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Thanks, Ben
Also based on the reviews, they said it handled pretty much like the current accord.
Toyota Division
Toyota Division passenger cars recorded August sales of 115,718, a decrease of eight percent from last August. Passenger car sales were led by Camry, which posted August sales of 42,658, up one percent over the same period last year. Camry Hybrid reported sales of 4,284 units in August.
From the Honda article:
Accord sales increased 37.3 percent to 47,360.
I am sure those Honda discounts helped but maybe word of the crappy transmission in the Camry also contributed.
The NAVI is incredible. I may even have to learn how it works!
As a sales person I would hope so!!
Can you be more specific on the specs of the car you drove (maybe I missed it in an earlier post)?
What was your response to the suggestions that have come up that it may be too large, too 'busy' in the dash, look like a Sonata/ Aura/ 5-series.
Also, do you have any insight on the diesel version and what transmissions (please say manual) and/or trim lines will be available with diesel?
Yes, I SHOULD know how it works, and for the most part, I do. Our NAVI systems are kind of like Microsoft Excel. An advanced user is probably utilizing maybe 10% of it's capabilities.
That
You need a vacation.
Bland? Seeing a pic of the new Malibu next to a pic of the new Accord, the Accord looks extremely basic, and boring. The bland look has been shrinking my oppinion of it day after day.
Of course- no idiot goes just by looks, but you aren't going to buy a car that you think looks terrible. This is totally off subject, but would you have bought the Pontiac Aztec if it had the same safety and reliability as the CRV? (thoug when you answer no to that, there is probably a little Honda bias to your answer).
Now I'm curious, why GM pulled back on offering Camry and Accord for a comparison test drive against Malibu at Chevrolet dealerships.
That was a stupid move. the best selling Camry doesn't have an Accord sitting next to it on Toyota lots. Top players don't do that. But it was an interesting idea. And GM was obviously ready for a Honda redesign, as this malibu looks as if it is about to carve out some serious market share. From what is known about the veicle, and some more recent GM vehicles, there should be no superiority from Honda t Chevy. I mean, the new GM lambda vehicles beat the Honda Pilot in every test comparo out there. Malibu won't be a best seller... now. But in 5 years? Honda is taking notice.
If you find the new Malibu exciting and fresh, more power to you. I don’t find it appealing to my eyes. I do find the new Accord appealing, with laidback and pleasing lines. But styling is simply an icing on top of what seems to be another Accord with expected qualities.
That was a stupid move. the best selling Camry doesn't have an Accord sitting next to it on Toyota lots. Top players don't do that. But it was an interesting idea.
Was stupidity interesting? And it isn’t about being a top player, it is about being a benchmark. It seemed easy for GM to take a 4-5 year old Accord and benchmark it for comparison. It now sounds stupid to do the same to what looks like a new benchmark. Doesn’t it?
I mean, the new GM lambda vehicles beat the Honda Pilot in every test comparo out there. Malibu won't be a best seller... now. But in 5 years? Honda is taking notice.
Of course, no progressive company sits and watches competition. But, are you really using Pilot as a benchmark in the SUV segment? And once again, comparing the latest to one of the oldest that is about to be refreshed. Does Honda create another benchmark? We will see in a few months.
So I’ll try to be a bit careful here and not go too far out on a limb. But my first impression, based on some 400 miles at the wheel of one particular preproduction car (No. 76, if I’m reading the V.I.N. correctly), is that the new Accord is good. Not just pretty good or quite good, but fundamentally, significantly, game-changing good. I hate the term “new paradigm,” but those were the words that came to mind within the first half hour, and the rest of the test only reinforced that impression.
I haven't seen to many test pitting the two, but the Pilot came out in 2003. How is that a big deal? Now if it beats say the Mazda CX-9 or the Highlander, then ya good for GM (BTW, I think the Lambda utes are great vehicles)
Malibu won't be a best seller... now. But in 5 years? Honda is taking notice.
The Malibu averages 60% of its sales to fleets.
Fleet sales
Even back in 1997, the MTCOY turned out to be nothing but a rental queen. I wouldn;t expect anything different from the new one.
I understand what you mean. While I can't see how the Pilot is relevant here, it is a design from 2002; if car companies today are six years behind Honda, they need help. The Pilot is good, but its not THAT good, guys.
Seems like all of this talk on the Malibu would get MUCH more particpation and make more sense in the Midsize Sedans 2.0 board. This discussion is intended to be specifically about the new Accord, and those looking for info on it may get confused with talk about Chevrolet in this thread.
The Accord is equally important to the US auto industry. Eighty percent of the Hondas sold in the United States are built here using more than 80 percent US-built parts.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-mazda6-2/384633/
This would be more appreciated in the Midsize Sedans forum; this one really isn't for comparison?
If you drive on the inside, go for the Accord.
Just my .02.
It is the side and the rear where Mazda found a lot of inspiration. The side crease/profile is off Lexus' book (IS), and the crease at the bottom of the doors shows a TL/TSX-esque cut (also seen in 2008 Accord, an element that Honda first used in 1997 Prelude). The rear gets a lot of commonalities, starting with tail lamp lens (Sebring/Corolla), and trunk lid (prev generation Sentra). From an angle, it actually looks Avalon-ish with Corolla lamps.
The wagon is good looking however, from that angle.
jt
p.s...the tail light design came from the CX-9.
It does look good though and maintains strong family resemblance. A little boy-racer-ish front end to my tastes (and tail lamp lens has a lot of "make up" too).
Front is mazda3/rx8, side is pure Ford Mondeo, rear is pure Chrysler Sebring. Interior looks standard Mazda quality, a.k.a funskool/fisher price finish.
I will have to find good reason to get rid one of my oldest Accord in my fleet of 4 V6 Accords to buy the Accord '08 ASAP. I have been "in love" with Honda innovative engineering and top-notch engineers.
- Dual section airbags (second airbag section to protect driver/ passengers' torsos).
- Protection driver/ passenger's necks in case of other car hitting from rear.
- VCM (Variable Cyclinder Management, using 6, 4 or 3 cylinders at time). MPG 19 / 29.
- Blue-tooth Navigation.
- Gas tank is placed forward to balance/ distribute weight. Bigger gas tank (18.5 gal)
- Interior lights auto dimmed.
- Higher front nose. Upscale body style.
- All 4 disc brakes. (Electronic Brake Distribution) EBD
- Electronic Stability Control/ Assistance
- 240-watt audio/ 7 speakers
- ACE (Advanced Compatibilty Engineering) to disperse impact in case of crash/ head-on collision against different-height vehicles.
- 268 HP at 6200 RPM, 248 Lbs/Ft Torque.
- NXS' precise/ light power steering.
- Roomier inside, look a bit bigger outside. It is classified as large(r) sedan now.
- ...There are few more.
In short: It's truly worth the additional $700 - $1,000 for '08 Accord model. I AM GRATEFUL TO OFFER "A FRIENDLY KISS/ HUG" TO MY BELOVED ENGINEERS AND HONDA MANAGEMENT. I am so interested in the new Accord '08. I had to give up my Accord hybrid '05 255HP to my "spoiled" son. Now I have to drive the 200HP Accord V6 EX 2000. Its transmission is not so great. This time when I buy the Accord '08 I will keep it for myself for sure. No more compromise. I consider this Accord '08 is a real (Acura) wolf under Honda' clothes.
- All above.
- Front Double wishbone suspension.
- Rear multi-link suspension.
- TCS (Traction Control System)
- "Central gravity point" is lower by 1 inch.
- A sport "make-to-blieve-cute wolf"/"pretending cute wolf" in a sedan "3-piece suit". Yet, it can beat any European sport car.
- Smoother ride, quieter equally or better than a Camry. Nissan is far behind it.
- This writer is not a Honda saleman, but a Honda fan for over 40 years.
- Readers who loves Honda cars should spare / spend some $35K to buy the top model V6 EX with Navi.
- Check prices of Volvo cars in same class and will appreciate pricing Honda has offered on this Accord '08.
Also, the new mazda looks very nice, it looks like the lexus models. Very sleek. Wow, I am impressed. This new Accord looks awesome, but does not need to be afraid of style.
My dealer said they'll have some this coming week! But, there is no way, I am dealing now. Its way too soon!
"4" is new. But you're right, VCM isn't a brand new technology. Honda has now used it for years (beginning in 2003 to be exact, beginning with JDM Inspire, onto Odyssey and Pilot, as well as a simpler cylinder idling system in Civic Hybrid). And in simpler ways, even before that. It is yet another adaptation of VTEC.
I would love to have it in my TL. If I can get 30+ mpg at 70+ mph in my TL right now, I wouldn't mind getting 32+ mpg at those speeds.
- Smoother ride, quieter equally or better than a Camry. Nissan is far behind it.”
This might be the clincher for me.
I’ve been checking out both the 2007 Camry and the ES350 (as well as other luxo/sporty sedans) for 8 months; I just can’t get over how poorly the Toyota customers have been treated with regards to the flaring transmissions.
Quieter than a Camry? This is a great point for me, the 2007 Accord V6 is as noisy as my 99 Odyssey, and that’s not good.
We don’t have a 2008 Accord at the dealer as of last weekend, but we’re waiting for it.
First year ownership?
We bought the first year re-vamped Odyssey (1999, and still have it) and we haven’t had any major problems outside of a small piece of weather stripping on the passenger door and a rear vent window that became loose within the first month of buying it (and it was fixed and touched up promptly), so I wouldn’t have a great problem buying a first year Honda if need be.
Be careful! Dealers are on their game! I am waiting to see what others are paying first.
I find the 'bland' comments funny; wether they come from a respective automotive journalism magazine/website, or from individual people. Why? Because what car in this segment is as exciting as an nsx? or a lotus? or a porsche? or any other outlandish vehicle?
The camry? no.
the mazda 6? no not really. it has good driving dynamics, but the accord has that also.
any of the domestics? nope.
the sonata? no. in fact, its COPYING prev gen accords. (so in reference to the 'it looks like a sonata!' comments, sorry, no dice. The accord is busy looking like an accord, a car that hyundai just so happened to COPY. That doesn't make it look like a sonata. If anything, this accords design should make you realize how much of a copycat/benchmark lover HYUNDAI is.)
the new accord looks strongly reminiscent of a 5 series and the current RL. but seeing those lines takes more than just delving in midsize sedans, you have to be interested in other automotive segments as well. Its not honda's fault YOU can't see it.
If its not to your tastes, fine. But one thing is certain: NO other company is scruitinized like this when new models come out. That says something. And even the people who like to bash on honda's are displaying the companies prowress when they even so much as lift their fingers to type a negative comment.
To each his own. I think it looks great. And unlike cars like the chevy malibu and hyundai sonata, its involving to drive, without having to wear its 'I handle really well for a midsize!' credentials on its sleeve like the mazda6. and it suffers from no teenage acne like the camry.
what more do you want? everyone will find something to compalin about, but thats the beauty of the whole thing: you don't have to buy this car, and if you have no interest in doing so, no one cares.
this accord looks fantastic. Probably my favorite body style after the cv7 and 94-97 models.
wow, I will respectively disagree. I think the new Accord looks more like a Ford Taurus/ Five Hundred then a 5 series BMW. The new Accord has no lines like the bimmer. I do see a bit of the RL in it, but a box version of the RL.
BTW, the RL has not been that big of a hit for Acura. More of a let down I should say. The TSX and TL have been successful.
eldaino, check out the new Mazda6. That is way more styling then the new Accord, and will most likely have more crisp driving dynamics as well.