Author Topic: Opinions on Honda Accord please  (Read 3344 times)

EconDiva

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1313
Opinions on Honda Accord please
« on: February 24, 2018, 06:33:53 AM »
I haven't owned a car since 2012, however, it's a possbility I might be purchasing one at the end of the year.

I'm going to see how most of the rest of this year goes first but I'm getting to the point where I currently live that I "might" need to purchase one.   

Very generally speaking I know Accords get a pretty decent rep, but how are they viewed in the "Mustachian" world?  I'm looking at the 2008-2010 coupe with a budget of say $5-7k. 

CatamaranSailor

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 207
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2018, 07:03:33 AM »
I have owned 2 Accords and both were solid and reliable. I also have owned an Acura (which is a rebadged Honda as well) which was a total lemon. Besides looking for vehicles with solid maintenance histories, I'd shy away from automatics of that vintage. Lot's of issues across the board with the automatic transmissions. I'd suggest the 4 cylinder w/ manual for best reliability and fuel economy....but the 6 cylinder obviously means more umph off the line. Honda's are reliable vehicles overall, but there are a few things that can't be ignored. They use timing belts and are interference engines, so if the belts breaks at a minimum the valves will get thwonked. Which means changing the timing belt on time, every time, which can be a little pricey. Granted....we're talking 60-80 thousand mile intervals. Also....(and somebody else may be able to correct me)...I believe Accords of that vintage had the Takata airbags...the ones that send shrapnel through the cabin and kill people. Takata is bankrupt, so I have no idea what the status is for recalls and repairs. Again....may not be an issue with that year and they have been fixing them at no cost...but something to check on.

All in all....Accords are fine. Good solid cars and because they are so popular, they are easy to find for a good price.

I will admit, I'm biased toward Toyota's. Everything about them from the sheet metal to the reliability seems to be just a hair better than Honda. Having owned two Accords and having a friend with a Camry...the Camry to me always felt more solid. That's just me and of course, Honda's enjoy a great reputation. YMMV.

iluvzbeach

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1578
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2018, 08:42:18 AM »
We’ve driven Hondas exclusively for 22 years now and I’ve had three Accords, a 1996, 2003 and 2011. Absolutely loved them all and would definitely purchase another one if we were in the market for a sedan. We’ve gone down to one car between us and it’s a Pilot that I bought new in 2005. Still running strong at 180K miles. Aside from routine maintenance, we’ve had very little (less than $1,000 total over the years for all vehicles combined) in the way of actual repair costs. We do stay on top of recalls and get those issues addressed. I’m a big fan of Hondas and highly recommend them.

Another Reader

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5327
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2018, 09:14:25 AM »
That generation of Accord was poorly designed and had a lot of problems.  I had a 2008 and sold it four years after buying it because it had issues and it was not comfortable.  Sold it to use the cash to buy a foreclosure, which was a much better idea.

The design philosophies are different.  The Camry is an excellent car, but the ride is too soft and the handling is good, but not as good as the Accord.  All of the Toyotas in at least the last ten years are as bad at meeting EPA estimates as GM.  After 15 months, I can report the 2017 Accord actually gets close to the advertised MPG, while the Camry falls short according to people that have them.  Our Highlander never came close to the EPA estimates, and it was a POS. 

I drove both the 2017 Camry and the 2017 Accord in the Fall of 2016 and bought the Accord.  Both models were heavily discounted from list.  For me, driving position, handling, and the MPG made the decision easy.

The 2012 and 2013 Camrys got panned by Consumer Reports.  Toyota dropped them and pushed the new generation into production early.  Lots of them are still on the road and are usually priced well because of the stigma.  I know people that have them and have no complaints.  Maybe see if you can get a deal on one of those. 

alewpanda

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 319
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2018, 10:03:20 AM »
My dad bought a 2001 honda accord as the "kids" car or third family car when my sisters and I started reaching driving age.  This was around the year 2005.  It was regularly maintained with zero issues and regular highway and in town driving from 2005-2008, when I took it with me to college.  It drove in town, and highway and across 3 states several times a semester.  Outside of oil changes and tires, I did nothing for it.  I bought the car off of him officially in 2010 when I got married.  In 2010 it got broken into -- windows and door damage fixed up fine.  I changed a sensor or something in the gas gauge in 2012.  DH worked for 10 months at a job an hour away one way during that time and drove it.  We drove through several states for trips.  We moved, and still drove it  for all cross country/state trips.  In 2012, we finally put in a rebuilt transmission, for 1200.00.   The most money I or anyone else had EVER put into mechanical work....

In 2016, we finally sold it to a local college student.  He drives it several hours home every couple of months.  It got new brake lines before we sold it to him.   This December, the engine blew.  1200.00 (again!) later and the car is rock solid and truckin right along......230,000 miles and 17 years old.

Long story short, that Accord has to have been the lowest maintenance car I've ever known, and has required a tiny amount of money to keep running in comparison to any other vehicle my parents ever owned (I would say, that I've ever owned, but lifetime pool is much smaller).  You can get cheap, rebuilt engines and transmissions for it, and most work (at least in the older ones) could be done yourself.

Provided they still have that kind of track record, I don't think you can go wrong with a Honda.   

Sylly

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 265
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2018, 10:39:02 AM »
I drove a Honda for roughly 15 years-ish. I like Hondas, and for that reason I'm generally biased for Accords over Camrys. But like any other car maker, different years have different qualities. My Honda specialist mechanic once mentioned that the late 90's Hondas were great (I think those models run into 2001), but the generation(s) after that were not so good, and that the quality was picking up again (I think he said this about 5 years ago?). My memory is shoddy, so don't take my year ranges as gospel (except the late 90's part, cause he was talking about my car). I suggest you try to do your research on reliability, or sneak into Honda forums and see what years they generally like.

Yankuba

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1356
  • Location: Long Island, NY
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2018, 01:43:53 PM »
Check out this forum for all things Honda Accotd:

http://www.driveaccord.net

mspym

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 9749
  • Location: Aotearoa
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2018, 04:04:41 PM »
IMMEDIATE response/s from my partner* after I read out your title: "Only buy it if you really really like it, because it will never die. And you cannot in good conscience buy another car because this one is still going".

"Honda Accord: It's the Better Camry"

"Your friends will ask you to do their taxes because they will assume you are an accountant"

"Do you *need* a bigger Jazz?"

*Ex-Accord owner, only sold as he moved countries, we currently own a Jazz and love it
« Last Edit: February 24, 2018, 04:09:37 PM by mspym »

Capt j-rod

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 338
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2018, 05:14:35 PM »
Avoid the 2008... I had one and it had issues. It ate brakes and was a 5speed stick. I drive VERY conservative and I was lucky to get 30-40K out of a set of brakes. Also around 95K it started consuming oil. 2qts between changes. I changed oil according to the maintenance minder and only ran mobil 1 synthetic. I sold it at 115k. I always joke with people, I had the worst Honda that anyone ever heard of and it was better than the best chevy I ever owned. I'm a Toyota guy now with absolutely ZERO complaints.

Dee18

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2209
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2018, 05:23:49 PM »
I have a 2005 Honda Accord, 4 cylinder, automatic, 125,000 miles, purchased in 2004.  I love it. Only reason I am considering buying a different car is that my Honda only gets 20 mph with my stop and go ( as in every few blocks) in town driving.on the highway it gets about 28 mph.

RyanAtTanagra

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1316
  • Location: Sierra Mountains
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2018, 11:33:49 PM »
I'll add a data point, as well.  I drove a 2000 Accord to 280k miles (bought it at 60k).  I loved the hell out of everything about that car, and the only reason I sold it was because I moved to SF and didn't need a car at all anymore.  There's no way it didn't make it to 300k easily for the next owner, or he f'd up.  I'd buy another Accord in a heartbeat if the price was right and there wasn't another model more compelling.  There were little things the engineers did on that car that were small but intentional that tickled me.  18 years later I'm surprised all other cars don't do them.  For instance, you could tap the windshield wiper lever and the wipers would move up a couple inches to be right over the defrosters, so they'd thaw.  Why don't all cars do this?!  Bunch of little things like that where 99% of drivers wouldn't even notice, but they still bothered to put them in.  I appreciate the small stuff, and they've (potentially) earned my repeat business over it.

EconDiva

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1313
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2018, 09:01:59 AM »
Thank you for those who have commented in this thread thus far.

I was kinda hoping I'd just get a few "Accords are the best cars on earth...go ahead and do it" comments and that would be it.

Honestly I didn't even know about the recalls; as you can see I haven't done any serious research yet.  Kinda had my heart set on this model (admittedly for superficial reasons as I simply love the design); I don't have a backup choice at the moment either. 

Roots&Wings

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1555
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #12 on: February 26, 2018, 06:19:15 AM »
Another data point, 2004 Accord v6, 100k miles. With routine maintenance, it should last 200k+ miles. Mine has been very reliable, but the audio console display no longer works (the clock and temperature display settings, short in the electric circuit board that is a known issue with that year, costs a small fortune to fix). I don't find it especially comfortable for long drives, very low seat, I prefer the higher Fit or Odyssey seat height. The gas mileage isn't stellar either at around 25 mpg. I don't drive enough to make the upgrade to a something like a used Prius financially viable.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2018, 06:24:11 AM by Roots&Wings »

coynemoney

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 35
Re: Opinions on Honda Accord please
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2018, 07:31:44 AM »
I have a 2011 with 115,000 miles on it. I've had no problems but I've been on point with regular maintenance. My only problem is that I feel like it's a little too big without having a lot of utility. It's longer than it needs to be and trunk storage is not great. If I were buying a new car I'd probably either go down towards a Civic Hatchback or up to a CRV.