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Comments
weatherstriping so there's no overspray to the
interior and spray a light coating on silicone
across the rubber.
Caution: Make sure you buy 100% silicone spray.
Some so-called silicone sprays have a petroleum
base which in not good for any rubber compound.
Silicone can also be used in the channels in which
your power windows slide. Push a rag into the
channels first to clean out any excessive dirt be-
fore spraying.
berbel
Side curtains and XM Satellite radio standard on some models.
Side curtains and XM Satellite radio standard on some models.
As with a lot of other things, it just ain't supposed to do that. I would continue to bug
service until they get it right, even to the
point of becoming a nuisance to them. If they
can't figure it out themselves, politely suggest
that they call Honda tech support for suggestions.
Good luck/berbel
but... was your A/C or defroster on? Could be your compressor clutch(highly unlikely, but possible). does the car do it now? if it does, try idling, pop the hood, and try to trace it.. easiest way from the sound of it would be to position your head so that you can hear the fan's from one side, and the belt's with the other... then you can more accurately tell where the noise is coming from... now that I think about it.. could be a noisy motor for your main fan...
hope this help's some.
thanks to all of you for your insight.
If you are pricing 2003 models, you should be able to get it for invoice or less. I bought mine in May and got it $200 under invoice.
Berbel:
I definately would bug the service department, except they are 30 miles away... My local dealer are a bunch of jerks, thats why I didn't buy from them. I am hoping to find a way to fix it myself. I don't think any service department will be as diligent in finding rattles as I am
my next (and last) question involves the camry vs. the accord. i've read where a lot of folks are complaining about the "rough" ride when encountering non-smooth roads in the accord, and that the camry handles them much better. i'm driving a ford explorer now and it doesn't handle potholes well AT ALL. my question is, does the accord not handle them well overall or just not well compared with a camry? my wife and new baby will be driving in the accord and i want to make sure they have a smooth ride, relatively speaking.
i appreciate all input....thanks
Accord’s chassis is tuned for some feedback to the driver, which results in less isolation than Camry. It will still float over bumps but only at high speeds. At low speeds, a dip will see the car settle down immediately (without bouncing around).
Another distinct characteristic between the two comes from their suspension layouts itself. If you happen to watch an Accord fly over a bump as well as a Camry over the same bump and same speed, and if you look at how their wheels respond you will find it amusing.
Accord’s double wishbone suspension keeps the wheels perpendicular to the ground at all times, and the McPherson struts in Camry will not, and can create an unsettling experience (but something most Camry drivers will not notice).
In short, if you want a quiet, isolated and soft ride, go for Camry. My personal pick would be Accord because I like the chassis tuning better. It really depends on personal taste and a typical Camry driver will find Accord a bit harder, just like a typical Accord driver finding the Camry a bit too soft.
You must drive both to see for yourself-if the Honda seems harsh and the camry just right-buy it.
Interesting perception. The Camry SE offers a more sporting suspsension, and in all V6 Camrys you can opt for Vehicle Stability Control, a feature that no Accord offers.
~alpha
Also, I traveled two hours in a co-workers new 4-cyl Camry on the highway. The car is much more quiet than my EXV6 Accord. I am second guessing my purchase at this point.
Unless you go to a MB S class level of a car, you're going to notice the bump. The Accord is fine over bumps.
We just completed a 1200 mi trip in a 2003 Accord LX I4 5M with a 19 month old and a 7 month old. They get fussy about being strapped down WAY before they complain about any harsh ride.
Just FYI to those waiting.
Camry's suspension geometry is not right, no matter how many tweaks/assists it gets. I agree with the poster who said that the rear end is too lose in the Camry. Most Camry drivers will probably not notice it, some who try will.
OTOH, Accord feels planted on the road, very stable. You don't need stability control to get that level of confidence, a good traction control works well. And these gadgets don't work when wheels are up in air.
For what its worth, the emeregency avoidance ("moose") manuver is typically performed as a measure of a vehicle's suspesion dynamic and tire adhesion limits, and provides a good picture of a vehicles transient responses in severe handling situations. Apparently, not all is "WRONG" with the Camry's suspesion geometry, at least not in SE form:
Max speed through emergency lane change manuver: Car and Driver Feb 03
Camry SE 4 manual: 52.6MPH
Accord EX 4 manual: 50.9MPH
class act: Mazda 6i manual: 54.1MPH
test average: 52.2MPH
~alpha
The operative term here is "tire adhesion" limits. For the life of me, I can't understand why Honda puts so much work into a very sophisticated suspension design and then finishes it off with Michelin's least dynamic all weather radial.
Anyway, in that test, the Accord had the Michelin Energy MXV4, while the Camry had the MXV4 Plus. The MXV4 Plus has greater traction and is rated by Michelin itself as a better handling tire than the MXV4. Enough to account for the performance differences in the slalom.
And even though the subjective handling scores were the same, read the verbage about the cars. I think it speaks volumes that they devote several paragraphs to praise the Accord's handling, while they virtually ignore the Camry's handling completely.
A test where they specifically address the tire issue is the Motor Trend comparison of the Camry LE, Accord LX and Altima 2.5S. The Accord again had the MXV4, while the Camry sported Goodyear Integritys. That test showed about the same difference in slalom scores (59.7 for Accord vs. 61.0 for Camry), but to them, the numbers weren't the final word. On the Camry's handling, they said:
"However, frustratingly long brake-pedal stroke, less-than-communicative steering, and floppy body motions in high-g stopping or avoidance maneuvers give one pause--which is surprising because the Camry LE didn't do badly in our at-the-limit performance testing. It isn't that the Camry can't do what it's told to do, it just feels out of its element when asked to work up a sweat."
Here's what they say about the Accord:
"The Accord is fast on its feet, agile and responsive dashing around town, and stable and predictable on the highway. ... Although the Accord's ultimate braking and handling numbers aren't reflective of the positive everyday driving experience, we cite the hard compound and low-rolling-resistance mileage orientation on the standard-fitment Michelin MXV4 tires as the culprit."
So even though the Camry turned in higher slalom numbers, they preferred the Accord's handling and attributed the lower numbers to the MXV4 tires... again.
However, they liked the Altima's handling even better.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0304_fam/index.html
For the average buyer in this class, both the Camry and Accord have perfectly fine handling. But if you're looking for a bit more sporting edge, the Accord is definitely the better choice.
My wife prefers ride/suspension that is (relatively) tighter - we had the performance package on the 300M and she hated the 'normal' 300Ms when we had them as rentals. When I read reviews of the new Accord, they politely hint that the handling is tilted toward the comfort side (like a Camry/Lexus). We'd prefer something more Acura/Nissan like - in fact we're also cross-shopping the Acura TSX (unfortunately, my wife is an automatic person and the TSX is not exactly fast with the slushbox).
So, my question is: are there quick, easy, relatively inexpensive upgrades that would tilt an Accord's handling substantially in the performance direction without killing the ride?
Thanks for your knowledge and expertise. For reference, we currently have a 1999 Chrysler 300M sedan and a 2003 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.
Did this with my '00 Civic.. the only limitations seemed to be the winter(ice) and the tires....
If I managed to put a car in a slide, or over bumps, I would rather be in Accord (heck, I like to use a mild oversteer every now and then going around corners anyway).
But, by all means test drive the ex v6 and judge its ride before you decide to change it. Bear in mind that switching tires and changing the suspension might worsen the superior gas mpg that honda is famous for. You might also be able to find a friend or relative who has bought replacement tires for a late model high mileage accord and gain from that input.
The Accord was spacious and comfortable at highway speeds; though noise was more noticeable at 80 mph. My wife was entertained playing DVD's on a laptop (how many times can one person watch Legends of the Fall?). Radio stations never really tune in clearly so we didn't try listening to the locals.
The I4 feels much more responsive at highway speeds than other 4's I've driven. There was never a need to shift to 4th for hills. Acceleration was more than adequate for highway on-ramps. Handling was as expected for a family car.
For most of the trip I drove 75 or 80 mph using cruise control and with the AC on. At 75mph I averaged about 35 mpg and at 80 mph I averaged about 31 mpg. For the size and power of the car I was impressed with the overall mileage.
Overall we were pretty happy with the Accord. As a highway cruiser it did its job well. It wasn't as good as our previous A6, but that is in a different price class.
Thanks
Read a few posts to learn what info they need, then post away.
I understand completely why those who want a more involved driving experience choose the Accord. I just wanted to point out that those who choose the Camry for its isolation are not, by necessity, also sacrificing at-the-limits capability. Personally, I dont really feel that Goodyear Integritys are a much better tire than Michelin MXV4s (though I do agree about the MXV4 Plus), but if the Camry's suspension were as bad as some here claim, it would be a lot harder for the Camry to post respectable numbers, regardless of tire choice.
~alpha
dx accords with 5sp manual, no ac, but has power windows, and standard equipment from factory for 14,888.00. not bad if someone wants to get into a brand new accord without
haveing to spend 20,000.00 plus.it also comes with cd stereo, and tilt, wheel. i will check them out on tuesday. will a stripped accord still hold its value as opposed to a much better equiped model such as the lx or ex. iam also considering a vw golf or a hyndai elantra gt, although vw reliability is a concern to me. this dealership also gives away alot of stuff when you purchase a honda there, such as 10 year powertrain warranty as well as 10 year road side assistance through AAA as well as a 4 day orlando vacation at some ramada resort near universal studios, and free car washes for life among some other things also.. it sure is tempting to purchase a car from this dealership also another thing that this honda dealership has that have a jiffy lube type express service on there premises for oil changes so at least you know that its getting done right, and that sounds real good to me. thanx steve
~alpha
That's my goal as well... even though I own an Accord, I would readily recommend a Camry to someone for whom comfort is a higher priority than sporty handling. In fact, I already have done so several times. The only thing I was trying to accomplish with my previous post was to point out that raw numbers such as a slalom are only a part of the handling equation, and that tests from credible sources agreed that the overall handling dynamics of the Accord are superior to those of the Camry, slalom numbers notwithstanding.
I wasn't being blind to anything. And I don't think I was being unfair to the Camry.