Well Check CR ( April issue for the past 2 years) and you'll see that there IS reason to worry.
Just look at the Ody & Civic. Those intros were not "Better or Much Better Than Average" as they always were in the past.They are improving, but the intros were nothing to write home about. They seem to be a work in progress. Even the Sentra that's built in Mexico is better.
What does the Sentra being built in Mexico have to do with its first year performance?
Almost all the new cars nowadays have bugs in their first years anyway. Hate to burst all the Honda-phobes little bubble, but yes, even the Honda-philes realize that their favorite brand is not infallible.
There is no escape from problems as cars simply have too many parts to perfect. Honda comes close with some of their cars though. Important before buying is to know the service department is good and that they will take care of you.
As for the sludge problems in the Toyotas, the hiding and denial is typical of any car company. It's too bad Toyota has not fessed up yet though as there clearly was a design flaw.
'Til the new Accord goes on sale. I'm going to wait until early '03 to buy one, after the initial hysteria has died down, and reasonable prices can be had. By that time, most Accords should be had for no more than $500 over invoice. All of this hinges on the trade in value of my current car - an '01 Accord EX 4Dr 5spd. By next March, I should have around 50k miles on it. I'm hoping to get around $13k for it on a trade.
Once. Not interested in doing it again. Plus, I drive too much for a lease - around 25k per year. I typically finance my cars with no or little money down for a 5 year term. I like having the flexibility of trading whenever I want. The payment on my current Accord is only $350/month, and I put $750 down on it. After paying on the car for two years, I'll owe $11,600 on it. If I get $13,000 on trade, I'll just roll that equity into the new car, and my payment will stay the same. I can't see how leasing would improve upon that case.
Just for kicks, I went to carsdirect.com, and plugged in the numbers for a lease. For an 02 Accord EX, with $750 down, 36 mo 15k lease, the payment is $355. Plus, you need to come up with $1,463 at delivery (750 dp, 355 first mo. pmt, and 358 sec. deposit). And to accomodate the number of miles I drive (25k per year), I need to add $0.12 per mile = additional $100 per month. So leasing ends up costing me over $100 more per month than buying.
You think 7500 is long interval wait till you see 03 accord recommendation of 10000 miles! I do 3-5k, but that is discussed on the maint and oil forum. INKY
I suppose I see your point. That is a heck of a lot of miles for sure! I was thinking KMs (as that's what we use up here). 50,000 kms is only about 30,000 miles.
"The Accord manages to strike a balance between the emotion-driven Altima and the left-brained Camry — as well as outdoing the already-excellent previous generation. While its V-6 matches the Altima's power horse for horse, the Accord also equals Camry's attention to detail."
If I were Toyota, you ask, would I admit I had a design flaw in my engines? Well, in the current climate of corporate fraud, corruption, and deceit, I guess not. There are, however, some old fashioned ideas of honesty and integrity that seem to have gone out of fashion, as corporations say or do anything to increase the bottom line, and CEOs take the money and run.
I can understand Toyota not volunteering to admit flaw, but I thought for them to use the strategy of blaming the owners for the problem was sleazy and P.R. stupidity. What I found just as amazing was reading the posts on the sludge thread over in the Maintenance and Repair forum and seeing how many people were soooo grateful to Toyota for offering that extended warranty. They were literally ready to kiss Toyota's corporate feet, including the TH host, although what he was doing was more a**-kissing.
So it looks like I'm gonna get the Silver, EX V6, with the sunroof visor for about $21,625, including destination. It would be $22,324 "out the door", including tax, title, and 4-yr. tags. What do you guys think? Financing would be 4.75%... but I haven't set foot in the dealership yet, so I'm hoping when I do they'll bring the price down a bit, maybe make it an even 21.5K.
Another question I have, is I'm unsure about an extended warranty... I looked up warranty direct, and it seems like it'd be $925 for a zero deductible, and $725 for a $100 deductible. Tough call on which is better. Or if it's worth it at all. I've read a bit about some engine troubles with the V6.
I wish I were better at making these damn decisions!!! Again, any thoughts are welcome...
In answer to an earlier query, in the Accord owners manual that I just rec'd, it clearly says not to change the oil until 7500 miles. I assume that there is a good reason, unlike the old practice of changing the oil very quickly to clean out the burrs, etc. Perhaps it is a specially formulated lubricant that assures an easy break-in.
I'm trying to wait. I'll send out some emails to different dealers and see if anyone "wins." We both (wife and I) kind of want the whole thing to be over already, you know? It gets to that point where the extra hundred or two just doesn't matter. On another note, if we want to wait for the financing to come through, and don't take the car off the lot right away, but leave a deposit, can the dealer charge us a lot fee or something for keeping the car there? My father in law's friend got a call after he took the car off the lot saying that he had to come back in and owed another $1500 in order to get the financing rate the dealer originally offered. He would've returned the car, but had given it to his son as a gift, and his son lived out of state. I think he ended up paying the fee so his son could keep the car. Ok, I've been posting a lot. I do have a life, really. Just not while buying a car!
when do i get to say "I TOLD YOU SO"? after your first test drive of the accord 03. for what you're paying, you might be able to get an accord 03 LX V6 in december. add the alloy wheels though.
the accord 03 LX V6 will easily trump the current accord EX V6. think about it. but i have a hunch your mind is made up.
just purchased a 6v ex with spoiler for $21795 + $490 for spoiler installed ! only other charge was 8.5% N.Y tax the dealer that gave me the price was 150 miles away on the internet took his price to 4 dealers on long island 3 turned me down outright! I opened the paper today and see a add for ex v6 for $20995 at one of the dealership that turn me down on Saturday! ( I hate the whole new car buying process)
If its like Toyota, you can buy the extended warranty from any dealer, not just the one you bought the car from. Send out emails to all the dealers in your area. Take bids. Lowest bid gets the business.
However, I don't want to dump another decision on you, but why do you think you need an extended warranty in the first place? These cars are bullet proof. If you were buying a Fiat or something, well, then ok, but a Honda? I had an '89 Lxi once, drove it I don't know 80,000 miles or so, only needed to refill my a/c, that's all.
Yeah, venus, pretty much made up my mind. i KNOW the '03s will probably floor me, but a v6 '02 is a nice little jump from the '00 altima i've been driving. the '03s might just be a bit too much car for me to handle! i'm not worried about regretting it.
Talking w/ adamr2, he's big on the warranties. They cover the little things that can go wrong over a long time period - problems w/ CD player, a/c, etc. not just the actual engine/ powertrain kind of problems. i was just feeling the crowd out - not sure what most people's opinions are.
i know they're *mostly* indestructable, but it's the extra peace of mind, i suppose. i've never gotten an extended warr. on a car. anyway, i'm pretty sure that i can get an extended for the 1st 3 yrs., so i may not buy it when we get the car, and see how things go and decide later.
I thought you can buy the extended warranty right up the time the factory warranty expires? So if that is true, why not wait and see how well the car is put together first? I did buy an extended warranty for my CL-S (being a new model at that time) at the time of delivery and have been sort of second-guessing myself since. So far nothing mechanical has gone wrong. But the Honda auto tranny does make me just the wee bit nervous.
You would need Adobe Acrobat reader to look at the pics, but they're very flattering. There's a shot at an angle that even makes the back end look good.
I hate to interrupt your discussion on the new Accord, but I need some advice.
I will be needing a car soon, and my parents already own a 2000 Sienna LE and a 1987 Accord LX. My mom's #1 requirement is that my car must have airbags...so there went the Accord. Also, she, for some strange reason, doesn't want me to drive a stick-shift, which is what the Honda is.
We are very pleased with a mechanic here in town that specializes in Hondas, so we want whatever I get to be a Honda.
So, I got my new Automobile, Road & Track, and Car and Drivers this weekend. Generally postive comments about how Honda has stayed the course and made many improvements. I was really pleasantly surpirsed by the Automobile review as it was written by Jamie Kittman, all around negative guy and known Passat lover.
However, somebody has GOT to tell the Honda Media Relations department that when your trying to overcome a boring image, the last thing you do is provide a mid-level brown sedan with two-tone brown interior. I had to agree with Kitman that this was no Passat interior and that I'd probably pay $5,000 more for something better. Yuck! And those wheel covers! More Yuck!
Once again, Honda will produce a great mechanical product that looks like warmed over cheese (2 tone available) pizza. What a shame. What the Euro acord - they wouldn't dare release a car that would put Robin Williams to sleep over there, but hey, they figure we have no taste in North America. The acrobat file release of the new Accord contains (web link above; page 5?) what may be the worst picture possible of the new coupe (low, offset front corner). On the bright side the egien isawesome - we have it in my wife's 2002 CR-V, with stick. Fast and fuel efficient.
Hopefully the coupe will allow Honda the dignity of not having the new Accord sedan named the 'proud replacement for the Buick Century'. Just what Buick desired when they hired Tiger as spokesman - direct competition with Honda...
...A satified 99 accord sedan owner (it is bland as hell too, however).
Check out the ACCORD, it beat the redesigned Camry for the month of July! Maybe Honda didn't need a redesign of the Accord after all! Although I think the new Accord will be nice, especially if they release a wagon with 240 HP!
you're right, it's no passat interior, but i wouldn't pay $5k more for an interior that's not as good though. and how is a stark black dash more upscale than a two tone beige (i assuming you meant this instead of brown)?
you can get alloys as an option on the LX as is the case with the passat gls.
for the price of a passat gls 1.8t with automatic, you can get the accord lx v6 (adding the alloys). 80 more hp without using premium gas and turbo lag. same level of refinement and much better reliability with the accord. the passat has its advantages and is an excellent car. but so is the accord.
One of the European previews likes the new American Accord, "Sporting striking angular lines and promising an improved ride and refinement, this is the car which could get the firm noticed in this market."
But also mentions that the Euro version is sharper, AutoExpress
what kind of price range are you looking in? i would be really nervous paying close to 10,500 for a car with 92k miles. check out autotrader.com or getauto.com im a toyota guy but with hondas your almost better off buying new. they are not a very good deals used. you can almost buy new for the same amount of money.
Ugghh...I'm not a fan of black (although the new Saab sedan does it very well).
I prefer the 2-tone brown for the Accord. And I think the Passat's interior is perfect - but I would not pay that much more for a perfect interior when I could get a near-perfect one on the Accord.
as far as showing dirt, the black steering wheel shows much more than a lighter color would. what's next? someone's going to try to tell me black cars show less scratches than lighter colors.
my jetta looks great with the beige interior and black dash. but the black dash and steering wheel take a lot of work to keep it looking clean. i will give vw credit for using real wood on the higher trim levels.
I'm not very experienced with vehichles, so I'd appreciate some advice. I am looking at getting a 2002 Accord. I test drove the EX v-6 and loved it. However, the price seemed a little high, (even on "clearance"). What's a good price for this car, now? (I'm in NE Ohio). Or, what's a good lease deal on this car (3yr/45K miles) Also, what about the regular Accord EX (I don't care about leather interior, but I want a moon-roof). Thanks.
Ace002, Look at the 2002 Accord Special Edition (SE). It can be had here in Dayton for $17.8k + TTL (it's the one with a sticker of 22.8 reduced by Honda to MSRP 21.3) and does have the moonroof but no leather. It's a deal that can't be beat unless you wait for the 2003...Good luck
I considered and test drove an SE, but I think ABS is worth the price difference. We've found an EX auto for 20K here and will most likely go with it. kymmy and jrc - thanks for the info, but its not a good time for a road trip
Comments
Just look at the Ody & Civic. Those intros were not "Better or Much Better Than Average" as they always were in the past.They are improving, but the intros were nothing to write home about. They seem to be a work in progress. Even the Sentra that's built in Mexico is better.
Almost all the new cars nowadays have bugs in their first years anyway. Hate to burst all the Honda-phobes little bubble, but yes, even the Honda-philes realize that their favorite brand is not infallible.
As for the sludge problems in the Toyotas, the hiding and denial is typical of any car company. It's too bad Toyota has not fessed up yet though as there clearly was a design flaw.
What do you think?
Just for kicks, I went to carsdirect.com, and plugged in the numbers for a lease. For an 02 Accord EX, with $750 down, 36 mo 15k lease, the payment is $355. Plus, you need to come up with $1,463 at delivery (750 dp, 355 first mo. pmt, and 358 sec. deposit). And to accomodate the number of miles I drive (25k per year), I need to add $0.12 per mile = additional $100 per month. So leasing ends up costing me over $100 more per month than buying.
I do 3-5k, but that is discussed on the maint and oil forum.
INKY
"The Accord manages to strike a balance between the emotion-driven Altima and the left-brained Camry — as well as outdoing the already-excellent previous generation. While its V-6 matches the Altima's power horse for horse, the Accord also equals Camry's attention to detail."
Another question I have, is I'm unsure about an extended warranty... I looked up warranty direct, and it seems like it'd be $925 for a zero deductible, and $725 for a $100 deductible. Tough call on which is better. Or if it's worth it at all. I've read a bit about some engine troubles with the V6.
I wish I were better at making these damn decisions!!! Again, any thoughts are welcome...
On another note, if we want to wait for the financing to come through, and don't take the car off the lot right away, but leave a deposit, can the dealer charge us a lot fee or something for keeping the car there? My father in law's friend got a call after he took the car off the lot saying that he had to come back in and owed another $1500 in order to get the financing rate the dealer originally offered. He would've returned the car, but had given it to his son as a gift, and his son lived out of state. I think he ended up paying the fee so his son could keep the car.
Ok, I've been posting a lot. I do have a life, really. Just not while buying a car!
the accord 03 LX V6 will easily trump the current accord EX V6. think about it. but i have a hunch your mind is made up.
However, I don't want to dump another decision on you, but why do you think you need an extended warranty in the first place? These cars are bullet proof. If you were buying a Fiat or something, well, then ok, but a Honda? I had an '89 Lxi once, drove it I don't know 80,000 miles or so, only needed to refill my a/c, that's all.
Talking w/ adamr2, he's big on the warranties. They cover the little things that can go wrong over a long time period - problems w/ CD player, a/c, etc. not just the actual engine/ powertrain kind of problems. i was just feeling the crowd out - not sure what most people's opinions are.
i know they're *mostly* indestructable, but it's the extra peace of mind, i suppose. i've never gotten an extended warr. on a car. anyway, i'm pretty sure that i can get an extended for the 1st 3 yrs., so i may not buy it when we get the car, and see how things go and decide later.
check this site out:
http://english.honda.ca/accord2003/default.asp
You would need Adobe Acrobat reader to look at the pics, but they're very flattering. There's a shot at an angle that even makes the back end look good.
I will be needing a car soon, and my parents already own a 2000 Sienna LE and a 1987 Accord LX. My mom's #1 requirement is that my car must have airbags...so there went the Accord. Also, she, for some strange reason, doesn't want me to drive a stick-shift, which is what the Honda is.
We are very pleased with a mechanic here in town that specializes in Hondas, so we want whatever I get to be a Honda.
While on the lot last night, we saw this car:
http://www.flowauto.com/fa_products.lasso?record=12666750&action=search
Does it look ok (price-wise, etc)? I know it's not much. Was 96 a good year?
However, somebody has GOT to tell the Honda Media Relations department that when your trying to overcome a boring image, the last thing you do is provide a mid-level brown sedan with two-tone brown interior. I had to agree with Kitman that this was no Passat interior and that I'd probably pay $5,000 more for something better. Yuck! And those wheel covers! More Yuck!
Quick, someone show me an EX!
Hopefully the coupe will allow Honda the dignity of not having the new Accord sedan named the 'proud replacement for the Buick Century'. Just what Buick desired when they hired Tiger as spokesman - direct competition with Honda...
...A satified 99 accord sedan owner (it is bland as hell too, however).
http://www.autosite.com/editoria/asmr/svsedan.asp
you can get alloys as an option on the LX as is the case with the passat gls.
for the price of a passat gls 1.8t with automatic, you can get the accord lx v6 (adding the alloys). 80 more hp without using premium gas and turbo lag. same level of refinement and much better reliability with the accord. the passat has its advantages and is an excellent car. but so is the accord.
"Sporting striking angular lines and promising an improved ride and refinement, this is the car which could get the firm noticed in this market."
But also mentions that the Euro version is sharper,
AutoExpress
i would be really nervous paying close to 10,500 for a car with 92k miles. check out autotrader.com or getauto.com im a toyota guy but with hondas your almost better off buying new. they are not a very good deals used. you can almost buy new for the same amount of money.
I prefer the 2-tone brown for the Accord.
And I think the Passat's interior is perfect - but I would not pay that much more for a perfect interior when I could get a near-perfect one on the Accord.
my jetta looks great with the beige interior and black dash. but the black dash and steering wheel take a lot of work to keep it looking clean. i will give vw credit for using real wood on the higher trim levels.
INKY
Look at the 2002 Accord Special Edition (SE). It can be had here in Dayton for $17.8k + TTL (it's the one with a sticker of 22.8 reduced by Honda to MSRP 21.3) and does have the moonroof but no leather. It's a deal that can't be beat unless you wait for the 2003...Good luck
~alpha
(correct me if i am wrong)
I am looking into buying a accord in october (if any 2002 lx's vps or dx are left). But if I can not get a 2002 accord, I will buy the corolla.