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Comments
Maybe I will do something long later, but to quickly sum it up.
2007 SE I4 MT
I took an 800 mile business trip and found the car to drive and handle beautifully - the engine is a jewel. With the manual there is plenty of power and I even forgot to upshift a few times (until I looked at the tach) because the engine is so smooth. I can't imagine any situation where I would need a 6 cyliner.
On the bad side. The seats felt fine during numerous test drives of 15 -20 minutes, but during a long trip they are horrible. I have never had back pain after driving a car (and I have driven plenty with bad seats), but After an hour in the Accord my lower back was killing me. I do not have chronic problems either - I can sit in the all wood pews at church for over an hour without any pain. Back still hurts today and just the thought of getting in the car to drive it is unappealing.
I think the seats are too soft and have no lumbar. My old Integra has steel springs in the seat, and these seem to be all foam, so there is no real support. Ironiclly the smaller Integra has wider seats. The bolsters on the Accord are so narrow and stiff that the seat feels concave from left to right. Also ironic is that my wife said the seats were not too comfortable during the test drives and I thought they were fine.
Very frustrating. Trying to see if I can add the lumbar mechanism from an EX. Maybe that will help. I probably would have bought an EX-L with the better adjustment for the seats, but it just did not have enough headroom with the sunroof.
Already wondering why I didn't save $3,000 and get a new Mazda6 with power seats (more adjustability) and lumbar support.
So much to like about the car, but 1 thing like this sure changes the experience.
I have read people complain about the comfort of various different seats and thought the people were just being too picky. Strange to be on the other side now.
I could have got $5K on the Mazda6 in stock at the local dealership. They are just not selling. I bought a car which was not popular before and I must say they stay that way come resale time.
Will let ya know when I take a long trip. I did do a run to Santa Barbara one day and put say 110 miles or so each way without any back problem. I have a bad - bad back. Everyone is built different, so the support is not hitting you right. Lumbar support, in some cases work, and in other cases it hits me too high to work. So adjustable may not be any better. I own the SE V6.
Loren
Loren
I find the seat shape to be nearly ideal for everyday use (besides the fact that you cannot have anything in the rear pockets of your pants). The seats don't have tilt adjustment in my LX; which is a pity but not a deal-breaker for an automatic.
I don't have any major back problems and find the seats to be ok for 5-hour long drives (and I commute for 1.5-2 hours every work day).
I saw aftermarket inflatable lumbar supports on the web - you might be able to find a shop that will install one for you.
I am hoping I can adjust the seat somehow. It seems like you can just pull off the panel behind the seat, so maybe there is a simple way to modify the seat. No such thing as an uphostry shop in this town - maybe somewhere in the state I will have to check. Keep in mind that SD has about the same number of people as the Akron Ohio metro area - not too many, so not too many services.
Adding a new seat would probably be the best - I wonder if an EX-L seat would work (I will see if there is a wiring harness under the seat). The extra adjustability of the power seat can only help. Unfortunately I fear I will probably get next to nothing for my 5 day old seat, while a new seat will cost a large sum. Hopefully I am wrong.
I also notice while "walking" back from lunch, and peeking in some EX-Ls that I went by, that the side bolsters on the leather seats are not as severe. The cloth bolsters go straight up for about an inch (and there is a gap between the seat and the bolster) then start angling off to the side. The leather bolsters start to angle off right away, and have no gap - this smoother transition might make things a little better. More like my Integra and most other cars.
I suppose I could go the Recaro route, but I have no idea where I could sit in one, and after this I want to be darn sure a seat is cozy before I buy it.
Who knows my back may adjust to the seat somehow - it hasn't yet. There are two basic problems. First, when I just get seated and relax my lower back I can just feel it sinking an inch or two into the seat, and never really reaching something nice and hard to support it. I think my back does not trust this sensation and instinctively stays tensed - resulting in muscle pain after a while. I think it is made worse because the very top of the seat where my shoulders hit is quite soft, so my upper back is not too stable either, and the lower back has to try and keep in steady.
Anyway, I will just try to make lemonade and hopefully wind up with a superior seat
You can buy the parts for the lumbar from the EX, but they don't guarantee they will fit an SE. The cost for the parts is pushing $400. Worth it if it transforms the seats. I will need to spend some time in an EX to see. Wish I knew somebody that owned one.
I could also buy an EX seat frame with the lumbar built in and have my seat covers transferred. That way I know the mechanism will work. Frame is $642 plus the cost at an upholstry shop.
They don't sell entire seats, and don't deal with your old seats. He did say he priced a Civic SI seat for a guy part by part once, and it came out to $1,500 per seat.
Anybody have an EX or EX-L and want to trade for some nearly new SE seats.
Blufz1 - I suppose I could trade it back, but the headroom issue with the sunroof reappears (although in hindsight this is quite minor as my head just barely grazes the roof, and over the course of a long drive I would probably "settle" in a little.) The thing is the nearest EX or EX-L with a stick shift is about 400 miles away.
I think I will stary by trying to modify the seat somehow. If I come up with a good solution I will post, so others can benefit.
My preference for stick shifts is really getting to be a pain (no pun). My wife wanted a Camry (because of the available Stability control) that had power seats and lumbar, but they just don't make any sticks.
Loren
I just got my new accord. I am thinking about adding on a lip spoiler or a wing. The dealer is supposed to send a book of coupons in the next few weeks as part of the package of getting the car. I guess I maybe should have negotiated in my price a lip spoiler or a wing? They said there would be coupons for accessories in the book and they said they would help me out on a deal if I decided I wanted that. I am just kind of regretting not getting that added in. I was wondering if any of you added either to your car. I would like for my accord to look at little sportier. I have the graphite pearl colored sedan.
I saw one at the dealership with a wing and it looked pretty sporty-first time I had seen that. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any pictures of their car with this OR hand any feedback about what they have seen on the accords. Thanks!
I have bought from this site before. The shipping on something as large as a lip or spoiler would be pretty high though, I imagine.
If you really like the looks though, I would do it. Like I said, lip spoiler or wind is something I have not owned, yet would be kinda cool to have on a car some day. In looking at the Accord, I am not sure it is IMHO only the right car for that look. If I had a 2004 Mustang GT say, I would like it on that car. And on an Audi TT it became a necessity do to its aerodynamics at Autobahn speeds. I don't have that problem though. Anyway, if you add a spoiler, chrome, paint scheme or whatever and love it, it is right for you. Don't let anyone change your mind on this, as it is for your driving pleasure.
Enjoy the ride, Loren
Loren
Loren
I added the little lip 'spoiler' and like it well enough. Obviously it's all personal preference but to me the lip thing looks like part of the car and just makes it look a little more like a 'sport sedan' (it is v6 m6!) and less like a family sedan (til you look inside and see the baby seat...). The wing spoiler just gets a little too close to the 'fast and the furious' for me.
Enjoy your car, it's a winner!
What?
Loren
The Accord sedan or coupe have double wishbone suspension front and rear and will perform better under uneven road pavement. The Accord has a very smooth V6 and get great gas mileage. My car is new and I am already getting around 27.5 MPG on highway travel, which included some climbing. The car handles like a sports car. Ride is pleasant while still letting the driver know what is going on. The interior is well done.
The Mustang, to answer your question is the more sporty of the two. Sporty however has a couple meaning to it. It is sporty in both ways. The current Mustang, which is also referred to as a pony car, is fun to drive, fairly quick, and looks like a sporty car, a sports car, and a pony car. The engine is more course than a Honda, and more fitting of SUV. The gas mileage is not so good. Handling is good, but I would not trust it under as many a road condition as I would the Accord. It lacks stability control, and the rear suspension is still solid -- though a much improved one. The car handles like a pony car, with sporting intentions. It is good looking, though IMHO is too much a lean towards what I coined as the replicar look. Interior looks cheap. But then again, sporty can mean cheap, or not too serious, as well as, fast and playful. It is not a bad car over all. I would get a 2004, or maybe even some much older one, if joining a club. The GT has the sound and power I like, but if someone buys a V6, I can see a couple advantages, which are aside of performance. Gas mileage a little better, with a less expensive to repair engine, and the insurance is lower. And lastly they look good with a spoiler or without one.
In today's world, the cars like the Accord V6 SE, which I bought, come so close to being a sports sedan-GT, while providing an easier to live with ride and entry/exit than a true sports car, I would only buy a sports car like a Stang or Vette for special driving, or club events.
As far as power defining what is a sports car, that is not true. Plenty of lower powered cars are sports cars. It may have a good power to weight ratio, while not having a lot of HP. And a sporty car may not even be a sports car.
Loren :shades:
I have since opened up the back of the drivers seat (it pops right out - but be carefull not to break the upper anchors) and placed 2" of foam in front of the lowest back spring. The foam compressed too much, so I then added a piece of sturdy cardboard between the spring and the foam to keep the spring from digging in (did not want something too firm that I could feel and the cardboard seems to work well).
Placed the cover on the back and you can't tell the difference - except the seat has a noticeable bump in the lumbar area. I have yet to try it on a long trip - it may need a little fine tuning.
If I open it up again for adjustments I will take some pictures.
I have not added anything permanent under the knees yet, but it looks just as easy. The seat cover is only held on the front by some plastic clips. Seems like a simple matter to pop off the clips (I tried a few) peel back the seat cover a little and place a nice tapered piece of stiff foam towards the front of the seat. I am waiting on this until I can get a nice professionally cut piece of foam so the seat still looks OEM.
So far my seat is fine, but if I need to alter it, I know it should be easy enough.
The car upholstery shops do alterations too.
Loren
Yea send in those seats - I'll fix em up.
Took a 200 mile drive today - no problems with the seat. Gas mileage was a little dissapointing 31.5, especially since I was going slow (lots of rain only averaging about 62 mph). Of course the deep puddles on the road add resistance as did the strong winds and having the defroster/AC on most of the time. Next week I have to go on a 510 mile round trip - hopefully the weather will cooperate. I want my mpg in the high 30's - 40 when broken in and driven gently.
But at least you were comfortable!!
With any kind of passing, downshifting, or speed above 72 or so, my mileage has always dropped into the upper 30s. At 72 MPH, with just me in the car, 60 degrees, and not so much as the torque converter unlocking once merging on the interstate, I've seen as high as 40.92 MPG. Only two tanks in its life though, as it is difficult to do. Anybody should hit upper 30s (36-38) when driven modestly on strictly highway.
I got our EX-V6 last week and am loving the car so far. However, a couple days ago I started hearing a rattle from the steering area. I started to hunt it down and determined that it is either something under the horn cover on the steering wheel or the plastic trim cover itself. If I put some pressure on the plast by pulling OUT on the cover, the rattle is STOPPED.
I don't see how it can be tightened. Maybe it needs a new trim piece.
THe car seems tight other than that. Can I expect more rattles inside the car? Are there any common ailments or fixes that I may use in the future?
Thanks for any help.