Older Honda Accords

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Comments

  • ezaircon4jcezaircon4jc Member Posts: 793
    Here in San Diego, I use my rear defroster most nights. We get plenty of dewey nights. When I get off work at 11p, my car practically gets a bath driving home from all the moisture of the car. Creature features are a personal choice. One of my personal choices is I will never "trade down". I did it once, and won't do it again!
  • heuerheuer Member Posts: 7
    I am going to buy a 2003 accord sedan silver in color, should I get the rear splash guard?? Will the rear lower pumper much cleaner with the rear splash guard?? I don't think it will looks good with the black plastic pieces on.
  • alupnyasalupnyas Member Posts: 8
    They look alot better than the brown flames down the side of your car.. Besides you really don't notice the guards in time. You will notice the road grime though..
    hope this helps

    my two cents
  • rleongrleong Member Posts: 41
    I have the splash guards on my Accord. I also installed them on my 01 Civic. I wash my car myself and they do help keep the road grime off your car.

    I got them for $60 (including shipping)and it was a simple installation.
  • jud95accordjud95accord Member Posts: 58
    I have the 03 V6 sedan and I have been very careful when cleaning the screen for the clock and radio info, etc. Also the clear black part where you shift the car is prone to scratches. Has any one else seen scratches in these areas?
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    I highly recommend the rear splash guards.

    Not only are they good for keeping dirt and some snow off the sides of the back, they make the Accord look better when they have them
  • mpgmanmpgman Member Posts: 723
    Now that the 03 Accords have been out for a while and owners have logged several thousands of miles, what can I expect gas mileage wise with the 4 and 6 cylinder automatics for city and highway driving? Are the EPA figures accurate?

    Thanks.
  • gregoryc1gregoryc1 Member Posts: 764
    Posting #9336 By: imyodaddy ----My wife and I just took delivery of a 4 cylinder 2003 loaded Honda Accord. It now has 1,200 miles, and the vibration has disapeared. We only burn 92 octane fuel. If you read the owners manual its states:--- 87 octane or higher. It is very important to use a fuel that contains high detergents. I use Hess or Getty gasoline, and I have no problems. Since I have grown up around engines, (cars and boats), I also use a top cylinder lubricant in the fuel. I use Marvel oil. ( 4 ounces of Marvel oil to each 10 gallons of fuel ). Yes, it is safe for the oxygen sensor & the Cat Converter. I use this in all my vehicles. It lubricates the valves, valve guides, the piston rings and the fuel system components. (The fuel injectors). If a fuel injector sticks, you will have a rough running engine. ----Just my opinion. ---Greg
  • accord7accord7 Member Posts: 96
    Do any new 2003 Accord owners find the view over the dash disappointing? In my test drive, I had good visibility of the road but I just wish I could see some of the hood. With the older Accords, you could judge the nose of the car easily, especially the 96-89 years with the pop-up headlights. I think I really like the low cowl of the past.
  • bigzheng17bigzheng17 Member Posts: 81
    One thing you can't do when you have splash guard is you can't kick the chunk of ice off, otherwise it's pretty good.
  • carguy58carguy58 Member Posts: 2,303
    I have heard is its kinda hard to see over the dash now in the new Accord. Honda's are usually good to see out of. Why mess what a good thing? Motor Trend applauded the 2002 Accord as great to see out of when parking. At work I saw somebody driving an 03 Accord and I was like why does it look like their try to see over something? I just though it was me. Now I see people on these board having difficulty seeing over the dash. My Aunts 00 Accord I have sat in the passenger seat and its great see out of. I have an 02 CL and I see fine. I hope Honda doesn't do this on the upcoming TL.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    line of the new Accords. The 90-93's had it perfect and the hidden headlight generation was like riding on top of the car.
  • s852s852 Member Posts: 1,051
    Honda may have determined that people perceive the higher cowl as making the car feel safer and more luxurious. You feel like you have mass protecting you rather than feeling like you are sitting behind only glass.
  • charliecarcharliecar Member Posts: 19
    I, too, am a little disappointed with what I can, or more importantly, can't see from my new '03 EX. I came from a '93 EX, which had great expanses of glass, and somehow managed not to notice any of this when I test drove the '03. In my new car, I wouldn't be able to tell from the driver's seat what color the car is, but of course, that's not the most important part ...

    I am 6'1" tall. When I'm driving, I can't see ANY of the four "corners" of the car directly (though I can see the rear in the mirrors), so find myself parking very slowly and carefully, with multiple twisting, turning, stretching, and craning of my neck to check out where the boundaries are. I also find both the front and rear pillars to be in the way at some road intersections; the rear pillar (the one at the way back -- is it called the "C pillar"?) is MUCH wider than in my '93. The roof line blocks my view of an overhead traffic light if I'm the first one in line, and the moon roof is too far back and too small to help this. I can imagine that all of this (except perhaps the traffic light) would be worse for a shorter person.

    I suspect I'll get used to it -- I have only one month and 1000 miles so far. It's true that the interior roominess is very nice, and there IS an increased feeling of luxury and "cocooning" when you're sitting "down" in all that metal, but I would have preferred more of a compromise -- keep the interior roominess, but give me more glass by making the bottoms of the windows a little lower all around. As a side benefit, it would make it more comfortable to rest my left elbow up on the window sill, which was my main mode of driving the '93. I can't raise the seat enough to do this comfortably for long times in the '03 because my head touches the ceiling.

    Any ideas whether 1-2 inches more glass at the bottom of the windows would be significantly less safe?

    Don't get me wrong - I still think it's a very good car (of course, it is mine now), but could use some tweaking. Incidentally, by observation of other cars on the road, it seems to me that higher metal and less glass is a trend in newer models from many manufacturers.
  • bigdogzonlybigdogzonly Member Posts: 7
    I thought I was the only one who noticed that the cowl on the '03 Accord was higher then past car's.
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    It is defintely higher but I was used to it after 1 day of driving. It's still lower than alot of cars just higher than was most people are used to out of Honda.
  • atlantabennyatlantabenny Member Posts: 735
    Maybe it's the result of a style trend but the king of isolation-cars, Toyota/Lexus, is thought to be putting more steel and less glass for even more road isolation (glass transmits more noise).

    Note the 02 ES300 and the new Camry - almost chop-top in appearance but very quiet.

    Our 99 Accord had that running shoe appeal - light, agile, you're in control. Our 03 feels like a heavier cross trainer but still agile. My Toyota Solara, definitely a Rockport.
  • cwd200xcwd200x Member Posts: 8
    rleong - Do you mind sharing where you bought your Accord splash guards from? I am thinking to install them on my 03 silver Accord. Thanks
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    cwd: Hope you don't mind if I respond. Go to this website....

    http://www.handa-accessories.com/accext03.html

    They are the cheapest we have found so far. We've ordered several things from them and they have always been in good condition, arrived on time, and they provide professional service. We installed some splash guards on our 02 Civic and it took all of 15 minutes. Much better than paying the dealer $199 for them.
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    Did you ever post any pics of you Accord coupe. I was driving home last night, and I noticed that someone just brought a brand new EX-L coupe in Graphite Pearl. It's NICE!
  • accord7accord7 Member Posts: 96
    I don't mean to keep harping about this cowl height thing, but it is really a big issue for me. I have sat in a new Camry and a 2002 Maxima and could easily judge the front corners of the car. We currently own a 1997 Odyssey van and parking that is just a "best guess" event. You can spend a day waxing and polishing your beautiful new car, but you can admire it only from the outside! No fancy hood shine to admire from the drivers seat. The only real benefit from the high cowl as I see it is the previously posted improved luxury and safety feel and being able to comfortably live with hail damage.
  • anonymouspostsanonymousposts Member Posts: 3,802
    I have a couple of shots but they were in poor lighting so you can't really see much. I posted them a while back in the Accord Coupe room. I will try to get out if the sun ever comes up again and take some better pictures.
  • cwd200xcwd200x Member Posts: 8
    Thanks a lot for your info. By the way, have you or anyone known how useful is the moonroof visor? Is it worthy to have it installed? thanks in advance.
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    but it is UGLY! The dealer in my area hates the new visor so much that they put the old ones from 2002 on the new Accord.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    It's HUGE. I don't like visors on cars with tilt roofs. I don't think they are necessary.
  • seafseaf Member Posts: 339
    I think metal is always safer than glass. If in a side collission, the glass will provide no protection at all, and may even be more dangerous than metal. With metal, they can reinforce it with added welding, whereas glass will just shatter (unless you install tint).
  • kglanekglane Member Posts: 3
    Looking at buying a new Accord Sedan in the next couple of months. Trying to decide between the 6 cyl and 4 cyl. I have a 1992 Accord Coupe now and have always been very happy with its performance but sometimes a little more power would be nice. Comments.. Suggestions..
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    For people like you and I, who have 4th generation Accords, the I4 will probably provide enough power, but if you really want to move, I sa get the EXV6. The LXV6 is HARD to find.

    As for me, I want the EX-L with 5spd. manual coupe or sedan.

    I currently have two Accords, a 1991 Accord EX and a 1992 Accord DX, they are vastly underpowered compared to today's competition. BUT they were pretty good for their time.

    As for the visor, I like visors on cars, as well as splash guards. They are very helpful here in Upstate, SC b/c we get so much rain and wind. The visor always makes a car look better IMO, except the one on the new Accord. I will definately ask for the pre-2003 Accord visor for my new Accord if I get one.
  • mikek37mikek37 Member Posts: 411
    The 6 is amazing, I would cough up the extra money and splurge on the good old 6 cylinder V-tec beauty
  • cwd200xcwd200x Member Posts: 8
    Thanks all your inputs for the 2003 Accord splash guards and moonroof visor. Seemed that no one likes 2003 visor, instead, prior 2003 ones being recommanded. Can previous model visor be fitted on 2003 Accords? Thanks again.
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    tells me, yes they can. Whoever trader their Acura TL in for the new Accord last year said they would take the visor from the Acura and put it on the new Accord. El visor nuevo es muy feo! I am not sure how to say visor in spanish.
  • 1997montez341997montez34 Member Posts: 202
    A few comments as an '03 Accord owner. First, to Accord7, the black plactic on the console is a very rugged type and does not scratch under normal use, even if you purposely scratch your nails on it.

    As far as the high cowl, I think it has a lot to do with updated side-impact standards and the SUV craze. Perhaps the higher cowl is a better defense against a side impact with an Excursion.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    The reason LX V-6 Accords are hard to find is because they are very slow sellers.

    The LX V-6 coupes are VERY SLOW sellers to the point I wonder why they even continue to make them.
  • cmd74cmd74 Member Posts: 15
    Could anyone please share prices they've paid for an 03 Accord EX V6? I was quoted $24K, which is about $325 over invoice,or $2260 below MSRP.

    Does this price seem high?

    If this is not te best forum to discuss this, could someone advise me what forum to go to?
  • tbgartbgar Member Posts: 16
    Hi cmd74,
    There's another thread specifically for the Accord pricing and you can look through it and see what other people have been paying.

    I just bought my 03 Accord EX-L V6 for 23,100 (before tax & liscense). From what I've read, that seems to be one of the lowest prices. I think it has a lot to do with location. I'm in San Jose, Ca and we've been hit especially hard by the economic downturn. I also bought the car right after President's Day weekend when there were a ton of sales.

    Hope that helps!
  • cmd74cmd74 Member Posts: 15
    Thansks tbgar- That price sounds real good. Hopefully I can do that well up here in NY.

    Do you have the URL for the thread on pricing? I can't seem to find it.
  • rleongrleong Member Posts: 41
    cwd200x:

    I got them at hondacuraworld.com for $60.80 with shipping. I though I got them for a good price, but handa-accessories.com has the lowest price. I would get them a try.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    If you use the Make/Model search feature on the left side of the page, you'll find a list of a whole bunch of discussions about the Accord, including the "How Much Did You Pay?" discussion.

    That particular one is in the Accord Owners Club which may be directly accessed via the link at the top of this page.

    Hope this helps!
  • tunefultuneful Member Posts: 35
    Just bringing you up to date on my latest car adventures.
    I will test drive the Accord for a second round later this week.
    Today I rented an Altima, and I like it a lot! I am going from an '87 civic; I feel up higher in this car (a plus), and telescopic wheels RULE for someone with short arms. I think that's going to knock out the Camry for me. The only concern is that the parking spaces around DC/Baltimore metro area are small, and there's not much room to spare around this Alty. I couldn't stand the idea of dings and scratches on a new car! I've NEVER had a brand new car. So maybe I will think used...
    To follow up on my post here #9210, re vibe in Accords--the vibration in this Alty is a LOT less than I experienced on recent drives of 03 Accord and 03 Subaru Legacy and Impreza.
    I drove a Buick Century yesterday (smooth ride but hated the "bench" seat, it is not a real bench like I remember fondly from the 60s; it has a "harelip" IMO and leaned me on one side of my behind! :-)
    Tuneful
  • bigzheng17bigzheng17 Member Posts: 81
    I think edmunds have a software problem, several people has a flag says USA behine their name, but the image appears as russian, or isreali, you mods might wat to look into it.
  • caidwcaidw Member Posts: 18
    I have 96 Honda Accord LX bought new, this winter, we had few times power door lock frozen. We parked outside and living in New Jersey. Any suggestion to solve this problems.
    Thanks

    Caidw
  • miamirocksmiamirocks Member Posts: 17
    You're definitely getting a great deal! It's a great car. I've got one myself, a couple of months ago. I leased however: $369 a month tax included. Inception was $587 (which included my 1st month plus tag) no deposit or dealer fees. 36 month lease/12k miles a year

    My first sedan, but I'm not complaining. My previous car was an Acura 3.2 CL (2001) which was great but this one beats it. Went from 225 hp to 240 hp. And an AWESOME dashboard plus dual climate control. Nice safety feature: Curtain air bags.

     Only thing missing is HID lights. I did put aftermarket low wattage xenon's (make sure not to put high wattage or you'll mess up the electrical system) . The dealership installed these (55 watts). They warned me not to go any higher in wattage unless I went w/the real HID conversion which is costly. These give the car a nice look w/o spending megabucks !
    Enjoy the car!
  • mikek37mikek37 Member Posts: 411
    What type of bulbs did you put in? Also how is the otuput, I have heard that they may be brighter , but the biggest downfall is they dont light up the road as well as the stock headlights. ANy blueish hue to them. Thanks
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    i say the lx-v6 is a slow seller because their number are limited. shame on honda.
  • tnauglertnaugler Member Posts: 5
    I've ordered a 2003 EX with leather, navigation system, 2.4L 4 banger, and 5 speed stick. I thought all EXs were alike, but now I find out that if I want the HomeLink I need to buy 2 more cylinders (unwanted) and and automatic transmission (very unwanted). Why does Honda think a garage door opener is less desirable with the 2.4 L engine???? (Rhetorical - no need to answer)

    I would like to know, however, if it is possible to dealer install a HomeLink on a 2.4L EX. I'll bet the wiring is already there, and that installation will be trivial.
  • cmd74cmd74 Member Posts: 15
    It sounds like we may have gotten about the same deal. I too am planning on leasing, however I wanted to negotiate price first, which I got to $24K

    My lease would be 36 months / 12K miles year. The monthly payment would be $344.41 without taxes or $373.68 with taxes rolled into the payments.

    The only money due at signing would be 1st month payment and MV fees (no bank, disposition, misc fees)

    I thinking the $4.68 difference between our 2 leases may be the tax rate, but I'm not sure? My NY and local taxes are 8.5%, what are yours and what area are you in?

    $4.68 doesn't sound like much but it's $168 over 36 months.

    I totally agree about the HID lights. The only car in this price range that has them is the Maxima, but I've had it with Nissan (see my post in the Maxima board for details).
  • s852s852 Member Posts: 1,051
    It is more likely that the wiring is not there and it will cost hondreds to get it installed.
    Easier to just get a miniature keychain fob for the remote opener or stick the regular remote in the center console or sunglass holder.
    One advantage of the covered cupholders in the previous accords is that you could stick remotes in there and they would be hidden, yet easy to access.
    If you put the remote inside the console storage, it is inconvenient to get them out, especially if the front passenger is using the center armrest to rest their elbow.
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    We actually had more LXV6 coupes at first than EXV6 coupes. But now we have more EXV6 coupes around here than any of the coupe models.
  • gee35coupegee35coupe Member Posts: 3,387
    When I was looking for my EX-L in December. There were a lot of LX-V6 coupes. I thought that was kinda wierd.
  • miamirocksmiamirocks Member Posts: 17
    About the headlights:H9006 55 w
    They're bright white instead of yellowish. They're not blue or as bright like the real HID's. But the lighting is more natural than the standard halogen. When I'm behind a car or truck w/ a really shiny finish, the lights in my car are reflected much whiter than the others w/halogens .
    The stock lights are also bright but these are a little slicker. Remember the wattage is only 55 whereas the stock are 50,to the difference is in the hue (white vs. yellow)making them look slightly brighter.
    The reason why you may have heard that there is less lighting is b/c they are pointed downward so the bright white doesn't blind the other drivers.
    They're inexpensive and they look nice. Just make sure you don't go with high wattage (i.e. more than 60) or you'll burn your wiring system and mess up the warranty (a warning I got from the service dept. at the dealership). If you are thinking about high wattage to make them REALLY bright then go to the real HID conversion kit.
     
    I would have preferred the real HID lights but they're expensive.
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