Isn't there a Maintenance Schedule section in your Owner's Manual? The 2003 through 2005 models (same generation as the 2006) all have one. It describes schedules for either "normal" or "severe" service.
Those "special additives" are for the initial fill only. That's why Honda doesn't want you to do your first oil change any sooner than specified.
The only consideration that you might have with a new infant and car seat is whether you want to have a cloth or leather interior. Which do YOU AND YOUR WIFE think will be easier to keep clean? That's a personal decision.
I own a '03 EXV6 and have a lot of problems with it. Did you consider the 4-cyl model? They seem to be less problematic.
Not to scare you but my car has 48k miles and I'm looking at a $900 repair bill for front tie rod bushings & blown rear struts. The transmission is slipping when rolling into a hill at 15-20 mph. And yes, I am a careful driver with kids. Also, read the posts regarding Honda V6 transmissions. They have a poor record of reliability.
I think the Honda has a hard time figuring out how to setup a V6 in the standard car. The front brakes are undersized and the extra engine weight wreaks havoc on the suspension.
A co-worker of mine has an '03 4cyl model with 70k - no problems. If I bought another Accord it would be the tried & true 4cyl and save 2 grand.
Lastly, go with the heated leather. You will love it. High quality leather with excellent residual value. Easier to clean up after kids mess. My 2 cents.
If you decide to buy an Accord, both the 06 LX and EX V6 Sedans will do nicely. If you choose the LX it comes standard with cloth interior, heated mirrors, moonroof (or is it a sunroof?), 17" rims (same as the one on the EX V6) and VSA with Traction control, along with the 5 year 60 K powertrain warranty. The EX V6 has nice leather & heated seats which come in very handy in the wintertime. The EX V6 also has outdoor temp. readings and some other nice features that the LX V6 does not have.
Currently, I own an 06 LX V6 Sedan, and the only reason I didn't go with the EX was I have a very tight budget. The car has almost 1800 miles on it and it rides beautifully. I missed my old 99 Honda V6 Accord Coupe, but after driving this car, I don't miss it so much.
VSA works great I suppose. We had a lot of rain in New Jersey and VSA barely activated. I hope it doesn't activate anytime soon either. The one time that I did activate VSA was when I was on a pretty steep hill and it was wet. I tried to activate it by hitting the gas pedal hard and successfully did. I couldn't tell exactly what happened next, but the car seemed to slow down and regain traction very quickly. Honestly, I can't tell if just my traction control kicked in, or the VSA kicked in, or maybe both did.
Handling is also very good on this car and even though I hate Michelins, the tires seem to be doing a good job holding the road. Hit some small potholes, due to the unforgiving wet weather, and the suspension did a good job of absorbing those unexpected tire killers.
Plenty of interior space and I love the good pick-up in this car. No problem passing or accelerating in dangerous traffic areas. The drive-by-wire seems great and I have not noticed any hesitation that was described in cars like the Camry V6s or even some of the other V6 Toyotas with DBW.
I also love the exhaust note change when you pass someone and punch the gas pedal. It gives a real cool throaty sound. I love that sound, but it woke my girlfriend up while she was sleeping, and she almost punched me because she thought I had gotten into an accident.
If you want a nice car with good value this is the car to get. You could also get a Hyundai Sonata LX for a lot cheaper, but you don't know what the future is in terms of reliability for that car. The other options such as the 06 Toyota Camry SE V6 and Nissan Altima, if you price them out with options such as VSA and moonroof, won't be worth it in the end.
Do your research and make your own decisions. Test drive a lot of cars in the range you are looking at, and come to your own conclusions. I'm sure you'll make the smart decision.
I can't see one model being better than the other for kids, except perhaps the leather in the EX probably would be easier to clean up spills.
The main difference between the cars is the leather and sunroof. From what I've heard, the LX V6 is not nearly as common at the EX, so the EX will be easier to find.
I can't see one model being better than the other for kids, except perhaps the leather in the EX probably would be easier to clean up spills.
The main difference between the cars is the leather. From what I've heard, the LX V6 is not nearly as common at the EX, so the EX will be easier to find.
I read one response to your post that asked if you'd considered a 4-cylinder model? Is there a particular reason you want the V6? The 4-cylinder Accord has great acceleration and can be with basically everything else the V6 has. On top of that you save several thousand dollars and get better fuel economy to boot. Just a thought.
My wife test drove both the 4 and 6. She liked the V-6 better and doesn't put a lot of mileage on a car. I like the V-6 for the VSA, (which all Accord models should have), in bad situtaions.
I believe that Honda has changed the '06 Accords to include a function which determines when the maintenance is necessary based on usage, driving style, etc., like the computers most BMWs, Mercedes, and many higher-end GM models have on them. It's different than the maintenance required light that '03-'05 Accords have on them, which lights up at a predetermined interval.
I also have a 99 EX V6 Coupe. Is the 2006 is a big improvement in terms of ride and acceleration? My 99 has been trouble-free and will probably drive fine for another 5 years or so.
XM is standard on the EX six and is a $700 dollar option (list price) on the LX six. If you want XM and prefer factory install, then the EX is the way to go. Local dealer has advertised 2006 EX V6 automatics, no nav, for $23,995. Very surprised to see them discounted this much this early.
Just curious, my Honda dealer is far from my house. I have new 05 Accord and know that the tires came wiht warranty. I can't see it on the booklet but generally many shops that sell tire offer free rotation. So, I wonder Michelins would do the same?
"... like the computers most BMWs, Mercedes, and many higher-end GM models have on them."
Scratch Mercedes-Benz. Daimler-Benz quietley dropped 'em on Mercedes models for the '05 model year after spending over three-million bucks to fix customer cars that went blooie because of these idiot lights. Curiously, while Honda recommended 5W-20 viscosity motor oil, and 10,000 mile oil and 20,000 mile oil filter changes for their cars sold in the U.S., the company still recommends 10W-30 viscosity motor oil, and 5,000 mile oil and oil filter changes in the Japan home market. This is also true for Honda passenger cars sold in Australia and New Zealand. (I guess Honda only assigns their best and brightest engineers to develop the maintenance recommendations for the American market, huh? )
The maintenance schedule booklet does list bunch of items need to be checked. But it does not list any mileage. ie., other cars may list 5000 mile service, 10k mile service...etc. But for 2006 Accord, there is a blank entry for you to fill up the mileage when servcie is done. I guess I have to trust the onboard computer for service now. Hopefully, it won't get a virus... :-)
Are you looking at the right page? Those blank box pages are there for your notes. The actual Maintenance Schedule should be a few pages earlier, at least in the manuals for every other vehicle I've ever checked.
That's an interesting tidbit, about the home market maintenance requirements. Can there by a significant difference in driving habits between Japan and the U.S.?
Never been to the Orient myself, so I don't know. I suspect that given Japan's "compact" acreage, city traffic is congested and all-out freeway flying is a rarity, though. Australia, though, has LOTSA wide-open space and temperatures that vary as much as they do in the continental U.S. Given that Australia's national joke is that in Australian football, the rules boil down to there are no rules, it'd probably be a safe extension that Aussie drivers are just as aggressive, if not more so, than their American counterparts.
I own a '06 Accord EX and have looked and looked and then finally asked my dealer: No service Schedule is given in any of the owner's materials. We are supposed to either believe the Maintenance Minder or online they have a mileage and time based service schedule.
Kinda confusing since you don't want to void any warranties by not following the proper schedule - but without an internet connection how would you know what that is?
Less of driving habits than it is driving conditions. haefr's deductive reasoning was on track - there's a lot of traffic idling and low speeds in Japan's road system because of the high vehicle:roadway ratio (too many car lovers, not enough roads). That, as we know, calls for shorter oil drain intervals due to combustion contaminants in oil.
The 10w/30s spec, on the other hand, is a little puzzling. It gets as cold if not colder in Japan as in the US, a fact that suggests 5w/20s because lower viscosity increases fuel economy. It would look like the USA's CAFE targets are more aggressive than Japan's Energy Saving Law/Fuel Economy Standard.
Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?
Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions.
How often should I change my oil after the first service?
Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended service intervals. Separate maintenance schedules are listed for "normal service" and "severe service." Read the description of severe service carefully. Most vehicles will fall under the normal service category. Note that the service intervals are listed by time in addition to distance. Your oil should be changed at whichever interval, time or distance, occurs first.
There is absolutely no benefit in changing your oil more frequently than recommended in your owner's manual. This will only increase your cost of ownership, and create an unnecessary burden upon the environment by increasing the amount of disposed oil.
"There is absolutely no benefit in changing your oil more frequently than recommended in your owner's manual. This will only increase your cost of ownership, and create an unnecessary burden upon the environment by increasing the amount of disposed oil."
That is grossly incorrect. Collected used motor oil is recycled through the same severe hydrocracking process used for virgin petroleum feedstock back into a very pure base oil for re-use, not disposed of in landfills.
concept car unveiled at the tokyo auto show. the detroit free press reported the following:: Honda showed a stunning concept, called the Sports 4, that supposedly hints at the direction of the next-generation Accord, coming to market in the next couple of years. The concept features sportier styling than the current Accord. The concept is equipped with the SH-AWD technology, introduced last year on the Acura flagship RL, suggesting the next Accord (and subsequent Acura TL based on the Accord) will have more spirited driving performance to match its look.
Oh, you mean the Soylent Green concept? Just kidding...
Let me rephrase what I think Honda was trying to convey in that paragraph:
1. changing your oil more frequently than required isn't going to make your engine perform any better or last any longer. 2. you will needlessly and prematurely spend your hard-earned money on oil changes I.e., you could spend that money on something other than these more frequent oil changes, unless you are truly wishing to contribute to your mechanic's boat payment (as Tom & Ray would say) 3. consuming oil at a faster than normal rate - even when recycling the used oil - needlessly wastes resources. This hydrocracking process you mention seems to require high temperatures (400C) and high pressures (3000 psi), both of which require energy to sustain. Energy, which requires other resources to produce. And those resources come at a cost both monitarily and environmentally, because most of those resources are neither infinitely abundant nor easily replaced. Hence the "unnecessary burden" on the recycling process itself, by recycling half-used oil and not oil near the end of its life.
I cannot account for the accuracy or inaccuracy of the statement. They are probably not referring to landfills, btw. My last post was entirely a cut and paste from Honda's owner's link site. However, I think it is unlikely that Honda Corporation is disseminating blatantly false information. Speaking only for myself, I will probably follow the advice of the manufacturer.
Hydrocracking does, indeed, utilize very high operating temperatures. However, the process is in no way confined to processing reclaimed motor oil - it is a fact of life in the production of all base oils rated Group II or Group III - which virtually includes all oils for cars requiring an API rating of "SM" (and many that were rated "SL" up until November of last year). Recycling used motor oil lessens the dependency on imported oil or drilling new wells domestically. This, in my mind, is a worthwhile contribution to the environment as well as attractive from the geo-political standpoint. Lest anyone counter that use of synthetic motor oil, which is "built up" (polymerized) from smaller molecules, would achieve the same advantages, be aware that the "smaller molecules" are acquired from petroleum, too, and the polymerization process is even more energy intensive than hydrocracking. Hydrocracking, and its cousin, hydroprocessing, have been used extensively since the late 1930's in the production of gasoline rated to at least 80 octane, too. I have no problem with those who insist on driving 10,000 miles between oil changes. Their cars, their decision, their consequences. But the notion that the environment is somehow verifiedly relieved by their decision is, at this point, a convenient myth, not reality. The true test of how well 10,000 mile oil change and 20,000 mile oil filter change intervals are actually working out (vs. "accelerated" testing under less than real world conditions) using low viscosity motor oil will become evident when the current fleet has accumulated six or more years' general wear and tear. In the meantime, I prefer not to be a paying guinea pig. Would anyone seriously argue that "choice" isn't a wonderful concept?
Do you mind telling us how much you paid for the EXL V6, (Base, DMV fee, and processing; you can skip the destination and tax) and where you bought the car? Regards, PT.
Still have not made up my mind to purchase a Accord, a friend of mine told me that Accord does not have the same Honda quality of the past, and prone to more problems ? Can anyone shed some light ? does Accord still provide a hassle free ownership ? The picture below is the JDPower quality survey, I am not sure, how accurate this one is.
The JD Powers Initial Quality Ratings is a survey of only the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. That's not enough time to uncover most problems. I don't know about their sampling size.
However, a much more reliable survey can be found in Consumer Reports. Their April 2005 Annual Auto Issue reported on the compiled responses of 810,000 owners regarding their long-term experiences with their personal 1997 through 2004 vehicles.
I'd place my money on a Honda product over a General Motors product, for long-term reliablity, any day.
I'd place my money on a Honda product over a General Motors product, for long-term reliablity, any day.
While GM quality has been getting better, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Honda over a Chevy. And from a financial standpoint, I'd especially buy Honda over Chevy if you factor in resale value. GM's typical depreciation drops like a rock after just 2 years, while Honda's holds up very well. I know, unfortunately, from personal experience!
And keep in mind, Honda just extended it's powertrain warranty to 5 years or 60,000 miles, while Chevy is still at a much lower 3 years/36,000 miles. No-brainer, IMO.
.....FWIW Department: It's been exactly 90 days. 2005 Accord EX V-6 6-speed Coupe.........
..$23413 prior TTL per CarsDirect
..absolutely no problems.....
..fuel efficiency potential so capable I won't bore you......
..if I could write Soichiro Honda a mash note, I would..........
...I'm contrite about how American designs will not parallel what we did 60 years back.................................we outdesigned, outproduced and outmanuevered all others.................or else you would be speaking something other than English....
I recently bought my 3rd accord ....a 06 accord EX-L 4cl/at in Graphite Pearl...I was in love with the new back and had to have one. I have seen the problems with hondas increase this year. I bought my car on saturday and while dirving it home i noticed the stering wheel was off centered....the center console storage would not latch...and as i was pulling into the driveway,(it was night by then) I noticed light was leaking through the glove compartment. I have been to the dealership 3 times now to fix these problems, and still not fixed...parts ordered and still the same problems. the dealer asked to bring it back on tue to reinstall the glove compartment for the second time, hope this works...Don't get me wrong, I love my car, but i was hoping to drive worry free instead of driving to the dealership 3 times. anybody have any problems like this or have any advise???
Look at the sticker for the car. Final assembly point: "Ohio". Guess that should answer your question! I just got the 2006 EX V6. No problems so far, but as I said: Final assembly point "Ohio"! I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed too. By the way have you noticed that the steering wheel feels quite stiff. I test drove the Passat and the wheel on that car was feather light. PT.
Actually, most Accords sold in the U.S. are built at the Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio. Honda also builds most of its U.S. Civics and many other models in Ohio. Another example: the Odyssey minivan is built in Alabama.
The only sure way to get an Accord built in Japan, at the moment, is to buy a hybrid version. Presently, all Accord and Civic hybrid versions are built in Japan. But that could change in the future, now that Toyota has announced that they will begin building hybrid Camrys at their Kentucky plant next year.
But make no mistake, the quality results you see in JD Power, Consumer Reports, and other reviews tell the quality history of the plant the cars come from. So I'd say that Honda's plants in Ohio have a pretty good reputation.
the steering wheel feels fine to me compared to the TSX, Camry & Altima I test drove. The Accord rides the best to me. I just hate it that when my friends who drive even the lower model hondas and toyotas sit in my car and the first thing they say is your gove comparment light is on...I ticks me off to spent $ 24K for a car and i have to hear that....
Look at the sticker for the car. Final assembly point: "Ohio". Guess that should answer your question! I just got the 2006 EX V6. No problems so far, but as I said: Final assembly point "Ohio"! I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed too.
Psst - Honda has been manufacturing cars in Ohio for 25 years now.
My 04 Accord has the issue with the glove box light. It is because the glove box does not sit flush with its surroundings. I have seen Accord pics in magazines and theirs appeared to be misaligned as well. I have tried to adjust it, and succeeded in making the glove box door appear flush, but the light would still show through. I think that it is just a build thing that I will have to live with. My fix, I took out the light bulb in the glove box.
My family owns 4 honda accord sedans (3-2003 & 1-2004). All 4 cars required the rear brakes to be changed (about 20k-25k miles). Front brakes were still in excellant conditions. I thought the front brakes normally wear out first? I've owned older models accords, never had this problem. Could this be a design issue with Honda? Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks.
It's actually pretty common. The rear pads are thinner than the fronts, hence they tend to wear out first. My 98 wore out the rears at 30K and the fronts at 45K.
Moemoe, do you like the stiff steering? Does it seem under-assisted?
I leased an 06 EX V6 auto sedan last week and also noticed the stiff steering. It is much stiffer than the 03 EX V6 sedan I turned in for the 06. I am not sure how much the larger 17 inch tires contribute to this. I test drove the Altima 3.5 SE with 17 inch tires and the steering was not as stiff as the 06 Accord. I also test drove the new Passat and did not like the juicy steering in comparison to the firmer steering in the 03 EX V6. I have not yet decided whether the 06 steering is too stiff in comparison to the 03. Maybe it is something I have to get used to. I have noticed that I am driving the 06 more slowly than the 03. This could be because of the stiffer steering or plusher ride.
By the way, my 06 is flawless with respect to fit and finish. My early production 03 (built 8/02) had a misaligned hood, trunk and rear door and the steering wheel column was crooked. The FM reception and sound quality is also much better in the 06 sound system. Perhaps the head unit in my 03 was also defective.
Unfortunately the current Accord doesn't have a switched glovebox light, a rare design slip by Honda imo. Only solution is to DIY-install a generic Autozone switch.
I've been driving accords since 81. Just test drove an 06. Am I reading this right that there is no switch in the glove box to turn off the light?. Does it just stay on?
This rating actually made me laugh out loud. It is quite transparent and confirms what I've known about J D Power for years; they are for sale to the highest bidder.
Comments
Isn't there a Maintenance Schedule section in your Owner's Manual? The 2003 through 2005 models (same generation as the 2006) all have one. It describes schedules for either "normal" or "severe" service.
Those "special additives" are for the initial fill only. That's why Honda doesn't want you to do your first oil change any sooner than specified.
The only consideration that you might have with a new infant and car seat is whether you want to have a cloth or leather interior. Which do YOU AND YOUR WIFE think will be easier to keep clean? That's a personal decision.
Not to scare you but my car has 48k miles and I'm looking at a $900 repair bill for front tie rod bushings & blown rear struts. The transmission is slipping when rolling into a hill at 15-20 mph. And yes, I am a careful driver with kids.
Also, read the posts regarding Honda V6 transmissions. They have a poor record of reliability.
I think the Honda has a hard time figuring out how to setup a V6 in the standard car. The front brakes are undersized and the extra engine weight wreaks havoc on the suspension.
A co-worker of mine has an '03 4cyl model with 70k - no problems. If I bought another Accord it would be the tried & true 4cyl and save 2 grand.
Lastly, go with the heated leather. You will love it. High quality leather with excellent residual value. Easier to clean up after kids mess. My 2 cents.
Currently, I own an 06 LX V6 Sedan, and the only reason I didn't go with the EX was I have a very tight budget. The car has almost 1800 miles on it and it rides beautifully. I missed my old 99 Honda V6 Accord Coupe, but after driving this car, I don't miss it so much.
VSA works great I suppose. We had a lot of rain in New Jersey and VSA barely activated. I hope it doesn't activate anytime soon either. The one time that I did activate VSA was when I was on a pretty steep hill and it was wet. I tried to activate it by hitting the gas pedal hard and successfully did. I couldn't tell exactly what happened next, but the car seemed to slow down and regain traction very quickly. Honestly, I can't tell if just my traction control kicked in, or the VSA kicked in, or maybe both did.
Handling is also very good on this car and even though I hate Michelins, the tires seem to be doing a good job holding the road. Hit some small potholes, due to the unforgiving wet weather, and the suspension did a good job of absorbing those unexpected tire killers.
Plenty of interior space and I love the good pick-up in this car. No problem passing or accelerating in dangerous traffic areas. The drive-by-wire seems great and I have not noticed any hesitation that was described in cars like the Camry V6s or even some of the other V6 Toyotas with DBW.
I also love the exhaust note change when you pass someone and punch the gas pedal. It gives a real cool throaty sound. I love that sound, but it woke my girlfriend up while she was sleeping, and she almost punched me because she thought I had gotten into an accident.
If you want a nice car with good value this is the car to get. You could also get a Hyundai Sonata LX for a lot cheaper, but you don't know what the future is in terms of reliability for that car. The other options such as the 06 Toyota Camry SE V6 and Nissan Altima, if you price them out with options such as VSA and moonroof, won't be worth it in the end.
Do your research and make your own decisions. Test drive a lot of cars in the range you are looking at, and come to your own conclusions. I'm sure you'll make the smart decision.
The main difference between the cars is the leather and sunroof. From what I've heard, the LX V6 is not nearly as common at the EX, so the EX will be easier to find.
Good luck and congrats!
The main difference between the cars is the leather. From what I've heard, the LX V6 is not nearly as common at the EX, so the EX will be easier to find.
I read one response to your post that asked if you'd considered a 4-cylinder model? Is there a particular reason you want the V6? The 4-cylinder Accord has great acceleration and can be with basically everything else the V6 has. On top of that you save several thousand dollars and get better fuel economy to boot. Just a thought.
Good luck and congrats!
...Sorry for my ignorance but what's this VSA? And is that something new for the '06?
Thanks
What would I benefit by gettting a 2006 V6?
If you want XM and prefer factory install, then the EX is the way to go.
Local dealer has advertised 2006 EX V6 automatics, no nav, for $23,995. Very surprised to see them discounted this much this early.
Thanks.
Scratch Mercedes-Benz. Daimler-Benz quietley dropped 'em on Mercedes models for the '05 model year after spending over three-million bucks to fix customer cars that went blooie because of these idiot lights. Curiously, while Honda recommended 5W-20 viscosity motor oil, and 10,000 mile oil and 20,000 mile oil filter changes for their cars sold in the U.S., the company still recommends 10W-30 viscosity motor oil, and 5,000 mile oil and oil filter changes in the Japan home market. This is also true for Honda passenger cars sold in Australia and New Zealand. (I guess Honda only assigns their best and brightest engineers to develop the maintenance recommendations for the American market, huh?
ARCO was acquired by British Petroleum, not Texaco.
Are you looking at the right page? Those blank box pages are there for your notes. The actual Maintenance Schedule should be a few pages earlier, at least in the manuals for every other vehicle I've ever checked.
Kinda confusing since you don't want to void any warranties by not following the proper schedule - but without an internet connection how would you know what that is?
The 10w/30s spec, on the other hand, is a little puzzling. It gets as cold if not colder in Japan as in the US, a fact that suggests 5w/20s because lower viscosity increases fuel economy. It would look like the USA's CAFE targets are more aggressive than Japan's Energy Saving Law/Fuel Economy Standard.
http://world.honda.com/environment/2005report/09products/automobile/mileage/
If you've never visited this site Honda Owner Link site, you should:
https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?brand=honda
Just login, or if it's your first time, register. You'll then be able to access the entire maintenance schedule for your particular vehicle.
Why should I wait to change the oil the first time?
Your Honda engine was delivered with an oil that is specially formulated for new engines that have not yet developed their "natural" wear patterns and may contain minute particles from the manufacturing process.
American Honda strongly recommends this special oil be left in the engine long enough for these wear patterns to develop, usually until the first maintenance interval specified in your Owner's Manual, based on your specific driving conditions.
How often should I change my oil after the first service?
Refer to your owner's manual for the recommended service intervals. Separate maintenance schedules are listed for "normal service" and "severe service." Read the description of severe service carefully. Most vehicles will fall under the normal service category. Note that the service intervals are listed by time in addition to distance. Your oil should be changed at whichever interval, time or distance, occurs first.
There is absolutely no benefit in changing your oil more frequently than recommended in your owner's manual. This will only increase your cost of ownership, and create an unnecessary burden upon the environment by increasing the amount of disposed oil.
That is grossly incorrect. Collected used motor oil is recycled through the same severe hydrocracking process used for virgin petroleum feedstock back into a very pure base oil for re-use, not disposed of in landfills.
Honda showed a stunning concept, called the Sports 4, that supposedly hints at the direction of the next-generation Accord, coming to market in the next couple of years. The concept features sportier styling than the current Accord. The concept is equipped with the SH-AWD technology, introduced last year on the Acura flagship RL, suggesting the next Accord (and subsequent Acura TL based on the Accord) will have more spirited driving performance to match its look.
you can find photos via web search
Let me rephrase what I think Honda was trying to convey in that paragraph:
1. changing your oil more frequently than required isn't going to make your engine perform any better or last any longer.
2. you will needlessly and prematurely spend your hard-earned money on oil changes I.e., you could spend that money on something other than these more frequent oil changes, unless you are truly wishing to contribute to your mechanic's boat payment (as Tom & Ray would say)
3. consuming oil at a faster than normal rate - even when recycling the used oil - needlessly wastes resources. This hydrocracking process you mention seems to require high temperatures (400C) and high pressures (3000 psi), both of which require energy to sustain. Energy, which requires other resources to produce. And those resources come at a cost both monitarily and environmentally, because most of those resources are neither infinitely abundant nor easily replaced. Hence the "unnecessary burden" on the recycling process itself, by recycling half-used oil and not oil near the end of its life.
Honda designs are coming into their stride!
Which dealership and which city is this?
PT.
Regards,
PT.
Can anyone shed some light ? does Accord still provide a hassle free ownership ?
The picture below is the JDPower quality survey, I am not sure, how accurate this one is.
The JD Powers Initial Quality Ratings is a survey of only the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. That's not enough time to uncover most problems. I don't know about their sampling size.
However, a much more reliable survey can be found in Consumer Reports. Their April 2005 Annual Auto Issue reported on the compiled responses of 810,000 owners regarding their long-term experiences with their personal 1997 through 2004 vehicles.
I'd place my money on a Honda product over a General Motors product, for long-term reliablity, any day.
While GM quality has been getting better, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Honda over a Chevy. And from a financial standpoint, I'd especially buy Honda over Chevy if you factor in resale value. GM's typical depreciation drops like a rock after just 2 years, while Honda's holds up very well. I know, unfortunately, from personal experience!
And keep in mind, Honda just extended it's powertrain warranty to 5 years or 60,000 miles, while Chevy is still at a much lower 3 years/36,000 miles. No-brainer, IMO.
..$23413 prior TTL per CarsDirect
..absolutely no problems.....
..fuel efficiency potential so capable I won't bore you......
..if I could write Soichiro Honda a mash note, I would..........
...I'm contrite about how American designs will not parallel what we did 60 years back.................................we outdesigned, outproduced and outmanuevered all others.................or else you would be speaking something other than English....
best, ez
anybody have any problems like this or have any advise???
I just got the 2006 EX V6. No problems so far, but as I said: Final assembly point "Ohio"! I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed too.
By the way have you noticed that the steering wheel feels quite stiff. I test drove the Passat and the wheel on that car was feather light.
PT.
The only sure way to get an Accord built in Japan, at the moment, is to buy a hybrid version. Presently, all Accord and Civic hybrid versions are built in Japan. But that could change in the future, now that Toyota has announced that they will begin building hybrid Camrys at their Kentucky plant next year.
But make no mistake, the quality results you see in JD Power, Consumer Reports, and other reviews tell the quality history of the plant the cars come from. So I'd say that Honda's plants in Ohio have a pretty good reputation.
I just got the 2006 EX V6. No problems so far, but as I said: Final assembly point "Ohio"! I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed too.
Psst - Honda has been manufacturing cars in Ohio for 25 years now.
I leased an 06 EX V6 auto sedan last week and also noticed the stiff steering. It is much stiffer than the 03 EX V6 sedan I turned in for the 06. I am not sure how much the larger 17 inch tires contribute to this. I test drove the Altima 3.5 SE with 17 inch tires and the steering was not as stiff as the 06 Accord.
I also test drove the new Passat and did not like the juicy steering in comparison to the firmer steering in the 03 EX V6.
I have not yet decided whether the 06 steering is too stiff in comparison to the 03. Maybe it is something I have to get used to. I have noticed that I am driving the 06 more slowly than the 03. This could be because of the stiffer steering or plusher ride.
By the way, my 06 is flawless with respect to fit and finish. My early production 03 (built 8/02) had a misaligned hood, trunk and rear door and the steering wheel column was crooked. The FM reception and sound quality is also much better in the 06 sound system. Perhaps the head unit in my 03 was also defective.
I thought it an odd design then but since the world didn't end, I was fine with it.