I've had a 2.4 Type S for 8 months now, fitted with 17" wheels.
So far:
1. No problems aside from the odd rattle here and there
2. Averaging 34mpg, mainly motorway driving
3. No problems with the ride quality - it's no worse than a Focus and I've yet to suffer from tramlining
4. Extremely comfortable seats, excellent driving position with plenty of headroom
5. Excellent roadholding
The only downside, if there is one, is the dashboard. It's pretty boring compared to the likes of the Mazda6, but I've seen worse.
Would I have another one? Yes.
Andy
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What do people think of the Accord's styling?
Certainly eye-catching but that enormous rear overhang jars with me.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Got to agree with you there. A stunning looking car, but that huge overhang isn't quite right.
I would still buy one though.
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I like the front but the side view, notable in touring guise, is just wrong. It looks like a huge great big slabsided box. I know thats what it is, but other Estates manage to lose this look..
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I like the front but the side view, notable in touring guise, is just wrong. It looks like a huge great big slabsided box. I know thats what it is, but other Estates manage to lose this look..
I specified the side body trim when I ordered mine and it really improves the appearance. The doors look too high and the trim breaks this up. It also helps keep the bodywork from being knocked when in a car park. The down side is that it costs £140 for four pieces of strip.
Pity I can't add a pic here to show the effect.
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I also felt the overhang was too conspicuous, but after living with car for a while you don't notice it.
Most comments I get about the car are positive, (especially once you driven it) however general concensus is the car looks longer and lower than it is, it's 58mm shorter than a Mondeo estate.
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>> Have had an e-mail from a reader with a disaster Accord2.2i CDTi Tourer. Didn't check the oil and needed a new engine (Honda paid). HJ
Kudos to Honda then (if he admittted it to them too) - I wonder how many others would have paid?
There really ought to be some kind of oil level gauge / warning on the dash. It's another one of those little things that my Peugeot 406 does that the Accord doesn't. I'm finding it hard to choose a replacement for the 406.
Elsewhere others have mentioned the side bumpers - I was in my local dealer and they had both saloon and Tourer with these fitted and painted body colour. They did look better close up, but from a distance they became invisible. Maybe they work better, from a styling point of view, unpainted?
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I thought about the side strips but when I looked at the cost I decided they were too expensive.
As for the styling, I find the rear "wing" makes it look a lot better. See what I mean?
www.btinternet.com/~wild.weasel/car.jpg
Andy
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Surely the much-raved-about 2.2 diesel should do better than 39 mpg?
Even my SaaB 2.2 Diesel does as well if not better than this !
Personally based on my experience with Japanese cars, a lot of them do have a problem with fuel consumption. I base this on my experience recently with a Lexus IS200 and a few years ago with a 2 Litre Primera. Both petrols I know, but nevertheless I don't think efficiency is top priority with Japanese manufacturers, as they tend to be looking mostly at the US market.
I am looking to change my car soon and was looking at 'quality' diesel estates. I looked at the Accord CDTI Estate, but frankly it wasn't far off as expensive as an A4 Avant. So sorry Honda won't be tempting me away from the proven diesel stable that is VAG group !
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Elsewhere others have mentioned the side bumpers - I was in my local dealer and they had both saloon and Tourer with these fitted and painted body colour. They did look better close up, but from a distance they became invisible. Maybe they work better, from a styling point of view, unpainted?
My tourer is silver and the strips are black sao there is a distinct contrast. Had they been sprayed the same colour you would hardly notice the effect.
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Hope I've got this right. I've uploaded a picture to here
www.byphotos.com/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=17...3
Cross my fingers it's OK.
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>Passat has a quality feel about it but some of the components >have failed e.g. window regulators, air conditioning packed
>up, >pollen filter let rainwater in to the car, alarm faulty
>(microswitch problem). Would I get this over three years with >a Honda or Toyota or am I expecting to much?
Your joking right? VW have quite poor reliability at the moment and Honda and Toyota are known for their reliability, in fact, Toyota probably make the most reliable cars money can buy (especially their lexus brand)
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We bought VW products for many years, but found that the (local) service was getting poorer. Bought Honda Civic in 2003. Since then: new exhaust back box, adjustments to gear change mechanism to try to eliminate 2nd gear crunching, replacement sensors for heating, and alarm, two sets of alloys to replace corroded examples, rattles from dash (incorrectly secured gear lever, chafing wires, other items) bodged and broken door card fixings causing rattles when dealer-option additional speakers fitted (3 tries at fixing this at one nameless dealer wot did it) , now cured by current dealer Ridings of Preston. Steering notchy in straight line: something with the rack? Not sorted yet, as not a frequent M-way user, so haven't been too bothered. never had as much trouble with Vw or Audi.
Wife has Toyota Yaris 2003: two new drive shaft seals due to gear box oil leaks. Boot not locking. Rattles. Poor seats.
It pays not to be too dogmatic about reliability. They have Fridays on any production line!
I'd be tempted go for the solidity of VAG or Volvo next time, as they are more pleasant to be in, and the ikons of reliability are fallible also.
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After 10 months and 27000 miles mine is probably not classed as new anymore. It is a iCDTi Executive Tourer and is a delight to drive and so far totally reliable.
Average economy so far is just over 50 and it does get pushed a little, fun factor still hasn't worn off. A fill in France all at 90ish on the autoroute with luggage still gave 47mpg - worst so far.
Personally I like the looks and it did draw attention when new but they are a lot more common now. Luggage capacity is immense (3 seat sofa will fit) and on lease (company car) it was cheaper and better specced than a Ghia Mondeo. Handling is way better than the Passat and almost as good as the Mondeo.
I agree with HJ - Recommended.
It replaced a 1.8 T Passat which did 96k miles in 4 years. After it ran the battery flat over a weekend with an "everything off" parked load of 1.9A (within VW spec!!) my confidence in it, and VW, took a knock. The other big downside was VW's service.
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There is, or was, a photo in the brochure with the City Pack fitted, also includes similar trims around the front and rear and are painted car colour.
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Anyone considering an Accord diesel (or many of the other top-of the range diesels) should consider the forthcoming Avensis D4D 180. That's right, 180 bhp. It seems there is a lot of new technology involved, but as Toyota have a tendency to get things right a lot more often than their competition, this should be a runaway success. HJ, please try to get a test drive ASAP!
www.toyota.co.jp/en/event/auto_shows/2004/paris/in...l
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andymc
Vroom, vroom - mmm, doughnuts ...
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FleetNewsNet reckon the one they've got on long-term test is doing 48.1MPG.
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FleetNewsNet reckon the one they've got on long-term test is doing 48.1MPG.
Is this average, round town or on a flat motorway at 70 mph ?
To my mind fuel consumption has to reflect peoples realistic driving habits within reason.
I could get 50 mpg from my car if I wanted to, but after about a week or so of driving the way I would need to do this, I would probably go insane !
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I've managed to upload another picture with a side view taken from the rear. Unfortunately, these pics don't appear as sharp as my originals.
www.byphotos.com/album/album_photo.html?c_photo=17...1
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Adding to the debate on MPG I've got a CDTi Tourer Sport thats done 13,000 miles and returns 45mpg. I do an 80 mile daily rush hour commute on M25/M3.
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I have exactly the same model - the Tourer Sport - and having clocked up 8,500 miles I have returned an average of 35.83mpg, the worst being 31.5 and the very best was 40.8.
When I bought this car I expected consumption figures to be 42-45mpg as others have reported.
This I have reported to Honda and still have not had a satisfactory reply.
Can this be put down to having a "tight engine" or is there something else going on ?
Another problem is the cabin "instant heat" - which isn't - my car will take up to 10 mins to start producing warm air. Does the Honda recall to fix this actually work ?
Looking forward to hearing comments
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I have exactly the same model - the Tourer Sport - and having clocked up 8,500 miles I have returned an average of 35.83mpg, the worst being 31.5 and the very best was 40.8. Another problem is the cabin "instant heat" - which isn't - my car will take up to 10 mins to start producing warm air. Does the Honda recall to fix this actually work
I have the Executive Tourer and the engine warms up within a few miles, and the temperature gauge indicates working temperature in less than three miles. It went in for the modification last July or August.
The fuel consumption hasn't improved - about 38mpg - but it's going in for its first service on 8th March when I'll mention it to the service manager.
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Why buy a new Accord when you can buy a nearly new 5 series for the same money?
Also no diesel auto on the accord.
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Simple - BIK.
Accord estate attracts £3300 in BIK taxation annually, the lowest spec 5 series diesel automatic estate would attract £9750.
If I was buying privately - I'd definitely be looking at a 530 touring but I'm not paying nearly 3 times more tax for the privilege.
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RE: Oil gauges
An oil gauge on the dash is no substitute for checking the oil once a week. Even if you only check it once a month, you know the gauge is accurate.
I have no sympathy for anyone whose engine explodes because they can't be bothered to check the oil.
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Why buy a new Accord when you can buy a nearly new 5 series for the same money? Also no diesel auto on the accord.
I've been looking at this scenario for a while, and I challange you to show me a nearly new 5 Series for (anything like) the same price as an Accord.
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Come on Dogsbreath, where do you get figures from?
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Come on Dogsbreath, where do you get figures from?
Maybe his definition of 'nearly new' is his recently bought 02 BMW 525d Tourer with 38,000 miles for £20K (which is approx the price a new Accord Exec diesel).
A nice car, for sure, but hardly nearly new.
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You got me Vista! Well it looks nearly new...........even if it is the old shape. I love Hondas but the BMW is better all round in every way in my view. My feeling is second hand Hondas are fantastic value. But if you are looking to spend a bit more they are not really quite "special" enough. Also having spent the best part of £20k on the Accord, it will drop like a stone over 3 years.
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The D4D 180 sounds intersting though the Mondeo TDCi 155 is already producing 400nm.
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