Older Honda Accords

har1bush

uhhh no

fxashun

In Taiwan though. I don't think any of them come here though.

jrct9454

The behavior you're describing is "normal" in the sense that I don't find anything in your post to be out of line with my own experience. As for initial hesitation, people keep talking about this but it is contrary to my experience with both a '98 LX4 and an '01 EX6. Both cars respond in a timely fashion to the throttle, and have since the first 1000 miles. If you adopt a relatively aggressive driving style, the adaptive software in the drivetrain should eventually give you quicker downshifts.

bimmer4me

My most recent post stating there is no Accord VP...I meant there is no Accord LX VP. If I recall, you said you saw an Accord LX VP and was shocked to see it had only 135 ponies. I do believe there is a Accord VP with the 135hp, this is nothing more than an up-town DX, color moldings, keyless entry, maybe a CD player. But as someone stated earlier, all LX's come with a 150hp vtec engine. : )

jak916

Re #1752 - yes, I was just on a lot yesterday checking out Accords and it said engine built in USA, transmission in Japan, and final assembly in Mexico.

tcpip1

jak:

That means Honda has a reassembly plant in Mexico, right? Where is the lot located?

black01coupev6

Also, the Honda "VP" packages do have have the VP logo. It would just say Accord or Civic. The Civic VP ceased production along with the 96-00 Civics though. If it was an LX with a package it would have said Special Edition..but it comes with the 150HP engine and no LX decal.

pmarvin

I travel to Mexico on an almost weekly basis. There are quite a number of Hondas now in Mexico. Accords and Civics have been assembled there for the past few years, but just, I believe, for the Mexican market. I have never seen one on a lot here in El Paso. I rode in a Mexican V-6 Accord a couple of years ago and it was very nice.

qualityguy

On the drive home a while ago I got a stone into my condenser... Freon got out completely from the system now. It was really hot in the car in traffic for those 2 hours on Sunday. Local shops want 622.69 (+/-) for condenser, receiver-dryer, conversion kit to 134A freon and labor. I can buy all the parts together for 257.23 (inc. shipping & tax). It doesn't look like impossible feat to do it on my backyard, though. Did anybody replace the condenser, receiver-dryer and converted the car to the new freon by himself? How is possible to assure that there are no leaks in connections? How should be replaced oil in the A/C system? Would anybody know where to get quality parts for less money? What should be the pressure in the system with the new freon? Or, may be there is something like "stop-leak" for A/C system?

dwillia4

When I purchased my Accord in April, the dealership (Pioneer Honda in Lancaster, CA.) had a large proportion of Japanese assmembled Accords. I was looking for a Satin Silver 5speed EX and for some strange reason all of the Japanese models were silver 5speed EXs! The salesperson never did give me a straight answer as to why there were so many. The next closest dealership (Robertson Honda in Palmdale - 10 miles away) had no Japanese built Accords at all. I don't think it really matters where the car is assembled. However, I can say that my car has been flawless so far. Does anyone know what factors dictate which factory a dealership's allocation come from?

vinney

The best way to know where a vehicle is made is to look at the vin number on top of the dash on the drivers side. If the car was assembelled in Japan the vin number starts with a J. If its in the USA it starts with a 1. and Canada with a 2 and finally Mexico starts with a 3. Hope this helps!

jettagls18t

Hello everyone,

a friend just bought a 2001 Accord Coupe :

EX (I guess moonroof and alloys are standard)
Silver
Automatic
No leather

The sticker price was around $22,600.
We went down to $20197.

Out the door including tax, dealer fee, tag transfer, the price was $21950. That also includes the window tracing feature which sounded like a good idea when the finance manger was trying to sell us more "perks".

Is that a good price for this car??

ral2167

i paid $20500 or so for an LX v6 coupe that had a sticker right around $22600 back in April... so i would say that's a good price .. i went with an LX V6 cause i liked the naples gold color and a V6 over having a moonroof and cd changer...

amz997

DId you get the low financing from honda?

Accord ex is selling for 20000-20500 + the low financing from honda.. it is rare to see anything above 20500 for ex.

comboy

I found this info:

Honda to increase Accord production in Mexico

Honda has decided to increase production of the Accord by 30 percent at Honda De Mexico. This is in response to increasing exports to the US and Canada. Honda De Mexico currently manufactures automobiles and motorcycles. Last year, they produced 18,800 and they plan to increase the figure to 30,000 next year. They also plan to further increase production capacity, considering increasing exports to Brazil.

http://www.veh-tech.net/pages/dailynews/bycompany/Honda/2001/HondaApril.html

canadiancl

That's scary! Pretty soon Honda will suffer the same quality fate as VW.
(I think I can hear the footsteps of adg44!)

jrct9454

...will be the same, no matter where your Honda is produced. VW couldn't get it right in Pennsylvania, or Mexico, or Transylvania...they have a bloody hard time getting it right in Wolfsburg. The Japanese Big Three have a business management philosophy about suppliers, labor, management, and quality controls that simply is in another world compared with everyone else. You would think everyone else would be trying to understand why these guys can replicate success no matter where they build a plant, but none of the Germans [to take the most obvious and infamous examples] seems to want to learn anything not invented at home. All of their attempts to build plants overseas have resulted in quality problems, including their US plants.

Honda will simply not ship cars from any final assembly point that does not meet their corporate quality audit standards...period. And those standards apply worldwide, no matter who makes the parts or assembles them. It's no great trick, after all, just means you have to have a deeply held belief in your system, and stick to it.

havefun2

The keyless entry for 2001 EX-6 Sedan opens only the driver's door. Is it true ? The other three doors has to be opened by unlocking from the driver's side.I was thinking that all doors will be unlocked by the keyless feature.But the dealer said it has been so for 2001 EX V6 Sedan.Can somebody else also confirm this? What is your understanding.

Please let me know.

Thanks.

black01coupev6

havefun2: If you push the unlock button once it will only unlock the driver's door. If you push it twice it will unlock all of the doors. At least thats how it worked in my 99 sedan and in the 01 V6 Coupe.

alpha01

ok so how bout those Honda Accords!

har1bush

as long as there were no intentions to offend anyone it's all good... let's just move on!~

qualityguy

Thanks for the Peace accord.
Back to Accord The Car - my is still a melting pot, literally, heat index today is 103F, in slow moving NY traffic this is like in hell, and your Final Fantasy is Alaska vacation; found a condenser for $107, aftermarket naturally. Does anybody have any experience with aftermarket A/C condensers and A/C system parts? What are the best places to shop? From what I see on this forum, original parts weren't that great... Or should I still go with OEM? May be I should simply refill the system with R-12 - it will last for a couple of month, though foggy autumn is coming. Any ideas?

auburn63

I have seen alot of aftermarket A/C work have to get redone because it usally does not perform as well. I know there are exceptions out there but for the most part you should always use OEM parts and skip on the dealer install if you wish to save money. Any good tech can work on a car but very few parts work as good as the OEM.As far as the R-12, I think you should do the retro-fit at the time of repair. The retro kit is only about $60.00 at a dealer and comes with pag oil to be added to the system. Being that clean R-12 is getting hard to get and pricey the R-134 will save you money in the long run. Just imagine if you put in the freon and all your leaks were not repaired you would waste more on freon at that point than what the retro would cost. Anyhow good luck.

pat

have been removed. Let's continue to discuss the Accord here.

Feel free to address me off-line if you have any questions or comments about the deleted posts.

Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board

hunter001

""The best way to know where a vehicle is made is to look at the vin number on top of the dash on the drivers side. If the car was assembelled in Japan the vin number starts with a J. If its in the USA it starts with a 1. and Canada with a 2 and finally Mexico starts with a 3. Hope this helps! ""

I used to believe the same, until I saw a couple of Honda Civic LXs (1998 model year) with VIN #s that begin with "JH...." with 35% Japanese components (including engine and transmission) and the final assembly point in East Liberty, OH in the US (as per the window sticker on it). Does that mean that if the engine and transmission are Japanese sourced, a Honda car would have a VIN # beginning with "JH" even though all the other components/body parts/final assembly is sourced elsewhere ??? Yup ! So it seems. So, you cannot go by the "J" at the beginning of the VIN# to determine the point of origin. The only Hondas that are purely built in Japan now, are the Honda Prelude and the Honda S2000. Among the Acuras, the Japanese built products are the Acura 3.5RL, the Acura NSX, the Acura Integra/RSX (built on the Honda Civic platform but assembled exclusively in Japan using 100% Japanese components).

Hope this helps.

Later...AH

ecarmack

A dealer service department told me that my Odyssey was made in Japan based on the VIN number. I knew that could not be correct, but I did not think much about it. So maybe the VIN number is tied to component makeup.

firsttimeowner

My Accord was assembled in Japan with a VIN number starting with "JH". The engine and transmission was built in Japan, but 70% of other parts were from US and Canada. I am not sure whether there is an Accord with 100% Japanese parts.

bax2

I read in an earlier post about possible pricing on the new 2002 Accords (for Sept/Oct.
I am wondering if anyone knows of any CHANGES or improvements that are due on the 2002. I know the major body changes are due for 2003, but if I am looking at a 2001 now, should I wait until Sept or get a 2001 NOW with good pricing discounts and finance options?

bax2

As long as I am comparing and thinking about buying a 2001 Accord EX auto, no V-6 and no leather, sticker: $22,640

How good of a deal can I try for? I am not afraid to bargain and negotiate but how low can I start.

My local dealers (Eastern PA) are clearing out the 2001s, I may wait for the 2002s but if the price is right I may go for it now.

jrct9454

I keep reiterating that pricing is a local question, but having said that, 3000 miles away from you in Calif, the car you describe is a $19.7-$20k deal at worst, and you might do better than that in many urban markets out here. Back there? ?

Rule of thumb: on this car, at this time of year, I would start at nominal invoice [remember to include dest charge] as documented here and at the Kelley site. Depending on local newspaper ads and other sources, I might go a bit lower or higher. Also try CarsDirect online for your zip code to get another perspective.

drew_

djmax813

Hello all. While you rave about your new Accords i am still very happy with my 97 ex. However after 51k miles i finally need brakes and new tires to replace the oem Michelin mxv4 p195/60 r15's. I have no complaints with those tires but i would like to try something a little different. I appreciate any comments about handling and cost and what have you. thanks

pmarvin

In reply to djmax813, my 91 Accord has 382k miles on it. From the first tire change, I used Dunlop D60A2 in 195/60H15 size with 35psi. I drive a lot between El Paso and Chihuahua, Mexico at speeds of between 85 and 100mph. Until the past couple of years, the tires were great, lasting about 60k miles. More recently, though, I have had a number of them replaced for tread separation. I still like them for price, handling and mileage, though.

djmax813

Thanks for responding. I should have mentioned however that I live in the Northeastern US so i also need good all weather performance tires.

tcpip1

It looks like '02 Nissan Altima will be tough challenger to the Accord. I just read the "First Drive: 2002 Nissan Altima" at

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/46872/article.html

astrol

Go with the Energy MXV4 +'s...best tire for your needs. Treadwear 400, Temp A, Trac A. The D60 A2's are generally highly rated but in my experience have neither the all-season usefulness of the Energys nor the quiet ride.

black01coupev6

The new Altima is nice. Hope it's as good in person as it is on paper.

ecarmack

Also check out the Michelin X-One. I had these on a Camry and was extremely pleased. Comfortable ride, excellent wet traction and very quiet. Not as good in the handling department as the MXV4+, but cheaper and double the treadlife. Just depends on what your priorities are.

I need to replace my Accord tires too, and to stay on the sporty side, was considering the Bridgestone Potenza RE950. Pirelli also has the new P6 & P7 (www.pirellip7.com), but I haven't heard anything about them.

jc77

can someone recommend a honda dealer in the LA/OC area for a good deal? i'm about to buy an accord LX in a week.

isellhondas

The So. Calif market is a cutthroat market.

I would ask your Honda owning friends to refer you to a salesperson who will treat you fairly.

A screamer low price may not be the best deal.

Try Scott Robinson on Hawthorne Blvd in Torrance. They are good people who have sold Hondas since they were first imported.

hbund216

I would recommend a gentleman named Greg at Valencia Honda's Internet/Fleet sales department. Very knowlegable and respectful I've had the car for almost a year and he is still there when I need to ask a question.

jarednoah

Accord will have a very tough competition in the coming MY. For one, the newly redesigned Nissan Altima. Ive just been there, and it seems that everyone agrees that it will take a huge share of the market from Accord which is the current topselling midsize sedan in the US.

I for one cant easily be swayed by a car like the Altima. Sure it has nice stats in paper and they say the design it worth mentioning. But reliability wise, Accord cant still be beaten. IMO, designs like the new Altima will be hot for the current year. Accord may be the blandest, but when kept well inside and out, will still look new in about 5 to 10 years.

I also hope that the current release of the new altima will have Honda thinking. They may or may not put out a "hot" new design, at least it should steer that much away from the current design. What they should focus at is the power department. If what i read is true, then so much for the Altima, we will soon have a more powerful Accord by 2003, bigger than current i hope and as reliable or even more as ever. Besides that is what makes Accord the bestseller in America and one of the best in its class.

djmax813

Thanks all for your imput. I wanted to get Yokohama Avid's but a very nice tire dealer directed me towards Dunlop A2 P205/60R15's. Their somewhat new and have gotten good ratings. He says their teriffic in wet weather and he gave me a fair price so I got them and the car drives like a top. Like i said it is a 97, its paid off and we plan on keeping it for at least another 5 years. My wife loves the car even though i wanted to sell it and get a Subaru Outback (we have a kid). So i
I'll just take good care of it and i'll hopefully get 300k miles out of it. Again, Thanks

jon1849

I recently had a used japanese engine(30k miles) put into my 1990 honda accord lx. But there are a few problems with it. The idle seems to sputter, and while driving at about 2000 to 2700 rpms I can hear the engine pinging. Also it seems to be a lot louder than it used to.

I called the mechanic who installed the engine and he told me it could be from bad fuel.(which didn't seem likely because I always put good fuel in.) He told me to put in premium and also add a bottle of techron. I did both of those things and not a single thing has changed.

My old engine never had problems at all. And it seems as if my old engine was even more powerful. Does anyone know what the problem is here. Is it the engine? or something else?

- Jon -

evandro

I've had nothing but disappointments with this tire: aquaplaning, noisy, braking, etc.

When they were gone, I replaced them with BF Goodrich Radial T/A, after noticing their good performance on my other car.

They excel at what the Michelin failed: run more silently, grip in any condition, no squeal in tight curves, etc. All that for 30% less than a Michelin.

Oh, BTW, BF Goodrich is owned by... Michelin! Talk about hype... ;^)

fxashun

But those T/A's are sure cheap tho'.

glinda49

My parents, both in their 70's are looking to purchase a used mid sized car. Their budget dictates that the vehicle not be over $15,000. I am concerned with reliability for them. I know the reputation of the Accord and would like them to consider looking at them. We would probably be able to afford a 1998 or 1999 Accord. Does anyone have any inside info. as to which year is known to have the best overall performance and what should we be looking to stay away from? Is mileage a real factor with the Accords or do they just keep on going? Any info. would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

qwalls

They pretty much just keep on going. Mileage isn't a real concern as long as the car has been maintained, but less is still better. Look for maintenance records with the car you purchase. I have a '91 Accord with over 200k miles, and it still runs great.

sobers

I am sure you will get used 98/99 Accord for Edmunds private party (even from a dealer also)
Also watch out for Certified 98 Accord with 35-40K miles. Certification should add no more than 400-500$ to the price. Our local dealer was ready to do 14100 on 98 Accord EX with 43k miles (roof, keyless, alloys, security, cd etc)

scname

You can buy a new Accord for under 17k, Honda has that basic model 4 cyl. automatic, only thing missing are power window and door lock. Assuming you don't care for the luxury item like leather, moonroof, power seats