Older Honda Accords

akingsfan · February 2004

Has anyone else heard this? I just read the following:

SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq:SIRI), known for delivering the very best in
commercial-free music and premium sports programming to cars and homes
across the country, today announced a new signal translation device at the
National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention & Exposition in
Las Vegas, that enables owners of satellite-ready radios in General Motors
and Honda vehicles to receive SIRIUS.

I guess that's pretty cool, if you don't like the XM in your new Hondas, you can always switch to Sirius. Personally, I don't really care (I'm pretty happy with XM, especially now that it's commercial-free)...but it's nice to know that there will be a choice. I wonder when this will be available???

austinman7 · February 2004

Aggie1995 -- I'm going to stick with 15" if I change now, since the tires are brand new.

lelandhendrix -- glad the switch to 17" worked so well for you.

dust90 -- I could switch to 16" when I get new tires down the road, as you say, but another factor is that I was told by the service manager there's a little bit of a speedometer (odometer too?)issue with different sized wheels. So I still may stick with the 15" size. I like the idea of Honda alloys, for the reasons you say, even though they're more expensive than aftermarket.

Now if Honda would just come out with a clean new design for their 15" alloys, I'd be all set. In the meantime, I think I'll just stand pat.

Thanks for all your input.

justin · February 2004

go to tirerack.com and look at different 15" wheels on your car. decent prices, and you get a feel for what they look like.

the 16" wheels would be fine with you speedo, you would adjust your tire size accordingly. ditto for the 17". since you bought the LX i get the feeling you want your Accord sedan to look like an Accord sedan, so i wouldn't do anything over 16". i have seen the 17" wheels that Honda installed a few sedans at my dealer, and those sedans sit in the showroom.....and sit, and sit, and sit....haha

did the LX get new wheel covers for 2004?

lelandhendrix · February 2004

Just want to make sure that people undertstand that their speedometer does not change when you upgrade your rim size.

All accords have the same overall wheel diameter, or distance from edge to edge of the rubber. The difference between the LX's steel 15s, the EX's 16s, and the V6MT coupe's 17s is compensated for in the profile (height) of the rubber.

I verified that my speedo didn't change in the slightest all the way up to 100mph by using my gps's speed indication. Speedo stayed accurate, pre- and post-upgrade.

desmonsm · February 2004

Could someone please tell me what Honda does to "certify" a used vehicle? Specifically, can they certify a vehicle that has had any body damage? Thanks for your help.

dust90 · February 2004

Good clarification and substantiation of no speedo error. Most people don't seem to understand that the 15, 16, & 17 tires have approximately the same circumference, unless you intentionally go with different a profile. I'd bet that there will be quite a few 16" Honda alloys for sale, as a lot of owners with the 16's will want to upgrade to the 17's.

gregoryc1 · February 2004

My Honda dealer in northern New Jersey sent me a service coupon for an oil and filter change. ($18.99 + N.J. sales tax, ----Total $20.13). This includes a Honda filter. I don't think the "aftermarket oil change service centers" can beat that price, and they don't use a Honda filter. -----Have a nice day everyone. ----Greg

whitecloud · February 2004

Just wanted to put out there. I've never had a problem finding shops/stations that will perform oil changes to your specs. if you bring your own oil or filter. That's good to know if you prefer synthetic. Also I've found that Honda filters usually cost the same as any major name filter and you can always buy from the parts department. I usually use synthetic which adds about $20 to their labor charge, usually $10.

nw1997 · February 2004

whitecloud,

Have u noticed a significant difference when u use the synthetic oil, compared to HONDA's oi?

whitecloud · February 2004

I've been using it since my second oil change. I used it in previous cars too. I was sceptical about Honda's extended time recommendation for oil changes (seemed extended to me) which was one other reason for starting the synthetic so soon with this car. In the Honda and a Dodge turbo engine the synth seems to stay clean looking longer and the engines in both cars; Dodge with 115k and Honda with 78k run perfectly.

mikefm58 · February 2004

I'm quite familiar with the Toyota sludge problem. That referred to if the vehicle was still under warranty. In one of the examples you mentioned, the vehicle was OUT of warrany. You're not comparing apples to apples.

Again, I don't know why I waste my time responding to stuff like this. I won't again.

hmurphy · February 2004

I'm really impressed with the Accord's surefootedness in the snow. It's MUCH better in this respect than the '94 Camry I had before I bought the Accord last year.

We had several inches of fresh snow last night and the traction control kicked in a few times (mostly when pulling away from a stop), but the Accord felt very solid all around. I have the OEM tires and I have no complaints about them.

I'm still trying to get used to the ABS brakes, though. The ABS doesn't kick on all that often, but when it does, and I hear that loud clunking noise, my first instinct is to take my foot off the brake. I know that's exactly what you're NOT supposed to do, but it just sounds like something's wrong. It sounds like there are big rocks under my brakes. I'll guess I'll get used to it eventually. My husband's Lexus has ABS, but that just has a minor grinding noise, not a loud clunking. It's much less alarming.

chillenhonda · February 2004

I had a lot of drama with my Honda certified used car, so i gained a lot of information. You dealer should be able to provide you with the booklet, and the honda website has the info also.
There is a 100+ point inspection, and the car must be newer than 1997 and with less than 80,000 miles i believe. They come with a 1 year/12K mile complete warranty, and a 7 year/100K mile ppowertrain warranty (from original build date, not from when YOU buy it).
They can sell it as a certified vehicle if it has had less than 3 body panels replaced. They cannot sell it with a salvaged, totalled, or stolen title. However, different dealers will try different things to sell it. Mine, bought in Boston, had all the body panels replaced except the door (obviously I didnt know this at the time), and yet they still sold it as certified. Now living in CA, dealers here say they are under much stricter guidelines on which cars they can and cannot certify.

Hope this helps!

desmonsm · February 2004

Thank you very much. I read the Honda website but couldn't decipher much specific information. I thought I had heard that only 2 or 3 body panels (at most) could be replaced, so that's why I asked. It looks like I'm going to have to have at least the rear bumper replaced, and possibly the front one, after my well documented first 10 days of ownership!
I'm considering filing a diminished value claim against the other persons insurance company, so I wanted to know for sure how many body panels could be replaced.
Thanks again for your help.

gregoryc1 · February 2004

I don't understand your "posting", please explain!------Greg

pat · February 2004

The Toyota sludge issue is really not on topic here. How about the two of you take it to a Toyota discussion or continue off-line. Let's let this discussion stay focused on the Accord, okay?

Thanks.

lawdawgfl · February 2004

Does the Accord have a power outlet that stays on all the time? The one under the radio turns off with the engine. I haven't checked the one in the center console. If the car does not have one thats stays one, can a modification be made so that one will, for cell phone recharging or computers? Thanks for the help..

scottdude · February 2004

Can one of you EX 04 Accord owners describe what color(s) the instrument panel lights are at night (speedo, tach, etc.)? Potential new owner here. Thanks!!

venus537 · February 2004

i'm a little color blind but i would say a whiteish green.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2004/honda/accord/100336788/photogalle- ry.html?pg_type=Sedan&imgsrc=%2Fpictures%2FVEHICLE%2F2003%2FH- onda%2F100144773%2F005045-T.jpg

venus537 · February 2004

since i'm a previous jetta owner i know where you're coming from when you say the accord doesn't have the soul of the jetta.

at times i feel i dropped the ball when i got an accord instead of the tsx - an accord with the ingot solid feel of the jetta. sure you'll lose some accleration (probably felt only at highway speeds) but everything else favors the tsx (like exclusivity) except for interior space.

lelandhendrix · February 2004

The instruments are one of my favorite features of my car, day and night. They are very upscale and rare fot this class of car.

johnny420 · February 2004

Funny. I sometimes feel the same way about my TSX, wishing I had gotten an Accord. You're right. The TSX has an "ingot solid feel." The trade-off is an often overly-stiff ride. Under certain road conditions, the ride is downright brutal. Road noise can be bad too.

You will lose some acceleration with the TSX, especially off the line. Don't get me wrong, the car has plenty of pep, but so far for me the gas mileage is nowhere near what it's advertised to be. And you must run premium fuel. I've averaged about 22.5 MPG to this point (2000 miles). Not good. I hope it improves. I could have gotten the 240 HP EX V6 for $3000 less, gotten better fuel mileage, and run regular gas.

So far I've enjoyed the TSX, it's fun to drive, but I think about the Accord a lot. Truth be told, it may suit my day-to-day needs better. In fact, I know it does. My previous car was a 2000 Accord.

You didn't drop the ball. Enjoy your Accord. It's a damn fine car.

Johnny

lelandhendrix · February 2004

Having to drive in snow and lots of ice the past week, I have gotten to know some dynamics of my new Accord I wasn't familiar with.

The thing is pretty darned good in the winter.

Granted, there is some slip when accelerating, but the anti-locks work like a charm--be they noisy.

What makes the car downright great is what I have always loved from Hondas: Great communication through the steering wheel. I could detect slip and drift instantly and adjust accordingly. (no pun intended) I would dread to have to drive in snow and ice in a car with numb or vague steering. Many SUVs fall into this category, even though people think they are going to be so great in the snow.

What did I see in lots of ditches and stuck on/run up curbs? Camaros and Cavaliers. Of course, it might have something to do with the drivers as well.

lichtronimo · February 2004

this comes up here once and awhile, so I'll add my $0.02.

We just put new tires on our '01 Accord EX, which had Michellin MXV4 Energy Plus tires as OEM. They cost $160 per tire in 195/65-15H sizes and were VERY noisy. They did last 55 miles, however.

I replaced them with Bridgestone Turanza LS-T in a 205/60-15T size. I drove the car for the first time this weekend, including a strech of I-94 that is concrete. You can't believe the difference in noise reduction. You can actually hear what people in the back seat are saying or listen to the radio at 1/4 volume. Amazing. Plus, the tires were $91 each installed with road hazzard protection. The "T" rated tire has a 70,000 mile tread warranty versus 40,000 miles for the "H" rated tire.

johnny420 · February 2004

how's the handling and grip with the new tires versus the stockers?

bburton3 · February 2004

Go to the Tire Rack button on this page and read comments about Michelin Energy vs Turanza.

lichtronimo · February 2004

is actually pretty good. It feels a little "softer" than the Michelin Energy tires. I went with the wider tires to off set the lower speed rating and improve stability. So far so good. Even if the handling was much worse, the trade off in reduced noise would be worth it, IMO.

talon95 · February 2004

"We just put new tires on our '01 Accord EX, which had Michellin MXV4 Energy Plus tires as OEM. They cost $160 per tire in 195/65-15H sizes and were VERY noisy. They did last 55 miles, however."

I make it a hard and fast rule not to buy any tires that won't last at least 100 miles...

jmaxe · February 2004

I was transferring the contents of the glove box into my new EX-V6 when I decided to check the tire pressure on my other two cars. I do this often but this time I also checked the spares. WOW! both were severely low on pressure and the one with a mini spare that is supposed to have 60 psi actually only had 10.
Fortunately I didn't learn this the hard way. I will now be sure to check all spares a couple times a year. You might want to do the same.

richards38 · February 2004

Nothing surprising about this, of course. Be sure to enter the ENTIRE URL--copy+paste to your browser's address bar if address below is not fully highlighted:

http://intellichoice.com/best_value_2004/bovyTemplate1.cfm/templa- te/Midsize.cfm?CFID=2720536&CFTOKEN=39827888

..........Richard

motownusa · February 2004

Looks like just about all of the automotive press agrees that the Accord is the best mid size car out there. Now I kind of wish I had test driven the new Accord before deciding to buy the Camry. Not that I regret my decision. I guess the exterior look of the Accord is of secondary importance for most reviewers.

dako_tian · February 2004

I'm not so sure about their supposed blindness to looks. As I recall, my "YUCK!" upon first seeing the latest Camry redesign was slightly less pronounced than my "Yuck" upon first seeing the latest Accord redesign. Plus, it is taking less time for me to get used to the look of the Accord and think, "Gee, I guess that might be sort of attractive." I'm not sure I've reached that point even yet on the Camry.

So, opinions vary and you cannot conclude that looks were not considered.

lichtronimo · February 2004

Yeah, we barely made it home from the dealership before the tires had to be replaced...

dust90 · February 2004

Bad assumption! The wife has an 03 Camry and we both like the looks of my Accord better. She prefers the softer ride of the Camry, plus we bought when Toyota had some good incentives. Both are great cars but there are some differences for different folks. You, of course, are entitled to your opinion, but to assume that everyone or anyone shares that opinion is rather arrogant!

atlantabenny · February 2004

What's nicer-looking, the BMW 3 series or the Dodge Neon ?

Consider this: if the 3-series is obviously nicer, could it be that it has "approx. 27,000 styling elements" and that the Neon has only 13,000 ?

A study of the detail level given by stylists to those cars yields the above data (source: "Strategic Management of Technology & Innovation" by Burgelman, Maidique and Wheelwright, 2001).

One key measurement is the number of curves, indentations, etc. when viewing the cross-section of a fender or door, per that study.

Motor Trend, in one issue some time ago, tested the previous generation Accord and Camry and observed that the Accord, on closer inspection, had more styling elements than the Camry.

The implication of that study makes sense to me. The Accord on the road is just "another car" but ogled in the driveway or garage, the richness of its styling details hits you.

nowakj66 · February 2004

How much should I expect to pay for Honda accessory fog lights on a 2003 Accord Sedan?

gregoryc1 · February 2004

You went from a Michelin Tire, (a high quality product), to a Bridgestone tire, (a Firestone product).????? There were "Big Problems" with Ford Explorers and Firestone tires. When we took delivery of our 2004 Honda Civic it had Firstone / Bridgestone tires on the vehicle. I wouldn't do the deal, until the dealer agreed to trade the tires. The dealer traded them for Michelin Tires. I wouldn't ride on a Firestone product. I have see wrecks of Ford Explorers and Firstone tires. If necessary, I would have gone to a more expensive grade of Michelin tire for noise control. -----Just my opinion. ----Greg

lichtronimo · February 2004

Firestones are cheap Bridgestones, not vise versa. The Bridgestones were highly rated by consumers at Tirerack and by Consumer Reports. Almost everybody complains about the OEM Michelins on the Accord. Besides, if I would have gone to a "more expensive" grade Michelin tire, I would have needed to take out a second mortgage on my house.

bburton3 · February 2004

Only question about the BS Turanza tires is how well they maintain their balance-if they stay in balance assuming no front end alighnment problems-that will be my next set of tires. Love the traction and handling of Michelin X-One's but they are a bit noisey and interestingly are less expensive than those infamous Energy tires which gave a couple of sphincter tightening slides I will never forget.

imidazol97 · February 2004

rating tires?

Wasn't their first attempt tainted by connections with someone at one of the tire companies and their valuation system mysteriously gave that
'winter' tire a highest rating over others?

I read that story here on Edmunds. I had questioned how that tire was rated above others.
Oh, but I forgot, CR is always above reproach on any of their work... grin.

I don't think I'd give CR much credibility on tires...
Tire rack, and consumer anecdotal ratings are another story.

"Michelin X-One's but they are a bit noisey"
I can't believe X-Ones are noisy... I have them
on a LeSabre and they're quieter than any tire I've had
in two decades, including other Michelins. Can't even
hear them.

pj23 · February 2004

I'd also note that there is at least some indication that the Explorer's design contributed to the severity of the problem with the Firestone tires. Not all Firestones, let alone all Bridgestones, should be condemned based on the Explorer incident.

The Firestone tires on my '01 Civic were just fine for all of the 23,000 miles I put on the car.

imidazol97 · February 2004

Hadn't they been leaving out a layer of belt in the tires in certain sizes -- money-saving, labor-saving move???

And weren't there stories about using rubber that a workman in the plant said should not have been used... a quality problem in some of Firestone's tires...

jdexter23 · February 2004

Greg,

Any manufacturer is capable of making a mistake. At the quantities made per day in these factories, it only take a couple days of machine error to pump out a lot of bad product. The fact is that the problem has been fixed, and they are probably paying such close attention to quality now that they are better than ever. -JD

imidazol97 · February 2004

Sold me Wide Ovals on a car long, long ago.
Cheat me once, shame on them.
Cheat me twice, shame on me.

clint98v6at · February 2004

I've never heard of ANY tire separation problems other than the Explorer/Firestone problem, which is why I went ahead and purchased the Bridgestone Turanza LS-H as replacement to the Michelin Energy's that were way overpriced and average performers. The Bridgestones are much better in every respect IMO.

If I had an Explorer, I might think twice about replacing with Bridgestones/Firestones. On my Accord, the Turanzas LS's are a big improvement over the Michelin Energy's.

bd21 · February 2004

I have to agree with you totally.

nw1997 · February 2004

HONDA's again on top of the pack.

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4021802&sr- - c=msn

serendip · February 2004

I had them installed last week. Bought them from hondacuraworld.com - $238.80, free shipping (and great service.) They were installed when my bumper was being replaced: $60. Had I gone through the dealer, it would have been about $520.

Hope that helps.

As an aside - I understand now why Anony, and others, say the fog lights are more for looks than light. The difference is not drastic, but in wind blown snow and fog, they are a great help.

deiny · February 2004

I am very interested in purchasing this car but I have 3 questions:

1. Does the car handle well in snow?
2. It comes with XM radio but can you use regular frequencies instead?
3. Average price paid?

Thanks

bd21 · February 2004

1.Yes
2.Yes
3.Read previous posts on the prices paid board and get out your calculator.

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