Older Honda Accords

letsrock · May 2002

I've always found the MPV to be a 5/8 scale carbon copy of the Odyssey. I agree that the Caravan is at the head of the class styling-wise. Actually, there is the Caravan in one group on top and everyone else in the second group.

ricsch · May 2002

Motor Trend had a sketch of the possible look of the new Accord, anyone have any info to back it up? Another question, why doesn't Honda make use of backlit switches, such as window and door locks? And what's with cassette players still being put in these cars?

ickes_mobile · May 2002

the appearance of most Hondas tend to age well. I agree. I also like the current TL, but think it looks too much like the last Camry. Finally, I think the Odessey is close to the Chryslers for best Minivan. I like the low, wide stance and would seriously consider one.

As for the '03 Accord, I wouldn't bet on seeing any spy photos unless some non-press person sees the press preview in June. As for my earlier comment, I am more concerned about the car's overall performance. The current car is a performance leader against most of the mid-size class, but the Altima and forthcomming Mazda6 may raise the bar. I'm particularly interested in the Mazda6 hatchback V-6/5spd., but not in that hideous yellow color of the PR photos.

diploid · May 2002

While some people may be lured by the Altima's V6 bragging rights, if you look at the sales numbers, people still prefer the current Accord and new Camry (by a wide margin) over it.

The Accord probably could carry over the V6 and still sell more cars than the Altima because its ergonomics, quality, and value take precedence over the Altima's power and good looks.

fedlawman · May 2002

Most people don't know very much about cars, nor do they do much research.

Most people ignorantly buy the Accord and Camry because, "they're the best."

They're good cars so why buy anything more reliable, more styish, more fun, etc?

Don't ask me about Ford Taurus sales, I don't understand that.

letsrock · May 2002

Reason: The Ford name. It's been around for so long it's become generic, just like scotch tape, zerox, etc.

subzero206 · May 2002

because there are many aftermarket parts for these vehicles to customize to their liking and maybe theyre graduating from civics/integs and corollas.

diploid · May 2002

Actually, the Taurus is a very good car from Ford.
My first car was a hand-me-down 87 Taurus, lasted me 2 years when I had expected it to break down after being driven by my parents and then my older siblings.

pyhsieh · May 2002

Hi,

Has anyone gotten a price better than $22,000 for the EX-V6 in NJ? Please post dealer information if you do. Thanks!

rbenton · May 2002

Recently I drove my grand ma's 94" EX Leather Automatic. Very nice workmanship and interior design. Good handling and a well sorted out suspension. However, tooling around a certain Central PA city known Railroads and Hills, uncovered a great weakness. The powertrain, while smooth and willing to rev, however lacks something very usefully and necessary in Central PA, TORQUE! Despite the advantage of being smaller engine, its' fuel economy is barely better than a V6 engine. Not exactly the best bargain in the world. Another annoyance with the 94-97 Accord an undersized interior and trunk. The Accord rear seat is no bigger than a Contour, a car panned for a small interior. The trunk is more on scale with a Civic not a mid size family car. Even in the current generation is a little undersized for family use. No wonder we think we need SUVs to get enough space.

moonkat · May 2002

"2003 Honda Accord National Press Launch Hollywood,
California. Wave 1: June 17-19, 2002 Wave 2 ... " Google search.
http://genesis.brinternet.com/honda/

Hmmmm!??????

porknbeans · May 2002

Reliability is a pretty big deal. Think of all the lost time, energy and resources you have to give up every time you take your vehicle in for service. Does the Accord have the best engine, ride, looks, etc.? No, but it's very close in all of them. Couple that with their reliability and the package is something that will hold it's resale value for a very long time.

alpha01 · May 2002

The Accord is an outstanding, well rounded family car for the majority of its buyers. Perhaps if you are going to rag on the Accord, you would want to drive a current version, or even wait until the 2003 model to form your opinion. I find your test drive of a NINE year old vehicle practically irrelevant on a forum for new cars, especially when the vehicle you drove had a smaller engine, notably less slick transmission, and much less interior room than the iteration that is on the market today. I'm sure your g-ma is very satisfied with her Accord, and thats what keeps Honda owners coming back- customer satisfaction, however it is derived (whether it be reliability, drivability, ride, features, etc.).
~alpha
PS- if you want more torque, you can get an Accord V6 with 195lb-ft.

ickes_in_mn · May 2002

suffers in the looks department. (See comments above for how looks age well) It's performance is among class leaders in all categories, its built well, and very reliable. It should be on everyone's mid-size car shopping list.

newcar31 · May 2002

What's the user name and password you were using?

fedlawman · May 2002

They're great cars, no doubt. My '93 has been great. However:

Buick has outscored Honda five years in a row on JD Powers initial quality survey and...

2001 Honda Accord - 48 TSB's
2001 Honda Civic - 65 TSB's

2001 Buick Regal - 26 TSB's
2001 Buick Century - 31 TSB's

Buick seems to make a more reliable car.

diploid · May 2002

I checked with Consumer Reports and almost all of Honda's cars are listed as good bets for reliability.

darkguy · May 2002

did you take too much geritol? if you don't mind paying for service to replace the same part five or more times, the by all means go buy the buick. and the buicks seats fit like a lazy boy chair. and people wonder why buick has a median aged buyer of 60 years old!!

Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans might seem like appliances, but they always run and I don't spend all my spare time in a GM dealers repair department like you buick guys do.

Kirstie_H · May 2002

A journalist is looking for someone who bought one "twin" over another where the manufacturer offers two or more vehicles based on the same basic platform. (a Maxima vs. an I35 (or I30) or the TL vs. Accord)
Did you know it was basically the same vehicle as the other?
Why did you choose it over the other?
Please submit your response to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than Wednesday, May 15.

joeandcarol2 · May 2002

Buick is more reliable? Gee now I think I've seen it all. My 20 year old accord (that still chugs along perfectly) does not read your JD Powers reports.. Please.

fedlawman · May 2002

2001 Buick LeSabre - 30 TSB's
2001 Buick Park Ave - 25 TSB's

Sorry, but the statistics that I have posted seem to indicate that a Honda sedan is more likely to require repairs than a Buick sedan. However, since my 10 year old Honda has been pretty trouble free, you've got me thinking that maybe my facts are wrong.

Could you please post the source of the statistics that you are referencing so I can re-evaluate my claim?

diploid · May 2002

I think the sophistic error in your argument is that the numbers don't correlate to the seriousness of the problem. Comparing the numbers of TSBs is just as bad as saying "The Honda Odyssey has more problems than the Dodge Caravan - look at the number of posts in their respective problem threads."

TSB's range anywhere from a typo in the driver's manual to a mechanical problem.

Can you write out all of the 48 TSBs for the Accord and 26 TSBs for the Regal so we can compare? Then you will have the preponderant evidence to support your claim.

ricsch · May 2002

I don't rely much on these ratings since it seems they rate most new vehicles as the best in their class. Maybe there's a little $$ in it for someone.

jguo · May 2002

I hope they will fix the only weakness in the accord, road noise from tires.

hbund216 · May 2002

I do find Buicks, specially the Lesaber and Park Avenue to be quality cars. Talking with my mechanic he agrees that GM autos built on these platforms are very good cars. As for my experience... We own a 94 Olds at 80,000 miles and it has beat out a family members 95 Accord in repairs and matches my 2000 in initial quality. Things have changes a lot in 20 years. Even more so in the past 5.

tcpip1 · May 2002

One way to check for car reliability is to see what kinds of old cars are still running on the road today. For example, I still see 86-89 generation Accords on my daily trip to work. Another way is to visit the dorm parking lots of a public college campus and see what cars students drive.

net_guy · May 2002

http://genesis.brinternet.com

username: honda

password: accord

beechman · May 2002

Considering that most Buick sedans haven't truly been updated in several years, i.e. using the same ancient pushrod engines and chassis platforms, I would hope that there wouldn't be many TSBs for them.

I agree that for a domestic brand they are reliable, but I don't think you'll find many people cross-shopping a Buick and a Honda, just my opinion.

jafick · May 2002

Hi! Hope someone can help me with this. Just this weekend my 1997 Honda Accord EX started having problems starting. I turn the key all the way (clutch completely in)and nothing happens, not even a series of clicks like the battery is dead. When I turn the key, it clicks once and nothing. Battery runs, all electrical works, just no turning of the starter or motor. Eventually I get it to run by turning the key back and forth. It seems like a loose wire somewhere, but I am not sure. Does anyone know where the starter is located? Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks ahead of time. BTW- I live in Austin, TX if anyone knows of a good mechanic.

ickes_mobile · May 2002

Looks like someone should be at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel on June 20th around 10AM or at the Saddle Peak Lodge in Malibu around noon on the same day for a peak at the '03 Accord. Bring your digital camera!

diploid · May 2002

net-guy The link is dead.

edberg_dc · May 2002

Got this from TOV, use http://genesis.brinternet.com/honda/

same username (honda) and password (accord). BTW, it doesn't say anything great, just gives the event dates and says they will be showing the car and people will get to drive it. They will also get to drive competing vehicles as well. Somebody in that area get a pic for us?

crv16 · May 2002

It could be a bad starter solenoid, which is built into the starter.

I replaced a starter on my 95 Accord - basically the only thing that failed in it's 136k lifetime. It's real easy to replace yourself. Actually, I brought the starter to a local alternator shop, they rebuilt it right on site, and had it back to me the same day, for $100. You probally can buy rebuilt starters now. When I did it several years ago, rebuilt starters could not be found in stock at any local auto parts places.

daveghh · May 2002

The word on the street is the Accord is kind of loud on the road. Well, not compared to it's top competitor, the Camry! BTW every 10 decibals is double the loudness for the human ear! The camry is quieter at idle. They tie at full throtle. The accord is quieter at cruising and coasting speeds at 70 mph!

Accord

Camry

subframe1 · May 2002

I just sold my '93 Accord with over 147,000 miles. During the first 100,000 miles the only mechanical failure was the power antenna. (Of course I had the usual wear items (tires, brakes, batteries, muffler) and recommended maintenance). After 100k, some parts wore out, but nothing major or terribly expensive. As a result of this experience, I am a big believer in Accord reliability.

That said, I have heard at least one very reputable mechanic opine that today's Buick LeSabre is a very reliable car. I have no reason to doubt his word. Still, I would not buy a LeSabre because I've driven one that belongs to a relative, and I don't like it very much. That, of course, is a matter of personal preference.

So what about TSB's? IMHO they do not say very much about reliability. In fact, I think the higher consumer expectations are about the quality of a given car model, the more TSBs the car will have. This is because many TSBs address customer satisfaction issues -- minor rattles and squeaks, for example. A person who buys a car with a strong quality reputation will have higher expectations, and, therefore, will be more likely to complain about very minor annoyances. IMHO a buick buyer will be less likely to complain about such things than will a Honda buyer. (BTW, if you look at enough discussion forums, you realize that most car brands have minor squeak and rattle issues.) Another point is that some manufacturers generate more TSBs than others just as a matter of management practice. So, IMHO it is not valid to conclude that a car with fewer TSBs is necessarily a more reliable car. Maybe it is, or maybe it isn't, but the fact of fewer TSBs does not make the case.

net_guy · May 2002

For those that did not have a chance to go to the site before they made changes...

DAILY ITINERARY: Wave 1 June 17 - 19, 2002

Monday, June 17, 2002

Morning - Afternoon Arrivals into Los Angeles
Transportation provided from LAX to the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Look for greeter in baggage claim with Honda sign.

1:00 p.m. Please join us in the Honda hospitality suite on the 20th floor Panorama Suite.

6:30 p.m. Welcome reception

7:15 p.m. Dinner

9:30 p.m. Hospitality open: Panorama Suite, 20th floor

Tuesday, June 18, 2002

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Product and Technical presentations

10:00 a.m. Driving evaluation begins

12:00 noon Lunch: Saddle Peak Lodge, Malibu

1:00 p.m. Driving evaluation continues

3:00 p.m. Return to Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
Hospitality open: Panorama Suite, 20th floor

6:30 p.m. Reception: Wolfgang Puck's Vert Restaurant

7:15 p.m. Dinner: Vert Restaurant

9:00 p.m. Hospitality open: Panorama Suite, 20th floor

Wednesday, June 19, 2002

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

Morning - Afternoon Departures

DAILY ITINERARY: Wave 2 June 19 - 21, 2002

Wednesday, June 19, 2002

Morning - Afternoon Arrivals into Los Angeles
Transportation provided from LAX to the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Look for greeter in baggage claim with Honda sign.

1:00 p.m. Please join us in the Honda hospitality suite on the 20th floor Panorama Suite.

6:30 p.m. Welcome reception

7:15 p.m. Dinner

9:30 p.m. Hospitality open: Panorama Suite, 20th floor

Thursday, June 20, 2002

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Product and Technical presentations

10:00 a.m. Driving evaluation begins

12:00 noon Lunch: Saddle Peak Lodge, Malibu

1:00 p.m. Driving evaluation continues

3:00 p.m. Return to Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
Hospitality open: Panorama Suite, 20th floor

6:30 p.m. Reception: Wolfgang Puck's Vert Restaurant

7:15 p.m. Dinner: Vert Restaurant

9:00 p.m. Hospitality open: Panorama Suite, 20th floor

Friday, June 21, 2002

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

Morning - Afternoon Departures

beach15 · May 2002

Yeah, I wondered about that legroom thing too. Here's a quick solution--move your front seat up an inch, and wow, you're back to what the old Accord was!

dudleyr · May 2002

Just curious. A wagon basically does everything a sedan does, but holds more (has more utility). People generally don't buy wagons because of their looks/image, as their performance is basically identical to a sedan. (for some reason people do buy SUV's which are just overweight wagons, but I digress)

My question is - what do people think of this wagon, would you be ashamed to have it in your garage instead of a sedan? I know Honda won't bring it over because the last wagon was a flop (it was also semi ugly - sedan with a tacked on tail). Would anybody prefer it to a sedan like I would, or is my taste in vehicles a little off? :^)

http://www.vtec.net/news/items/878.html

dudleyr · May 2002

Yes, probably the solenoid. I took my Integra to an auto-electric shop and they rebuilt the starter including removal and replacement for $80. This was last year at about 136,000 miles. A rebuilt starter was well over $300 installed.

diploid · May 2002

dudley- If the Accord looked anything like that, then yes I wouldn't mind the wagon.

But judging from the center crease running the hood and the penta-grille and foglights, that is either going to be an Acura or a European/Japanese Honda Accord that we won't get.

crv16 · May 2002

It's not gonna happen, but I'd love to see the Accord wagon return.

Just like I'd like to see some of the European diesel engines brought over here. They offer a diesel engine in the European Civic, which gets a combined rating of 56 MPG! That is a much better solution than the Civic Hybrid, which has mega expensive battery packs that need replacement every 100k. Not to mention the extra cost of the hybrid system itself.

gpolt · May 2002

The front looks great but the rear is a bit stodgy, similar to the Lexus IS and the Volvo S-40. My thoughts are if you're going to make a wagon, actually make a wagon; e.g., Volvo and Subaru. The last generation Accord wagon added so little amount of storage, it wasn't worth the effort. The Camry Wagon 94-96, had more utility and offered a third seat. Camry V6 wagons still bring a premium. If Honda wanted to make it a "sport" wagon, then they should offer a V6 5 speed option.

dudleyr · May 2002

Here is what I hope happens. I think it is a given that there will be no Accord wagon, but the European Accord is rumored to be brought stateside as a replacement for the Integra sedan. Maybe they will toy around with that model and bring over a sports wagon. It could fit nicely between IS300, V40, A4 Avant and the Pro5, Matrix, Focus.

I have had my Integra hatch for 12 years, and love the utility, economy, driveability, but have always thought that a wagon version of the same car would be a really nice vehicle to have (all of the fun but easier to get the kids in and out of the back and more room to carry stuff) I really don't need a big wagon since I have a minivan.

While Honda may feel that the Accord wagon competes with the CRV. I don't think that a slightly smaller, sportier Acura wagon would take any sales away from the CRV.

Keeping my fingers crossed. The best part is I am in no hurry my car is just broken in at 141,000 miles (all but the first 1,000 on synthetic oil)

ickes_mobile · May 2002

would be to price it slightly above the CR-V, which I think tops out at around $23,000.

I was looking at the color matrix for the '03 sedan at College Hills Honda's website. I'm glad to see that black fabric will return for the sedans. I think it makes the interior look higher quality because it minimizes gaps (even those in a Honda) like black paint does for the exterior.

bodydouble · May 2002

I dunno. May be too dark. And too hot. Maybe a nice rich-looking charcoal grey?

ickes_mobile · May 2002

interiors on earlier Accords or other Hondas. They lightened it up with a light grey headliner and roof pillars. Look at a Nissan Maxima or BMW.

dudleyr · May 2002

Love the black interior. Black cloth would not be nearly as hot as black leather.

ripujeet · May 2002

Hello All!

I hv 2002 Black Accord. Wonder if someone could recommend a good polish/wax for it.

Thanks in advance.
-RSM

hbund216 · May 2002

I've had great luck using Meguiars products. Try the Gold Classic wax following your polish. It works great on dark colors from what I hear.

ravyn · May 2002

meguiars gold class, or zymol.. just remember to use the polish first.. that's what gives you the shine. waxes seal the finish.

and use a clay bar over your paint after you wash, before you polish. you'd be amazed at the crap that comes off, and how smooth your finish will be.. the polish and wax work even better after a good clay barring.. (is that even a word? ;P )

Older Honda Accords

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