We are long time Honda owners and currently have an 03 Accord EX V-6 and an 04 Acura TL, both excellent cars. I stopped by the Honda dealer where we have bought our last 3 Accords and while they were friendly, they would not give fair market trade-in for the TL which is still under factory warranty and has only 42,000 miles, new tires and new brakes. They offered a $600 discount on an 08 Accord EX V-6, even though they have given us $2,500 off sticker for the last 3 Accords we bought there. We are keeping the 03 Accord which is one of the best Accords we have ever owned.
The new Accord V6 drove quite nice but I did not see that the VCM was active so cannot advise on how it worked. We get 25 in town on the TL and 30 on the road, so the Accord will be hard pressed to beat that. Our main complaint on the TL is its extremely harsh ride, which Acura admits has cost them some sales. The new Accord did indeed ride better than the TL, but even in EX trim, we will have to give up some nice features to return to the Accord. For example, Bluetooth for your cell phone is only available if you get NAVI, which costs about $2,000. Our City has enacted a law that we cannot use our cell while driving, which I can understand, so the Bluetooth on the Acura is nice.
I said thanks and left to wait for the time when it snows here in Ohio and they have nobody to talk to in the dealership. I am retired so in no hurry to line the pockets of the Honda dealer. The Acura TL will be new in the fall of 2008 so maybe we will see what they have to offer at that time. For now, Honda is trying hard to make maximum profit on the new Accord, even for long time past customers.
The thing is that, with so many laws being enacted as the one you mentioned above, it doesn't make sense to offer bluetooth only with navigation, especially when the technology has existed for years to offer bluetooth by itself.
Hey mp1971, could you email (mdomin@comcast.net) which dealership and salesperson this was? I'm in lake county, il and want to find an accord under msrp without to much hassle. thanks.
I placed an order for a 2008 EX-L V6 with Nav this past Thursday. In my discussion with the salesman about only the Nav cars having Bluetooth, he said starting sometime in November Bluetooth will become a standalone option.
That's going to be great if it happens. I don't really need the whole navigations package, but bluetooth is one of the favorite features that comes with my wife's car.
I'm aware of that and plan on buying a portable regardless. I'd like to have bluetooth installed, because I'd probably only use the Garmin infrequently, as when I visit a place like San Francisco, the streets of which are really confusing to me. A Garmin could be kept stowed away until either I or one of my daughters needed it.
Hopefully, Honda's would come with the steering wheel controls.
Just told my wife the good news and she told me she still would prefer that I get the navigation if I get a new Accord. I told her that for the price I could get a portable AND the new LCD TV she wants for the living room. She could see my logic.
I'm concerned about how reliable and smooth the 3-4-6 operating cylinder switching is? Has anyone looked into this? Honda usually has engineering down pat and is known for reliability but this seems a new technology. Is my concern unjustified?
"For those who feel that they "need" bluetooth for handsfree phone use, why not just use an over-the-ear type for about $30?
An even less complicated handsfree arrangement is a simple wired earbud. Costs less than $10 and works perfectly."
That is not as convenient as having a blue tooth built in to the cars audio system... an analogy would be driving a 10 year old Cavalier instead of a 08 Honda.. a Cavalier is less complicated costs less than $10K and works perfectly. Heck why use a computer when we can use a typewriter?
My wife and I went to see and test drive the 2008 Accord yesterday. In my opinion, the car is much, much more attractive than the model it replaces. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but IMHO, you'd have to be half blind to like the old body style.
Nice comfortable seats, taut ride, and a smooth engine. My wife thought the center stack looked "industrial". I know it has too many controls for her.
Here's my question.... The salesman told me that Honda has it's own (separate) GPS satellite which also updates the nav data base at no cost to the consumer. I'm guessing he's either ignorant or shining me, any comments?
The salesman told me that Honda has it's own (separate) GPS satellite which also updates the nav data base at no cost to the consumer. I'm guessing he's either ignorant or shining me
I'd not deal with THAT salesman. He hasn't a clue.
Clearly he's wrong on both counts. Here's where you purchase new DVDs for Honda navigation systems for $185 + shipping.
My 2004 Accord's 2003 Navigation System DVD is doing fine and I haven't felt any need to upgrade except when traveling into a newly built subdivision. 99% or more of the mapping data doesn't change. Points Of Interest (POI) change as companies go into and out of business. So you may not know that they've built a new coffee shop there when you drive to an unfamiliar neighborhood.
That is not as convenient as having a blue tooth built in to the cars audio system... an analogy would be driving a 10 year old Cavalier instead of a 08 Honda
:confuse: Sounds like you haven't used a bluetooth earpiece.
It's as complicated as putting it in your ear. When the phone rings, you talk. That's it. Not a lot like a 10 year old Cavalier.
I've been to my local dealer - they have around 40 Accords on the premises - LX, EX, etc - but haven't seen any V6's in the four door, and haven't seen any coupes.
Are the V6's out yet? Has anyone driven/compared it?
Sounds like you haven't used a bluetooth earpiece.
Are you talking about one of those things that look like a big bug landed on your ear. You could put one of those things on my ear, but you would have to give me a strong sedative first.
You can't browse on your typewriter or download pictures on your typewriter or write boring stuff on Accord threads like this one on your typewriter or talk about bluetooth which apparently you have no clue how it works on your typewriter or visit far away places without leaving home on your typewriter. Do you have a typewriter?
Blue ball with bluetooth:
Once you take care of those then you can get back to these:
We had the Acura dealer replace the Bridgstone OEM's with Michelin MXV4's and the ride was much improved. They lasted only 30,000 miles but we replaced them with another set of the same Michelin's. Our dealer reports the harsh ride has been the number one complaint on the TL.
Back to the 08 Accord and I failed to mention some other items that the Accord does not have compared to the TL, not only Bluetooth, HID headlights, automatic dimming mirror (Accessory on Accord) and the nice, separate control drivers seats. I know Honda of America has to make the two cars different, so understand. Also, the warranty on the TL is 48 Months or 50,000 miles, much longer than the Accord. Both cars are made in Marysville, Ohio.
School is out on that VCM and since the Accord Coupe with MT does NOT have it, I wonder if there is a computer lock out for the other V6's? Many folks who have driven it reported it is noticeable when active. I did not feel it but did not take it on a freeway.
The 08 Accord is a beautiful car, well built and drives like a dream. We will be hard pressed to decide when our dealership comes out of the clouds on pricing.
I think auto-dimming mirror is standard on some trims in Accord, the drivetrain warranty has been 5 years/60K miles for 2-3 years (on TL it is 6 years/70K). The top of the line Accord is not pretty close to TL (which will go up a step or two with redesign in the very near future).
In my discussion with the salesman about only the Nav cars having Bluetooth, he said starting sometime in November Bluetooth will become a standalone option.
You will also need to add a couple of hours dealer labor charges to that price, making it around $600 even at the College Hills "discount" price.
Also, it is not any better than aftermarket bluetooth since it doesn't play through the stereo speakers and it does not mute the stereo. There are some aftermarket bluetooth systems that do plug into and mute the stereo.
You can get this unit for less aftermarket, then take it to a local stereo shop to have it installed for much less.
The full car warranties are: Acura 4 years, 50,000 miles; Accord 3 years, 36,000 miles. At the dealer I was also told that Bluetooth will be an accessory later this month. If you get stopped by the Police in my City, you will be given a ticket if you were talking on your hand held cell phone. Thus the integrated Bluetooth standard on the TL and in the NAVI only Accords is a good feature.
According to this Honda website http://tinyurl.com/yqjvum, in order to "pair" my cellphone for bluetooth use in a Navigation System-equipped 2008 Accord, I would have to do most of the following every time I returned to the car after having parked it. What a wonderful pleasurable activity. No thank you. I'll stick with my wired handsfree earbud.
Pairing Instructions
IMPORTANT!
You must press and release the HandsFreeLink talk button on the steering wheel and wait for the beep before you speak. This step is required before all spoken commands.
Power on the phone and ensure Bluetooth® is ON. Please refer to your phone's user guide for steps to turn on Bluetooth.
Press and release the Talk button on the steering wheel and wait for the "beep" before you speak. Repeat this step before all spoken commands.
Say "phone setup"
Say "pair"
Say any 4 digit PIN code for pairing. Remember it as you will need to enter it into your phone later. HandsFreeLink will now instruct you to begin the pairing process in the phone.
Press the MENU button on the phone.
Choose SETTINGS and press SELECT.
Scroll to CONNECTION and press SELECT.
Choose BLUETOOTH LINK and press SELECT.
Scroll to HANDS-FREE and press SELECT.
Scroll to LOOK FOR DEVICES and press SELECT.
Select the device name from the list.
The phone will ask you if you want to bond with the device Press YES.
Enter the 4 digit PIN from earlier step and press OK.
According to this Honda website http://tinyurl.com/yqjvum, in order to "pair" my cellphone for bluetooth use in a Navigation System-equipped 2008 Accord, I would have to do most of the following every time I returned to the car after having parked it.
I looked at the link you gave and it was just a list of compatible phones. It didn't say anything about having to perform the pairing steps every time you got back into the car as you have claimed.
I just purchased my extended warranty for my 2008 Accord for 6 years 120k miles for $785. You get a $25 coupon from the parts department with the Honda Care warranty. The splash guards are $70 plus shipping but you get $25 off. Any comments on the looks and or effectiveness of these splash guards. I assume you get front and back for that price.
You don't have to pair it everytime. Once it's paired it's paired. You can set it to have it ask for your phone but most of the time it will automatically pair when you turn on the car.
i saw the accord sedan and coupe lxp/s and ex models.i noticed that the ex models have the non cloth center armrst and door panel inserts.can anyone tell if they are leather or some leather like meterial?
Uh yeah, maybe, I dont see saturn too much, I see more of the 5 series BMW in the 08 accord. Its great. I really like the coupe, its a sharp looking car, but I really need 4 doors.
Also, is it true that the bluetooth will be standard on some trims?? If this is true, I'll skip that $2k navi.
Bluetooth comes standard only navigation option, in other word if you want bluetooth only you can't, you have to get loaded with navigation in order to get bluetooth.
is it true that the bluetooth will be standard on some trims?
As of now, it is standard only in NAVI models. However, it is said that it will be available as a dealer-installed accessory.
The downside to dealer-installed version is that you will have to turn down the audio system yourself if it is on (on NAV equipped models, it takes care of that automatically).
No I'm not blind. Nothing like a double negative there huh? Where did you learn english? LOL Yes I have seen the Accurn in person. Side by side I might add. The resemblance is amazing. BMW 5 series pluuueeezzzeee. :P Mackabee
C'mon Mack, that's enough of the off-topic pictures, please. You've established that you think the new Accord looks like a Saturn; others have established that they disagree.
Well, looks like Edmunds editor completely agree with me...
Maybe the next TL will give a 6 speed and a upgraded engine. Honda, these obvious power train deficiencies won't go unnoticed, especially in the upscale EX V6 trim! better put your act together quickly on TL/Accord, or they enough (to me) to be deal breaker.
At the test track, the new Accord hit 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 91.8 mph. That's a solid improvement over the Accord in our last V6 Family Sedan Comparison Test, but it's still well behind the Camry V6 that whomped to 60 in just 6.5 seconds and scorched the quarter in 14.6 seconds at 97.3 mph.
The Camry's V6 is also rated at 268 hp and the Toyota weighs a little less than the 3,572-pound Accord, but the biggest problem is the Accord's engine electronics. With the standard VSA stability control turned off, the Accord's computer doesn't allow full-throttle acceleration until about 20 mph. At that speed, the car barks the tires and takes off, but by that time any chance of out-sprinting the Toyota is long gone.
Another advantage is the Toyota's six-speed automatic, which allows the car to exploit its V6 more effectively than the Honda's five-speed. It also helps the Camry return very good fuel economy (19 city/28 highway for 2008) without the use of a cylinder-deactivation scheme.
That said, the Accord's five-speed does its daily duties invisibly.
Aah, the fascination with all the wrong things in the world... "the best launch for best 0-60", the "need" to have 6-speed without actually understanding how it actually helps, EPA rating comparisons for real world fuel economy... just the things we need to compare when getting a family sedan. :sick:
Comments
The new Accord V6 drove quite nice but I did not see that the VCM was active so cannot advise on how it worked. We get 25 in town on the TL and 30 on the road, so the Accord will be hard pressed to beat that. Our main complaint on the TL is its extremely harsh ride, which Acura admits has cost them some sales. The new Accord did indeed ride better than the TL, but even in EX trim, we will have to give up some nice features to return to the Accord. For example, Bluetooth for your cell phone is only available if you get NAVI, which costs about $2,000. Our City has enacted a law that we cannot use our cell while driving, which I can understand, so the Bluetooth on the Acura is nice.
I said thanks and left to wait for the time when it snows here in Ohio and they have nobody to talk to in the dealership. I am retired so in no hurry to line the pockets of the Honda dealer. The Acura TL will be new in the fall of 2008 so maybe we will see what they have to offer at that time. For now, Honda is trying hard to make maximum profit on the new Accord, even for long time past customers.
Hopefully, Honda's would come with the steering wheel controls.
Just told my wife the good news and she told me she still would prefer that I get the navigation if I get a new Accord. I told her that for the price I could get a portable AND the new LCD TV she wants for the living room. She could see my logic.
An even less complicated handsfree arrangement is a simple wired earbud. Costs less than $10 and works perfectly.
An even less complicated handsfree arrangement is a simple wired earbud. Costs less than $10 and works perfectly."
That is not as convenient as having a blue tooth built in to the cars audio system... an analogy would be driving a 10 year old Cavalier instead of a 08 Honda.. a Cavalier is less complicated costs less than $10K and works perfectly.
Heck why use a computer when we can use a typewriter?
Nice comfortable seats, taut ride, and a smooth engine. My wife thought the center stack looked "industrial". I know it has too many controls for her.
Here's my question.... The salesman told me that Honda has it's own (separate) GPS satellite which also updates the nav data base at no cost to the consumer. I'm guessing he's either ignorant or shining me, any comments?
I'd not deal with THAT salesman. He hasn't a clue.
Clearly he's wrong on both counts. Here's where you purchase new DVDs for Honda navigation systems for $185 + shipping.
https://store.alpine-usa.com/Hondadvdsales/naviorder.php
My 2004 Accord's 2003 Navigation System DVD is doing fine and I haven't felt any need to upgrade except when traveling into a newly built subdivision. 99% or more of the mapping data doesn't change. Points Of Interest (POI) change as companies go into and out of business. So you may not know that they've built a new coffee shop there when you drive to an unfamiliar neighborhood.
:confuse: Sounds like you haven't used a bluetooth earpiece.
It's as complicated as putting it in your ear. When the phone rings, you talk. That's it. Not a lot like a 10 year old Cavalier.
Are the V6's out yet? Has anyone driven/compared it?
Are the coupes out yet?
Are you talking about one of those things that look like a big bug landed on your ear. You could put one of those things on my ear, but you would have to give me a strong sedative first.
Blue ball with bluetooth:
Once you take care of those then you can get back to these:
Back to the 08 Accord and I failed to mention some other items that the Accord does not have compared to the TL, not only Bluetooth, HID headlights, automatic dimming mirror (Accessory on Accord) and the nice, separate control drivers seats. I know Honda of America has to make the two cars different, so understand. Also, the warranty on the TL is 48 Months or 50,000 miles, much longer than the Accord. Both cars are made in Marysville, Ohio.
School is out on that VCM and since the Accord Coupe with MT does NOT have it, I wonder if there is a computer lock out for the other V6's? Many folks who have driven it reported it is noticeable when active. I did not feel it but did not take it on a freeway.
The 08 Accord is a beautiful car, well built and drives like a dream. We will be hard pressed to decide when our dealership comes out of the clouds on pricing.
I think auto-dimming mirror is standard on some trims in Accord, the drivetrain warranty has been 5 years/60K miles for 2-3 years (on TL it is 6 years/70K). The top of the line Accord is not pretty close to TL (which will go up a step or two with redesign in the very near future).
It's available at College Hills Honda for $388:
http://www.collegehillshonda.com/honda_accord_4dr_accessories/2008_accord_electr- onics.htm
Also, it is not any better than aftermarket bluetooth since it doesn't play through the stereo speakers and it does not mute the stereo. There are some aftermarket bluetooth systems that do plug into and mute the stereo.
You can get this unit for less aftermarket, then take it to a local stereo shop to have it installed for much less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuEBnhw_LHs
You can also just buy a portable nav that will double and triple as a bluetooth speakerphone and portable mp3 player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_SF28uN7S8
Pairing Instructions
IMPORTANT!
You must press and release the HandsFreeLink talk button on the steering wheel and wait for the beep before you speak. This step is required before all spoken commands.
Power on the phone and ensure Bluetooth® is ON. Please refer to your phone's user guide for steps to turn on Bluetooth.
Press and release the Talk button on the steering wheel and wait for the "beep" before you speak. Repeat this step before all spoken commands.
Say "phone setup"
Say "pair"
Say any 4 digit PIN code for pairing. Remember it as you will need to enter it into your phone later. HandsFreeLink will now instruct you to begin the pairing process in the phone.
Press the MENU button on the phone.
Choose SETTINGS and press SELECT.
Scroll to CONNECTION and press SELECT.
Choose BLUETOOTH LINK and press SELECT.
Scroll to HANDS-FREE and press SELECT.
Scroll to LOOK FOR DEVICES and press SELECT.
Select the device name from the list.
The phone will ask you if you want to bond with the device Press YES.
Enter the 4 digit PIN from earlier step and press OK.
When prompted, say the desired phone name.
You should hear "pairing successful."
I looked at the link you gave and it was just a list of compatible phones. It didn't say anything about having to perform the pairing steps every time you got back into the car as you have claimed.
Well I found my phone. I see a link for the pairing instructions. But I didn't find anything that says I'd have to do it every time I get in the car.
Can you post a link to what you were specifically looking at?
Also, is it true that the bluetooth will be standard on some trims?? If this is true, I'll skip that $2k navi.
As of now, it is standard only in NAVI models. However, it is said that it will be available as a dealer-installed accessory.
The downside to dealer-installed version is that you will have to turn down the audio system yourself if it is on (on NAV equipped models, it takes care of that automatically).
:P
Mackabee
Here's another pic of your wanna be 5 series.
Let's move on.
Mackabee
So I've noticed... :P :shades:
Maybe the next TL will give a 6 speed and a upgraded engine. Honda, these obvious power train deficiencies won't go unnoticed, especially in the upscale EX V6 trim! better put your act together quickly on TL/Accord, or they enough (to me) to be deal breaker.
At the test track, the new Accord hit 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 91.8 mph. That's a solid improvement over the Accord in our last V6 Family Sedan Comparison Test, but it's still well behind the Camry V6 that whomped to 60 in just 6.5 seconds and scorched the quarter in 14.6 seconds at 97.3 mph.
The Camry's V6 is also rated at 268 hp and the Toyota weighs a little less than the 3,572-pound Accord, but the biggest problem is the Accord's engine electronics. With the standard VSA stability control turned off, the Accord's computer doesn't allow full-throttle acceleration until about 20 mph. At that speed, the car barks the tires and takes off, but by that time any chance of out-sprinting the Toyota is long gone.
Another advantage is the Toyota's six-speed automatic, which allows the car to exploit its V6 more effectively than the Honda's five-speed. It also helps the Camry return very good fuel economy (19 city/28 highway for 2008) without the use of a cylinder-deactivation scheme.
That said, the Accord's five-speed does its daily duties invisibly.