing sales managers.

But, the post was wrong in that Carbargains DOES act quickly. They will fax or email you the quotes within 3-5 days. Though I've never seen anything anywhere saying they'd refund your money if you found a cheaper price, or I would have used them again.

crv16

I'm considering moving up to a new 03 V6 Accord, from my 01 Accord EX 4 cyl 5 speed.

One annoyance with my current Accord is the engagement of VTEC, which you notice when accelerating hard in the lower gears. The VTEC kicks in at 3500 rpm, so you notice a significant "surge" in the acceleration curve at that point. It makes driving smoothly difficult, since I typically shift around 3500 - 4000 rpm.

With the 03 Accord 4 cyl, the new i-VTEC system is used. As I understand, it changes valve lift in a variable manner, relating to engine speed, not in a on/off manner with the older VTEC system.

However, the 03 Accord 6 cyl still uses VTEC. Do any of the new V6 owners out there notice a surge in acceleration when the VTEC engages?

gotribe

I know what you mean. I had a '00 Accord V-6 that did the same thing. However, my '03 V-6 automatic is much smoother, the acceleration feels much more linear. I think part of the solution might lie with the 5 speed automatic which probably is geared such that the "surge" effect is minimized. If you're thinking of the V-6 coupe 5 speed stick instead of automatic, I'm not sure. But I still would think that the smoother power delivery of the new engine would be an improvement.

chillenhonda

ive driven both the RSX Type-S (ivtec) and the new accord 5-speed ivtec and compared them to a Prelude (VTEC) and the old accord coupe (VTEC). The ivtec is much smoother all the way through the rpm range, and although it is strong at high rpms, there isnt that "transition" as it switches cams at a certain rpm.

nyyace

Hi All,
I have a friend who is considering buying a 2003 Accord 4cyl. She asked if the engine has a timing belt or chain. Can someone here help me out with the answer? Thanks a lot, and sorry if this has been asked already

cdavidc

The 2003 Accord 4 cylinder has a chain not timing belt