I've had my EX 4cyl 5speed almost 3 weeks now and I'm loving it. However, there's 1 thing that I find annoying.
The dash lights are on all the time, day or night. Twice now, I've driven off at night without turning on my headlights. Seeing the dash all lit up makes me think the lights are already on. There is only a tiny green symbol to indicate that your headlights are on. Very easy to overlook if you distracted.
Mr. Honda, this is one feature you should change on next year's update.
I finally test drove the Accord tonight. I first drove the Accord sedan. It was a I4.
I was impressed with the cars power, size and refinement. The ride was great, and the power was excellent compared to my ole 1991.
Now, I was not really all that impressed with some of the materials used. Now, they were not Altima cheap, but they definately were not up to my Accord's interior materials.
I liked the dash design and the room was pretty good, though I kept hitting my head on the headliner.
I only like the styling of the sedan. The model I tested was an EX with cloth and it was the nice Redondo Red with gray cloth with all the usual accessories.
Next I drove a 2003 Accord EXV6 coupe. Now this coupe was nice. I like the red illumination on the dash. The dash while nice, stil felt a little cheap, but by no means domestic cheap.
I was not impressed with the power at first because I was in stop and go traffic, then I finally got onto a country road and that Accord took off! Oh my, that thing can go.
The car was nice and the leather was excellent in quality. It was a little cramped in the inside, but it was roomy enough for me.
Overall, I really like the Accord. I almost brought one tonight. As a matter of fact, I made an order tonight. I want the EX-L with manual. It will have to be "ordered" . I asked for the graphite gray color. So I guess it may soon be offical....
EX-L 5spd manual sedan.
BTW, I was impressed with the V6 power, but I don't think it is worth the cost and the transmission. I want a manual.
Also, like the above poster, I drove around for ten mins in the sedan and didn't have the lights on...I felt like a darn fool.
But as someone stated a while back, the improvements that new cars have today outweight the lack of "soft touchy" plastics of the older cars.
As far as the Accord....I am having second thoughts now.
I just saw some spy pics of the 2005 Altima...it supposed to have an all-new interior. I can't buy the Accord until I see this facelifted Altima in person.
I have wanted the Accord for years, but I really had no excuse to get one, but after my car decided to die yesterday, I decided to go ahead and take the leap. I am going to have to drive the 1992 more until I get whatever I decide to get.
The four is fine if you are practical, want the lowest price, best gas mpg, lowest operating or ownership costs and don't climb mountains or haul 4 adult passengers(the four will handle this, just not as well as the 6). In fact, the four is so good that it is almost a steal. Due to lighter weight it handles better than the 6.
Get the 6 if you want/need maximum power and smoothness and are willing to pay a bit more for them. Btw, the mpg on the 6 is only 1 mpg worse than the 4 and they both burn regular.
The deciding point for us was traction controll. We wanted it and it is only available on the v6. Few makes besides maybe the mazda 6 and passat offer traction controll in their 4 bangers. That is one way they keep weight and prices down and/or bump buyers up to the more expensive and profitable v6.
At least this situation will be remedied by Honda within the next few years with their "safety feature initiative". I believe that by 2006, all Hondas will have traction/stability control, along with a full array of airbags, including side curtains.
On my first nighttime testdrive we got about two blocks before the salesman said "it is awefully dark outside." The headlights were off.
The last couple of cars I have driven had automatic lights, so I am used to not having to do anything.
What I have been doing is leaving my lights on at all times. They automatically turn off 15 seconds after you shut the drivers door, so there is no worry of them draining the battery. The only annoying thing when leaving them on is that the car makes an annoying 'ding' sound when you exit the car.
Leaving the lights on also acts like daytime running lights.
If you like rowing your own gears, get the 4 with the manual and you will be very pleased! Some people here are getting close to 40 mpg on the highway. The best I've gotten in 33. But that is driving at 80+ for quite a long time on the trip with lots of going from 60 to 85 and back to 60 again. If I had been more conservative with the gas pedal I'm sure I could have gotten 35+.
Anyway, that being said the 6 is really really smooth. My cousin has one and it is nice. The 4 is smooth too but, the 6 is just a tad more refined overall.
One other thing to consider is trade-in. If you are trying to sell this car in the next 3 years or so, a manual is a big turn-off for 95% of the buying public. So you have limited your audience of buyers to those looking for a used, mid-size, sedan, with a manual transmission. If you plan on keeping this car till it quits, it doesn't matter. Once you get past 100,000 miles on these Hondas, the value of the auto becomes negligable.
Translated to this sitution, why would someone spending 2K for a nav system not want the EX model? In essence the sales potential is tiny and not worth chasing.
I completely understand the reasoning behind Honda's decision, especially in the light of the fact that NAV usage has not really percolated down to the masses, mainly due to a lack of awareness. The fact that Honda associates the NAV with folks who want to spend money on unnecessary extras (which is how I term leather and moonroof), is frustrating to me since I have used the NAV extensively for over 40K miles and REALLY want it as an extremely useful feature, as opposed to folks who have never had it in their cars and are unaware of its utility and tend to think of it as an expensive "cool gadget".
After selling my Acura, I badly miss the NAV (and the peace of mind it unerringly afforded during all our trips, including during pitch darkness, blindingly foggy nights and completely unfamiliar regions) and want to go for another car equipped with it but frankly don't want to spend money for things that I consider un-necessary, like Leather and Moonroof, both of which were available in my Acura. Even during a trip, it allowed us to be extremely flexible and not be stuck to a pre-set route, to replace which we would have had to carry a trunk-load full of paper maps.
"What I have been doing is leaving my lights on at all times."
The only issue I have with this solution is that, at least for me, the panel lights really need to be at full illumination in the daytime, but that level is too bright for nighttime use. Since the Accord supports 2 settings for panel brightness (one for lights on and one for lights off), I can have it set to have the proper level for daytime and nighttime without readjusting. If I just left the lights on all the time, I'd have to constantly readjust the panel lights to accommodate daytime and nighttime lighting needs.
For me, it's as simple as "if it's dark outside and I'm blinded by the panel lights, my headlights aren't on." That's worked for me so far...
That being said, I do wish the Accord had completely automatic headlights, rather than just auto-off.
I have read many other posting in here and have found some help...except for one. When starting the car it idles at 2000 RPM's for a few seconds then drops to 1500 and then continues up and down until the car gets warm, then sometimes still does it. Also the PGM FI light comes on at a high rate of speed (on the interstate). Also the car wont start some of the time, but it is winter now, and replacing the main relay, they talk about this being the problem in the summer when it is hot outside. I didnt have this problem in the summer. I am going to check the code tonight. Any help would be great...
The timing belt on the V6 gets replaced at 90k, not 60. I believe the chain on the 4 also needs replacement (110k?).
My insurance costs at Progressive.com were no different for either car (not much more than my civic was).
Also to consider is the traction control you get with the V6 that does not come with the 4. When pulling out quickly onto a slick road it comes in very handy.
The V6 has a regualar belt that needs replacing at 90k.
the I4 has a chain that theoretically does not need to be replaced.
But.....if the water pump goes out then I'll probably make sure the chain and tensioners are all up to new car specs while they have the car apart to fix the water pump.
Timing belt $300-$500 depending on where you get it done.
I love that car. Don't get me wrong, my GS, LS and Si are great too but the EX-L gives up nothing in fun to drive. I'm glad we bought it. Oh yeah...XM radio rocks.
The current Accord's dash works the same way as the original Lexus LS400.
I, too, notice that the headlights are not on because the instruments look extremely bright at night when my headlights aren't on. It's something you get used to noticing after about a week of owning the car.
I personally love the way they look, and I get compliments on them by all my passengers.
This is definitely not something that needs 'fixed' because if they weren't on during the day you would NEVER be able to read them. This is a feature. I will agree, however, that a sunlight sensor with 'auto on' for the headlights would be a nice touch.
I am in the market for an accord v6 manual transmission and have not had much luck. I suppose I will have to get a 4 cylinder manual, but has anyone else seen many?
They don't exist except in the somewhat rare performance coupe flavor. This is a condition that has existed for a long time, and it's just this year that the Accord coupe broke the tradition of no manuals for V6's.
I checked the code and it flashed 6 times, which by the codes I was given it would be a bad ECT sensor. What I dont understand, why would this make the car not start part of the time. Also there is a plug next to the ECT sensor, what is this one for? When I unplug it the PGM FI light comes on and it starts to idle up and down as described above. I really could use some help on this......
Not really. Every dealer in my part of the county has at least one, or one due in in a week or so. Problem is they are selling for MSRP, which is what Edmund's TMV says also. It is one sweet car and worth every penny if you like rowing the gears.
To all Canadian EX-V6 owners - do you change your oil every 6K km, or 8K? The American V6 specs state every 10K miles (which is much longer than 6K km recommended in Canada).
Also, is there a possibility of ordering a 60/40 back seat? It annoys me that it's an all-or-nothing situation for the fold down. I frequently drive with 2 other people in the car, and if I need to buy something from Ikea or other places involving larget items, it's very inconvenient. To be honest, this oversight might lose Honda more than a few customers (esp. if they say they want to match the Passat overall as a car - Passat has this feature); how much more is a 60/40 backseat anyway? Or are they doing this so that they force people to move up to a TSX (which has this feature)?
Furthermore, does anyone know how one can get a hinged lid for the cupholder like the one in Hong Kong-spec Honda Accords (http://www.honda.com.hk/accord/index.html) or the TSX? As it is, it looks really unfinished, and detracts from the otherwise great interior.
Moreover, is there a way to identify which EX-V6 Accords are made in Japan/USA/Mexico based on the VINs?
i prolly should look in my owner's manual before speaking...but i'm pretty sure honda recommends oil changes every 6,000 statute miles here in the US for normal duty with the v6. it's 3500 miles for severe service.
I may get blasted for this, but I'll share my feelings and impressions:
I have to say that I IMAGINE the 4-cyl will last longer. They will both be long-lasting, but three of my friends have the 6th generation Accord with 6-cyl and have had more small problems than I've noticed with the 4. It's really too soon to tell, but again, my impression is the 4-cyl is extremely durable and doesn't seem to labor at ALL in my LX Sedan.
My 4-cyl gets up to 37 on the highway, and that's with me cruising around the 80-mph mark, with A/C on. I know I wouldn't get a combined mpg anywhere NEAR the 4-cyl if I had the V6--but that's also because I would get waaay too much enjoyment out of stomping the gas pedal all the time.
No comments on the timing chain vs. belt, but regarding the gas mileage, you won't see a 5 mpg difference, at least according to Consumer Reports.
Overall mileage for the 4 was 24 mpg, compared to 23 mpg for the V6. City/highway mileage (actual testing, not EPA) was 16/38 for the 4, 15/34 for the V6.
So the only fairly dramatic difference is for extended highway driving.
bszeto, I was told at the dealership that Canada is considered a 'harsh' environment -- use those tables in the owners manual. I have the V6, and plan on sticking to the 6K km/change. After running my Integra for 300,000 km, IMHO, changing the oil regularly is the one best thing you can do for your car.
I am considering an Accord, Camry, or Altima for my next car. I currently drive a (lowly) little 4 cyl 1996 Saturn with about 78,000 on it. This engine runs like it may last another 10 years. I've had no trouble at all with it almost leading me to believe I should buy another Saturn.
I have noticed the same problem. I had a 91 Lexus LS400 with the electroluminscent instrumentation, and you really had to remember to turn the headlights on; Lexus later added automatic headlights in more recent models. I note the same problem with my 2003 Accord Coupe. Its not too much of a problem for the owner/regular driver because you get used to it and are usually alerted by the brightness of the instruments at night. I think it is a bit of a safety issue for the occasional user, i.e. another family member, who might pull onto a busy roadway thinking that the lights were on, and not be visible to other cars. Automatic headlights would be the right solution, as Lexus evidently concluded.
when you talk about problems...are u referring to any old problem, or specific engine problems? my point is that i seriously doubt anyone here could prove the 4 banger lasts any longer than the v6. they are both outstanding engines...and with proper care and feeding both will last very long...!
I own GM stock and really wanted to like the Saturn ION; however, the interior of the ION 3 (best one) looks like a child's play room (appeal to young people is OK, but not to that extent).
The Saturn ION does have a good drive train--5 speed automatic and a smooth 4 cyl engine, but the rest of the car is a mess.
Then drove a Mazda 6i--nice, but clunky automatic that is not well matched to its competent 4 cyl engine. The Mazda 6 has superb handling and brakes and could be a very good choice, but only with the manual transmission.
Tried the Camry but it's soooooo dull and over-soft riding with a squishy brake pedal, too. It's as much fun as taking a bus.
With respect to the Altima, it's a very fine car but Nissan saved money by making the interior ultra-cheap and replete with hard plastics and sloppily molded parts--you just don't feel rich in an Altima.
AHHHH, but the Honda Accord was nearly perfect and that's why I bought the 2004 EX-L--its 4 cyl is very smooth and fast enough and the interior looks like a luxury car instead of a mid-priced one.
Test drive a 4 cyl Accord--I think it's the best choice and perhaps you'll agree.....Richard
Recent business news has it that Saturn as an independent GM company is nearing a cliff despite GM's press statements.
If merged as a division, Saturn may lose its major feature - the one price/no haggle deal - and rely more on product merits. Other than the special Vue with the Honda Pilot engine, Saturn will thus have very little to get by.
I guess the bottom line here is "buyer beware" for a possibly orphaned car (with very poor resale).
The 3.5L engine in the RL has nothing whatsoever to do with the 3.5L employed in the Pilot, the MDX and the Odyssey, except for the fact that both engines are made by Honda.
The 3.5L in the RL is a longitudinally mountable engine with a 90 degree "V" angle for the "V6". A 90 degree "V" angle is more commonly employed within a V8. No other Honda product anywhere in the world gets this engine.
The 3.5L engine in the MDX/Pilot/Odyssey belongs to the J-series of V6 engines, that includes the 3.0L Accord V6 and the 3.2L V6 in the Acura TL. This is a Transversely oriented V6 with a 60 degree "V" angle. The 60 degree "V" angle is more commonly employed within a V6 and is more appropriate for a V6 than a V8. Honda has sold the 3.5L version of this engine to GM (Saturn).
Hello to all. I am a long to reader but first time poster to Edmunds.com. I want to first say that it is an understatement to say that this is a fantastic website. It is so useful in so many ways to so many people. I visit at least once a day. My only complaint is that I think the message boards are a bit overly complex to navigate. Most other message boards are far more easy to use. Small complaint.
The real reason I just had to post is that my wife and I just purchased a Taffetta White 2004 Accord V6 sedan with Navigation. WE LOVE THIS CAR!!!
We leased our car for an out the door price of 26600. After putting $2000 down we pay $342 a month which is probably not the absolute greatest deal but I feel good about it. We received wheel locks for "free" but we paid $476 cash to have fog lights installed.
We previously leased a 1998 Accord V6 for five years (39 months then extended for 2 more years) and loved that car but wow what an improvement Honda has made in the 2004. From the muted thump of the doors and trunk closing, the muted thump of engaging the turn signal, the fantasticly integrated Nav and XM radio which sounds so clear and clean at low and high volumes, to the way the interior lights fade on and off, etc. Honda simply knows how to engineer quality automobiles.
I live in Baltimore where we just had about 10 inches of snow. Our car's traction control was absolutely unbelievably effective in getting us through this stuff. Whenever we though we simply have gone in too deep of snow, we pressed harder on the gas, saw the little light on the dash blinking, and heard the vroom, vroom of the system working to pull us through without an issue.
I could go on and on but I just had to put my thoughts here. We brought our baby home on November 18th. We have not heard a rattle or squeak. We do have a slightly off center steering wheel that we have not had a chance to get corrected but other than that we are so so happy with this vehicle I can not imagine wanting much more for the price. I am sure ( at least I hope)that with a very slight bump in price Honda will add memory seats and Xenon headlights later in the car's run. There is simply no other vehicle that comes with all of the luxuries of this vehicle for the price. Thanks.
It may seem like a simple complaint, but I'm considering purchasing an 04 Accord w/nav. I was distressed to see that the steering wheel controls (radio, cruise) are not backlit so you can't see them at night!! This seems like a huge design flaw to me and dangerous at night if you're trying to "feel" your way around the steering wheel controls. I know it's not as much of a problem with voice activated nav. but it's really nagging at me. Two salesmen have told me you just have to memorize where everything is. This bothers me more and more and is really holding me back from buying this car. Any comments from those of you who own and drive the Accord? My other choice is a BMW 325i but it's missing some of Honda's bells and whistles. But I gotta tell you, it's a sweet car! Help! What's a girl to do?
I too, at first, felt that I could not figure out what buttons did what at night on the steering wheel but after about a week it became second nature to operate them by feel. I actually feel that it is safer to learn most of the controls in a vehicle by feel to lessen the amount of time your eyes are away from the road.
This issue would not be a deal breaker for me but I do understand your concern.
Comments
The dash lights are on all the time, day or night. Twice now, I've driven off at night without turning on my headlights. Seeing the dash all lit up makes me think the lights are already on. There is only a tiny green symbol to indicate that your headlights are on. Very easy to overlook if you distracted.
Mr. Honda, this is one feature you should change on next year's update.
glad i could help...now i'm off to the local auto parts store to laugh at the next guy who buys top cylinder lubricant...
I finally test drove the Accord tonight. I first drove the Accord sedan. It was a I4.
I was impressed with the cars power, size and refinement. The ride was great, and the power was excellent compared to my ole 1991.
Now, I was not really all that impressed with some of the materials used. Now, they were not Altima cheap, but they definately were not up to my Accord's interior materials.
I liked the dash design and the room was pretty good, though I kept hitting my head on the headliner.
I only like the styling of the sedan. The model I tested was an EX with cloth and it was the nice Redondo Red with gray cloth with all the usual accessories.
Next I drove a 2003 Accord EXV6 coupe. Now this coupe was nice. I like the red illumination on the dash. The dash while nice, stil felt a little cheap, but by no means domestic cheap.
I was not impressed with the power at first because I was in stop and go traffic, then I finally got onto a country road and that Accord took off! Oh my, that thing can go.
The car was nice and the leather was excellent in quality. It was a little cramped in the inside, but it was roomy enough for me.
Overall, I really like the Accord. I almost brought one tonight. As a matter of fact, I made an order tonight. I want the EX-L with manual. It will have to be "ordered" . I asked for the graphite gray color. So I guess it may soon be offical....
EX-L 5spd manual sedan.
BTW, I was impressed with the V6 power, but I don't think it is worth the cost and the transmission. I want a manual.
Also, like the above poster, I drove around for ten mins in the sedan and didn't have the lights on...I felt like a darn fool.
As far as the Accord....I am having second thoughts now.
I just saw some spy pics of the 2005 Altima...it supposed to have an all-new interior. I can't buy the Accord until I see this facelifted Altima in person.
I have wanted the Accord for years, but I really had no excuse to get one, but after my car decided to die yesterday, I decided to go ahead and take the leap. I am going to have to drive the 1992 more until I get whatever I decide to get.
Get the 6 if you want/need maximum power and smoothness and are willing to pay a bit more for them. Btw, the mpg on the 6 is only 1 mpg worse than the 4 and they both burn regular.
The deciding point for us was traction controll. We wanted it and it is only available on the v6. Few makes besides maybe the mazda 6 and passat offer traction controll in their 4 bangers. That is one way they keep weight and prices down and/or bump buyers up to the more expensive and profitable v6.
The last couple of cars I have driven had automatic lights, so I am used to not having to do anything.
What I have been doing is leaving my lights on at all times. They automatically turn off 15 seconds after you shut the drivers door, so there is no worry of them draining the battery. The only annoying thing when leaving them on is that the car makes an annoying 'ding' sound when you exit the car.
Leaving the lights on also acts like daytime running lights.
Anyway, that being said the 6 is really really smooth. My cousin has one and it is nice. The 4 is smooth too but, the 6 is just a tad more refined overall.
One other thing to consider is trade-in. If you are trying to sell this car in the next 3 years or so, a manual is a big turn-off for 95% of the buying public. So you have limited your audience of buyers to those looking for a used, mid-size, sedan, with a manual transmission. If you plan on keeping this car till it quits, it doesn't matter. Once you get past 100,000 miles on these Hondas, the value of the auto becomes negligable.
I completely understand the reasoning behind Honda's decision, especially in the light of the fact that NAV usage has not really percolated down to the masses, mainly due to a lack of awareness. The fact that Honda associates the NAV with folks who want to spend money on unnecessary extras (which is how I term leather and moonroof), is frustrating to me since I have used the NAV extensively for over 40K miles and REALLY want it as an extremely useful feature, as opposed to folks who have never had it in their cars and are unaware of its utility and tend to think of it as an expensive "cool gadget".
After selling my Acura, I badly miss the NAV (and the peace of mind it unerringly afforded during all our trips, including during pitch darkness, blindingly foggy nights and completely unfamiliar regions) and want to go for another car equipped with it but frankly don't want to spend money for things that I consider un-necessary, like Leather and Moonroof, both of which were available in my Acura. Even during a trip, it allowed us to be extremely flexible and not be stuck to a pre-set route, to replace which we would have had to carry a trunk-load full of paper maps.
Later...AH
The only issue I have with this solution is that, at least for me, the panel lights really need to be at full illumination in the daytime, but that level is too bright for nighttime use. Since the Accord supports 2 settings for panel brightness (one for lights on and one for lights off), I can have it set to have the proper level for daytime and nighttime without readjusting. If I just left the lights on all the time, I'd have to constantly readjust the panel lights to accommodate daytime and nighttime lighting needs.
For me, it's as simple as "if it's dark outside and I'm blinded by the panel lights, my headlights aren't on." That's worked for me so far...
That being said, I do wish the Accord had completely automatic headlights, rather than just auto-off.
When starting the car it idles at 2000 RPM's for a few seconds then drops to 1500 and then continues up and down until the car gets warm, then sometimes still does it.
Also the PGM FI light comes on at a high rate of speed (on the interstate).
Also the car wont start some of the time, but it is winter now, and replacing the main relay, they talk about this being the problem in the summer when it is hot outside. I didnt have this problem in the summer. I am going to check the code tonight. Any help would be great...
My insurance costs at Progressive.com were no different for either car (not much more than my civic was).
Also to consider is the traction control you get with the V6 that does not come with the 4. When pulling out quickly onto a slick road it comes in very handy.
My only real annoyance with it is that annoying ding ding ding.
the I4 has a chain that theoretically does not need to be replaced.
But.....if the water pump goes out then I'll probably make sure the chain and tensioners are all up to new car specs while they have the car apart to fix the water pump.
Timing belt $300-$500 depending on where you get it done.
I, too, notice that the headlights are not on because the instruments look extremely bright at night when my headlights aren't on. It's something you get used to noticing after about a week of owning the car.
I personally love the way they look, and I get compliments on them by all my passengers.
This is definitely not something that needs 'fixed' because if they weren't on during the day you would NEVER be able to read them. This is a feature. I will agree, however, that a sunlight sensor with 'auto on' for the headlights would be a nice touch.
i'm sure you could find it cheap at "OBSESSIVE/COMPULSIVE R US"
clockwise or counter clockwise.
Also, is there a possibility of ordering a 60/40 back seat? It annoys me that it's an all-or-nothing situation for the fold down. I frequently drive with 2 other people in the car, and if I need to buy something from Ikea or other places involving larget items, it's very inconvenient. To be honest, this oversight might lose Honda more than a few customers (esp. if they say they want to match the Passat overall as a car - Passat has this feature); how much more is a 60/40 backseat anyway? Or are they doing this so that they force people to move up to a TSX (which has this feature)?
Furthermore, does anyone know how one can get a hinged lid for the cupholder like the one in Hong Kong-spec Honda Accords (http://www.honda.com.hk/accord/index.html) or the TSX? As it is, it looks really unfinished, and detracts from the otherwise great interior.
Moreover, is there a way to identify which EX-V6 Accords are made in Japan/USA/Mexico based on the VINs?
i prolly should look in my owner's manual before speaking...but i'm pretty sure honda recommends oil changes every 6,000 statute miles here in the US for normal duty with the v6. it's 3500 miles for severe service.
THe US V6 is 7.5k normal or 3.75k severe
1) The 4 cylinder will last longer than the 6, maybe because of timing chain vs. timing belt, maybe for other reasons.
2) The 4 gets significantly better gas mileage than the 6 (5 mpg or more).
I have to say that I IMAGINE the 4-cyl will last longer. They will both be long-lasting, but three of my friends have the 6th generation Accord with 6-cyl and have had more small problems than I've noticed with the 4. It's really too soon to tell, but again, my impression is the 4-cyl is extremely durable and doesn't seem to labor at ALL in my LX Sedan.
My 4-cyl gets up to 37 on the highway, and that's with me cruising around the 80-mph mark, with A/C on. I know I wouldn't get a combined mpg anywhere NEAR the 4-cyl if I had the V6--but that's also because I would get waaay too much enjoyment out of stomping the gas pedal all the time.
Overall mileage for the 4 was 24 mpg, compared to 23 mpg for the V6. City/highway mileage (actual testing, not EPA) was 16/38 for the 4, 15/34 for the V6.
So the only fairly dramatic difference is for extended highway driving.
I was told at the dealership that Canada is considered a 'harsh' environment -- use those tables in the owners manual. I have the V6, and plan on sticking to the 6K km/change. After running my Integra for 300,000 km, IMHO, changing the oil regularly is the one best thing you can do for your car.
when you talk about problems...are u referring to any old problem, or specific engine problems? my point is that i seriously doubt anyone here could prove the 4 banger lasts any longer than the v6. they are both outstanding engines...and with proper care and feeding both will last very long...!
The Saturn ION does have a good drive train--5 speed automatic and a smooth 4 cyl engine, but the rest of the car is a mess.
Then drove a Mazda 6i--nice, but clunky automatic that is not well matched to its competent 4 cyl engine. The Mazda 6 has superb handling and brakes and could be a very good choice, but only with the manual transmission.
Tried the Camry but it's soooooo dull and over-soft riding with a squishy brake pedal, too. It's as much fun as taking a bus.
With respect to the Altima, it's a very fine car but Nissan saved money by making the interior ultra-cheap and replete with hard plastics and sloppily molded parts--you just don't feel rich in an Altima.
AHHHH, but the Honda Accord was nearly perfect and that's why I bought the 2004 EX-L--its 4 cyl is very smooth and fast enough and the interior looks like a luxury car instead of a mid-priced one.
Test drive a 4 cyl Accord--I think it's the best choice and perhaps you'll agree.....Richard
Yes...First character represents the Country code:
1- USA
2- Canada
3- Mexico
J- Japan
If my memory serves me correctly, all V6 models for the North American continent are produced at the Marysville, OH facility.
If merged as a division, Saturn may lose its major feature - the one price/no haggle deal - and rely more on product merits. Other than the special Vue with the Honda Pilot engine, Saturn will thus have very little to get by.
I guess the bottom line here is "buyer beware" for a possibly orphaned car (with very poor resale).
The 3.5L in the RL is a longitudinally mountable engine with a 90 degree "V" angle for the "V6". A 90 degree "V" angle is more commonly employed within a V8. No other Honda product anywhere in the world gets this engine.
The 3.5L engine in the MDX/Pilot/Odyssey belongs to the J-series of V6 engines, that includes the 3.0L Accord V6 and the 3.2L V6 in the Acura TL. This is a Transversely oriented V6 with a 60 degree "V" angle. The 60 degree "V" angle is more commonly employed within a V6 and is more appropriate for a V6 than a V8. Honda has sold the 3.5L version of this engine to GM (Saturn).
Later...AH
The real reason I just had to post is that my wife and I just purchased a Taffetta White 2004 Accord V6 sedan with Navigation. WE LOVE THIS CAR!!!
We leased our car for an out the door price of 26600. After putting $2000 down we pay $342 a month which is probably not the absolute greatest deal but I feel good about it. We received wheel locks for "free" but we paid $476 cash to have fog lights installed.
We previously leased a 1998 Accord V6 for five years (39 months then extended for 2 more years) and loved that car but wow what an improvement Honda has made in the 2004. From the muted thump of the doors and trunk closing, the muted thump of engaging the turn signal, the fantasticly integrated Nav and XM radio which sounds so clear and clean at low and high volumes, to the way the interior lights fade on and off, etc. Honda simply knows how to engineer quality automobiles.
I live in Baltimore where we just had about 10 inches of snow. Our car's traction control was absolutely unbelievably effective in getting us through this stuff. Whenever we though we simply have gone in too deep of snow, we pressed harder on the gas, saw the little light on the dash blinking, and heard the vroom, vroom of the system working to pull us through without an issue.
I could go on and on but I just had to put my thoughts here. We brought our baby home on November 18th. We have not heard a rattle or squeak. We do have a slightly off center steering wheel that we have not had a chance to get corrected but other than that we are so so happy with this vehicle I can not imagine wanting much more for the price. I am sure ( at least I hope)that with a very slight bump in price Honda will add memory seats and Xenon headlights later in the car's run. There is simply no other vehicle that comes with all of the luxuries of this vehicle for the price. Thanks.
I too, at first, felt that I could not figure out what buttons did what at night on the steering wheel but after about a week it became second nature to operate them by feel. I actually feel that it is safer to learn most of the controls in a vehicle by feel to lessen the amount of time your eyes are away from the road.
This issue would not be a deal breaker for me but I do understand your concern.