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Comments
You have got to be kidding me right??? My V-6 Accord (2007) does NOT have the "annoying VCM" and if you knew anything about the "balance" of V-6 engines, the V-6 is much quieter and smoother than the 4 at highway speeds. Getting groceries around town with the 4 , you might not notice much difference between the 4 and the 6, BUT at 75 MPH, the differences are dramatic. I own BOTH, an 05 I-4 and the 07 V-6 and the performance and NVH at highway speeds are like night and day. If you're going to the Winn Dixie for milk , the 4 is fine, BUT for my highway driving, I much prefer the 6.
Glenn
Of course it doesn't... it's a 2008 feature.
And if someone wants to add or read up more on the VCM discussion, I suggest keep it to the separate thread on VCM!
My latest tank on the 08 EXL 4 Cyl was 19.3 mpg, all city mileage. Very disappointing. My grandfather's Buick LeSabre gets better mileage with a 3.8 V6!
While I doubt that in real stop & go city driving for a full tank the LeSabre would get the same mileage, I know I do with my V6 EX-L and usually better. So considering I've got the responsiveness and smooth operation of the V6 I still think I made the right decision over the I4. And I'll stick by the smooth operation comment even though I have VCM, which can be felt on occasion, but it's barely noticeable in my car, you almost have to try to feel it.
First of all I very well understand the harmonic balance of engines. A 90 degree V8 is naturally in balance while a 90 degree V6 needs balance shafts in order to run smoothly (as GM found out AFTER it tried to do a 90 degree V6 in 1962 by lopping off two cylinders of a Buick V8 and running it WITHOUT balance shafts - the great great great grandfather of GM's current crop of 90 degree pushrod V6 engines like the 3.8 liter that has been around). A 60 degree V6 or V12 is in harmonic balance.
Second - the VCM in the Accord is different from what was in the Odyssey. The Odyssey only went from 6 to 3 to 6. The Accord VCM operates as a V6, then a V4, and then as a slant 3, only the back 3 cylinders firing. Those that do notice the switching of cylinder modes (including myself on several test drives of different cars) seem to notice the 4-3-4 operation the most as it is most "annoying" - to me anyway - when cruising at 60-70 MPH and you can sense the "torque-on/torque-off " sensation as described in Autoweek. Then too, as parviz points out, there are those who are very happy with their V6 '08 Accords whose VCM operation is apparently seamless as Honda advertises.
You did not say whether you had driven an '08 Accord V6 when you remarked about the VCM and my comment about its being annoying, so if you have not, try it and compare it to your 2007. I dare say you will notice a huge difference - I have from driving my friend's 2007 without VCM. And in that case you are correct - the old 3.0 liter 244 HP V6 is sweeeeet!
But in '08 Accords, I would have to say that cruising at 60-70 with the 190HP I4 is more pleasant, to me, than at the same speeds with the V6s I have driven and the VCM activity going on.
Actually, the Speed3 is a great lil car; very quickand nicely priced too. I know this is Off Topic, BUT how do you like it?? Been looking at one for the kid???
Glenn
So, it's a crap shoot - OR you test the heck out of the actual car you will buy - no demos - and drive one until you find one that does not give the surging/hunting sensation, and then grab it up - regardless of color! Let's see - I have test driven 6 cars without success - guess the car Gods are against me - 4 should have been ok. I'll keep trying!
I am just so attached to my 06, but it is just a lease, and I have to realize that, I do, want more features, like a sunroof, leather, so trading will allow that. It just feels weird to be thinking of trading when I have an amazing car, that literally still smells new.
I have thought about financing the 06, and keeping it, but on the other point, get crazy, and trade, get the options I want, and keep the 08 for a longer time. It is just a car, its a lease, and that is the fun part of it. Has anyone felt like this? Let me know of your opinion on whether I should trade for the 08! Or am I making it all to complicated.
By the way usually with honda the closer you get to the lease ending they come up with an extended lease at a lower price for 24 more months..usually a good deal..in 97 I had a $199 a 24 month lease for an accord and as we approached the 2 year mark the offered me an extension for 24 more months at $149 a month. You might want to call the honda financing unit and check that out.
Good luck in your decision...the 08 EXL is a great car but the lights drive me nuts. You may not get the gas mileage the 06 gets either..remember this is now a full size car and weighs more.
Where do you live in the country..may be able to help you get a great deal if you are in the southeast and no I dont sell cars..just know a great dealer in georgia. Drove 600 miles to get my car back in sept. when the model was only on the market 12 days.
(Actually it was available in late 2004 on the 2005 Odyssey, but the new type of VCM (6-4-3) is new).
Did you ever get around to posting the video with the flickering headlights? I recall you saying that the Honda engineer did not meet with you.
I don't think that you mean that you replaced the head restraint, right? Is it the kind that the monitor hangs from it?
You are right. I used to have an Accord I4 and currently have 4 V6. The V6 Accord is smoother and generates more power, more comfort to driver & riders for in-town and especially in freeway trips. The MPG difference between the I4 & the V6 is not significant, probably 10 to 12%. When one drives the V6 he/ she does not want to get back to the I4 any more. I extremely enjoy the smoothness and great power of all my Accord V6. It's a pure joy and enjoyment.
Hope you can find it, since it may be related to your issue. Original speculation was that it was a speaker housing or wiring or popping, but it turned out to be some kind of bolt in the trunk that was loose. Good luck.
jOE
Hmmmmm.. I guess I haven't seen a lot of Acura adds flashing on the Edmunds.com/Insideline web pages . . .
I made an appointment and brought the car in and told the service mgr about it. He rode around with me until the noise was consistently made each time it went over a bump/ incline. He made note of it and told me it would be taken care of . He called me up about three hours later and told me the car was ready.
The culprit was loose rear deck (speaker deck) attachment screws to the driver side frame around the "C" pillar. They removed something to get to it, tightened them and reassembled everything. They did a great job because I have no more rattles back there. I suppost the noise can come from the other side too.
P.S. ( I have the Japanese made Accord VIN starts with a J)
Hopefully your fix will apply to stereosucks.
My old accord (2003) also used to have this annoying problem and I am experiencing the same defect once again on my new accord (2008). Is it only my car's defect or all accords have the same problem?
And it seemed to make a lot of noise in the engine.
Does anyone else notice this?
On another board they were saying you need to buy after market noise damping stuff. To keep the engine quiet.
sounds weird.
Hondas are not as quiet or isolated as a comparable Camry (at least from my experience). This is normal, and has been the case for a long time.
They were pretty quite.
So the Accord has a noisy engine?
Drive another Accord V6 and make sure it is at the same noise level. The other three vehicles are premium brands, which I'd expect to have more sound insulation than a mainstream brand. I'd also expect the Infiniti to have a lot more tire noise than engine noise.
When going down the interstate in my 2006 Accord, the tire noise drowns out the engine altogether, but I'd never call it loud.