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Comments
The right subwoofer will fill out the sound even if you only like listening to jazz or classical music. You go not have to get 5 gigantic boomy subwoofers that need 10,000 watts to power and shake the entire neighborhood.
Just one of the quirks of owning a Honda.
-Craig
I own the 03 V6, and it appears that the accord tranny is a bit sluggish when accelerating into first gear. It doesnt affect performance what so ever, but there is a delay bnefore it kicks into first gear. Also it seems that the downshifts on the accord auto tranny are a bit more noticeable then the upshifts. Any ideas.
Oh, and MOONKAT, the Wall Street Journal thing I was refering to (rather vaguely I guess), was that in that day's Personal Journal section they profiled the average 03 Accord driver and I was one of the three (I replied to a post on this site). It was just funny as I'm 23 and the profile was 48 yrs old, married, and making $85, 000. My friends said I had to buy drinks from now on (since I apparently make the big bucks).
Finally, the rest of the story....:-)
Keep in mind that driving habits play a lage part in gas mileage.
What it hasn't said is that to gain market share, it has also adjusted the Accord's size to the broader (no pun intended) slice of the American sedan market.
Which means - that while the older, one-size-fits-all (Asia-Europe-N.A.) Accord was adequate for the smaller physiques - it was missing out on the bigger-dimensioned American buyer segment. That might explain the size aspect.
As to the "Japanese Oldsmobile" interior (Toyota being the "Japanese Buick"), I'm not sure.
While the dash design of the 6th gen Accord (I had two) was perhaps conservative, the ergonomics/gap tolerances/smart functionality was quite impressive.
The 03 interior is, to many folks including myself, pretty top-notch. Seat comfort is also outstanding.
Of course we all agree these aspects are subjective. Sitting in (and driving) a couple of mixed-brand new cars will give a picture of what carmakers are up to these days, and you could then form a conclusive idea of what your next car would be.
The damage appears to be body only, but the right front side is smashed in. Bumper crushed, right front quarter panel crumpled short of the tire, and the headlight was crushed. The hood and everything underneath appears to be in order...but it's too early to tell for sure.
The other driver got arrested and taken to jail for violating his restrictions...wasn't allowed to drive here. And he had the audacity to accuse me of fault and tell me I had a red light and he had a turn arrow! Some people!!!
He knew enough english to understand a sign that reads "LEFT TURN MUST YIELD ON GREEN!"
Idiots. Wish he would buy me a new car. I'm sad.
But fortunately, after reading your post, it seems you only have cosmetic damages. Which is a plus.
Make sure you go to a reputable Honda Body Shop. Make sure they only use OEM parts and everything should be alright. Best of luck
I walked away without a scratch, which I think is the most important thing. Honda seems to have a safe car, but please don't let me test it anymore!
I took it to a Acura/Lexus body shop. They usually do good work and I have a good repoire with them. Mine might be the first 2003 they work on though..that could be a bad thing. doh!!!
For all others, enjoy your Accords! They sure beat those rental cars! hahaha
Hope that idiot rots in jail for a while....
I'm glad Honda went for side airbags too...just in case....especially around here in DC.
I hope he reads a traffic law book in jail too.
Good thing I was planning on keeping my Accord until it dies and resale doesn't matter.
For those with a rear rattle problem, trying putting the backseat down and back into place. Sometimes it doesn't latch all the way and the connector rattles. That worked for me.
It may sound trite, but I am glad you walked away from it, that is the main thing. I live in the DC area, too, and they drive like maniacs here (also in Boston and other places too I am sure) Three years ago this month, I was in my 87 civic when I was hit on the driver's side by an idiot who was on his last courier run of the day and thought he could beat a red light. I have had whiplash and other effects to this day. But if he had hit me a little further up it would have been much worse. The other thing that's unbelievable is how dangerous it is for pedestrians here. I have been carless for some weeks now and it is a game of "chicken" all the time when I have the right of way in a crosswalk. I have met lots of people who've been hit.
If you have noticed, on many new vehicles, the protective side molding is a bit lower, therefore practically taking away its advantages ( reducing door dings).
If this is a huge concern just isntall another set, but that will look god awful.
The 4-door has side molding but as mikek37 pointed out, it's low and probably has even lower success in blocking a door ding.
My wife - who drives the 4 door - has followed my ritual of parking way out and doing a few more down-to-a-science moves just to keep that mint state as long as possible.
I wonder if it is related to stories like this
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-993470.html
They say they are not going to degrade the signal, but it feels like GPS is not as accurate. Any other experiences?
Here's a quote from a GPS article from redherring.com:
"Initially, the Department of Defense built the GPS system for military purposes. GPS satellites actually transmit two sets of direction-finding and time-of-day signals: one encrypted for military use, and the other for civilian use. Until last May, the civilian signals were intentionally degraded with random errors, reducing accuracy to 100 meters or worse. The government still reserves the right to lower the accuracy of the civilian signals in the event of a national emergency.
The Navstar system is made up of three parts: radio receivers, satellites, and ground-control systems. A GPS receiver determines its location by listening to transmissions from four Navstar satellites. For the service to work anywhere on the planet, the GPS system must always have a minimum of 24 satellites in orbit. This collection of satellites is known as the Navstar constellation. These satellites circle the earth in six different paths, each of which is 12,550 miles above the Earth's surface. Four satellites are in each path, spaced out evenly in the orbit. And each satellite circles the Earth in just under 12 hours."
Possibly they reduced the accuracy of civilian use of GPS systems due to the war.
If you want to read more, here's the link to the full article:
http://www.redherring.com/insider/2001/0205/tech-mag-91-explained- - 020501.html
-Craig
I know the LX has these things standard, but it is significantly more expensive - especially since the DX is often used as a price leader
Thanks for any help.
I have owned 9 Hondas (10 now) and run a major company in Quebec with a fleet of many rent-a-cars that led me to buy Hondas 15 years ago.
We bought the Coupe without even trying it since it was not out yet. I guess when you have faith in a company you know what to expect. One thing about Honda......no matter what car you drive, it feels like a Honda and you have no real surprises to make you think it is a Ford!
Has anyone drove this car yet? I have not read past posts so update me of what to expect besides sheer driving pleasure.
Sometimes these "add-on" non factory items can be troublesome.
But, why? After spending the mosny for the add-ons you could have an LX for not much more.
DX's don't sell very well at all. When you factor in the resale value down the road you'll be better off with an LX.
Besides I would much rather have a new DX than a used EX . I get the nice new engine and chasis, plus a full warrenty - I can live without the cruise and locks if I had too, after all I don't have either now on the Integra I have had for 13 years.
What I was hoping is that there were dealer add ons for the cruise and locks - just like for the air. I take from your comments that this is not the case.
Honda will replace the vehicle.
But,in all honesty, I can't say it was easy. Once I was directed to what Honda calls "mediation", though, it's been as it should have been from the start. Good communication and attention to detail from Honda's staff. But it took a BBBAutoLine complaint to even get Customer Service even to return my calls. I never filed a BBB complaint in my life before, but it did get things moving, and probably responsible for Honda's offer to replace the vehicle.
My advice: If you buy a new Honda with an unfixable defect, get past customer service and ask that the matter be sent to mediation. They actually will return your calls and are pleasant to deal with. Keep a receipt of each repair and a complete diary of every contact and call, from the service tech and mgr on up.
My opinion of Honda's customer service though is still pretty much the same. Poor. Customer service should have at least returned my calls and seem at least a bit interested in keeping the customer happy. I hated to file the BBBAutoline complaint but Honda's complete lack of communication left me no choice. Even though the matter will be resolved with the replacement vehicle, this still has been the worst car buying experience of my life. Although I do realize that if it was had been another brand (you pick) it could have been worse. I may have actually had to go through arbritation/litigation to get any relief. So for that, at least, I thank Honda and give them credit where credit is due. They may win me back as a customer again as this bad memory fades.
I have no idea if this is a fluke problem with just a few cars or a latent defect in all of them. My car was built in December. Yours, several months before. I personally think that there is a weak weld and that in some cars, perhaps after a hard jolt, it breaks, and then the popping begins as the two pieces slip past each other. Maybe it is a small number that have it, perhaps caused by a bad weld on just a few cars. However, I also think that its pretty amazing that two of us happend to post on this board. How many others out there that don't? No one knows, except Honda. Whatever the reason, something is obviously wrong in the design/manufacture of at least some vehicles, and hopefully, they'll figure out a fix. It has to be expensive to keep giving customers new cars.
Overall it has been a bittersweet experience, with a lot of needless worry on my part when Honda didn't respond-at all-to my calls. I really am more upset with that than the fact the car had a defect they couldn't fix. Defects are inevitable and can't be helped in the manufacturing process. Dealing with it correctly and poor customer service is something that can be.
When I pressed for a refund, I was told that they they had a fix, but had to run it through channels, and were willing to go the distance to offer a repair in arbitation/litigation if I chose that route rather than a replacement. However, I seriously doubt they have a fix. What was mentioned was removing a screw from the truss assembly and the pop went away. Like, duh-the body quit flexing. ergo, no popping. The Honda tech also mentioned that when he loosened a bolt directly under the drivers side under the car, it went away, too. But the bolt held the body on, which reduced flexing as well, and that you could bet that other rattles would start up if that bolt wasn't tight.
I have no idea if this is a fluke problem with just a few cars or a latent defect in all of them. My car was built in December. Yours, several months before. I personally think that there is a weak weld and that in some cars, perhaps after a hard jolt, breaks, and then the popping begins as the two pieces slip past each other. This is all just a guess, though. I could be completely wrong. Whatever the reason, they should not do it, and hopefully, they'll figure out a fix. It has to be expensive to keep giving customers new cars.
Hopefully.
I want to buy an accord in late may and i'm hoping to get one where this problem and all the rattles have been fixed.
Thanks
thanks
HOWEVER, if you are more concerned with cargo carrying than rear passenger comfort, the Pontiac is better than the Accord in that regard.
The GP rear seat folds down and leaves a much wider passthrough opening than the Accord and there is an option for a folding front passenger seat that allows you to carry very long objects and still be able to close the trunk.
You can recline the Accord's passenger seat to try to carry long objects, but it will not lay flat and you risk damaging the fabric or leather if you try to carry long objects that way. The opening from the trunk is also much smaller than the GP, so it will greatly limit what you can pass through.
You might be able to get the handlebars and pedals of a large bicycle through the opening between the passenger compartment and the trunk of the Gran Prix, but not the Accord.
I just spent $100 on the 7500 mile maint & just to day I spent $200 on the 15000 mile maintenance.
Are they necessary to be done, or can I do without them (i.e. just do regular oil change) ?
For example, when the car reaches 30k, the maintanance done will cost $ 400!
I just think that the dealer may be putting a lot of $$$ in his pocket...am I wronr ?? please help!
any comments are highly appreciated...