Older Honda Accords

bigzheng17

to be hornest, i don't really like it. i almost did not recognize it when i saw it in that toronto mall parking lot, till i saw that big smiling taillight. there is really nothing to make the car standout from the crowd, unlike altima, especially in silver.

bodydouble:
i heard western canada has really nice weather, but i really didn't have a choice since my dad found a place in McGill faculty of medicine, and i have too transfered to McGill. (first day here, i'm already wishing i speak french )

rascallove

what is warranty and what does it cover? Is it smart to get extended warranty on a new honda?

gee35coupe

What does the Altima have? Altezza tail lights? What about from the other 3 sides of the car? Come on man if you don't like it that's OK but some of the reasons are kinda sorry.

anonymousposts

I personally think Accords are very "handsome". Especially black coupes with the fog lights, rear spoiler, and mud guards

robr2

...it's been a number of years, but make stay away from Rue St Catherine's!!! ;-) ;-) The root of all evil!!

As for McGill - great choice I've heard. The Harvard of Canada. Tuition is less that US$10K per year or so international students and it's an Ivy League education.

gregoryc1

Posting #7084:----If you own a vehicle and you plan on keeping it beyond the 3 years and / or 36,000 miles the answer to your questions is "yes". One major repair will cover the purchase price of the warranty. If you purchase a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty on your new vehicle you have "peace of mind" with regards to expenses for major repairs. Transmissions, engines and computers today are VERY expensive. -----Just my opinion. ----Greg

bigzheng17

I guess the new look for accord will grow on you, but at first sight, it's really not that special. it's not just me, I send pictures of accord, altima, mazda6, and camry to lots of other people, car wiz or not, most agree altima is best looking, accord is not. but i guess it has something to do with we are all very young.

robertsmx

Accord has never been about pure looks, but for 2003, it is not conservative either. It has more styling elements than ever. I have been pleasantly surprised that 2003 Accord Sedan has caught my eyes from a distance even when not in straight line of view. Even when it is dark, I can tell its the new Accord by looking at it (the rear resembles 98-02 Accord at night).

I'm not a fan of Altima's styling. It looks bulkier than it is. It looks better from a distance. May be I'm too old at 30.

If there were something I would change in Accord's styling, it would be the way tail lamps wrap around on the side. They should have been a little more edgier to go with the headlamps (as they are in the Coupe). In Coupe, the tail lamp is an evolution of first generation TL with sharper edges and reflects the headlamps (usual Honda practice, as it has been with Accords). In Sedan, the tail mirrors the shape of the grill. Ofcourse, I don't expect most people to connect and evaluate styling.

bodydouble

Altima's styling is overrated. I think people are gushing over it simply because the previous generation was so ugly. Everything is relative.

pluto5

I find the "toothy" grill annoying--if I were a dentist I would replace the H emblem with a cap!

richm4

The new tail lamps look Saturn-esque. And that's not exactly a compliment. Even so, it's a really nice car inside and out. Considering I'm a life-long GM owner who was also considering an ES300, I'm surprised that I like the new Accord so much.

jimbres

My experience with top-tier (Honda, Toyota & Nissan) Japanese brands goes back almost 30 years, & it has taught me that extended warranties for these makes are a waste of your money. Your risk of getting hit with a 4-figure repair bill for catastrophic component failure is slightly greater than the chance that you'll be killed by space debris.

Here's something else to remember: although you'll have to lay out funds for repairs to keep an out-of-warranty car running, this cost is in most cases more than offset by lower depreciation expense. Your new $20K car will shed at least $4,000 in value during its 1st year, while a 4-year-old Accord shouldn't give up much more than a thousand. The difference will more than cover any conceivable repair costs.

I kept my last Honda Accord, an '87 LXi that I bought new, for almost 12 years. During the last 3 years that I owned the car, my outlays for repairs averaged less than $1K per year. As far as I can tell from my reading & from conversations with other Honda & Toyota owners, my experience was typical.

pluto5

I agree-buyers are being sucked in with names like, HondaCare, for what is really mechanical breakdown insurance.

civicw

The styling of the 03 Accord hasn't grown on me, unlike previous generations. It seems Honda designed it to appeal to the 55+ buyer.

I saw a Buick (don't know which model) parked next to the Accord and from the rear they looked like siblings. Honda has done a better job with the Acura TSX, IMO.

gee35coupe

But if you obsess over only one facet of the car I guess you may not like it. But on the whole I think it looks great. Especially from all the front three angles. Although the best is the 45 degree from the rear so you can see the rake of the character line to the front. I liked the look of the Altima when I first saw them but I'm over it now.

ickes_mobile

We were crusing the car lots today and I got to say, I think this Saturn/Buick thing is being overdone, especially as it applies to EX models

TO ME, the car looks like a Honda, straight up. Further, all this talk I've seen over at the Mazda6 stream about how Accord's drive is bull too. It's softer than the Mazda6 and some Altimas for sure, but its no Taurus or Impala. Like C&D said, the Mazda6 sounds faster but the Accord goes faster...

Yeah, the lower edge of the tailights could have been done better, but its hardly Buick like.

I'm pretty much sold on taking delivery of one in exactly 21 months.

I toyed with the idea of a Mazda6 or a TSX, but our holiday travels convinced me otherwise. The Accord is about as small as I can go for now (until we get my wife an MDX).

jtac

an EX V6 last week. I didn't really like the exterior styling much, but it is growing on me and I've received several compliments on the way it looks. What sold me was the interior, the smoothness of the transmission and power delivery, and overall value. I went with the V6 because the drive is so much better than the 4 and plus it comes with side curtain airbags. The more I drive this car the more I like it. I'm very happy with the purchase.

I tested the Mazda 6s as well. I really liked its exterior styling (esp. in the dark grey color). The handling was better, but I didn't feel like the quality was all there. I couldn't get the seats in a comfortable position. The rear seats didn't have head rests. Had minimal interior storage. My wife hated the road rage red lighting. The rear seat drop down latch in the trunk was broken on the showroom floor model.
The Accord seemed like it was very well designed - things were really thought through.

pj23

Picked up my Eternal Blue '03 EX-L manual sedan on Tuesday. Color wasn't my first choice, but it is difficult to get exactly what you want with leather and a manual transmission.

First impressions - coming from an '02 EX-V6 Coupe, power is more than adequate, even with 4 people in the car. I can't wait to open it up all the way in a few hundred miles. It is smoother, quieter, feels more solid, handles better, and the interior is for the most part much nicer (love the dual zone climate control and heated seats). The ride is more firm than my '02, but certainly not uncomfortable. I like it. And the seats - most comfortable can remember sitting in.

A few people have commented on the cowl height and smaller windshield area compared to the previous generation. Sitting next to my wife's '02 Accord sedan, the windshield area appears smaller, and the cowl is definitely higher. I don't find these to be problems, however. Driving it, I feel like I am sitting "in" the car, not "on" it, and visibility isn't a problem. In the '02, I feel like I am sitting "on" the car. Guess that is a matter of opinion and preference, though.

anonymousposts

I love the Eternal Blue on the sedan. We were looking for a blue or silver EX-L coupe and had the same result. We ended up with black because the availability of EX-L 5-speeds isn't that great.

I completely agree with your assessment on going from the 02 V6 to the 03. I had a 01 EX V6 coupe and although the V6 was smooth the car as a whole is no comparison for the 03.

Cowl height is definitely higher but it's not to a point where visibility is a problem.

jtac: Congratulations on the car. We also looked at a Mazda6 but felt the Accord was the better car for what we were looking for.

pj23

The blue was my second choice, behind Redondo Red. But I have a feeling that I may actually like the blue better in the long run.

zoltare

We also just purchased an EX-V6 and I will say that the seats fit extremely well.

We used to own a 2000 EX-cloth and the steering wheel was to close to my thighs even when both the column and seat were adjusted. BTW, I'm 6' 210 lbs.

In the new EX-V6, the seat adjusts wonderfully to my frame and given the added ability to adjust the steering column, I have found a perfect driving position. And as a previous poster mentioned, it now does feel like I am sitting in the seat as opposed to sitting on the seat with the 2000.

As for the looks, it is o.k., but I really don't buy a car for the (exterior) looks. I'm more interested in the interior because that is what I ride in. I have the brushed metal (alum, or stainless, I'm not sure) with the black leather and the interior is super. I'll dress up the stain silver exterior with the full bra, and it should look just fine.

jg

talon95

You have a color called stain silver? EEEeeewww!

(Just being a smart aleck... I know you mean satin silver...)

sinjin_dog

Just bought an LX, 5speed manual.
With this rather large headlight lens on Accord, I am afraid it can be easily damaged from high speed by pebbles like. What can I do protect this Tupper Ware plastic stuff with?
Thanks

isellhondas

Well...if you insist on a full bra, be sure to remove it OFTEN to clean under it.

I think all these do is ruin your paint. Grit gets cuaght undeneath and rubs back and forth.

They also trap heat. I've seen paint bubbled on hoods with these.

isellhondas

Fear not...they won't break.

robr2

...try www.xpel.com

No personal experience but many people swear by it.

bobst

We have two Accords (97 and 99), and we love both of them. I think the style of the new Accord is very good, but that dash is terrible. We don't want the navigational stuff. I hate that big stupid looking button at the bottom of the radio. In fact, I hate all of the big buttons.

We are gonna get an Acurs RSX next, Out kids are out of the house, so it is time to have some fun. The style of the RSX is OK, but the dash is beautiful in its simplicity.

bravedave

I actually like the larger buttons, as it is easier to discern what button you are choosing. Nothing is more irritating than having to distract yourself from driving while selecting a specific chicklet size button from a dashboard full of such chicklets.

BUT, to each-- their own

coolguyky7

European models are the worst about that aren't they. Have you seen those keypads of buttons on some Mercedes???

fritz1224

are fine for some functions that may be adjusted frequently, but not necessary for all functions. I don't have a 03 accord but I do have a 00 one, and I like the set up. That big knob in the middle for the on/off/volume control on the new accord really does seem like overkill. Or does it do more than that?

pc0r824

We shopped around for months looking for a new car. We test drove the BMW 330XI, the Passat GLX 4-Motion, and the Audi A-4 3.0. The choice was difficult until we test drove the 2003 Accord. WOW!!

Without a doubt, after 2000 miles in our 2003 EX-V6, this is the best car we have ever owned. The power blows away the BMW and the Audi. If Car magazines had any guts, they would do a staight up, side by side with these vehicles, and the Honda would blow the others away. Just because the Honda is $5,000 to $10,000 cheaper than the others they will not compare them. The only area where the BMW and the Audi compare is in handling.

To the victors go the SPOILS!

ramblinwreck85

I just purchased a desert mist 03 Accord EX-L Manual. There isn't much in the owners manual on the best way to breakin the car. I would like some suggestions on how best to do this to ensure the best long term use and best mpg!
Thanks for the responses!!!!

03honda

Does anybody know if the 2003 Accord sedans (particularly the EX V6) have air/heat vents that are designed for the rear passengers. I know the Camry XLE has two vents off the back of the front armrest, I was just wondering if the Accords had that, too.
Thanks!

anonymousposts

ramblin: There isn't really much to the break-in period. We make sure to keep the revs below 4000 RPM for the first 1,000 miles and we don't take any long trips until that mark as well. Just take it easy on it and DON'T change the oil before it's time. That is in the owner's manual.

ramblinwreck85

Thanks, anonymousposts. I read the manual and there just wasn't much there (you stated about all of it). Seemed to be a little lite in directions. Thanks for making me feel better.

ramblinwreck85

I have an 03 Accord EX-L 4cyl 5speed. I was wondering if most people are getting the estimated mpg of 34 mpg? I am currently getting only around 23mpg at 700 miles on the car. I know that the mileage goes up as the car gets broken in, but I don't know if it will go up from 23 to 34 mpg.

anonymousposts

city is rated at 26 so you aren't too far off that mark. Give it a few more miles and it should improve. This happened with my SI.

maxamillion1

I live in a town of about 3000, and someone just brought the first Accord in my area. I remember back when my mom brought her 1992, she was the third person in our town to by one of that year, now everybody owns one of those 4th. gen Accords. The Accord is an EXV6 in Satin Silver with guards and visor. I really like it ALOT.

Also, am I the only one who prefers the EXV6's wheels over the EX models? I feel the same way about the Altima, I like the 2.5S and 2.5SL rims better than the SE, but everybody disagrees with me about that.

anonymousposts

I like the EX wheels better. The V6 wheels look kinda like wheel covers to me.

brandon17

I agree on the EX wheel versus the EXV6 wheels - the V6 look like hub caps. When I bought my silver EXV6 - it was part of the deal that the dealer would switch out the wheels with the EX4Cyl. I have had many compliments on the wheel change. All prefer the EX4 wheels. The dealer was cool about the change and did not hesitate on agreeing to the change. I just hit 500 miles and I'm still very happy with my selection!

cds12

drop the "r"

talon95

Just like the 98-02 generation, the 2003 Accords have heater/ac vents under the front seats to accommodate rear passengers. There are no adjustable vents on the rear of the console.

94acura

Recently I am looking for an Accord but kind of confused between these two models. Looks like these two models have almost the same set of standard features. The differences I can find out are wheel size, CD changer vs CD player, security system and sunroof. Are they worth of $2000?

Would someone tell me what's the difference between a 16' wheel and 15' wheel? If I choose an LX, do I get remote keyless entry? Actually, would someone please explain what's the advantage an EX accord can provide? Thanks a lot

seaf

I am in the same boat, I'm leaning more towards the LX with SAB option. I'll state my reasons for going with the LX.

It doesn't have the sunroof, which increases the headroom area, not that it's a problem for me, but I don't want something that I hardly use and could possibly leak and rattle in the future (and added weight where it's not welcome)

The alloy wheels are nice in the EX, but I can probably get my own set for good value and choose my own style. The LX does have remote keyless entry with engine immobilizer, just not an alarm system (which can be annoying for me).

The EX's 6-CD changer is not necessary for me either since 1 CD player is enough for what I listen to, which is mostly talk radio.

Rear disc brakes on EX is nice also, but for the $2k extra, I don't think it's worth it since most of the braking force is done by the front brakes which are disc already in LX. So better stopping in the rear contributes to maybe only around 5-10% overall braking ability.

There is one thing that would sway me towards EX, if they offered side curtain airbags in it, but currently it's only offered in the EX-V6, that's even more of an overkill for me. Maybe in the 2004 model year Honda will offer side curtains in more than just the EX-V6 lineup.

So there you have it, LX is a better value for me.

tblazer503

Are for the floor only on the Accord. They come out below the front seats.

The EX over LX comparo:
EX has Electronic Brake Distribution. LX-no
EX 4 wheel disc brakes LX-rear drums
EX 16" Alloy wheels LX- 15" steel w/ covers
EX 6disc CD changer LX- CD player
EX Trims(metallic or wood) LX- none
EX sunroof LX-none
EX SAB LX-option
EX has a few nice options like the "courtesy light" and a couple others.

You could easily pay the 250 for SAB, but the rest could cost more than 1750 if you wanted it later.

The difference between a 15" and 16" wheel is the wheel diameter. Bigger wheels generally mean smaller tire height, and usually perform a little better since there is less "play" in the wheelwell.
15" tire size is 205/65/15
Where 205 is the width of the tread(205mm)
65 is aspect ratio.(205x65%=133.25mm)
15" is the wheel size.
Total tire size is roughly 25.66" w/ 10.66" of the height being the sidewalls of the tires. (133.25/25(mm/in) = 5.33"x2+15) rough estimate.

16" tire size is 205/60/16
Same way of reading except your sidewalls are 4.92" now. Total tire height is 25.84" except now 9.84" of sidewall height.

umyaya

I agree that the Accord would do great against the BMW's, etc, if not for its softer suspension! It really is fast. I think it has amazing high end torque. Very fun on the highway!

I also LOVE the wheels on the EX-V6! I don't understand you guys. I think they look really sporty the way they show so much of the wheels and brakes... so much of a clear view through... to me things that look like hub caps are those that blook the whole wheel area. The open wheel design to me makes the tires look more like low-profile tires or something! I like it. Oh, well.

tblazer503

is kinda cool on the EX... from what I understand of it, it somehow senses how much braking power is needed on each wheel(probably from the speed sensors on the brakes) and distributes the brakes accordingly. This is supposed to prevent your ABS from engaging and help to prevent collisions.. since ABS generally increases stopping distance...

I would actually love to see a comparo in braking between an EBD and non-EBD car...

aming

The EX's wheels are "really sporty the way they show so much of the wheels and brakes..." umyaya. I saw them the other day on an EX and they looked great. I thought that they were even more "see through" then the V6 spokes (when spinning). I plan on getting both the wheels (summer and winter tires).

1997montez34

This was something I was dealing with as well. I decided that the features in the EX were not that important to me and the LX has everything I need/want in a sedan. All the good stuff. If budget was not a consideration I would have gone for the EX, but money was a consideration. The LX fared well in the balance of features & value.

bigzheng17

for some reason, all 03 accord i saw on road are silver.

and now i officially don't like drivers in quebec, three days in montreal, i've heard more honk than i've ever heard since i started driving, and they don't honk because you made a big mistake, but because they want you to go faster etc. a guy actually sticked his body out of the window and yelled obscenity at me just because i slowed down to look at street name. >:(