Honda Accord Coupe

rascallove

Hey, I'm 18 and my parent are going to buy me a new car under $30,000. Help me choose a car that is reliable, dependable, and has good resale value. I am thinking of getting an 2003 accord coupe EX V6 auto or 2003 acura RSX auto with leather. I am getting auto because I can share that car with people in my family. What car do you think is better and what car is good for a 18year old guy. Please reply!

esunders

Bowke28, thanks I guess I will have to look around. The dealer I talked to said they would be getting 1 in, which I understood to be for the entire year! I heard there was only going to be 2500 or so even in production. This one really looks good to me, I would pay up to MSRP for it, if I could find it. Coupes may be selling well now I don't know. I don't follow the sales numbers. It just seems to me like the hot vehicles right now are the "sport" sedans, Altima, Passat, Jetta, WRX, etc. Coupes may not be dying, there are still plenty of compact coupes, but the mid size market is mostly sedans. On the lots I have been to, the Accord coupes make up about 10%. Not surprising, since this is after all, a "family car". Bowke28, since you sell Hondas if I remember right, do you know if Honda has any plans to increase production of the V6 6 speeds? The dealer I talked to said I might have a better chance getting one if I wait a year. This is a niche model, but it seems like there is quite a bit more demand than 2500 units a year. A stick is must to me. The 4 cyl I test drove was decent, but a 6 would be great! The RSX is a little too small, and street racer for my tastes, and the Civic SI is just plain ugly (it looks like a minivan). A V6 Accord with stick sounds perfect! I guess this one will take a little bit of work to find, though.

gee35coupe

Even if it is. They have feelings ya know.

dcpol

Can someone explain why the 2003 5-speed Accord Coupe,(in blue with 4 cylinder)is not available yet?I ordered one from a dealer in early Oct.;he said about 2 weeks for delivery. After a month I ordered from another dealer who said 2 weeks delivery.I've loved Hondas for 30 years,but after 2 1/2 months of frustration I bought another brand. And Honda still says it will be several more weeks.Is something wrong at Honda?This is not a rare car,or a 6-speed.

gee35coupe

We have never seen one before. But knew we wanted it. I don't think they even made any until recently. Ours was in the Dec 14th run.

rascallove

Hey, The car that my parent are gettin me is my own car because they got theres but if a car break down we can alway share cuz it auto. i want a coupe cuz ill get more girls and it look better. I want a sedan cuz i heard that u get bored of a coupe after a while cuz there no space and the insurance is high. My sister just got the altima 3.5SE v6 and it a sedan now i want a coupe cuz me and her could switch cars. I'm not going 2 hook up my car all imma do is get foglight and 17inch rims and mayb a spoiler. I might pick the accord coupe 03 EXV6 auto over the RSX auto leather v6 because i think accord has better resale value and it easier 2 sell an accord.

bowke28

you got unlucky with your dealers...we've had 2 already...a blue and a black. i think you shot yourself in the foot, however, by being impatient...even if you did have a bad dealer. a rare product like that WILL take time. you shouldnt punish yourself with another product if your dealer lied to you. you should look at more than 2 places if neither has it...that is why they have this little thing called the internet.

esunders

I am considering the same vehicles, except I want a manual. If you share vehicles with your family, an auto is probably better because anybody can drive it. It will also be easier to sell. From what I have read, the RSX has just as good resale value as the Accord, but it is not as common and could take longer to sell. Since you already have a sedan in your family, I would say get the coupe. It looks like I will probably buy the Accord coupe. I would love the V6 6 speed, but it might take a while to get. I may end up just settling for 4 cyl 5 speed, or maybe V6 auto, which I can buy right now. 4 cyl stick or V6 auto? Tough choice.

tblazer503

what happened to the g35c? =o) enjoy your purchase I think you will like it.

gee35coupe

But I can't get over the interior. I wasn't after it for the performance. Heck it was actually a negative that it was so fast since I haven't quite gotten that maturity thing down yet. But anyway after I found the interior wasn't up to what I considered acceptable for a $34,000 car I bought the Accord. I don't NEED the 6 cylinder. You can only go so fast and the 4 cylinder is just plain cheaper. If 160 hp is good enough for mid-size Bimmers not so long ago, then it must not be all that bad. I'm not racing anyone.

tblazer503

Enjoy the drive...

martylaw

martylaw

I test drove the v6 Coupe again yesterday. My only reservation is as to the seating position, which is a bit low for my tastes. But otherwise, it is a car that drives and handles beautifully; the steering is particularly sharp and responsive. I liked the styling when I first saw it; I thought the only weak point was the front end, but it is growing on me.

Has anyone bought or driven one with the Navigation System? What are your impressions.

anonymousposts

We saw a 4 cylinder coupe today with NAV and it looked pretty neat. We didn't drive it but have a feeling it would be a fun toy, at least for the first few months.

rainbow24

I sell Hondas, and the Accord Navigation system is awesome. 180 voice commands, great map detail, and Accord value. I just bought a ex V6 Coupe and wish I would have gotten the NAVI system, maybe next time. Radio 103.1, fan speed 4, temp 78 degrees, all commands that will be carried out by the system...totally cool and the future of cars.

mikek37

I test drove the 2003 Coupe V-6, and was impressed, but not enough to make my decison final between choosing the coupe and the sedan. Im only 23, Im shooting for sportiness, but after testing the sedan Im shooting for that in black. The coupe was nice, but a bit cramped when compared to the sedan which is understandable. the sedan still has some kick and the dealer is offering me 100 over invoice so how can I pass that up.

diploid

I saw like 3 new coupes today. They're starting to pop up everywhere.

bodydouble

I haven't seen 1 yet!

leif

I would give the VW Passat a try. It is Edmunds top midsize car, has the highest resale value in its class and you can buy one with a 5-speed tip-tronic {Full automatic or 5-speed manual all in one.}

exit68

I've had my car for a month here in Long Island NY and I have yet to see another except on dealer lots. Mine is a blue I4 EX leather model which my dealer transferred from a dealer about 100 miles away. The car is fantastic. Plenty of speed and the interior is close to my friend's new BMW 325ix. I must say that it doesn't turn heads like my 98 coupe which I bought as soon as they came out. Must be because it looks like all the Mercedes and Audis on the road it this area.

bowke28

the accord has better resale value than ANY other production car on the planet....well, except for 1...the civic.

anonymousposts

exit: We have been looking for a silver, blue, or graphite EX-L 5-speed coupe since they came out and have yet to see one in person but we put a deposit down 2 weeks ago for a silver one. It was supposed to be here tomorrow but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

I had a black 01 Accord EX V6 coupe with some 17" Konig Tantrums on it and even though you saw them everywhere it would still turn heads.

leif: Passats have quality issues and a 5-speed tiptronic is pointless when you can do pretty much the same thing with a standard automatic.

topcut

You need a car you can work and pay for,,,,,,so you will appreciate it .....:)Your parents should know better..shame on them

topcut

The Nave system will not be available till January 03......is what I am waiting to see....

s852

The navigation system was not scheduled to be out until January, but they started early.
Some dealers already have them on their lots.

martylaw

I drove an EX 6 cylinder coupe at the dealers with the navigation system. The voice directions were excellent, particularly when I decided to go in the opposite direction of the destination we had dialed in, and the female voice said "make a u turn as soon as possible." It's neat how it continuously corrects, to get you back on course. However, the salesman was chatting away, and operating the system, so I really didn't get a good feel for it, except that its fascinating to watch your progress on the screen, if you keep it in that mode. It is also HIGHLY distracting, as are the voice directions too, if you don't turn that off and are just driving around. I think I will not get it, but it is a pretty neat system that seems to operate flawlessly.

bribaby

I think the I4 with a 5 speed will come very close to taking the V6 auto in a 0-60 run. It would certainly outhandle the v6 (in EX trim)

anonymousposts

bribaby: The V6 even in automatic form will outrun the 4 cylinder 5 speed under normal circumstances. The new V6 uses a new 5-speed auto and it has 80 more HP. It would be very hard for a 4 cylinder to overcome that deficit.

tblazer503

I could take a v6... for the first 5' or so... lol... Besides, the V6 also comes with a TCS system. 0-60?? That would only let me get to 2nd gear on my accord... =oP maybe 3rd.

robertsmx

V6 (auto) will be a lot quicker than the I4 (manual) in a 0-60 run. My estimate would be a difference of 1 second.

anonymousposts

My seat of the pants time keeper puts the Accord 4 cylinder 5-speed somewhere in the 8 second range. If this engine is anything like the one in my 02 SI though it will only get peppier and smoother as it reaches it's first 10,000 miles.

teenboy13

Last week while I was visiting family in New Jersey we took a ride to the mall. In the parking lot next to each other were three '03 Accord coupes. One white, one silver, and one red. All with the aero kit. Beginning to love that car...

martylaw

I have seen a thread comparing the 2003 Accord Coupe to the G35 coupe. I have driven both, and think the G35 is more in the tradition of a sports car, while the Accord Coupe is more of a luxury, or near luxury coupe. I currently have a Lexus ES300, and think that the Accord Coupe now has many Lexus type amenities, drives better, is more powerful, and looks better to boot.

When you think about it, there really aren't any cars that compete with the Accord as a luxury coupe, except for the Acura CL. The recent magazine article that compared the Accord Coupe with the Mercedes CLK320 was not that far off the mark, since both cars offer the same concept, and look rather similar. Further, besides the Acura, what other coupes are there in between (the Volvo coupe has been discontinued).

gee35coupe

When I first got it I felt that it felt kinda "tippy". Well sure enough I checked the air pressures today and they were 8 psi high. Let the air out and it was like a different car. Tracked and handled like I thought a Honda should. I'm loving it more and more every day. It's in the shop getting my accessories installed tomorrow. I'm gonna love it even more when I get it back.

maxamillion1

is a VERY good competitor to the Accord coupe.

allen53fl

...a Honda, just never tripped a trigger for us. Just wasn't impressed when the '03's came out. Never really been a "Honda" person. Have been eyeing the G35 Coupe ever since it came out, (fell in love w/it!)

Well, talk about an attitude change. Over the holidays, (a large vol) Honda dealer was near the hotel, let's take a looksee. Being x-mas day, lot closed, no pressure. All true. It gave us the opportunity to look and compare. The more we looked, the more we liked. Zeroed in on a red EX I4 w/leather and nav. Think the leather seats were much more comfortable and looked better than cloth. The dash w/nav also looks better to us also, (liked the smaller knobs). Compared prices, figured a 4 w/nav about the same as EX V6 w/leather but no nav. Do we want the nav or the power?

Yesterday, stopped by a (small vol) Honda dealer close to home, who had a red V6 coupe w/L...took a test drive. VERY impressed, (VERY smooth, powerful and quiet!). This dealer had no navs avail to play with though.

Stopped by another Honda dealer today, (still close to home, but another small vol), but who took the time to show the nav system to us. Really liked it! Felt like that if I was having a really really bad day, I could just say "beam me up Scotty!", and it would work (I wish!). He also let us take a test drive in a I4 (sedan). It was pretty good, for a four. Could live with it very easily.

After dinner, I said, ummmmmmmm maybe I could deal with the extra bucks for a V6 w/leather AND nav. Oh-oh, I think I'm in trouble here, (Danger! Danger! Will Robinson!)

My point is: For Honda to swing someone like me, who never really cared for Honda's, to impress me with the quality, looks and VALUE, to put Honda on my radar screen, is well, quite an accomplishment. I think if "I" can feel this way, I know Honda has a winner here.

Cheers
Allen

P.S. There have been some questions about the side door edge protection moldings in a prev msg. There was a white coupe in the show room w/them installed. Frankly, we thought it looked better w/them on, (sides not so drab?). We liked/preferred them.

gee35coupe

I too was in love with the G35. But ended up in an Accord. I just couldn't justify the extra cost vs. features at this time. I love it.

We ordered the body side molding too. They are being applied today along with most of the other accessories available.

atlantabenny

...as a G35 coupe to Accord coupe convert.

The Accord's not perfect (yet - because Hondas grown on us, right ?), what with its rather plain side and austere look.

But I'm thinking, what if it's lowered just a bit and had bigger rims, with a NAV to boot...

Ahh, cars.

gee35coupe

With the body side moldings and fender well trim.

The Gee has slab sides too.

jrp6977

or are there others so put off by the new Accord coupe's styling that they are interested in what the all new '04 Solara will look like next spring? I have tried to warm up to the new styling but find that, its bulbous nose, bobbed tail(which reduces trunk space by the way) and fat, featureless sides, look much cheaper than the previous model. I think Honda tried to appeal too much to the Prelude crowd and forgot that most Accord coupes are the EX V6 luxo version. Either that or they hired the guys who styled the '96 Taurus to do this car. Just a thought.

atlantabenny

small world - i've been close to getting the accord coupe but also wanting to see the 04 solara's final rendition.

currently a solara owner (wife's got the 03 ex 4 door) wanting to upgrade but haven't yet learned to pant for the new accord coupe to sign on the dotted line.

based on internet photos of the japan model on which the solara will be based, the 04 solara looks to be a notchback a la corvette hardtop/nissan sylvia. if true, well...it'll be a hairsplitter between the 2 cars my end.

cars being fashion objects, the 03 accord coupe or 04 solara might just be the new must-have styles next couple of years.

jrp6977

Where did you find pics of the Japanese model on which the Solara will be based?

maxamillion1

...the Hollywoodextra.com KEEP THEM!

rascallove

How much are the new accord coupe exv6 with no navigation selling for? What fees do they add to the car when you buy it?

gtgill

I'm writing this in case any of you have experienced the frustrating problem with starting your Coupes. I have a '98 that I bought new. When it was two years old I began to occasionally have problems with it starting. On the advise of the service advisor I was told to hold down the gas pedal and crank the starter until it turned over. It did, but it sometimes took up to five minutes.

The problem began happening on a regular basis. Then the car started dying while it was moving. Scary actually. Almost got in a wreck twice. Took it to the dealer and after 3.5 hours they found out that it was a problem with the "master relay". Seems everything in your car goes thorough it. It was so uncommon a problem that they didn't even have one in stock. Part costs about $25.00.

Anyway, I hope this helps any of you, either owners or technicians, that experience the same symptoms.

chiper16

I myself am a previous Solara owner. Having loved the car I was not sure if I wanted another one or if I wanted a different car. Ultimately, I decided to go with the New 03 Accord Coupe. I Purchased the car a week ago (December 27th 2002) and have driven it for a week. The car is loaded, and I love the navigation system display. Very easy to use. The accord seems to handle with much more agility, and in my opinion is a little quicker. The transmission is much smoother than previously, and the ride is nice. There are a couple small details I would change, but nothing major...

I also considered the A4, but I wanted a car that is a bit more reliable. Audi's tend to have mechanical problems starting at 50,000 miles (right out of warranty). All in all, this car has everything in it that the average person would want in this price range. Total costs being around $25,500. I wanted to get the 6 speed transmission, but they were asking $1,500 above invoice and would not budge.

One problem that I have noticed, and is frustrating, is that my radar detector throws off the navi system and shows me driving in no mans land... I'm curious why this is, but i'll survive.

tblazer503

One thing you may consider is moving the radar if possible to the top of the winshield. I know my radar detector gives off a signal, and perhaps it is interferring with the satellite reception on the navi.

robertsmx

gtgill,

I wouldn't advise you to depress gas pedal to start the car (in case your problem hasn't been fixed yet). If the car doesn't start the first time, turn it off. Depress the BRAKE PEDAL once and release it. Wait 5-6 seconds and turn the keys. This is Honda's recommendation to start car at cold temperatures/high elevation. If it still doesn't work a couple of times, then try the same with gas pedal. Not sure what could be the problem though.

allen53fl

not yet anyway! (see my previous post about about how we much we liked the coupe).

While in the WPB area this last weekend, we decided to go "shopping". Went to Ed Morse Honda Riveria Beach. We browsed around and noted a redondo red EX V6 w/charcoal (grey) leather sedan parked in the back. Kept looking at other colors and cars on the lot, etc....kept coming back to this one. A salesman came up to us and we started talking. Explained maybe by March or April we might be seriously looking, and that we really liked the coupes. He wasn't pushy and very easy to talk to.

To make a long story short, he gave us top $ for the 2001 Tundra trade-in, and fair price/offer on the sedan. We ended up about 300 over invoice, and he he gave us the wheel locks and cargo tray. The door edge guards were already installed, car had 2 miles on it. We think it was just off he truck getting ready to be preped, most (if not all) of the other vehicles on the lot had mud flaps, this one didn't and we didn't want them either, (why didn't Honda make them the same color as the car?!)

On the drive home, (yes, I was still in SHOCK), I whined that I wanted a red V6 coupe...WAAAAA!).
I was told when I make my millions, I can buy ANY car I want! UMPH! Oh well!

All in all, it was a very pleasant sales experience. Our salesman, Frank Tehrani was very low key, no pressure tactics and seemed honest, (I know, oxymoron = honest/car salesman). Will definitely recommend him and their dealership.

Cheers,

Allen

PS We decided on the the sedan because it is "more practical", even though no kids and very seldom have other passengers. I just shake my head. Someday.....

PSS The stereo is GREAT, very quiet, smooth and refined ride. When we got home sat night, the news was commenting on all the world conflicts and that gas could go to $3 a gallon. I think we have made a smart and timely choice. Am very happy.

anonymousposts

Our coupe is great. Man that car is GORRRRGEOUS. Don't know what we woulda done if we had to drive a plain ole' sedan.

Oh yeah, sorry about the lack of a coupe in your driveway. I'm sure you will enjoy your "practical" car. PS ... next time don't take your wife with you