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Comments
Michael
Likes: V6 is sweet. Interior is upscale. Styling grows on you.
Dislikes: No split fold down rear seat. No auto-locking doors.
BTW: Drove my sisters 02 Camry SE on a trip yesterday. I'm glad I bought the Accord.
I took the car out the other night and the instrumentation does look stellar. My only gripe is that the steering wheel audio/cruise control buttons do not light up. My 325ci had nearly identical buttons in the same positions which lit up.
The Homelink was easy to program...but I find it easy to get the buttons stuck if you push them too much to one side. The rubber is almost too soft and pliable. The Homelink on my 1999 Accord did not have this problem nor did the one on my 2001 BMW.
Another gripe...sorry...is that the edge of the driver's door armrest is uncomfortable when I lean my left leg against it. It is a very hard plastic and almost comes to a dull point...I would've rather had a flat surface. Now that I'm back to an auto tranny, my left leg gets bored. I have enough room to move it all around, but my favorite position is leaning it up against the door with my foot flat. Oh well...I'll get used to it.
-mdbaker1
2003 EX V6 Sedan in Satin Silver - purchased 9/11/2002 in Leesburg, VA
P.S. Soon I'll have a website up that chronicles my trials and tribulations with this early production vehicle.
I love the new '03 Accord, but my budget matches the i4 cyl. (auto. trans.). Living on Long Island, climbing hills is not an issue, but highway-speed entrance and passing are big!
My question is "Can a v6 guy find happiness with an i4?"
The interior quality, was near flawless imo, the steering and road feel were much smoother then the previous gen, and I believe Honda has a winner on its hands, and can easily knock the camry down to recapture and keep the #1 car sold in america title. I plan to wait for a second year model, possibly for a 2005 model depending on individual circumstances, but the car is one of the best I have ever driven. (even liked it better then a friends 325I BMW!
The additional safety features like side curtain air system in additional to side air bags makes this year's model even safer. Ride and handling seem to be better and the response can be definitely felt. Sorry to see that the 2003 doesn't stop as quickly as the 2002, but maybe that will improve as the year goes along.
The 5 spoke is better looking and polished on face with texture on spoke inserts. Anyway, not a killer but another way Honda leveling the playing field to give folks a reason for 4 banger--which is nice car.
INKY
I was hoping to try one of these out when they arrived this winter.
Can anyone confirm this? Talk to any dealers that are expecting to see this stye?
All my son's friends (college age) are wowed by the car. Luxury car, they say. So the car does appeal to the younger generation as well as to those of us who are 40 somethings.
The car came off the truck last night, and they sold all three for that price, what were they thinking, $900 off MSRP, I would have paid MSRP.
Well time to play. If anyone is looking for a good deal in Orange County or LA, drop me an e-mail.
Msnowdon@socal.rr.com
Michael
the dealer was right AND wrong about the exl with navi...it IS available, but the probability of the dealer ordering one in their allocation IS slim. if you want one, you will probably have to order it "from scratch", and the dealer will ask for a non-refundable deposit to ensure that the car isnt kept in stock if you back out. the order will take approximately 6-10 weeks from your order date.
Honda had to make some choices regarding features to differentiate the TL from the Accord, and my guess is that this is the reason that the Accord doesn't offer stability control.
The car came off the truck last night, and they sold all three for that price, what were they thinking, $900 off MSRP, I would have paid MSRP.
Well time to play. If anyone is looking for a good deal in Orange County or LA, drop me an e-mail.
Msnowdon@socal.rr.com
Michael
WRONG! This is my fifth Honda, and one, a 97 Civic LX, has a split rear seat (must be a domestic product).
BTW, my sisters 2002 Camry SE also has a split rear seat (must be a domestic product).
p.s. the camry(buick) could be mistaken for a domestic...lol.
"Did i read that correctly NO folding down rear seats"
Sorry I should of clarified i meant 60/40, I find a one piece doesn't really come in handy if you want someone to sit in the back!!!!???? And BOWKE please spare me your IGNORANT PERSONAL ATTACKS, it has no place here!!!!
Actually it doesn't. It's just cheaper to produce. Take the Camry, Altima and Maxima for example, all split folding designs, and all of their chassis are rigid as heck. The one-piece folding seat is just a Honda quirk.
5MT 5AT
DX $23,800 $24,800
LX-G $25,000 $26,000
EX-L $28,500 $29,500
LX V6 NA $29,000
EX V6 NA $32,500
LX price is up $2,000 (8.3%), EX-L up $1,200 (4.2%) and EXV6 up $1,400 (4.5%). Damn, those are big jumps.
Didn't notice any difference in the list of features from the American model. Sedan goes on sale Sept. 30th, coupe in November and 6-speed coupe in early 2003.
Complete Press Release http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/020914-1.htm
Manual - Retail $15,800 | Invoice $14,228.42
Automatic - Retail $16,600 | Invoice $14,947.32
Accord LX
Manual - Retail $19,200 | Invoice $17,238.77
Automatic - Retail $20,000 | Invoice $18,002.68
Accord LX S-SRS
Manual - Retail $19,450 | Invoice $17,508.43
Automatic - Retail $20,250 | Invoice $18,227.34
Accord EX
Manual - Retail $21,600 | Invoice $19,440.49
Automatic - Retail $22,400 | Invoice $20,159.40
Accord EX-L
Manual - Retail $22,900 | Invoice $20,608.72
Automatic - Retail $23,700 | Invoice $21,327.63
Accord EX-L NAVI (Available Nov 02)
Manual - Retail $24,900 | Invoice $22,405.99
Automatic - Retail $25,700 | Invoice $23,124.89
Accord LXV-6
Automatic - Retail $23,000 | Invoice $20,698.58
Accord EXV-6
Automatic - Retail $25,800 | Invoice $23,214.76
Accord EXV-6 NAVI (Available Nov 02)
Automatic - Retail $27,800 | Invoice $25,012.03
You also said, "I'd wait til at least Oct 2nd so you don't get taxed on it for the next 6 mos." Sorry to sound dumb, but I don't understand what you mean. Please explain.
Also, you mentioned the "Herb Chambers Group." I'm not familiar with them. Are they a Boston dealership? Do you have any contact info (email, phone, etc.) for me?
Maybe the manufacturers think that American drivers are that much better. (Or maybe it's something else they think is different over here. Argh ;-)
"and what component was added into Accord design to eliminate the need of stability control?"
EBD, or electronic brake-force distribution, does NOT eliminate the need for stability control.
stability control is a computer system that uses gyros, brakes, steering, and engine timing to correct a vehicle's yaw...or sideways movement.
say, for instance, you take a corner too quick in an acura. the car will naturally understeer and push forward without turning. the car's sensors realize this, and use brakes, engine timing, and steering damping to correct the problem...FAR more advanced than EBD. this is why only the luxury brands use it for now...too expensive to keep mid-priced cars competitive.
I've bought my last 2 cars from Chambers. They are a huge dealership group with 3 Honda stores. I stopped by one location recently and they had about (40) 03 Accords in various guise. My buying experience then was ok but not without the usual issues with paperwork, etc. My salesperson was great, I had issues with f&i.
I'm definately ready to deal right now, so it would be great to hear from any and all on these boards who have recently worked out a deal. (I'm looking for a 36 month/12k mile lease.)
http://users.starpower.net/mdbaker1/exv6main.htm
Eventually, I'll turn it into a full website (when I get the time). Having a newborn limits that luxury considerably.
Enjoy...
-mdbaker1
i cant remember who posted it, but they said that heated seats were one of the differences from honda to acura...he/she was mistaken...all accords with leather interior have heated front seats.
having stability control is one of those things that prices VW out of the market. nice to have, but when you have a passat thats too small for the mid-size class, and costs more than the rest...well, you see the differences in volume. honda wont overdo it just to keep up with a car that has only 1/3rd of its volume. VW is almost a non-player in hondas technology decisions.
You need stability control in Europe as well as diesels, and Honda and Toyota are getting creamed there, they were late to offer it as well as a car that had style and it has cost them. We in the US do not need stability control in the way they need it in Europe, high speeds and wet weather are common and stability control plays to that much better, Price is also a very big concern here. People will pay $3000 more for the Accord over a Taurus, but if you start throwing stability control and other standard equipment you raise the price to a point where people are not willing to pay the difference and will buy the Taurus. Or you are competing with the Passat which commands the price point over the Accord and you need to offer its equipment levels, as well as its interior build quality and materials, and the little things that make is so nice.
People perceive the Accord is going to be less trouble some than the Taurus and Honda banks on that, even though you can look at the 5 year JD power reliability survey and see that the Taurus is just behind the Accord in problems after 5 years of ownership, (The most trouble free 1997 midsize car is the Chrysler Cirrus, go figure)
Also remember that stability control that Honda uses on the Acura's and Most Toyota's use is not as a comprehensive system as what BMW, MB, VW or even Ford's Advancetrac use. Once you hit the brakes in a Honda/Nissan/Toyota system the system disengages, while on the latter systems the system will still attempt to pull you out of the skid. GM uses both system, but is switching over to the second one, I was surpassed to find out the new system on the Euro Accord and 2003 MDX will still not be a true system, as Nissan, and Toyota are slowly switching over, Honda must have a reason for it that they are not telling, could also be why they are so profitable. :-) The market will dictate options will be around, which will change and which will go away.
I think Honda will still be a top selling car, but there is finally real competition out now, With the Nissan Altima, and the New Mazda 6 (that will have both a Wagon and hatchback and may offer AWD) and you can bet Honda will be watching how those sell, Honda knows what changes will take place in the Accord next year. They are worrying about the 2005 model year now. The new Accord is a great car, but the competition is starting to make some great cars as well. All this will make the next Accord that much better.