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One more thing, the rotten egg smell, its not the cat or this or that, its the cheap gas we get is the US. It happens to all cars!
BTW, the CR-V got only a marginal rating. The scariest ones were the Suzuki Grand Vitara/ Chevy Tracker where the dummy's head actually left a dent in the colliding barrier.
What I found even more interesting is that some of the SUVs receiving a poor rating (at IIHS) were rated 5 stars at the NHTSA side collisions. The NHTSA standards are out of date obviously since their barriers are at the height of car bumpers a decade ago.
companies profiting from consumers' impressions re
the benefit of premium fuel. HOWEVER, emale, who
posts here as well as I, have both read reviews on
the V-6 engine which clearly stated that this engine can benefit, performance wise, from the use
of premium. We also recognize that premium can be
DETRIMENTAL to an engine's performance (as it burns
hotter and faster than regular) if the engine was
not designed to utilize it. We are/were simply trying to "get to the bottom of this "burning"
(pun intended) question! Thanks for commenting....
berbel
Now, with virtually all manufacturer's current engine technology, the electronic knock sensors and engine timing controls will retard the timing if engine knock begins to occur. This may not be the case for higher performance engines-especially ones where premium fuel is required.
For the Honda Accord V-6, though, the engine is designed to work OK with regular fuel, but you may get a very slight performance boost with premium as the engine timing will advance slightly to just to the onset of knocking. This may slightly improve power and torque available. The average driver will not be able to notice anything,as it is likely too slight to be of significance, and the average driver never approaches using peak engine power available anyways.
I do not own a Honda Accord V-6 or 4, but would not waste my money on premium fuel for everyday driving.
UM! Didnt you and I have some pretty interesting arguments on this thread about 1-2 months ago, and I said EXACTLY what is posted above in quotations?
"Makes me glad to know that Honda will offer the side curtain airbags in all Accords for '04."(lichtronimo). Actually, curtains will still be unavailable on the DX and LX, I believe.
anyway, for those interested, I began a discussion on the IIHS Side Impact Crash in the "News and Views" forums.
~alpha
On the other hand, you CAN get side curtains on the volume selling 4clyinder models of the Camry and Altima, but you CAN'T get them on Accord LX and DX 4s (for 2004).
It strikes me as weird.
~alpha
The system uses a millimetre-wave radar to detect vehicles within a range of about 100 metres ahead. If a collision risk is detected, the system warns the driver as well as automatically pulling the seatbelt back tight before a collision occurs.
Honda said it will need time to assess customer response to the new technology and it may take longer than five years before it makes its way over to the U.S. market.
In a related bit of news, Honda's Chief tells Detroit's big three that they need to "try harder". That's rich...
Dash is similar to TSX including the "hidden" passenger-side front airbag cover. The gas pedal is "piano-style", hinged at the bottom as in TSX.
The gauges are different, perhaps to be used in the next TL.
A host of active safety features have been included, including Lane-Keeping Assist System (also available in Japanese Accord), Intelligent Cruise Control (also available in Japanese Accord), E-pretensioner seat belts and Collision Mitigation System (CMS), besides the other (usual) active/passive safety features (VSA, side/curtain airbags etc).
Remote keyless entry is available using a card key (also available in Japanese Accord). The card is used for ignition as well.
And finally, a glimpse of the first DOHC i-VTEC V6. In its current form, the ULEV engine is rated at 247 HP and 214 lb.-ft from regular unleaded grade gasoline. But more importantly, the engine has a displacement on demand setup, with the capability to shut-off three cylinders during cruising.
mikek37: Warped rotors will cause a shudder when braking. I don't think that they can cause grabby brakes. I first noticed the shudder when braking from 70-80 and then it was progressively worse. The day I took it in I had shudder from 40 and above.
The Inspire engine is the same "J30" V6 engine, meaning the tried and true SOHC VTEC that we get over here in our American Accords (V6 models)
The only difference is that one bank has (the closest to the passenger side ) cylinder deactivation - ala Honda Insight - and the other has the regular 3 lobes VTEC from the standard V6 engine...Here's the pic:
http://www.honda.co.jp/auto-lineup/inspire/mechanism/cylindersyst- - em-image/index.html
As a matter of fact I think we are witnessing the FIRST -" Asymmetric VTEC engine" hahahaha...
If you look at the cam lobes in the blue side (the one that deactivates), you can see only one cam profile (one set of lobes) ...
On the Orange and yellow (hot side) you can see the 3 lobes on the cam....
Well I hope we get to see the "TRUE " V6 DOCH i-VTEC in our future TL....If not its still good but no homerun either....
Here's some more info on it :
http://www.honda.co.jp/auto-lineup/inspire/mechanism/engine.html
Later
However, Honda's JDM website mentions the engine as being J30A. This means, Honda has used i-VTEC to go with SOHC layout they have used with the V6 engines!
BUt hey you never know
You're right- I completely agree with what you just said in your last post.
~alpha
while i agree there won't be any "major" redesigns in the next 5 years, we might still see a face lift. or, i'm hoping, a butt lift. the sedan really needs one...! coupe looks fine.
The first cranking of the day sounded just as fast as usual, but the length of cranking increased. Thought maybe fuel pressure regulator was leaking down while sitting overnite, so slight repressurization of fuel was needed.
Well, at the same time, my almost 4yr old battery could use replacing so I had it done.
Now the first start of the day is just like when new. Just a flick of the key and she springs to life. So eventhough the speed of the cranking had not deteriorated in any noticeable way, the battery was still on its last legs. I think these newer cars don't give you the normal low battery symptoms we are familiar with. When it's done, it's done. And I also think a dead battery will cause the check engine light to come on, which would add to the cost of battery replacement, not to mention the possible misdiagnose of the cause resulting in even more expense.
For me, I'm just going to replace it every 4 yrs regardless of how it seems to be performing. Good preventive maintenance on a very critical part of the car's operation.
And like someone else stated...the front grille design is NOT a major change...it wouldn't cost much for Honda to do it in about two years.
Futhermore, I think the Inspire looks more American than the Honda Accord we have, and the front end looks FAR better IMO>
EX-L. I was about to start the buying process when I read here yesterday that the 2004 EX-L will include side curtain airbags. Now I'll wait for those to arrive. I read that they'll be here in August. Can anyone confirm that? Also, do you think the price will increase significantly with this new added standard feature?
Have you test driven the Mazda6i? It's also comparable to the other cars you test drove, it can be had with 4 cylinder engine, leather, side curtain airbags...etc. I think it's performance, value, roominess, safety, and reliability are all similar to the cars you've looked at.
Price - it is usual that the dealership will want to dispose the old models and try to get near the MSRP for the 04. Frankly though, now that Honda is trying to catch up with the Camry sales figures, you can also get a good price (invoice as starters, but maybe low interest will initially be offered to the old) even for the new models. Just do your research.
New models usually arrive late August or September. Not that long a wait if you want to wait.
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As for the more sucessful Accord, the mid-cycle update is when any exterior changes would be made. Honda's updates don't usually invovle significant sheetmetal changes. So look for somethiing like the Asian Accord or Inspire, which would mean only changes to the front and rear bumper moudings and not fenders, side panels or hoods.
Anyway, the only benefit to my trip this morning was an hour and a half alone in the showroom I used the opportunity to pour over an S2000 and '03 Accord they had. As for the Accord, I think the new dash and general character of the interior is a step backwards. The center stack seems too high along with the door sills which compromise that Honda green house effect for VW claustrophobia. And, there are too many pieces to the dash assembly. The cowl on over the gauges looks particularly tacked on (but not in a GM kind of way). The TSX is much better looking.
Closed circit to Max: That is a great deal if you buy for the long-term. Such significant discounts on a new model certainly do not bode well for resale. That said, the Mazda6 is a quality piece.
As of last month Acord sales seem to be doing just fine. Especially when you consider they aren't giving 0% or rebates or anything like that.
How do you redesign the Honda Accord and not make it ugly? See reference: '04 Nissan Maxima.
And the funny thing is that even though the Accord is so "ugly", they sell more of them in a month than Mazda can sell Mazda6's....period And it's such a friggin awesome driving and pretty car. Anyway. The Accord's side view more than makes up for any deficiency from the rear.
Like someone else said in another forum...It must be great to be a Honda dealer right now. The Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, even the Element. All kicking butt.
Here's just a few SUVs that the Element is outselling... Mazda Tribute, Nissan Murano, Nissan Xterra, Subaru Forester, Saturn VUE. And it's running neck-and-neck with the RAV4.
Also, the Element is gaining a significant following as a mini-H2, due to its resemblance to the squared off Hummer. There are already after-market trim kits for the Element that make it look even more like the H2. That's a considerably better image than the "Honda Aztek".
Not bad for a car that was supposed to do 50,000 units tops. As far as the Aztec...It only did 12,000 units in it's first six months. Kinda like the Mazda6.
Because of these concerns I test drove the 4cyl EX-L and I loved it. Seemed to have pretty good power (although I've ALWAYS wanted a V6). Better gas mileage (at least what the sticker says) and doesn't seem to have all the problems of the V6 (and it has a timing chain). The side curtain airbags will be standard in the 2004 EX-L models.
So.....for all the Honda gurus out there. Do I go ahead and buy the V6 now and keep my fingers crossed with regard to all the mechanical problems or do I play it safe and wait till the fall and get the 4cyl EX-L sacrificing some power for fuel efficiency and cost?
Safety
Power
$$
fuel efficiency
reliability
Create a scale, and rate each car on that scale in regards to those criterion (or any others you deem appropriate) and see where the scores come out.
BTW: I have a 2003 4-cyl EX (manual) that beats my brother in laws 2001 EXV6 in off the line power every time.
ANY car can have problems, but I am pretty sure that the EXV6 will probably be just as reliable as the EX-4. So I say go ahead and get the EXV6 if that is what you really want, the EX-L is just as good as well...minus the horsepower, but either car will be nice and probably reliable.
So get whichever you like best. If I could afford the car I wanted, I'd get an Accord EX-L 5spd. manual, but unfortunately, I cannot afford one now.
I'll be getting a 2000 EX sedan.