Hybrid Honda Accord

1585961636466

Comments

  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    I'm sure it will. It will be quite successful.
  • boe_dboe_d Member Posts: 66
    I see the list of changes - what is the difference between the two engines - I'm not sure what that difference means.

    I thought it came with a full spare tire.

    Will the hybrid w/NAVI come with the new navigation system? I know the TL still comes with the old navigation system.

    I'm more likely to get the right answers here than at a dealership where the most technical thing they usually can answer (50% correctly) is what colors they have in stock.
    Thanks
  • boe_dboe_d Member Posts: 66
    A friend said he saw a hybrid accord in the HOV lane here in CA with only one person in it. I thought this vehicle did not qualify. Anyone here with experience on this in CA?

    Thanks
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If he had the tags for hybrid, some one screwed up. The law is that the hybrid has to have an EPA rating of 45 MPG combined to qualify. Plus as far as I know it is still not approved by Congress.
  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    People already have them for their Prius. I've even seen the actually stickers. Haven't you seen them??
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    I have not seen any yet. I rarely go out during rush hour. I think there is only one HOV lane in San Diego. It is a FasTrak pay as you go lane. Did Congress change the law yet to allow hybrids? I think VA went against the Federal law. Ca may have done the same. The HAH is not included in the CA law.
  • boe_dboe_d Member Posts: 66
    I believe it was passed by Congress. My friend did not say if he saw any stickers on the car though. I did a search - I saw something about the accord being abel to use the HOV in another state. I'd buy one as soon as the 06 came out if I could ride in the HOV lane with it in CA.
  • newhahownernewhahowner Member Posts: 7
    I came from a 2000 Acura Cl with a great sound system-Bose speakers etc. My HAH does not come anywhere near it. The salesman agreed and recommended the cheapest way to get better sound would be to just plug in a higher wattage amp.(however he is not with the dealership any more) Someone else said no- invest in new speakers, and,thirdly, I went to a local store here in Oakland who said replace everything tuner, speakers, etc. for about $700.
    Can anyone make any reccommendations. I don't really want to spent $700 at this time. Does anyone know a reliable shop in East Bay, California. And finally If I were to do one thing -how would I get the most "bang for my buck?"(heavy bass in not important for me-I'm a "Big Band" kind of Guy.) Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    NO Hybrid Accords allowed.

    This page updated November 9, 2005

    Enactment of the 2005 Federal transportation bill allows California to fully implement California Assembly Bill 2628. AB 2628, signed into law on September 23, 2004, allows single-occupant use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOVs) lanes by the cleanest alternative fuel, hybrid, and full-electric vehicles. Use of these lanes with only one occupant requires an identification sticker issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles


    http://arbis.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm

    Vehicles not allowed
    FORD
    2005-2006 ESCAPE HYBRID - not qualified due to fuel economy less than 45MPG.

    HONDA
    2005 ACCORD HYBRID - not qualified due to lack of compliance with ATPZEV emission standard and fuel economy less than 45MPG
    2005 INSIGHT HYBRID - not qualified due to lack of compliance with ATPZEV emission standard.

    LEXUS
    2006Rx400h HYBRID - not qualified due to fuel economy less than 45MPG and lack of compliance with ATPZEV emission standard.

    MERCURY
    2006 MARINER HYBRID - not qualified due to fuel economy less than 45MPG.

    TOYOTA
    2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID - not qualified due to fuel economy less than 45MPG and and lack of compliance with ATPZEV emission standard.
  • boe_dboe_d Member Posts: 66
    Frankly the sales person is being a yes man. If the radio in your accord doesn't sound better than the bose - try putting in a good CD and adjusting the controls or try a different accord. I have the similar all paper cheap watt bose in my 2001 acura. I was honestly embarrased when a friend (a fellow audiophile) was in my car and the radio was on. Frankly it is a disgrace for a nice vehicle. The tragedy is your ears may have gotten used to the way they sound so you need to give your ears a rest to appreciate a better system. I'm not saying the accord competes with B&W or Martin Logan speakers powered by a krell or better amp just that it has to better than those horrible bose.

    If you are serious about upgrading the sound, I'd suggest listening to some speakers - every person has their own opinion of what is good but if you read the acura forums, I can safely say I'm not the only person to say the older acura radio is crap.

    My preference for reasonably priced but good sounding car speakers are polk and alpine. Part of the problem with most car speakers is tweater placement - if they aren't aimed right for your ears they sound pretty bad. The other is cheap paper cones - they degrade signficantly due to sunlight and general fatique. Do you happen to have the specs for amps/watts of the one in the honda?

    Try listening to the speakers at a resonably low level at first. When you are in the car they will probably be playing much louder but if you listen to them at a loud level right off the bat, you won't be able to tell the difference from one set of speakers to the next very easily.

    Go to an install place that specializing in quality installs, not just subwoofers the size of your trunk or one of the major retailers that is all about percentage. I'd avoid al&eds - often a bad place for installs but OK to listen to stuff. Installers who are serious compete - you might want to look for competition awards - kind of like a doctors diploma - you can be sure if they compete they have them hanging prominently.
  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    NY is about to vote on such a law as well. Luckily where I travel there is no need for an HOV lane. It takes me ten minutes to drive to work. If I did have to use the HOV lane, I usually prop a blow up doll in the passenger seat and put a hat on her. So far it's worked!
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    You are sooo bad. The first time I saw that in CA, I said what is with that pervert carrying a blow up doll? The person said it was a common practice to circumvent the HOV laws, especially using the diamond on ramps to the freeway.
  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    Actually... you know my humor. I am joking. However, when they first started using HOV lanes in my area you'd laugh at some of the things NYers would due to circumvent the law. Some were mighty clever, but I would never chance it. Some had dummies propped up as if reading the paper! Ironically, we do have enforcement strictly for people who use those lanes with one occupant.
  • boe_dboe_d Member Posts: 66
    If you have already bought a hybrid honda accord and it gets stolen/in an accident/or whatever, and you were to buy a new car. Would you end up getting another hybrid accord or would you get a different vehicle. Could you explain why or why not? I'm curious how people feel about this car after you've already had it for a while.

    Thanks
  • bibeaudbibeaud Member Posts: 9
    See post #8 on the HAH Accessories forum. The link is:
    cal_cal, "Honda Accord Hybrid Owners: Accessories" #9, 28 Sep 2005 12:47 pm

    To date, I have replaced the speakers.

    David
  • vietviet Member Posts: 847
    I will buy another car in less than a year when I have to "surrender" my current '05 HAH to my son who is going to enter college soon. My decision is probably to buy a new '06 HAH after a careful reevaluation of available V6 sedans of all makes.

    My current '05 HAH is really a "piece of machinery" as Dennis put it. It has more power than a V6 EX Accord yet consumes gas as an I4 Accord. I feel I ride on a long-legged greyhound when I drive it on freeways. When one "goes up" to buy a V6 car he/ she probably does not want to "go down" to an I4.
  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    Don't spoil your kids. Give him a ten year old Civic to ride around in. You won't regret it. I'm glad my parents gave me a POS to drive around in when I was 17.
  • boe_dboe_d Member Posts: 66
    Luxury! I used to dream of having a POS car. I worked at a Pizza delivery place and did maintenance on the fleet for minimum wage in exchange for once in a great while being able to drive the POS pizza delivery car for other purposes.

    PS - we used to live in a shoebox and worked 26 hours a day. Seriously though as much as I wanted a car in college, I'm glad my parents didn't spoil me with one. Unless you have the ultimate discipline in college it is way too easy to get distracted and want to do other things.
  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    100% Agree!!! I wish I didn't have a car while I was in college.
  • newhahownernewhahowner Member Posts: 7
    Maybe I was not clear. My 2000 Acura with premium sound was passible-decent enough. MY 2005 HAH factory sound is terrible. If it was as good as the Acura I'd be happy.
  • vietviet Member Posts: 847
    Go ahead buy one HAH for you Boe_d. You will make no mistake and will not regret. Yesterday, I drove my "antique" '95 Accord I4 at 220K miles with newer engine, new suspensions/ brakes on my 300 miles trip and it ran marvelously. During my trip I listened to my favorite CDs and I really was in little Heaven. If this "little antique" Accord is rated 3 or 4/ 10, the HAH is 10/10 +. My kids do not want to drive this "super antique" Accord any more except my wife and I.

    I saw a lady who was driving a brand new '05 HAH on highway yesterday and I gave her a V sign to congratulate her for her smart decision to buy it.
  • boe_dboe_d Member Posts: 66
    Thanks - I'm very tempted to get an 06 but with some rumors of an 08 with better hybrid features, an 08 hybrid TL to compare it to and a redesign of the accord in 08 I'm tempted to wait. I'm not sure if any of the rumors are true but I'm hoping to find some solid info before I make the decision. I'm sure the 06 is a good car but I tend to drive them for many years so I'm hoping to find out what is coming before I make the leap. I realize that they will improve things just about every year so there is not final version to wait for but I'd rather see what changes are coming before I make my choice.
  • greatvet1greatvet1 Member Posts: 11
    I hardly ever get a chance to just ride as a passenger in my HAH, but recently did so at night. When I put my seat back to relax and take a nap, I noticed that I could see light shining through the seam of my glove compartment. This concerned me for 2 reasons: 1. Shouldn't the light turn off when the door to the compartment is closed? 2. With the fit and finish I've come to love in a Honda, why do I have a gap in the seal of my glove compartment that would allow me to see the light?

    I have it being looked at right now at my dealer, but they are trying to tell me the light doesn't turn off, and that's normal. Well, I opened it last night and the light was off, so I thought the bulb had burned out. But then opened it again and it was on again. Anyone else with this problem? It seems to me that a light in the glove compartment should not remain on at all times!
  • dmathews3dmathews3 Member Posts: 1,739
    I think you will find that as Toyota gets to the volume that GM used to enjoy they will find it harder and harder to maintain that quality you are used to. As more and more people want a Honda they will pump them out faster and faster and something must give. Guess what that will be? "Quality" As far as the light goes isn't there a button like on your doors that when closed the button is in and the light goes out? Got to be some kind of button somewhere.
  • greatvet1greatvet1 Member Posts: 11
    I can't find a button anywhere inside the glove compartment, and neither could my dealer. What's weird about the seam of the glove compartment is that it seems to "tight and right". It closes solidly and isn't flimsy at all. I wouldn't even have noticed if the light from the inside hadn't been on.
  • vietviet Member Posts: 847
    My '95's glove compartment light has been lit for 11 years. No big concern. My son '03 V6 EX glove compartment light had been on until I took it to a Honda dealer to fix it. Luckily, my HAH's one has never been on.

    As for the Auto Stop, the engine needs to be warmed up after about 1 mile before it works. Sometimes, for some reason it does not work at stop lights. But 99+ % it works.
  • vietviet Member Posts: 847
    I just double checked all my glove compartment lights. They are all NOT ON unless I open the glove compartments. Therefore, Honda quality is still "acceptable" or "above average" right? It may be a intermittent problem with my antique Accord's glove compartment light as I saw them on sometimes. Otherwise, I got "addicted" to the quiet purring and humming sound of my HAH's powerful engine. It means a lot to a power-hungry guy like myself. You go to a hardware store (eg. Home Depot...) you will find almost all good heavy machinery tools equipped with Honda engines. My landscaper/ contractor said they love Honda's equipments.
  • s2khahs2khah Member Posts: 26
    I suspect that your glove box light works the same as my 05 HAH. It seems that Honda in its consumate frugality has the glove box light coming on with the instrument lights (ie anytime the headlights are on).
    Saves them all that excess weight of a glove box switch.
  • djr3djr3 Member Posts: 22
    Has anyone seen an 06 HAH yet? Received delivery? Gotten a deivery date?

    Dan
  • dcrandalldcrandall Member Posts: 2
    Mine was built on Nov 21, 2005. Delivery is expected late December. Does anyone have a better guess on how long shipping time is???
  • djr3djr3 Member Posts: 22
    I had a Nov 15 build date, but as yet have no VIN, no shipping estimate, and no change in delivery date... "mid-to-late December".

    Dan
  • greatvet1greatvet1 Member Posts: 11
    After some research and a call to the Honda HQ, I found that your answer is correct. The glove compartment light is on when the parking lights are on. So that answers that question! Thanks everyone!
  • greatvet1greatvet1 Member Posts: 11
    I never get extended warranties, but have decided to do it this time since the HAH's technology is so new. The offer at the dealer is for $1475 for 6 year 120k miles. They told me that is the at-cost price. I found the same policy at the HondaCare website for $1100, and then they sent me a coupon for $95 off that price. My dealer also told me my car has to have less than 6000 miles to take the extended warranty, but the web site says 36,000/3 years. Anyone found a better deal? If your dealer is giving you the runaround too, check out www.curryhondacare.com
  • dmathews3dmathews3 Member Posts: 1,739
    You can buy an extended warranty anytime before the orginal warranty runs out. Only downside is the price will go up due to inflation. The other downside is if you sell the car before the orginal warranty is up and have the extended warranty they prorate it to the day you bought it. So if you buy it for 1100 you may only get back say 800 even if you never use the warranty. For that reason I don't buy extended warranties until the last 6 months.
  • mrmilesmrmiles Member Posts: 8
    I just had my HAH in to the dealer for an oil change. When I checked in with the technician, he said it would be $29.95. Then a manager came out and noticed it was a hybrid, and said it would be $47.50. He said it was because the oil was more expensive and there's an additional shield that needs to be removed. They were still done in 15 minutes, so it couldn't have been too much harder. This was the first time I was hit with the higher price-- the previous two changes were $29.95. The manager said the cost has always been higher, so I must have lucked out with technicians who didn't notice it was a hybrid.

    Has anyone else encountered this? I could understand a moderate increase, but over 50%? I prefer to use the dealer, but $50 with tax seems an awful lot to pay for an oil change.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    Most dealers charge more for the Hybrid oil changes. Looking at a Honda coupon right now from my dealer "$19.95" but at the bottom in bold says "Hybrids and synthetic oil additional."
  • vietviet Member Posts: 847
    Regular oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 is OK. I use Mobil-1 synthetic 5W-30. You may want to read the user manual. $50 for an oil change is expensive.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    quote the mouth that rorr-"First of all, the 30mpg vs 37mpg figures are EPA estimates. I'd be interested in seeing what folks ACTUALLY ACHIEVE with highway mileage in their HAH vs. a standard Accord. A side question: does either the standard Accord or the HAH use Honda's VCM technology in the V6?"-end quote

    Well, over at the website where real-world MPG is reported by actual owners, the HAH is averaging 30 MPG overall. But that includes a large number of people who are not TRYING to achieve good numbers, and are driving it just like a regular car. We all know that strategy is not best for hybrids. We know that a trained hypermiler can get over 40 MPG in that car no problem. And YES the HAH uses VCM.

    Second, HOW the HAH achieves better highway mileage IS relevant. IF the better highway mileage is due more to aerodynamic improvements/tire selection than the powertrain, wouldn't this be good info to know? Wouldn't the owner of a regular Accord like to know if he can substantially improve his highway mileage by simply using the same tire selection as the HAH? Does the HAH use the same final drive ratio as the regular Accord?

    You now are getting into topics that only the most techie of buyers will care about. I can assure that MOST Accord Hybrid buyers care FAR LESS about "technically HOW?" than they care about "can I really get that MPG?" What matters in the end is the MPG which can be achieved.

    Many people, myself included, think Honda made a mistake by going with the V6 engine for the Accord Hybrid, rather than putting it on the I4 Accord. When Toyota comes out with an I4-based Camry Hybrid and starts selling 8,000 of them per month, compared to about 1,500 Accord Hybrids, we'll know for sure that Honda blew it.
  • rorrrorr Member Posts: 3,630
    "Well, over at the website where real-world MPG is reported by actual owners, the HAH is averaging 30 MPG overall. But that includes a large number of people who are not TRYING to achieve good numbers, and are driving it just like a regular car."

    Fair enough. However, if I want to know what the real-world mileage differences are between the HAH and the regular Accord, wouldn't I be MORE interested in the results of folks who drive it just like a regular car?

    IOW - is it fair to say "well, if you drive it like a hypermiler you can get over 40mpg, but if you drive a regular Accord like a regular driver, you'll only get 28 (or whatever), so the hybrid is worth a whopping 12mpg!!! Woohoo!!!" In reality, how much of the 40mpg is due to DRIVING IT responsibly and how much is due to hybrid (and other gas saving) technology?

    Bottom line: if the two vehicles are DRIVEN THE SAME (and have the same aerodynamics, tires, etc.), how much of a benefit to highway mileage is hybrid technology?
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    I can tell you on the CIVICS, it's about 8-10 MPG difference between the Hybrid and the non-hybrid, when both driven like a regular car.

    On the Accords, I'm not sure. But if the Accord hybrid had been made with the I4 engine, it would be a larger margin in favor of the hybrid.

    But regardless, the people who benefit most from Hybrid technology are the people who LEARN TO DRIVE IT TO MAXIMIZE MPG. If you want to drive a hybrid like a regular car, then just buy a regular car.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    how much of the 40mpg is due to DRIVING IT responsibly and how much is due to hybrid (and other gas saving) technology?

    I would say the fuel savings on the HAH is 90% the driver, and 10% the hybrid technology. Out of 61 HAH owners reporting, the highest average anyone is getting is 39 MPG. There are Accord 4C drivers getting much better averages than that. One reports 47+ MPG with his new 4 Cylinder Accord. Unless the additional performance of the HAH is your cup of tea. The Accord 4C is a smarter PZEV choice.
  • falcononefalconone Member Posts: 1,726
    The HAH is a nice sweet ride. I wish they made it in a coupe. Great performance, Honda bullet proof reliability. Oh.. and it gets great gas mileage too!!! Gotta love it!!
  • robertsmxrobertsmx Member Posts: 5,525
    if the two vehicles are DRIVEN THE SAME (and have the same aerodynamics, tires, etc.), how much of a benefit to highway mileage is hybrid technology?
    The most controlled number for something like that comes from EPA. It shows a 23% improvement. ;)

    And while the following excerpt from a test drive (autosite) does not apply to Accord, it does say a little about what hybrid technology brings to the plate:

    “We managed a 47.1-mpg average in a drive that covered two-lane country road, an 80-mph blitz down the freeway, and rush hour city driving. Not bad. And the air conditioning was cranked the entire time. The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid’s combined power rating is 110 horsepower, and we never felt as though the car lacked verve.”
  • djr3djr3 Member Posts: 22
    I just heard from my dealer of yet another delay in the delivery of the 06 HAH. I had one on order. He read me the email from the district office, that said things like "indefinite" and offered to return my deposit which I am accepting. I am giving up on an 06 and looking for other alternatives at this point.

    Dan
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    If you look back to Dec 2004, these same comments came up, but the car was BRAND NEW, so people were thinking they would NEVER get good gas mileage. It was kinda funny, actually, now that I think about it.....:)
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    larsb, "Hybrid Honda Accord 2005" #2028, 13 Jan 2005 1:51 pm

    And I (of course) turned out to be correct....once the new cars were broken in and warmer weather came along, the MPG for the HAH began to reach acceptable levels for the worried owners.......:D
  • djr3djr3 Member Posts: 22
    I finally gave up on waiting for my 2006 HAH. I had ordered in Late August and had several dates pushed out. The latest delivery estimate from my dealer was February or March. The reason given was that the components were all being diverted to Civic Hybrids. Don't know if that is true or not, but that's what the Sales manager told me when he came out to apologize for the delays and thank me for my patience.

    I bought a Accord EX-L 4 Cyl to get me at least part of the improved mileage I was seeking. I'll probably revisit the hybrids in a couple of years as I still like the technology and results.

    Dan
  • samiam_68samiam_68 Member Posts: 775
    The HAH was such a big bomb, that Honda may actually kill the 2006 model completely.
  • jmsrollsjmsrolls Member Posts: 2
    First, I left my ignition on and drained the battery. When I restarted the car, the radio asked for a code. I tried entering the 4 digit code on the display screen. It responded "Invalid PIN".

    My sales rep gave me another 5 digit code and it wouldn't work either. The service manager called me back and had me enter the 4 digit code using the power button and the tuning knob.

    The radio now works but the NAV does not. The display simply displays touch buttons 1-0, "delete" and "done".
    The service rep says to bring it in but I'm an hour away from the dealership. Any suggestions?

    Also, has anyone come up with a way to get the audio from an MP3 player into the sound system? I've tried a "FM transmitter" that was less than satisfactory.

    John
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