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Comments
I agree, Toyota has no clue on how to attract young buyers. If you look at the sales figure of the Celica, it's going down and down.
Honda is better but it's also running scared. Eversince the Civic redesign, the average age of Civic owners has gone up from 37 to 42. That's what Honda gets for doing away with the double wishbone suspension and raising the roofline. Now, it's desperately trying to attract younger buyers with the redesigned Accord. Lots of luck !
Or Mazda.
Alloy wheels reduce unsprung weight and reduce the overall mass of the drivetrain, which is a good thing for performance though probably not noticeable on the average street car. And, they look cool ...
Historically, this is very common among performance-oriented sporty coupes (Eclipse, Talon, Celica, Prelude, Probe, 240SX, MX-6, probably others). They are image vehicles, and people in that market tend to want the latest and greatest. So these products usually have a couple of good years and then sales drop off significantly. By then they're yesterday's news and the market has moved on to something else.
That's part of the reason that so many sporty coupes have gone by the wayside... many of the manufacturers have decided it's not worth the costs involved with keep up with such a volatile market segment, one that's typically relatively low volume anyway and has buyers who are notoriously fickle.
Inventory is on their web site and prices are clearly shown. http://www.markroberts.com/
If you buy from there dealer is in Bartlesville OK and salesman to talk to is John Page. They have an 800 number on the Web site--tell him INKY sent you!
My 03 Noble green EX V-6 has finally reached shipped status which makes me happy since I need a car now. Although the $9.99 rental on weekends from enterprise is quite a hoot for $32.00 total with tax and 450 miles.
INKY
What dealer in MA will seel EX-V6 for 24K? I am in Metro-West
As a replacement for the Integra 4-door, the rear seat room issue isn't a problem. It doesn't have to compete in the US mainstream mid-sized market.
Sat I stopped by an out of town dealer who said sticker sticker. He thought I was lying about $316 over invoice for a V-6. I had buyers order to shut him up. Maybe some dealers are getting sticker.
I still see a mix of Japan and Ohio built cars althought Ohio cars are gaining. All V-6 are from Ohio.
INKY
INKY
Shipping from Ohio to Michigan - money may be made whereas shipment from Ohio to Keywest - money may be lost.
I've enjoyed everyones comments on various vehicles over the past year or so..I learned more from the forums than any of the automobile magazines I subscribe to...thank you!!!!!
P.S. I have no ties to any dealership... I'm just a poor slob trying to purchase what I believe to be the best vehicle that fits my budget.
INKY
Total delivered price was $23,991 ($316 over invoice)
Dealer Mark Roberts Honda in Bartlesville OK
This price was available until 9 Sep but dealer then went market pricing.
$1000 discount on 4 bangers and V-6 is close to sticker but I think they sold quite a few for $316 over invoice prior to 9 sept (from allocations)
Mine was the second V-6 delivered. I ordered it on 22 July and it was built week of 4 Sep and finally arrived noon today.
Keep in mind I sold my 2002 Acura 3.2 TL privately for this Honda.
I find the Honda superior in many regards to the 3.2 (more power 240 vs 225)
Better quality interior materials and leather is much better than the stuff people called pleather on the last gen Accord.
Quiet and smooth. The seat is super comfy (dealer was 50 miles away so nice long return trip) I really like the color and was a little worried. My accessories are due in a few days and on the morrow I get the mandatory OK window tinting.
My sunroof wind visor fit from my TL so will I put it on—that 2003 style is way too “bat man” for me. Ordered splash guards, exhaust finishers and touch up paint.
The engine is fast and smooth. Amazed I can use 87 Octance. Insurance quote was less than my 02 Acura 3.2 so I am one happy camper.
INKY
The all-new Acura TSX is the answer to the question frequently asked of the European/Japanese Accord: Why dont they bring that one over here? It follows in the footsteps of such earlier Acura entries as the Vigor, which originated as a Japan-only Accord derivative.
The 2004 TSX will be formally introduced in January at the Los Angeles and Detroit shows and will go on sale in the spring, priced from about $26,000. Imported from Japan and powered by a 200-bhp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the TSX is slightly smaller than the re designed U.S. Accord that is just going on sale. The TSX will be slotted between the RSX and the TL in size and price and will be aimed at such near-luxury European sedans as the Audi A4, the Saab 9-3, and the Volvo S60, as well as premium Japanese models such as the Infiniti G35.
If this is a cost cutting measure, then Honda has shot themselves in the foot! With lease rates as high as 8.3%, I expect the full monty.
Can anyone confirm this with a dealer? Haven't had time to go to one yet!!!!
INKY
Jeff
We do about 200 cars per month and I am only expecting a handful for the entire year. Delivery should start in Spring...this was changed from January.
Jerry
silverk21...no coupes yet, honda tells us they have delayed delivery till october 1st, or thereabouts.
jud95accord...thats weird...what part of the country are you in? we do around 350-375 new per month, and we're slated to have 35 for the remainder of the 2003 model year. this may be regional, im not sure. im in louisville, ky, and even an 80 car store is getting 2 per month here.
i havent heard anything about spring...as far as i know, we're still on the jan/feb schedule.
I haven't test drive either of these yet but would like to hear some opinions first.
Simply put, is 2003 V6 substantially better than 2003 4cly?
160 hp 4 cylinders is ridiculous others are driving 245HP Altimas.
4 cylinders are noisy and harsh. The vibration and noise will make a daily commute a living hell.
You also need power to get onto a freeway onramp before oncoming cars rear end you.
The 160 HP 4 cylinder runs at higher RPM than the V6. Common sense says the more RPMs per mile, the more engine wear. Engine wear will = engine failure at some point in the future.
The V6 has higher resale value.
There are no reasons to buy a 4 cylinder Accord.
There's enough reason right there
have you driven one of these horrid four banger hondas. I notice many older gentlemen have Camry V-6 and Accord V-6 etc. I know many people think 4 bangers are useless. Not so in the Honda Accord.
INKY
That's one of the nice things about the 5 spd automatic - it's geared low enough in the intermediate gears to give snap, but nice and long in 5th, and for me, this argues for the 4 cyl if economics are at all important.
I drove both EXs, and the difference is acceleration. The I4 is very smooth and strong with the new engine and 5spd. I noticed no difference in ride, comfort, & quiet from the V6 EX. Reviews have touted the I4 as the better handling due to less weight up front; but I can't say.
Time was when the Honda V6s only put out 170 hp (original Acura Legend as I recall, then later in the first Accord V6..94??). The I4 is arguably the more sophisticated (and prettier ?) engine.
The 5spd auto and the I4 are a super combination. Good performance and great gas mileage. And BTW, I'm the one speculating that the MW review of 03 Accord 0-60 time of 8.0 sec is the I4 !!!
This translates to the I4/5spd auto combo providing nearly the performance of the 02 V6!!!!!!
Keeping up with traffic is about driving skill as it is much about driving a performance car. Sure it's easy to just smash the gas to the bottom whenever you feel like passing. But most of the time, to pass safely, you'll have extra room on the hwy (even going uphill with a loaded accord I4 & AC on) to safely get by.
What percentage of altimas are sold with the V6's? And what percentage of accords are sold with V6's compared to the I4s sold? What's the point of getting an accord V6 just so you can say "I'm keeping up with the 245HP altimas out there"
Merging onto a hwy also can be easier if you know HOW to merge into traffic. And if you have a V6 with no skills, it may just mean that you accelerate too fast into bumper-to-bumper traffic and then have to slam on your brakes to actually merge into traffic. Countless times I've seen cars on the hwy slow down trying to let others merge in, without 2 considerations 1) by slowing down on the main hwy, you're causing safety hazards to cars behind you, and 2) people are more likely to subconsciously slow down and merge into the other CAR rather than leave space in front or behind for them to merge into the HIGHWAY.
And of course the usual reasons for buying I4 over V6 such as lower cost, lighter weight, better handling, less polution due to higher mileage.
INKY
I ended up with the 4cyc because I feel after driving it for half a day test driving its more than adequate. V6 is sure way more than enough and good at the stop lights if you want to offend BMWs and MBs.
On engine refinement, I didn't feel the diff. 4cyc is very smooth considering its Hondas try into chain-driven engine.
And it doesn't run on higher rpm than v6.
At 65mph both engines run at a notch above 2k rpm. But its final ration is 4.43/4.44. So the diff is very nil.
That equals to fuel economy on 4cyc.
As I recall, all the 2003 4 cyls were discounted $1085 off MSRP. Each of the 6 cyls were discounted $2085 off MSRP.
And like someone else mentioned, the gas mileage isn't as good w the 6.
INKY
1) Honda left Accord off the rear butt. Kind of like leaving the groom off the cake. I hope I have all 24 Valves. I may not put it on when given
2) As reported by others there is a noticable drift and pull to the right regardless of road crown. this is minor but annoying because you go to dealer he will say blah blah roads have crowns and this is..
Will get my "Accord" ordered and alignment checked out. Any other 03 owners have drift and was is corrected please advise so I have recommendation for dealer.
I think the 03 Accord is more mainstream but of high quality and style. The V-6 is sweet and all should try the 93 Octane for one tank. good for 10hp and 10 ft-lb.
INKY