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Comments
I certainly hope it involves improvements to the styling and more choices on interior colors.
I have a 2000 black EX V6 coupe and just love it. I presently have 182,000+ miles and will be thinking about buying something else in about 12-18 months. What that will be depends almost entirely on what Honda does to the Accord coupe this fall. Inorder for me to consider it, they will have to improve the styling.
As far as the 2005 model:
Positives: High build quality, excellent seats (better than my '00), overall refinement, engine and horsepower improvements, low emissions, nice features for the money, improved fuel economy.
Negatives: Styling, styling and styling, door handles, lower seating position,poorly designed tilt wheel despite telescopic feature, no choice on interior colors,no standard fog lights.
Suggestions to improve the styling: Put an actual grille on the front and dump the insert. A honeycomb style in black (like the Civic Si) would look nice.New front facia with built in fog lights. Square off the decklid. Put a stronger character line down the side and replace the door handles with the ones on the sedan. Install rocker panel moldings that add more character to the side. And maybe put a thin strip of bright work around the windows on the EX V6 models.
1. Sharpen the styling. Just as the European Accord (Acura TSX) is so much better-looking than the US-spec Accord, the coupe would benefit from a better integrated grille, factory fog lights (the dealer option is crap), and projector-style headlamps, like we are starting to see on the new Odyssey, CR-V, and RSX.
2. Add a better character line down the sides to reduce the "fat-sided" look a bit. I personally like the current door handles, and think the version on the sedan would look too formal. If you want "pull out" door handles, buy the Solara. A little chrome accent around the side window is okay, as long as it's subtle, to accentuate the windows and reduce the fat-sided look.
3. Lower the car slightly to better fill in the wheel wells. The 6spd has stock 17 inch wheels, but it still can be improved upon.
4. Allow a sport suspension option that includes limited slip differential, and a slightly less floaty ride. Maybe summer tire option...call it the Accord Si coupe. They will sell like hotcakes, but it will cannibalize RSX sales.
5. At the top end, add heated and auto-dimming mirrors. Again, Honda is afraid to steal Acura sales.
6. Hybrid option is good, but it has to be more price-sensitive---I think a $28K to $30K MSRP is too high and will have limited appeal. The V6 has enough horsepower at 240HP (250HP with 93 octane) for front wheel drive layout, so the hybrid power boost is a moot point, IMO.
I think the rear end styling and the interior are fine as is. I wish my car had the illuminated controls on the steering wheel, which Honda corrected in MY 2004.
2. Speaking of 'manual', the user manual (and quick start guide also) that I was provided with is for an Accord SEDAN, specifically (not 'Coupe'). Haven't asked the dealer about this either (just discovered this the other day when looking more closely at these). Please confirm that the 2003 Accord manual and quick start guide is inclusive of both sedans and coupes.
Thanks a lot. This is my first Honda, and thus far it's terrific.
my owner's manual just says honda accord on it...but the quick start says accord coupe...
Coupes don't have power front passenger seats because the memory seat slides forward to provide access to the rear for entering passengers. A sliding seat is just not an appropriate platform for all of the heavy components needed for power operation.
A power seat would have to be anchored firmly to the floorpan.
The first time I went to the dealer, they wouldn't even write it up. They lubed it and sent me on my way with nothing. I just went back and got it documented, but still they just lube the clutch pedal. I'm getting a twangy spring sound whenever I depress the clutch pedal. Its worse when its warm out (of course its cold now). I'm at 35,500 miles so I'd like to get this issue resolved. I have the TSB, but the dealer says lubing it "is what they HAVE to do." I'm pretty sure the old TSB specified lubing the pedal, and that it was changed this year to reflect replacement of the cylinder behind the pedal.
Just purchased a 2005 V6 Accord Coupe with navigation and am wanting to tint the windows. I was wondering if the metalic particles used in some tints would have any adverse effects on the navigation system.
Has anyone tinted their windows and had any adverse effects?
Had I known about this issue, I would have asked about the tints makeup before getting it done. Either I got lucky ( a tint without metal particles ) or it really doesn't matter.
Page 3 of my 2004 Navigation System manual states, "If you have rear window tinting installed, be aware that if the tint has metallic properties, it can seriously degrade or prevent GPS reception."
Unfortunately, I have had nothing but trouble with it. This is my sixth Honda and have always praised their quality and value. I think my confidence in Honda has found its end with this car.
Amongst the problems I have had the most significant is the problem I have with the clutch since a few months after I purchased it.
It appears that the clutch may be sticking. This happens most often when going from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd gear, but can happen even from 4th to 5th.
The symptom is that once the clutch sticks (after I have already "released" it) causing the car to lose forward momentum (i.e. no gear seems to be engaged) it very brusquely "pops" out and lunges forward, especially if I had already started pushing on the accelerator (on the expectation that the clutch would have disengaged by now).
This is a very disconcerting behavior and somewhat dangerous if you are not fully aware of what is happening at all times. I have developed some habits which minimize the effects of these occurrences, but they keep occurring almost all the time.
It has gotten so bad that my wife refuses to drive the car and has taken to referring to it as the "crazy bronco".
At first I thought that this behavior may be because I just was doing something wrong when driving it. However, I have recently had four of my co-workers, all engineers by profession and familiar with driving stick shift transmissions on vehicles ranging from small cars to a V8 Corvette, confirming that they also see the issue I describe above and that I am not crazy.....
The response from Honda and two of their dealers locally here in South Florida has been "the tech line says that a sensitive clutch is normal" and that they see no problem.
After three attempts at getting it fixed, I filed a Florida lemon law claim. I then took it in for a fourth attempt/inspection at repair and was told, once again, that the behavior is "normal".
This is very frustrating, especially after having their regional service manager initially agreed with me, but quickly changing her mind after the dealer's service manager convinced her that "most of these cars have very sensitive clutches". Has it occurred to them that there is something wrong with most of these cars?
My response to them this last time is that if this behavior, which they confirm exists but choose to call "sensitive clutch", is normal, then this is by far the worst handling stickshift car I have ever driven. I also reminded them that this is not the way the car drove when I first purchased it. I finished the conversation by telling them that, had it behaved that way during the test drive I took, you can bet your life I would not have bought it.
I do not know what my next step is going to be, but one thing is for certain: I will not be recommending Hondas, especially not this one, to anyone anytime soon in this forum or any other venue.
Their latest position was to tell me that I can go to arbitration under the Florida lemon law if I want to. I have to say that I am very dissapointed in Honda.
As if the problem above was not bad enough, I have also had problems with:
-rattling noises coming from the driver's side visor and door area. The one coming from the door was fixed.
-the radio display quit. If was fixed when the whole radio was replaced by Honda.
-every now and then when I take a curve the driver's seat makes a noise and literally snaps and moves perceptively as if it is falling out of its mounting rails.
-the trunk will only open partially. Honda says that the weight of the spoiler will not let it open fully. However, I have seen an identical car in their showroom and the trunk opened fully without issues. Go figure....
Anybody out there have similar issues or ideas on what my next step should be?
I saw your column on one of the forums. I had the same engine rev problem today after work when I started my engine. I usually let it warm .. wait for the rev pointer to go below 1000 before I drive. But it never did, and started reving between 1 and 2 mark. Then I drove and same problem, so I turned the engine on and off and the 3rd time, the Check engine light came on. Also while driving at certain times, it was like auto-driving by itself. My car is a 2002 Accord EX V6 Coupe, 40K miles on it. I bought an extended warranty on mine by the way.
I would appreciate it if you could tell me what you did to get it fixed. How much did u get charged etc at the dealership. Any advice would be appreciated.
Nish
I do have an intermittent rattle coming from the driver's side visor area. Something is obviously loose above the headliner, but it's not a major or consistent problem. No other squeaks or rattles, however.
My trunk automatically opens when I use the keyfob, but the trunk itself does not go up more than about an inch. I have to lift it up, which to me is no big deal. My car does not have a spoiler on it so the weight of my trunk is less than yours.
My seats appear to be fine, and my radio or other displays have not failed. I live in Illinois, so temps in the summer can reach 95 with humidity, and right now it's about -10 degrees with the windchill, so my car deals with extreme changes in temperature. But I have had no mechanical or electrical problems. And my clutch seems fine.
I do think this car has borderline too much horsepower for a front wheel drive car, and this is aggravated by the manual transmission. Although the torque steer is not excessive, you have to accelerate carefully due to the available power. I will often start in 2nd gear, which is no problem for this motor. With winter driving conditions, I am frequently triggering the traction control due to the wheel spin on icy or snowy roads. Not a big deal and very manageable for me. It took me a bit longer to master driving this car, but now everything is second nature and the car accelerates smoothly and quickly when I need to.
If you read through these posts, you will see that a few others on this forum have documented their 6spd Accords "popping" out of gear (usually when going to 2nd or 3rd gear). I have not had this problem with my car.
Overall I have been pretty happy with my 03 6spd Accord. I hope you get some resolution with your issues. Good luck.
The 6 speed is the top of the line Honda Accord even though its a coupe. I should have equipment in league with the Acura brand. Equipment like, 17" wheels, DVD-audio with 225 watts of power, fog lights and turn signals on the side mirrors or sheet metal. I think a 6 speed configured like a Acura would equal high demand and high profit. Besides its a coupe and would not challenge the Acura TSX or TL.
There is a short review of the 2005 6spd in this week's Auto Week magazine, and the photo shows the same 17" wheels.
When you go to the section on the HFP package, there is a footnote at the bottom that says....
"Separate kits will be available for Accord 6MT V6 which has standard 17" tires"
I believe the list price for the full HFP package is around $1400, but not sure if that includes the labor for installation.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Talking about improvement, do you all think the 6 speed is the unmentionable replacement to the Prelude? Fat chance in its current incarnation. Actually, I'm most disappointed with the front end. I vote for the front end as needing the most improvements.
I also agree that the front is in need of improvement, however, the slab sides and overly round rump could use some work too. The trunk lip spoiler helps the look of the rear substantially, but I don't know how you get that other than in the HFP package. I have seen it on non HFP cars, however, so there must be a way.
Hopefully, when the car's styling is tweaked this fall, these areas will be addressed.
I know its a bit early, but maybe someone who posts here, knows exactly what Honda will do.
To me, the RSX (especially the Type S) is the closest replacement to the dearly departed Prelude. The driving dynamics of the Accord coupe are nothing like what the Prelude delivered. The RSX delivers similar dynamics and performance as the Prelude, at about the same price points, plus the Acura badge delivers more cache and a better warranty.
Anyway, I bought the car and have enjoyed the v6's stout, quiet power, high speed stability and overall driving dynamics.
It was probably necessary to proportion the car to meet the market's dimension expectations, but seeing how Volvo and Audi achieves better design balance with their S4 and A4, I'm hoping Honda's next-generation cars will be closer to those.
I want to get some 20 inch alloys for my car. Do you know if I can squeeze them on if i roll the fenders?
Thanks & regards
Kamran
I also own a 2002 A4 sedan, and that car's proportions are spot on. But there is a tradeoff....my Audi is very small on the inside, with a tight back seat and trunk. So, even though this car looks very sharp, it does have its shortcomings in terms of interior and trunk dimensions.
But the driving dynamics of the Accord coupe are outstanding. I drove it home today in light snow from the U of I basketball game, and it was very stable at 80mph, while some other cars were having trouble staying on the road. It doesn't quite stick like the AWD Audi, but the Accord is a close 2nd even with just front wheel drive.
I was just wondering if the hesitant downshifts are noticeable. BTW I'm getting a Honda Accord EX V-6 somewhere later in the year.
In comparison, our 2000 Acura TL 3.2's downshift from any gear or acceleration from zero was instantaneous.
It's not a deal breaker for the Accord, but I know Honda can improve on this.
The Audi handles the best in the snow, in my opinion. My car has the sports package, so I use the stock Dunlop SP9090 summer tires in warm weather, and currently am running Pirelli P-Zero Neros in the winter, and the car handles and tracks fantastic. I would rate the Audi a couple notches above the Accord as far as driving in the snow, but both are decent. With lowered suspension on the Audi sports package, getting snow caught under the fenders is an issue.
Good luck....both cars are pretty sweet, IMO.
But (of course there's a "but"
What is the final drive ratio ?
What is the engine rpm at 60 mph in 6th gear or conversely what is the miles per hour per 1,000 rpm ?
Thanks,
MidCow
Sorry, but don't have the individual gear ratios handy.
My 6spd runs at just a hair below 2000rpm at a steady 60mph in top gear.
Thanks for the info. I bought a black 2005 6-speed Accord Coupe with NAV.
Thanks,
MidCow
Other wise tinting has absolutely no effect on incoming electromagnetic signals. This includes: cell phone, GPS (navigation), FM, AM and satellite radio.
Thanks,
MidCow
is this what i need to do or is there a simpler way of going about it. thanks for the help.
serg
The 6-speed is awesome!
According to the NAV I am getting 24.3 and that was drviing easy on the highway at 75-80 with a roofrack and bike rack attachment.
Interesting after reading the manual the Canadian version has :DRL, heated mirrors and a low washer fluid indicator, but thay can't get NAV.
Thinking about puttting cat-back Comptech exhaust system on it!
Thanks,
MidCow
Sounds like a nice car especially with the manual shift. I was just curious what you meant by one of your commnents "... V6 with 6-speed which is a powerful car but the 2.4 with manual is smoother in operation ..." What do you mean by "smoother in operation" My 6-speed is extremely smooth. It does have drvie-by-wire throttle operation but it doesn't act abrupt.
Anyway, sounds like you also have a nice ride!
Thanks,
MidCow