Can anyone tell me if I'm getting a good/bad deal? My dealer has offered to sell a 2001 Accord LX for $1,000 over invoice. I know they're getting 2% over the base MSRP. Any advice?
What kind of LX? V6 or L4? Automatic or standard transmission? Guessing L4 with Auto. Check out Edmunds buying guide and go to www.carsdirect.com and get a quote. $1000 over invoice seems high. I paid below invoice for a 2000 EX with a standard transmission. The standard transmission and the close or year 2000 could have been the reason why. But I used carsdirect as a price reference. Wish I could help more.
$1000 over invoice on any accord is high-- 4 cylinder or 6-- LX or EX. you offer that dealer that you'll buy the car for no more than $150 over invoice, and if it's a 4 cylinder, you'll take the 3.9% financing, thank you very much. i can give you websites of dealers who are offering V6 EX sedans at INVOICE.
The offer was on a 2001 LX, automatic transmission. Edmunds.com prices it at $17,868 invoice (including the option of auto.trans.). I'm in Alaska, so the Honda dealer is THE Honda dealer. They did offer me 4.9% financing for 48 months.
I bought a 2001 Honda Accord LX 4.0 last Oct. One of my friends owned a 2000 Toyota Camery and she told me my Honda was not quiet compared to her Camery. I noticed the same problem, especially when the car speed is above 60 mph. If the highway is in a good condition, the noise may not be very big, but if the condition is not very good, the noise is really noticeable. I drove my car to the dealership last Saturday and the technicans told me all Honda Accord sound like that. I don't know too much about cars, but I read lots of car reviews before I bought my Honda. It all mentioned that Honda is a very quiet car. So I have two questions here. 1) Does anyone else have the same concern or problem? If this is normal, I would like to put my mind in peace. 2) Do those technicans in dealership tell you the truth? My thinking is that since they can not make money on a car still under the warranty, they may tell me everything is fine. Thanks for any input.
Accords are comparatively loud in terms of road and engine noise at highway speeds. Honda engines, compared to their Nissan and Toyota counterparts, are louder.
As for the dealers, they get paid for warranty work. So if anything they would look for opportunities to work on your car.
This is a pretty funny question, but here it goes. I saw a 94 Accord EX 5spd for sale. It's dark green with a light khaki color cloth interior. The price is great, and the car is in good condition. I plan to buy it Friday, but something puzzled me. The interior dash almost seems to have a two-tone color to it. The lower part of it is lightly colored, and the top is a dark brown color. I thought that the dark green accords came with dark interiors with a black dash. I even saw one with a dark gray interior and a black dash with the same exterior color in the same model(EX). Is this standard with Accords or do you think part of the dash may have been replaced? Also, what are the possible interior and exterior color combinations for 94 and 95 accords?
most every dark green car i've ever seen had a beige or tan interior-- not gray...
as far as interior and exterior colors on the 94 and 95 accords, who the heck knows that? i'm a doctor, jim, not a decorator.
jane, camry's (or "camery's" as you so fetchingly call the car) are indeed quieter than accords-- nothing's wrong with your accord... didn't you test drive both the camry and accord before you bought the accord, if noise was a concern?
both are nice cars and have their own pros and cons-- enjoy the accord and just play the radio a tad louder on the highway (camry's have better radios, too)... you bought yourself a nice car-- no need to worry. hope you got the naples gold-- classy color.
Hi everyone! I just bought my 2001 Accord EX 6cl. tonight and I'm now experiencing "purchasing a new car jitters". I get it everytime I buy a car, but it seems to be worse this time. (Higher price, foreign car, did I pick the right color???) Everyone has told me that parts and repairs on Hondas are much more expensive than American cars? What's your experience? What about black cars . . . love them?, hate them? I've never had one. Wanted the blue, but only came in the 4cyl and I wanted 6cyl. What's with that?!!! Picking it up from the dealer tomorrow after the rear spoiler is installed.
"Accords are comparatively loud in terms of road and engine noise at highway speeds. Honda engines, compared to their Nissan and Toyota counterparts, are louder"
Yes, compared to the Camry, the Accord is noisier at highway speeds. This is due to road noise and not in anyway due to engine noise. You won't be able to hear any engine hum from the 4 cylinder until about 80mph and the V6 is quiet at all speeds when cruising. It's all relative though, my last Accord seems as quiet as an isolation booth compared to my Jetta VR6 at highway speeds above 70mph.
Nissan's 3.0 V6 engine is a gem that makes nice sounds when accelerating and it cruises quietly. But their 4 cylinder engines are coarse sounding and don't cruise very quietly. Very un-Honda and un-Toyota.
blj1: Sounds like your in a jam. From what I have read you are in Alaska and there are very few Honda dealers there. Yes $1000 over invoice is high. Maybe you should weigh the options of buying the car in a different state and taking a drive. Just for info, I got a 2001 LX 4dr 5spd in December for 17900 Out -the -door in Virginia. Yeah I realize out-the-door price is different every where but it just shows you should be able to get better than 1000 over invoice.
interspy24: We have two Accords and my in-laws have two Accords and they all have the two-tone dash color. I think its normal to have the two tone, definitely in the LX, not positive about the EX.
kaycee41: Congratulations on buying a new Honda. Sounds like this is your first. I think everyone gets new car jitters. These cars are really great. Knock on wood, but in my experience the repairs on Hondas have been very minimal. I think the 'typical' repairs you will have are: timing belt at 90K and CV Boots (at around 90 as well but that may be just me). Maybe the price for Honda parts and service are higher (not quite certain) but I would be willing to bet that the overall cost of maintenance is much lower than almost every domestic. Basically, if you change the oil regularly and keep up with the maintenance, you should be good to go. I had a Black Integra once. The only drawbacks to black are: hard to keep clean and very hot in summer. But its Black! I liked the color. Be glad you didn't get blue. I test drove a blue 2001 Accord and I thought it looked cheap. Thats just my opinion though...
interspy24: I did alot of shopping the last few months for an Accord, and all the ivory interiors (looks tan, but Honda calls it "ivory")that I saw were two-tone. That was one of the reasons I chose another color besides the dark-blue that I liked when I first saw it. After getting in I noticed the two-tone dash and black stereo. Ivory is the only option for leather in the blue paint. Emaison was right in his last post . . . it had a cheap-look compared to the charcoal interior. But I change my mind about what I want every 2 minutes, so what do I know. Getting very nervous about the black paint. I'm not a slave to the hose. Also worried about rock chips. My currant car is a light blue and very forgiving.
Yes,You can have peace of mind as Accords indeed are noisier than Camry when it comes to Road noise (it is due to tyres which generate noise on certain types of road surfaces) Also the Wind noise around the side mirrors contribute to the overall noise. Engine: No, no engine noise at ANY SPEED from Accord I4/V6. Only, under hard acceleration you can hear typical Honda Vtec engine induction note(not noise) which gives a very good feeling & this engine note is adjusted by American Honda technicians to give sporty feeling. There was an interview of Honda techy which I read a few days back. He said he had to fight with Japanese Honda executives for the engine induction note from exhaust under hard acceleration.
You should be able to n'joy this note once you pass 1500 miles break in. Just step on it from low speeds (enough to get it above 4000 RPMs when VTEC kicks in) & you will hear exhuast note.
So Yes, there is more noise from road &wind in Accord conmpared to Camry. POsitive side of this is tyres are good for 50K miles !! & better visibility(large Winshied,side mirrors) than EVERY other car in the market.
I've owned my 2000 Accord SE for 14 months now - about 24K miles. The SE is basically a 4-cyl. LX with a special option package. I've been extremely satisfied with this car. No problems of any kind to report, except that at first I had trouble finding a comfortable driving position (I'm 6'2"). However, I found the seats "broke in" with time, just like everything else, and now it's fine. The only other thing I did was to replace the rear speakers, an easy and cheap way to improve the sound system. I think the Accord definitely lives up to its reputation for quality. To answer some recent concerns posted here: 1. Yup, it's louder than a Camry. This is not a "problem", just the nature of the car. The Accord is designed to have a little sportier "feel" compared to a Camry, both in ride and handling. Personally, I like having more "road feel" as opposed to the greater sense of isolation the Camry provides, but it's just a matter of preference. Both are fine cars. And, of course, everything is relative. While the Accord may not be as quiet as a Camry, it's quieter than some other cars. Figure out your level of tolerance and buy accordingly (sorry, bad pun.)
2. Like anything else, there are honest and dishonest dealerships out there. I found that both the sales and service depts. of the place I bought my car had some questionable practices, so now I go to another one. One place to start might be the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of record the dealership has - try www.bbb.org, maybe, or your local attorney general's office, if they publish complaints. And, of course, ask any Honda owners you know for recommendations.
3. The cost of getting the car serviced at the dealership has been pretty comparable to local mechanics, at least in my area. The Oil Change Index is definitely about the same, $20-25. I'm happy about this, as I prefer to have Honda techs putting Honda materials in my car, though there is a limit to how much of a premium I'll pay for it. Since I've never owned a domestic make, I can't tell you if Honda parts are more expensive. But for me, one of the key reasons for buying a Honda was that I wouldn't need as many of those parts to begin with due to its reliability. So far, I've only done basic maintenance and everything's cool.
4. Jitters? Heck, I still wonder if I should've gotten the dark green or a 6-cyl. model. But remember what they say on multiple-choice tests, your first guess is usually the right one. Takes time to prove it, though. As far as colors go, my model only came in 3 colors, red, green and gold. Went with the gold because I liked it and also here in the Northeast we get lots of sand and salt in the winter. My previous car was dark blue and looked awful 4 months out of the year. But if I'd gone with a 6-cyl. and a spoiler I might have chosen differently . And chips and scratches are going to happen no matter what color your car is. Dings may not show as much on the body of light-colored Accords, but the bumpers are black under the paint, so if they get scraped...
Hope this feedback is useful to somebody. Good luck with your cars.
hey everyone. i own a 2000 LX accord 5 speed transmission. and i just hooked up a stereo to it. i'm wondering if the 2000 LX has 4 speakers or 6. can anyone help? thanks. your helps is greatly needed. i'm trying to upgrade my sound system. and i'm wondering if i need to get tweeters as well since i see the tweeter holes on top of the dash board
Please let me know more info about changing the speakers. I have 2000 SE Red. SFLORA: You said u change the rear ones: Could you please provide me the details: How much did it cost you ? WHat brand di you get ? Where did you install it ? How about the warranty ? What is the specification of the speakers & how do you find those now ?
Too many questions but I would really appreciate the info. I am a music-man & have almost 300 cds + cassetes !! I find the SE 6 speaker system OK but it could use some more power & bass if possible.
Thanks for the advice and knowledge on the dash colors! I am going to buy the car this Friday with no regrets. I hope to have many great miles with my first Honda!
Can someone tell me when the next Accord redesign is due? My guess is in 2002. Also, does anyone have a link for a site where photos are available? Thanks
as best as i know, camry's are redesigned in 2002 model year, and accords a year later in 2003. this way, accords steal the camry's better ideas and attempt to improve on them -- so far they haven't as far as sound deadening (camry is one quiet ride), but the honda's coin box is much better, as is the center arm rest.
they're on a 5 year cycle-- the last camry design change was 1997 model, the accord in 1998.
I am really happy to know that the noise of my new Honda is normal. I don't really care about the noise as long as it is the same for all Honda Accords. Sobers, thanks for your information. You seems very knowledgeable about the car. I just wonder what is "engineer induction notes"? You mean the sound when you step on the accelerator. My car is pretty loud. The technican in Honda dealer also told me the side mirrors can contribute to the noise, just like you said. You are definitely right regarding the road noise. It seems that the noise is much much louder on some road surface. During my drive from GA to FL this Christmas, I even stopped once on the road because the noise was so loud that I thought there maybe something wrong with my tyres. ral2167, I got myself a dark green Honda. It still looks great after 4 months. This is my first car buying experience, so I don't really know what kind of things I should pay attention to even though I did test drive both Honda and Camry. I just wonder why there is no mention of road or wind noise in the car reviews of Edmund since I read and believe every word of those car reviews.
i'd like to thank you again for helping me out in my time of need. i'm thinking of getting my sound system upgraded to the infinity kappa series. do you think that's a good idea? have you heard any good things about this brand and this series in speakers? i was planning on getting the 6 3/4 of the front, the 6x9 for the rear, and the component system consisting of 2 midranges and 2 dome tweeters. tell me how this set up is. thanks again. talk to you all soon
Maybe there is something wrong with your car's tires. Yes, it's noisier than a Camry, but it's still one of the quietest cars in its class. See if you can test drive another Accord from a dealer for comparison. This way you will know for sure if there's anything wrong with your car's tires.
Changing the rear speakers is a breeze. I don't have any particular mechanical skills but I did it myself in about 20 minutes. All you need is a Phillips screwdriver and a little wrench - the hex bolts holding the speakers onto the rear deck don't have a screwdriver slot (dang!). The hardest thing to find is the speaker harness, which is the pair of adapters that connect the wires coming into the trunk to the speakers. They just snap right on. The ones on the factory speakers are attached permanently, so you have to either buy new ones or get out your soldering iron. I found the harness at Best Buy for about $6. Any place that does car audio installs should have them, but for some reason most of my local retailers were out of them. Be sure to get the speaker harness and not the stereo harness - that's the connector from the wires to the stereo in the dash. There are so many good speakers on the market for less than $100/pair that I wouldn't even know where to tell you to start. I bought a pair of Pioneers cheap from a friend that have worked out fine. I guess you should just visit your local audio retailer, test some brands out, and buy within your budget. I didn't bother to do the front speakers since I was satisfied after doing the rears. If you want to, though, here's a site that has the complete instructions with photos for doing both the front and back speakers. They use Pioneers, but again, any brand that will fit the car's dimensions can be used. They'll sell you the wiring harness too, but you'll pay more than you would at a store. Check this out: http://www.autotoys.com/New_Tech/DIY/98Acc_Spk4/body_98acc_spk4.htm. Also, I bought Honda's single CD player online from a Honda dealer and had my local dealer install it (the one online offered it at a steep discount.) This allowed me to keep the cassette player too, and since the unit was both sold and installed by a dealer, it's covered by Honda's standard warranty. Lost the handy little storage bin in the dash, though. Oh well... Hope you enjoy your SE as much as I have!
the more i think about it, the more i am troubled that you would actually stop the car along the interstate because you were worried it was making too much noise.... it must have been making one heck of a racket...
i too would take the advice someone gave (venus) and drive another honda of the same make, engine, and model year -- take it out on the highway and see what kind of road noise you're hearing-- then compare.
janeming : Induction noise can be heared best of 2000 Civics. It is engine's brething. It isn't a bad noise as it gives a sproty feeling while accelerating. This noise WON'T Come while Crusing on the interstate. If you are very much annoyed with tyre-road noise you can swap them with quiter tyres. I din't remember exactly the quiter set of tyres which is mentiioned by alot many people all over this site. Many owners have found swapping tyers a very easy way to make accord quiter. If your daily commute invovles some rough patches or 'noisy road' then this is the best way to get rid of the noise. Wind Noise: Yes Accord has consirable wind noise from mirrors & due to huge-slopping windsheild which results in a very good visibility.
The best way to get rid of noise is to increase volume & listen to your favotite music )
Different tires give different amounts of noise on the same car. My previous Honda was a '95 EX 5-spd (for whoever was asking earlier, it was dark green with the ivory interior and a 2-tone dash). It came with the Michelin MXH4 (or close to that) tires. There was a fair amount of road noise due to these tires and impacts sounds from running over various imperfections in the road were very prominent. When I changed the tires to Bridgestone Turanzas, the car was much quieter. I forgot about the impact noises all together. Even my wife (who doesn't really notice stuff about the car) asked what I had done to the car because it felt like a new car to her. When we purchased our '98 Accord, it came with the newer version of the Michelin MXH4-Energy tires. While the car is over all quieter than the '95, the impact sounds are back. When I change to the Bridgestones on this car, I expect those sound to go away, again.
I currently have a 1996 Dodge Crapus (aka a Stratus) and it is bleeding me dry in repair costs. Am considering a new or used Honda Accord V4. And I plan to get the extended warranty regardless or whether it is new or used. I am also considering a used Camry. Any insight from current/previous Accord owners would be appreciated. Thanks!
tason67, Other than a few annoying rattles and initial warranty repairs I like my 2000 EX. I love the powertrain, and the handling is good. I have a 5 speed but if you get the automatic make sure you like the way the automatic shifts. It's more noicable (firm) than other cars. I also considered the Camry but it did not come with a l4 and 5 speed. The interior on the Accord was also much nicer. Had a friend with a Camry say it looked a felt expensive. Hope this helps and good luck.
I don't know how much money you're looking to spend. For under $5,000, my '93 Altima was a great car for me and is still a great car for my younger, no-oil-changin', tire-neglectin', transmission-killin', 22 year-old brother. Before I sold him my Altima in '99, he blew up the motor on a full-size Bronco after burning up the tranny. He had that for a year. He ran a Buick Park Avenue into the ground (2 transmissions and a motor in under 40,000 miles). He's had my old Altima for about 50,000 miles now and hasn't had a problem. The odometer now reads 140,000.
For around $10,000, my '95 Accord EX 5-spd was a great car. The driver's window motor quit working at one point, but that was really the only problem we had with the car. I sold it a few months ago. It was probably a better car than my '98. I have no basis for that comment, simply a feeling. For around $15,000 or $16,000, the '98 is quieter and has a smoother ride. It's also bigger. Both Honda's were/are I4's.
On the other hand, I owned a Jeep Grand Cherokee for 5 months and 7,000 miles. I spent more on repairs for it than I paid on the loan (it was used). I traded it for a Nissan Pathfinder. I don't intend to ever buy another Chrysler vehicle.
In addition to owning a Dodge Crapus, I am also an employee of DaimlerChrysler and I am sad to say that I share your sentiments about never buying another Chrysler product. I thought i was joking when I said that my 92 Camry would outlast the Crapus. It's a shame that a 92 with 107,000 miles on it has had less repairs than a 96 with 55,000.
I have a 2001 EXL Coupe 5spd with the stock Bridgestone Turanza tires. On certain pavements (particularly the cement-colored kind with the little dark specs) at higher speeds (70 mph+), my Accord is very, annoyingly loud. Even the radio can't drown out the sound of the road. Very surprising and disaappointing for a car that is otherwise very refined. OTOH, if the pavement is the smooth/black type, road noise is minimal. Unbeliveable how much of a difference pavement can make with this car.
The engine is very quiet except under hard accleration, when it should be loud, IMO. I never find engine noise offensive, but road noise is definitely a concern. What's weird is that I have a 2001, which supposedly has improvements to retard road noise. How bad were the 1998-2000s?
I have a gut feeling that you don't have anything wrong with your tires. If your car is very loud on just certain kinds of pavement, I think the culprit is the car's design. This is strange for a Honda...
My '95 EX 5-spd was significantly louder than my '99.5 Pathfinder on the highway. My '98 EX auto is significantly quieter than my '99.5 Pathfinder on the highway. Are we all just becoming spoiled?
Most likely YES, most of us are spoiled. Lately, this sound discussions are going into different direction that I can not understand. (by the way I am not responding to anybody by this e-mail). There are some trade offs in every car in order to keep the cost controlled. Every car company, techically, capable to built sound proof cars but are you financially capable to buy it. If your answer is yes then why you did not buy something from serious sedan classification (like cadillac, MB, lexus etc.) at the beginning. By just buying your Accord you said to yourself "OK. I am not buying high end sedan, these price range cars may have some weak tecnical designs compared to quiter and luxury types sedans but overall value makes my mind changed to ignore those weaknesses" You bought you Honda because of the value: long technical life, good resale value etc and most important is the price compared with the quality. My point is, under some conditions your car may absorb more noise then normal, if this is the case then you don't have to have disappointment on your car, blame the quality and etc. If it really bothers you, pay like $500 and buy high quality set of tires. To me, my 99LX is very quiet car and believe me, my ears like submarine sonar. Just try to enjoy your car, try to stop listening weird sounds that may come up time to time and love your accord, he/she has feelings!!!:)
Thanks to all who have provided useful input recently. I've just ordered a 5-speed EX, and wonder whether the moonroof visor is helpful or necessary to avoid excessive wind noise. I live in Minnesota, so I suspect I'll only open the moonroof during those delightful spring and fall days where the temp. is just right. Not a huge decision, but I'd appreciate any guidance.
Incidentally, I sympathize with those who question their decision on a particular model, but I think that, whatever the choice, most will be pleased with their decision to buy an Accord. I currently drive a '91 5-speed LX with 150K on it, and before that, an '86 with 240K (and still running strong when I sold it). I just hope for the same longevity with this new Accord.
Looking at the shape of the visor, I'd say it would introduce more wind noise. The roof is smooth, but the visor's bulge could introduce drag and noise. How much? I don't know; I never liked the bolt-on look of visors and never got one.
I'll open my moonroof during the dead of winter some times and not care...just keep the heat cranked. I like the mixture of hot and cold air flowing around the cabin!
I just wanted to comment that the 2.3L engine in my EX seems like it has more power now than when it was brand new...I only have 1150 miles on the odo. I don't know if it's all in my head, but already I perceive an improvement, however slight, in engine feel and responsiveness. I wonder if this perception will increase as more miles roll on.
Thanks, bgabel1260, for the visor response. The roof line without the visor certainly would seem more sleek.
Regarding your break in comment, I am buying the 4-cyl. EX because the manual seemed to have much more "zip" than the automatic. It's good to hear that it may get even better. So the question is: should I thank the dealership for obtaining my "new" car from another dealership in the case where this car has been test driven over 300 miles? I mean, gosh, they've already put me well on my way to getting the performance improvement that you referred to (after 1150 miles)! Or should I suggest that they reduce the purchase price by 300 X $.33, or approx. $100? Does that seem petty? Any thoughts, anyone?
zer, don't bother with the Visor. I drive mine open in the freeways and the noise is not that bad. In the city it is perfect. I also have a 5 speed EX. After the break in 2nd gear gets to be real fun!! :-)
The 4-cyl EX wants and craves a stick so bad, you have to get one, regardless of any possible lower resale value down the line. Actually, I think ANY Honda 4-cyl is prime for a manual transmission. Honda makes one of the best and it is sheer pleasure having manual control over these four banger beauties.
300 miles is a lot of test drive miles. That almost sounds like a mini-demo car. You almost have to assume that the car has seen some kind of abuse during a test-drive. All things equal, I would take a car with <25 miles over one with 300 miles any day.
Don't worry about hastening the break-in process. You'd rather control over it than somebody else. I mean, people don't care about a car when they test drive it. Redline it, foot-to-the-floor throttle...I'm sure this is somewhat common. If you can get a "fresh" car, do so.
If you want the 300 mile car, knock off more than $100...try $500. They might laugh, but then you can demand a true new one. I was the first person who test-drove my Accord...it had 3 miles on it. It was nice to take delivery on a car with 10 miles on the odo.
Does the 4 cylinder's vibration at idle while in drive bother you guys? I test drove several and it drove me crazy. You would think with all of Honda's sophistication that they would be able to remedy this.
My wife attempted at two different occasions to turn the ignition on while the car was idling. She said, she could not sensed the vibration and tought the car was off. Mine is 99LX Yours could be exhaust pipe hangers, if one of them loose or missing you experience this type of vibration.
Did you test drive NEW 4-cylinder Accords? My 2001 is easily the smoothest 4-cylinder I've ever owned. It is dead still and very, very quiet at idle. What you experienced is in no way typical. I would bring it to your dealer's attention, or try a different dealership.
I have a 98 Accord LX coming of lease this Summer. I previously had a 88 Civic (timing belt went at 123,000 miles - at 65 MPH - and killed the engine - lesson is replace the belt every 60k miles!). I would like to keep trading up and stay in the Honda sedan family.
Anyone have any experience with the top of the line Accord - the EX V6 with leather in Automatic?
If you truly want an automatic and not a manual, and can live with a tranny that produces somewhat noticable shifts, you can hardly do better than a 2001 EX V6. You can get one for under $23,000 now. The EX V6 is an astounding amount of car for the money and I doubt that you would be unhappy with it, especially that you've been in the Honda family. You've got the same body style now...the EX V6 is more luxurious, powerful and smooth. It makes a strong case against the $30K Acura TL.
I picked up my new Accord EX V6 a few days ago and so far I love it. My only concern is the leather interior. I read a review on the car that stated the leather Honda uses is not the best guality in their opinion. I think the reviewer was writing more in terms of feel and looks. Was wondering what experience the rest of you have had with Honda's leather interior. Does it hold up? What have you found to be the best way to clean and condition? My interior is the Charcoal, has anyone had a problem with the dye fading or wearing off? Thanks for your help!!
I've had a 2000 EX V6 since November, 1999, with about 14,000 miles on it. So far, the leather looks like brand new. It's the grey leather (is it charcoal? I don't remember). I haven't had any need to clean it, I just occasionally vacuum the seats. I think MacGuire's makes a leather cleaner, and I'll probably use that when they need more than vacuuming.
Comments
later.
1) Does anyone else have the same concern or problem? If this is normal, I would like to put my mind in peace.
2) Do those technicans in dealership tell you the truth? My thinking is that since they can not make money on a car still under the warranty, they may tell me everything is fine.
Thanks for any input.
As for the dealers, they get paid for warranty work. So if anything they would look for opportunities to work on your car.
Also, what are the possible interior and exterior color combinations for 94 and 95 accords?
as far as interior and exterior colors on the 94 and 95 accords, who the heck knows that? i'm a doctor, jim, not a decorator.
jane, camry's (or "camery's" as you so fetchingly call the car) are indeed quieter than accords-- nothing's wrong with your accord... didn't you test drive both the camry and accord before you bought the accord, if noise was a concern?
both are nice cars and have their own pros and cons-- enjoy the accord and just play the radio a tad louder on the highway (camry's have better radios, too)... you bought yourself a nice car-- no need to worry. hope you got the naples gold-- classy color.
Yes, compared to the Camry, the Accord is noisier at highway speeds. This is due to road noise and not in anyway due to engine noise. You won't be able to hear any engine hum from the 4 cylinder until about 80mph and the V6 is quiet at all speeds when cruising. It's all relative though, my last Accord seems as quiet as an isolation booth compared to my Jetta VR6 at highway speeds above 70mph.
Nissan's 3.0 V6 engine is a gem that makes nice sounds when accelerating and it cruises quietly. But their 4 cylinder engines are coarse sounding and don't cruise very quietly. Very un-Honda and un-Toyota.
interspy24: We have two Accords and my in-laws have two Accords and they all have the two-tone dash color. I think its normal to have the two tone, definitely in the LX, not positive about the EX.
kaycee41: Congratulations on buying a new Honda. Sounds like this is your first. I think everyone gets new car jitters. These cars are really great. Knock on wood, but in my experience the repairs on Hondas have been very minimal. I think the 'typical' repairs you will have are: timing belt at 90K and CV Boots (at around 90 as well but that may be just me). Maybe the price for Honda parts and service are higher (not quite certain) but I would be willing to bet that the overall cost of maintenance is much lower than almost every domestic. Basically, if you change the oil regularly and keep up with the maintenance, you should be good to go.
I had a Black Integra once. The only drawbacks to black are: hard to keep clean and very hot in summer. But its Black! I liked the color. Be glad you didn't get blue. I test drove a blue 2001 Accord and I thought it looked cheap. Thats just my opinion though...
You should be able to n'joy this note once you pass 1500 miles break in. Just step on it from low speeds (enough to get it above 4000 RPMs when VTEC kicks in) & you will hear exhuast note.
So Yes, there is more noise from road &wind in Accord conmpared to Camry. POsitive side of this is tyres are good for 50K miles !! & better visibility(large Winshied,side mirrors) than EVERY other car in the market.
1. Yup, it's louder than a Camry. This is not a "problem", just the nature of the car. The Accord is designed to have a little sportier "feel" compared to a Camry, both in ride and handling. Personally, I like having more "road feel" as opposed to the greater sense of isolation the Camry provides, but it's just a matter of preference. Both are fine cars. And, of course, everything is relative. While the Accord may not be as quiet as a Camry, it's quieter than some other cars. Figure out your level of tolerance and buy accordingly (sorry, bad pun.)
2. Like anything else, there are honest and dishonest dealerships out there. I found that both the sales and service depts. of the place I bought my car had some questionable practices, so now I go to another one. One place to start might be the Better Business Bureau to see what kind of record the dealership has - try www.bbb.org, maybe, or your local attorney general's office, if they publish complaints. And, of course, ask any Honda owners you know for recommendations.
3. The cost of getting the car serviced at the dealership has been pretty comparable to local mechanics, at least in my area. The Oil Change Index is definitely about the same, $20-25. I'm happy about this, as I prefer to have Honda techs putting Honda materials in my car, though there is a limit to how much of a premium I'll pay for it. Since I've never owned a domestic make, I can't tell you if Honda parts are more expensive. But for me, one of the key reasons for buying a Honda was that I wouldn't need as many of those parts to begin with due to its reliability. So far, I've only done basic maintenance and everything's cool.
4. Jitters? Heck, I still wonder if I should've gotten the dark green or a 6-cyl. model. But remember what they say on multiple-choice tests, your first guess is usually the right one. Takes time to prove it, though. As far as colors go, my model only came in 3 colors, red, green and gold. Went with the gold because I liked it and also here in the Northeast we get lots of sand and salt in the winter. My previous car was dark blue and looked awful 4 months out of the year. But if I'd gone with a 6-cyl. and a spoiler I might have chosen differently
Hope this feedback is useful to somebody. Good luck with your cars.
Too many questions but I would really appreciate the info. I am a music-man & have almost 300 cds + cassetes !! I find the SE 6 speaker system OK but it could use some more power & bass if possible.
Thanks in Advance
they're on a 5 year cycle-- the last camry design change was 1997 model, the accord in 1998.
charmed as always...
Sobers, thanks for your information. You seems very knowledgeable about the car. I just wonder what is "engineer induction notes"? You mean the sound when you step on the accelerator. My car is pretty loud. The technican in Honda dealer also told me the side mirrors can contribute to the noise, just like you said. You are definitely right regarding the road noise. It seems that the noise is much much louder on some road surface. During my drive from GA to FL this Christmas, I even stopped once on the road because the noise was so loud that I thought there maybe something wrong with my tyres.
ral2167, I got myself a dark green Honda. It still looks great after 4 months. This is my first car buying experience, so I don't really know what kind of things I should pay attention to even though I did test drive both Honda and Camry. I just wonder why there is no mention of road or wind noise in the car reviews of Edmund since I read and believe every word of those car reviews.
i too would take the advice someone gave (venus) and drive another honda of the same make, engine, and model year -- take it out on the highway and see what kind of road noise you're hearing-- then compare.
janeming : Induction noise can be heared best of 2000 Civics. It is engine's brething. It isn't a bad noise as it gives a sproty feeling while accelerating. This noise WON'T Come while Crusing on the interstate. If you are very much annoyed with tyre-road noise you can swap them with quiter tyres. I din't remember exactly the quiter set of tyres which is mentiioned by alot many people all over this site. Many owners have found swapping tyers a very easy way to make accord quiter. If your daily commute invovles some rough patches or 'noisy road' then this is the best way to get rid of the noise. Wind Noise: Yes Accord has consirable wind noise from mirrors & due to huge-slopping windsheild which results in a very good visibility.
The best way to get rid of noise is to increase volume & listen to your favotite music
I guess my mind was boggled. I was responding to a poster who wants to get every horse out of his/her engine, yet skips gears while shifting?
And...I wonder where this person lives...no cops?
For around $10,000, my '95 Accord EX 5-spd was a great car. The driver's window motor quit working at one point, but that was really the only problem we had with the car. I sold it a few months ago. It was probably a better car than my '98. I have no basis for that comment, simply a feeling. For around $15,000 or $16,000, the '98 is quieter and has a smoother ride. It's also bigger. Both Honda's were/are I4's.
On the other hand, I owned a Jeep Grand Cherokee for 5 months and 7,000 miles. I spent more on repairs for it than I paid on the loan (it was used). I traded it for a Nissan Pathfinder. I don't intend to ever buy another Chrysler vehicle.
I have a 2001 EXL Coupe 5spd with the stock Bridgestone Turanza tires. On certain pavements (particularly the cement-colored kind with the little dark specs) at higher speeds (70 mph+), my Accord is very, annoyingly loud. Even the radio can't drown out the sound of the road. Very surprising and disaappointing for a car that is otherwise very refined. OTOH, if the pavement is the smooth/black type, road noise is minimal. Unbeliveable how much of a difference pavement can make with this car.
The engine is very quiet except under hard accleration, when it should be loud, IMO. I never find engine noise offensive, but road noise is definitely a concern. What's weird is that I have a 2001, which supposedly has improvements to retard road noise. How bad were the 1998-2000s?
I have a gut feeling that you don't have anything wrong with your tires. If your car is very loud on just certain kinds of pavement, I think the culprit is the car's design. This is strange for a Honda...
Lately, this sound discussions are going into different direction that I can not understand. (by the way I am not responding to anybody by this e-mail).
There are some trade offs in every car in order to keep the cost controlled. Every car company, techically, capable to built sound proof cars but are you financially capable to buy it.
If your answer is yes then why you did not buy something from serious sedan classification (like cadillac, MB, lexus etc.) at the beginning.
By just buying your Accord you said to yourself "OK. I am not buying high end sedan, these price range cars may have some weak tecnical designs compared to quiter and luxury types sedans but overall value makes my mind changed to ignore those weaknesses"
You bought you Honda because of the value: long technical life, good resale value etc and most important is the price compared with the quality.
My point is, under some conditions your car may absorb more noise then normal, if this is the case then you don't have to have disappointment on your car, blame the quality and etc. If it really bothers you, pay like $500 and buy high quality set of tires.
To me, my 99LX is very quiet car and believe me, my ears like submarine sonar.
Just try to enjoy your car, try to stop listening weird sounds that may come up time to time and love your accord, he/she has feelings!!!:)
Incidentally, I sympathize with those who question their decision on a particular model, but I think that, whatever the choice, most will be pleased with their decision to buy an Accord. I currently drive a '91 5-speed LX with 150K on it, and before that, an '86 with 240K (and still running strong when I sold it). I just hope for the same longevity with this new Accord.
I'll open my moonroof during the dead of winter some times and not care...just keep the heat cranked. I like the mixture of hot and cold air flowing around the cabin!
I just wanted to comment that the 2.3L engine in my EX seems like it has more power now than when it was brand new...I only have 1150 miles on the odo. I don't know if it's all in my head, but already I perceive an improvement, however slight, in engine feel and responsiveness. I wonder if this perception will increase as more miles roll on.
Regarding your break in comment, I am buying the 4-cyl. EX because the manual seemed to have much more "zip" than the automatic. It's good to hear that it may get even better. So the question is: should I thank the dealership for obtaining my "new" car from another dealership in the case where this car has been test driven over 300 miles? I mean, gosh, they've already put me well on my way to getting the performance improvement that you referred to (after 1150 miles)! Or should I suggest that they reduce the purchase price by 300 X $.33, or approx. $100? Does that seem petty? Any thoughts, anyone?
300 miles is a lot of test drive miles. That almost sounds like a mini-demo car. You almost have to assume that the car has seen some kind of abuse during a test-drive. All things equal, I would take a car with <25 miles over one with 300 miles any day.
Don't worry about hastening the break-in process. You'd rather control over it than somebody else. I mean, people don't care about a car when they test drive it. Redline it, foot-to-the-floor throttle...I'm sure this is somewhat common. If you can get a "fresh" car, do so.
If you want the 300 mile car, knock off more than $100...try $500. They might laugh, but then you can demand a true new one. I was the first person who test-drove my Accord...it had 3 miles on it. It was nice to take delivery on a car with 10 miles on the odo.
Yours could be exhaust pipe hangers, if one of them loose or missing you experience this type of vibration.
Anyone have any experience with the top of the line Accord - the EX V6 with leather in Automatic?
Thanks....