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Comments
I'm really interested to hear your impressions on the differences between the driving dynamics between the two cars. Especially, which do you believe has more road feel.
The idea of an Hybrid Accord sounds interesting to me, but since I am looking to get my first new car, I will not consider the hybrid just yet.
Maybe after I get my degree in Packeting Science, I'll find a job working for Honda, Nissan or Toyota and drive Hybrids.
I am sure the Accord hybrid will sell like hotcakes
There is not much that is more fun than a new car, whatever it is!
DB
Math says he would get about $5000 in cash back...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The owner's manual states at 600 miles the car is broken in, yeah right. These vehicles, including Toyota's are very tight when new. You will not experience the best handling, breaking, MPG, etc until you are at approx. 10,000 miles. The dealer that we got our vehicle from said, "hey the car is broken-in from the factory and you could take it up to 100 MPH if you like." My response, NO WAY, this is our vehicle, not a lease or a loaner and we do not punch our vehicle, well not yet, have not gone above 70 MPH, we do vary the MPH and NO cruise control. I am estimating at around 5,000 miles we will go over the 70 MPH and begin to play with touching 100 MPH or less for short periods on open roads and clear days with no congestions. Personally, what we are doing is to have our oil changed at 1,500 then again at 3,000 then every 3,000 after that. We own the V6 model, which does not work as hard as the 4 cycl's. City driving really takes a toll on the 4 cycl's that's why we went for the V6 instead and yes we also live in the NYC area. Don't punch the vehicle until you are at least 5,000 miles, some may think that I am crazy, but this is our vehicle and we care it, because we would like to keep it for at least 10 years.
Where I agree is that the car is not really broken in until the 10-12K mark. This has also been the case with 2 other hondas I have owned. The ride quality, engine response, and gas mileage doesn't really settle in until then.
I initially had the same squeaks and such that other people in this forum had, and they have all subsided now at the 10K mark and the car just works perfectly in all regards now.
The difference is whether or not you have to take an extra step to activate the alarm (active.)
Passive refers to the fact that it is armed by simply locking the doors.
My EX is also a manual and it turns 3000 rpms at 80 mph.
I'm guessing that your's is an auto which would explain the lower rpms when cruising at 80.
Anyways, I pick it up today and will break it in as gently as possible.
DB
The hydrid is supposed to get Honda Civic like mileage. That is about 40 mpg. It will be less on the hwy and around 40 in the city due to how hybrids work.
If the hybrid technology costs $2000 over the cost of a V6 and gas remains at $1.55 for regular it would take around 150,000 miles of driving to recoup the cost of the hybrid technology premium through gas mileage savings alone. (this is based on hywy driving and assuming that the hybrid actually can get 40 on the hwy, which it will be less based on hydrids currently running) If you make the comparo with the 4cyl it is not justifiable on a cost basis at all. However if you want the latest and greatest or are that enviromentally consious go for it.
Even if the city mpg was around 40 it would still take around 70,000 miles to recoup the cost based on mileage alone. Most leases end around 36000 miles.
Now if the prmium were only $700-$1000 I would give it some serious consideration
It seemed to lead left and right and didn't track a straight line down the interstate. It seemed very slow on acceleration.
Not my choice of driving.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
In essence the V6 Hybrid will be rated at something like 270 HP (240 + whatever the IMA provides) and the VCM will allow for greater fuel efficiency.
http://www.hondacars.com/info/news/article.asp?ArticleID=20040105- 27129&Category=currenthonda
As in that VCM will be offered on all V6 accords. While IMA is an extra option.
If it makes 270 HP that would be great. Nice to have more power and better Fuel economy.
Thanks for the replies. Yes I think I will just sit in the slow lane for now ^_^ . So far I wish I had brought the V6 , but the Accord works really good with these potholes compare to my old 98 Corolla. I am very happy with car.
Again thanks
I've only found four problems with my 2004 V6 in the few weeks I've been driving it.
* It is extremely difficult to fight the urge to step hard on the pedal just to see how fast it accelerates.
* I'm probably paying an 8 to 10 percent penalty in fuel consumption compared to the I4. That will probably cost me about $75 per year.
* When I make my first spark plug change at 110,000 miles, I'll have to purchase six instead of four plugs. Scratch that, I'm leasing, so I won't be getting to that mileage before I turn the car in.
* I've not experienced this, but I've read that since the V6 weighs about 170 pounds more, it may not handle as nimbly as the I4. I can't verify this, since I've not driven the 4-cylinder version. My V6 handles superbly.
Fun but great and accurate post Blane!
I agree with every word. I absolutely love my white 2004 Accord sedan V6 EX with Nav more and more every single time I drive it. The V6 with navigation is a bargain. So smooth and quiet yet powerful. The sound that it and the exhaust make when accelerating hard is very addictive. This car feels so much more expensive than it is. I also have the Honda fog lights and they are also quite nice.
I am very excited and can easily see why this car is so popular. I am one of the rare folks who also just happens to LOVE how it looks. Cannot wait to get the spoiler and the auto dim mirror in the near future.
There is NOTHING like a new car. I got a free gold pinstripe which I think is way cool. Can't wait to see it in the daytime.
DB
"I am one of the rare folks who also just happens to LOVE how it looks."
Oh, really? I'll bet most of the nearly 400,000 Accord owners like the looks of the Accord and agree with you.
Naturally, since buying my '04 Accord EX-L last August, I notice them everywhere--just read that the Honda Accord is the most popular car here in San Francisco.
I think the car looks great both outside and especially inside where it oozes quality. Enjoy your new car......Richard
I see them all over, and even more now that I have one. Funny how that works. I like the graphite color and the desert mist, but got white.
XM radio is the cat's meow. Entertainment rather than advertising, how nice.
Little older, little wiser, little poorer, and alot happier.
DB
"Passive alarms are automatically activated and will emit a warning sound when someone attempts to open your car. Once the passive alarm has been triggered, the system disables the automobile's starter, ignition system, and/or fuel circuit."
http://www.car-auto-insurance-quotes.net/Passive-Alarm.htm
I would think that the Accord's alarm would fit this category, although I don't believe that the alarm has anything to do with disabling the car. That's handled by the immobilizer, requiring the chipped key to start it.
As a matter of fact, most of the dealerships in my area rent Camrys out to people themselves instead of using rental car companies.
My story gets worse....last night, I parked my vehicle in front of my parents new home, on the street (who knows why - I always park in the driveway). About 8:30, an elderly lady comes to the door and tells me she had just backed into my vehicle! I guess she's related to our neighbors across the street. That's twice my 1.5 week old vehicle has been damaged (though no fault of my own) has been damaged in the past 80 hours! What're the odds?!
I phoned the ladys insurance company this morning to report the incident, but then I got to thinking. I previously worked as an underwriter for State Farm, so I sort of know how this all works. By turning this into the insurance company, the incident will surely show up on a future Carfax report, which I don't want! If I go and get an estimate on my own from a local Honda dealer, and give the lady the estimate, we'll both potentially win: she'll save money in the long run (her insurance will go up substantially), and I'm hoping that this event won't show up on a Carfax report. What're your thoughts?
To continue my first long post....I phoned the dealership owner this morning to explain to him my two complaints: 1. After I test drove the vehicle, I explained to the salesperson that I wasn't happy about the mileage on the vehicle (150), the pin stripes, or the door and fenderwall edge guards on the vehicle. He explains that the vehicle has the mileage because they traded for the car with a dealer in Columbus, IN (approx 125 miles away). OK. He says he can take off the edge guards and the stripes. No thanks. I ask him if he can trade for the vehicle (2004 Accord EX-L satin silver metallic 2.4L auto) with another dealer, and he says he can but that it too will have about 100 miles on it. No thanks. I then ask him about how long it would take to get one from the factory. He says 60-90 days. No way! If I was going to wait that long, I'd just wait another 60 days and get a 2005!
Well, I show up at the dealership last Saturday (1/17) to get items they couldn't provide at delivery: spare key and valet key, all weather-mats, wheel locks, and cargo tray. For the inconveince of driving 1.5 hours down to the dealership, they say they'll essentially detail my vehicle, and fill up the gas tank. Well, all they did was hose off the vehicle, and after the owner's son returns with the full gas tank, I notice that he damaged my car! I guess he struck another vehicle in the lot! Great! While I'm at the dealership this day, I notice that they had received the exact vehicle I wanted without all the junk options they put on mine. Now I'm upset, because I think the salesperson wasn't forthcoming about the fact that they would have the exact vehicle I wanted coming in less than a week. I think ISell could answer this, but it's my understand that dealerships know when they're getting certain vehicles. This salesperson looked at their paperwork, and didn't tell me what/when it was coming. I'd have waited another week for it!
So today, I call the President of the dealership to explain my two concerns listed above, and to try and resolve them in a way that's fair to the both of us. I explain the "unforthcoming salesperson" concern, and the owner gets very defensive and sarcastic because I called the salesperson a "liar". Call it what you will, but it's all the same. The guy wasn't forthcoming (aka he lied by witholding the info I requested I guess), and I'm upset about it. I proceed to tell him about the young man who damaged my vehicle (which, by the way, I determine to be the owner's son), and he doesn't let me finish my story and says he had heard about it. I told him that I thought it was his son (the kid said he was the owner's son - I wasn't sure if there was one, two, or three owners), and he asks me "Do you think he's lying too?" He then proceeds to ask me where I'm from originally. I tell him, he snickers, and tells me "That figures. People from the South don't toss around the term "liar" lightly." That's it....I'm calling American Honda this evening and they will hear about this, and something will be done. There's not a chance I'm taking my vehicle back to that dealership to be repaired. They'll pay to have it fixed elsewhere!
I'll let you guys know how it turns out. Sorry again for the length.
Perhaps their definitions are a bit too generic to specifically cover all available types of alarm configurations.
The other thing I don't get is the very low average fuel economy the editors are getting on their test vehicle. My worse fuel economy (about 25 mpg) is higher than their average. My best is 36 mpg. They must be really beating on that thing.
I suppose if I were doing most of my driving on 2 lane roads where any passing required the fastest possible entry and exit from an opposing traffic lane to pass a slow-moving truck, I'd want V6 or V8 power to limit the time I spent in the oncoming lane.
Also, if I were often loading the car with passengers and luggage that could easily add 25% (800 pounds) to the weight of the car, the V6 Accord might be better.
In the city, I don't think it's possible to exceed the power output of the Accord 2.4L without driving recklessly. My experience with the Accord on the highway is that it has more than adequate power for any situation if approached safely.
At 70 MPH the engine loafs at about 2300 RPM and there was little effort driving up the Grapevine (I-5 North of L.A.) which is long and steep--a good test site for higher speed, hill-climbing capacity.
I hope the Edmunds review doesn't cause some prospective buyers to ignore the 2.4L Accord which might make much more sense for them than the V6......Richard
Would that mean that you can get out of the car, leave the doors unlocked, and as soon as somebody gets in the car the alarm goes off and the starter circuitry is disabled? Can you give me an example of this?
USAA described a passive alarm as one that is itegrated and requires no extra step to arm it, just like mine works by simply locking the door. That is not an 'extra step', like a separate remote or button to push that 'arms' the system.
Otherwise anytime I opened the door, for instance, to get out and pump gas or drop a letter in the mail slot, the alarm would go off as I got back in. That definition of passive sounds like a royal pain in the @$$ and I have never found an alarm that fits your description.
Active - I lock the doors & arm the alarm by pressing the remote transmitter button.
Passive - I close the door(s) and walk away.
After 25 seconds, the system locks the doors and arms itself.
Yes, passive system is pain the @$$ if you leave your key inside the car & walk away.
I get used to the passive system. That's why sometime I forgot to lock the Accord 03.
The XM radio is continuously on the preview channel. How do I get my free 3 months to try it out? Do I have to go to the website, then give them my credit card, and then I have to go back if I don't want it?
It would be really nice if it just worked for 90 days then they take it away if you don't go to teh website.
I do this if I need to get out and fill my gas tank.