I think you need to get it now. It's calling out your name......you've earned it......it's only XXX per month.....why wait? What if your '04 has a problem, it's out of warranty, look how much cost you can avoid.
Yeah, well, it's tempting, I'll admit. I may give in before Christmas, but my car-buying experience has been that I get great deals going in the last week of December or January, when the showrooms are lonely and the salespeople a little antsy to move some metal, as they say.
Thanks for the moral support. This would be far and away the most expensive, luxurious car I've ever purchased, and yes, at my advanced age I've earned it!
I live in Lexington, Kentucky. This particular dealership where I saw the coupe is just down the road in Richmond. Coupes haven't arrived at our Lexington dealership yet.
I have driven an LX-P with the electric seat and the EX with the lumbar support. I noticed that both seats press against the lower back. I know this will vary by individual sizes. By messing with the electric seat I can get it tolerable but dont know about long rides. I have had 4 Hondas and it is time for a new 2008 but the seat has me concerned. I realize this is a subjective issue. Has anyone else noticed it? I just read a 4 page review on newcartestdrive.com and they said " "Our only complaints with the Accord cabin were minor: The lumbar support on all front seats (regardless of power or upholstery) is stout and we occasionally wished for less of it;" I think I can live with it but wanted some comments from others who have taken the drive.
Wow, stickguy said it was enough to be a deal breaker. I really like this car but I will have evaluate that seat carefully. I wish I could rent one for a week for my commute. Decisions. decisions.
I read those reviews about the Accord having too much lumbar support. I was a little worried until I sat in and drove a couple of EX-L's. I have not sat in any LX/LX-P's. I actually think the seat feels better with about 25% of the available lumbar support added(put in). However, as was mentioned, lumbar support is highly subjective. I think the front seats are a 9, on a 1-10 scale, for overall comfort.
I have a 2000 Accord coupe and a 2004 sedan and the seats seem similar to me in having a little more lumbar support than I would like, and both are LXs so there's no lumbar adjustment (a failing on Honda's part, in my opinion). However, as has been mentioned, this is highly subjective, since my son has a 1998 coupe (same generation as mine) and he thinks it's fine.
When I first got my '04 sedan, it bothered me. It just felt way too aggressive, to where my upper back wasn't even in contact with the upper seat very much -- in other words, the lumbar support was pushing me out too far in the seat. So, I compensated by hanging a small seat cushion (about an inch or so thick, made to go on a wooden chair bottom) from the headrest so it dropped down and filled in the upper back support that the aggressive lumbar support was denying me. Does that make sense? Harder to describe than show. Since I couldn't dial back the lumbar support, I was adding to the upper back support, to reshape the seat to my preference.
Anyway, I liked that for a long time -- my whole back, upper and lower, was now in contact with the seat. However, I recently decided to do away with the added cushion and just give it a try the way the Honda seat engineers planned it, and I've adjusted to that now, though it's still not ideal.
Bottom line for me is -- I think Accord seats do have a little more aggressive lumbar support that other cars I've been in and I'm not totally happy with it, but it's far from a deal breaker. And, it is better for your back on long trips than having no lumbar support at all, like my '96 Regal.
The '08 EX-L V6 I'm looking at, of course, has adjustable lumbar, and when it's all the way back in, it feels about right for me.
I'm rambling, I know, but maybe my experience will help you decide about this. To me, the seat is critical. If I can't get comfortable in it, then the car is off my list.
The camera is listed in the accessory page of the sedan, but not the coupe. Hmm. I hope it's just a matter of the coupe not being out yet in most dealerships.
I have a 2008 EX and it has adjustable lumbar. On the highest setting is is hard but it is easy enough to adjust. I turned it down a little and it feels great. I have a 2006 Pilot and think the new accord seats are more comfortable than that. Also sold a 05 Camry and the seats are better than that. There is a button on the side of the seat behind the height adjustment for the lumbar.
I just saw the 08 accord coupe the 4cyl 190 hp version. It was so sweet. I been reading how people think it's ugly, etc etc on other forums. Go see it in person. It's huge, and this was only the 4cyl model with the 17" rims, i'm sure the V6 will look larger on 18s. Not to mention the exhaust tip, was mega in size. I'm buying this car for sure, once I can get it at or close to invoice.
It also requires a hole to be cut in the license plate trim which is detached from the trunk lid while the hole is cut.
The coupe license plate however is located in the bumper and not the trunk lid. Thus this would require a completely different install method and I don't know how difficult it would be to cut the mounting hole in the bumper.
This may be a reason why this is not yet offered on the coupe.
The back-up sensor kit is offered for both the coupe and the sedan however.
In both models, 4 holes are cut into the bumper face to place the sensors.
So the timing belt needs changing once every 105k miles. Big deal. What makes VCM a weak point? I call a flaring transmission a weak point. And of course the interior and exterior are both better on the Accord, at least in my book.
. . . so I got to spend plenty of non-test-drive time in one! My car is base-model 06 Subaru Forester, so the ride was great by comparison. Apples and oranges, I know. The Accord was nice and quiet, and composed on rough pavement.
The 4-cyl was not as peppy as I imagined it would be, but there was certainly plenty of power available.
Interior controls were easy to learn, and all felt high-quality. Legroom was great in all seats. I'm 5'10".
I look forward to real-world mileage reports coming in...
...IMHO sort of a mixed revue - - - in that the V-6 6M is described as a 1st/2nd gear rocket. Then comes the cautionary statement about clutch and throttle. I'm looking for the improved clutch action mentioned by Matt DeLorenzo in R & T 11/2007....
Give me a fast shifting 6 speed any day, any make is fine, but do that! (For the Honda rep that hopefully are listening)
So the timing belt needs changing once every 105k miles.
Well, if you dare waiting that long, you will be buying maybe another Accord (and maybe that's what you want anyway ) soon. 60K recommended, 90K is just idiot pushing the luck. If Honda timing belt was designed to not harm the engine when snapped, I might tried pushing it.
And of course the interior and exterior are both better on the Accord
Well, not really, to me. But leave subjective things to each of their own. To me the biggest reason to choose Accord over Camry (or the other way around for different people) is the driving dynamics. Some like it sporty, some like it luxury. None is "better", just different taste.
Well, if you dare waiting that long, you will be buying maybe another Accord (and maybe that's what you want anyway ) soon. 60K recommended, 90K is just idiot pushing the luck. If Honda timing belt was designed to not harm the engine when snapped, I might tried pushing it.
60k was 15 years ago. The "recommended" interval is now 105k miles. Where have you been? Shows just how much you know about the present Accords (not much). I will be changing the belt myself (mechanically inclined people love Accords), so it won't cost much.
Heck, my 1996 Accord has a 90k miles recommended range. I went 88k on the first one, and have 87k on the current one. I'll get a new one put on at 178k miles.
I'm about to get new belt on my 1998 at 182K miles (the original was replaced with 90K mile service). While at it, I might go for new brake pads up front as well (which were also changed at that time).
With the timing belt issue, it seems like missing a forest while looking for a tree. While I wouldn't mind saving $400-500 or so every 90-100K miles, but in the overall scheme of things, people end up spending a lot more elsewhere as a part of ownership experience.
THAT IS WHY THE 2008 ACCORD HAS THE I-VTEC ENGINE AND NOT A VTEC ENGINE, YOU DONT HAVE A TIMING BELT YOU HAVE A TIMING CHAIN AND ANY IDIOT WHO CHANGES THAT AT 60K IS WASTING THEIR MONEY.
I think maybe you should read it again. It says to change the timing belt at 60k miles if you REGULARLY drive your Accord in these extreme climates (over 110 degrees F, or below -20 degrees F). Do you drive in these conditions REGULARLY? I seriously doubt it. Do you live on the North Pole, or Directly on the Equator (which is still probably not that hot all the time).
Where do you live? Does the temperature get to above 110 often there, or below -20? Seems simple to me. I live in South Louisiana, and it gets pretty hot here. It actually may have been 110 degrees here a couple of days this summer, but a couple of days a year is in no one's interpretation regularly. These are EXTREME climates we're talking about here. I have never heard of a timing belt breaking before the recommended interval for changing, and I've been hanging around this board and a few others for years.
I bought a 08 EX-L V6 last week to replace my wife's 04 EX V6. They are parked side by side in the garage pending private sale of the 04 and here are my impressions so far. Looks like the bean counters were active on the 08. In the trunk the hooks are gone and the jack is loose in a plastic tray on top of the spare, no more compartment with a latched cover. Also the package shelf key lock for the rear seat back is gone as is the mechanical overide for the moon roof. The LH fuse panel by the hood release is exposed, no more snap in cover. Also the console storage is smaller, no coin slots and the cup holders are not spring loaded, now plastic bottles are loose and buzz a little. The 225 tires look good and ride nice but make more noise on some surfaces and only have a 300 tread wear rating vs 440 on the 04. Now the good. I really like the styling, it looks bigger than it is. Interior has more room and maybe more plush. Performance seems better, hard to tell with out a actual race, wife won't but if my son comes up before the 04 sells we may give it a try. Mileage looks close, no real check yet but 26 for the first 400 miles under the same conditions. Nothing scientific here, just my thoughts on the 08 after a week. GAR
Center Console The center console offers storage including a covered forward box, a covered two-level console with armrest, and new covered holders that accommodate two large cups. The console is nearly three inches wider than that of the previous generation Accord to ensure more storage space for personal belongings. A new spring system improves the operating feel of the cover, which doubles as the center armrest. In addition, the console offers 5.4 liters of storage space (up from 5.2 liters in the previous-generation Accord) and can now store 22 CDs (up from 20 CDs). The armrest slides fore/aft nearly a half inch more for improved comfort for drivers of different heights.
Well the armrest barely slides now. My 2006 has a large range of sliding (I'd say 2-3 inches). Nearly a half inch isn't enough to bother with!
Didn't it state that it was half an inch more, not half an inch total? I like the wider armrest, no more bumping elbows. Not enough reason to trade my 03, but it sounds like a good thing.
I haven't paid attention to the cupholders yet; the ones in the previous model were models of perfection as far as I can tell. Why mess with it?!?
I do agree that the previous cupholders were great (fit any size cup or bottle).
...while where armrests and cupholders should fall on the importance scale remains a real variable,
....I look forward to real time reports on how the VCM extends the V-6 fuel efficiency............(despite the lower - higher numerical - final drive ratio)......
Plus Road and Track (11/2007 issue) reports the 2008 6M clutch takeup as "progressive"........... That sounds like improvement to me.
Great cars. Sounds like the engineering is just getting better.
Maybe .2 liter more volume but because of the odd shape and little sliding tray it is less convenient. Some items that stowed in the 04 will not fit in the same 08 compartment. And I don't see the divider shelf and half door fwd of the shifter as an improvement. Just my opinion from owning both.
I agree, this is no storage monster, barely acceptable I would say.
I haven't taken this out for a drive yet( it is comin' though) but the back seat I would compare the Bimmer 5 series and the Mercedes E class for space and comfort. One concern that I have is the rear headrests; in the centre of the headrest is a bolt(?) almost dead centre, in an emergency stop or rearender I would think the passengers heads in the back seat would have their noggin driven into this bolt.
The trunck space is a little small, I believe that they could have done better, and the rear seats when folded have the space compromised by the structural members.
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Comments
Get it!
Thanks for the moral support. This would be far and away the most expensive, luxurious car I've ever purchased, and yes, at my advanced age I've earned it!
I live in Lexington, Kentucky. This particular dealership where I saw the coupe is just down the road in Richmond. Coupes haven't arrived at our Lexington dealership yet.
"Our only complaints with the Accord cabin were minor: The lumbar support on all front seats (regardless of power or upholstery) is stout and we occasionally wished for less of it;"
I think I can live with it but wanted some comments from others who have taken the drive.
Somebody else had a complaint about this. See post 2807:
stickguy, "2008 Honda Accord Coupe and Sedan" #2807, 17 Sep 2007 8:55 am
When I first got my '04 sedan, it bothered me. It just felt way too aggressive, to where my upper back wasn't even in contact with the upper seat very much -- in other words, the lumbar support was pushing me out too far in the seat. So, I compensated by hanging a small seat cushion (about an inch or so thick, made to go on a wooden chair bottom) from the headrest so it dropped down and filled in the upper back support that the aggressive lumbar support was denying me. Does that make sense? Harder to describe than show. Since I couldn't dial back the lumbar support, I was adding to the upper back support, to reshape the seat to my preference.
Anyway, I liked that for a long time -- my whole back, upper and lower, was now in contact with the seat. However, I recently decided to do away with the added cushion and just give it a try the way the Honda seat engineers planned it, and I've adjusted to that now, though it's still not ideal.
Bottom line for me is -- I think Accord seats do have a little more aggressive lumbar support that other cars I've been in and I'm not totally happy with it, but it's far from a deal breaker. And, it is better for your back on long trips than having no lumbar support at all, like my '96 Regal.
The '08 EX-L V6 I'm looking at, of course, has adjustable lumbar, and when it's all the way back in, it feels about right for me.
I'm rambling, I know, but maybe my experience will help you decide about this. To me, the seat is critical. If I can't get comfortable in it, then the car is off my list.
I did some research on this at collegehillshonda.com which had the accessory only listed as available for the sedan.
They posted the sedan install instructions:
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/instructions/8thgenaccsedan/rearcamera.pdf
According to that, the camera is installed just above the license plate on the trunk lid in the sedan as shown here:
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/storeart/8thgenaccsedan/backupcamera.jpg
It also requires a hole to be cut in the license plate trim which is detached from the trunk lid while the hole is cut.
The coupe license plate however is located in the bumper and not the trunk lid. Thus this would require a completely different install method and I don't know how difficult it would be to cut the mounting hole in the bumper.
This may be a reason why this is not yet offered on the coupe.
The back-up sensor kit is offered for both the coupe and the sedan however.
In both models, 4 holes are cut into the bumper face to place the sensors.
- slower shifting 5 speed (> 5 years old) vs new 6 speed (with quirks now worked out)
- timing belt (worse kind, where a snapped belt would damage the engine) vs timing chain.
- same power output fine, but needs VCM to get the same mileage.
Honda needs to address these glaring weak points for two cars supposedly very competitive.
The 4-cyl was not as peppy as I imagined it would be, but there was certainly plenty of power available.
Interior controls were easy to learn, and all felt high-quality. Legroom was great in all seats. I'm 5'10".
I look forward to real-world mileage reports coming in...
Ready - Fire - Aim
Coupe review
Probably be a good idea.
Probably not old enough to get a license.
...IMHO sort of a mixed revue - - - in that the V-6 6M is described as a 1st/2nd gear rocket. Then comes the cautionary statement about clutch and throttle. I'm looking for the improved clutch action mentioned by Matt DeLorenzo in R & T 11/2007....
I reckon a test drive will tell.
best, ez....
Does anyone know of others places to look?
:shades:
Mackabee
So the timing belt needs changing once every 105k miles.
Well, if you dare waiting that long, you will be buying maybe another Accord (and maybe that's what you want anyway
And of course the interior and exterior are both better on the Accord
Well, not really, to me. But leave subjective things to each of their own. To me the biggest reason to choose Accord over Camry (or the other way around for different people) is the driving dynamics. Some like it sporty, some like it luxury. None is "better", just different taste.
60k was 15 years ago. The "recommended" interval is now 105k miles. Where have you been? Shows just how much you know about the present Accords (not much). I will be changing the belt myself (mechanically inclined people love Accords), so it won't cost much.
With the timing belt issue, it seems like missing a forest while looking for a tree. While I wouldn't mind saving $400-500 or so every 90-100K miles, but in the overall scheme of things, people end up spending a lot more elsewhere as a part of ownership experience.
http://research.cars.com/go/crp/research.jsp?section=summary&crpPage=summary.jsp- &makeid=18&modelid=212&year=2008&myid=&acode=&mode=&aff=national
Thank you for the link. I really appreciate it. I wonder why NADA, KBB, etc. don't have them up yet. Thanks again.
David
The price I believe was good too. Can I talk about the price?
They will do anything to sell
Lake County, IL
Your statement conflicts with what Honda says:
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/812/releases/4107
Center Console
The center console offers storage including a covered forward box, a covered two-level console with armrest, and new covered holders that accommodate two large cups. The console is nearly three inches wider than that of the previous generation Accord to ensure more storage space for personal belongings. A new spring system improves the operating feel of the cover, which doubles as the center armrest. In addition, the console offers 5.4 liters of storage space (up from 5.2 liters in the previous-generation Accord) and can now store 22 CDs (up from 20 CDs). The armrest slides fore/aft nearly a half inch more for improved comfort for drivers of different heights.
I haven't paid attention to the cupholders yet; the ones in the previous model were models of perfection as far as I can tell. Why mess with it?!?
Didn't it state that it was half an inch more, not half an inch total? I like the wider armrest, no more bumping elbows. Not enough reason to trade my 03, but it sounds like a good thing.
I haven't paid attention to the cupholders yet; the ones in the previous model were models of perfection as far as I can tell. Why mess with it?!?
I do agree that the previous cupholders were great (fit any size cup or bottle).
....I look forward to real time reports on how the VCM extends the V-6 fuel efficiency............(despite the lower - higher numerical - final drive ratio)......
Plus Road and Track (11/2007 issue) reports the 2008 6M clutch takeup as "progressive"........... That sounds like improvement to me.
Great cars. Sounds like the engineering is just getting better.
....best, ez....
I haven't taken this out for a drive yet( it is comin' though) but the back seat I would compare the Bimmer 5 series and the Mercedes E class for space and comfort. One concern that I have is the rear headrests; in the centre of the headrest is a bolt(?) almost dead centre, in an emergency stop or rearender I would think the passengers heads in the back seat would have their noggin driven into this bolt.
The trunck space is a little small, I believe that they could have done better, and the rear seats when folded have the space compromised by the structural members.
Otherwise, I like it so far.