I come from a long-line of Honda owners. My parents have owned five of them, I've owned two. In grade school, mom took me to class in a 1984 Honda Accord LX, gray--but then again, weren't ALL of the 1984's gray?
My experiences with Hondas have always been exemplary. My 1990 Prelude was eleven years old when I retired it (in part due to an accident) and the only repair it required outside of normal maintenance was a recharge of the AC system. Several of my parent's Hondas have logged over 150,000 trouble-free miles.
So, when the time came to trade up from my Mazda Protege (a fine small car), I naturally looked to Honda. My preference would have been an Acura TL, but the budget had me take a closer look at the Accord, and I eventually chose a 2004 EX Coupe with the 4-cylinder engine and automatic transmission.(Yes, I know that's not an exciting combination).
I purchased my Taffeta White coupe in January of 2005. Being a model-year leftover meant an incredible deal for me--around $4,000 off of sticker, and several "free" dealer accessories--the rear wing spoiler, mudflaps, and cargo management accessories.
First the good: even at full price, the Accord is an exceptional value. The interior plastics and controls are at a level one would expect on much higher-priced models. Resale values are typically above average on Hondas, and maintenance costs low. The styling is sharp, if uninspiring. You aren't likely to turn heads at the stoplight in your Accord, but its a handsome midsized coupe.
The seats are extremely comfortable. Side support is excellent, the driver's side lumbar adjustment is much appreciated, and overall firmness is just right. The upholstery is high quality, but the ivory color is a pain to keep clean and shows lint. (People with children or pets should definitely opt for leather or a darker colored interior). Gauges are easy to read and operate, but I've always wondered why Honda insists on putting the moonroof switch at the drivers left knee. Radio and temperature controls are large and have a "luxury" feel. The steering wheel has controls for the radio, which keeps your eyes on the road. The rear seat is comfortable, though if the front seat passengers are long-legged, there isn't much legroom left for the folks in the rear. But, for as often as most coupe buyers have passengers back there, it is adequate.
The 4 cylinder engine is quiet, the five speed automatic transmission is smooth, but the combination will not impress anyone with its power. You won't struggle to pass on the highway, but at times you will wish for a few more ponies under the hood. (The 6-cylinder is much more powerful--particularly when paired with a 6-speed manual).
The driving position is comfortable, and all controls are within easy reach. Visibility is good when driving, but takes some getting used to when trying to negotiate tight parking spaces. From the drivers seat, you can't see the end of the long, sloping hood, so more times than I would like to admit, I've either scraped the curb or left the front of the car several feet away from the end of a space. A few months of having the car got me used to this, but it's still worth noting.
*Update* I was delighted with the gas mileage I got on my first road trip in this car. I went over 400 miles on a tank of regular octane, averaging just over 33 mph at highway speeds in the 70-80 mph range.
The bad: Initial quality has been, unfortunately, very disappointing. My Accord, with less than 3,000 miles on it, has been back to the dealer no less than three times for warranty-related repairs. It was delivered with flawed driver's door trim, which was repaired. Within a week of having it, an annoying squeak developed in the headliner, and the dealer later found another squeak coming from a loose glove compartment door. The plastic trim on the interior of the rear pillars fits poorly with the headliner, and a trip to the shop has NOT repaired that to my satisfaction. Brake shutter was remedied with four new rotors and a new set of pads. I hope these minor issues are not an indication of the quality I can expect of this car, but I will keep you posted.
*As promised--another glitch. At the first oil change, I complained about a "clunking" noise I heard at low speeds over bumps and when stopping. The flange for the front strut towers was the culprit and was repaired under a service bulletin. And yet another. The plastic garnish for the rear pillar was replaced, and when the part came in, I also complained of a squeaky driver's seat. Apparently, the entire seat frame had to be replaced (I weigh all of 160 lbs. soaking wet, so the seat was not subject to unusual stress).
*And another update. After nearly a year of service, the car continues to impress with it's gas mileage and smooth ride. However, I've been plagued with a number of issues. The drivers door and fender had to be refinished when the clear coat mysteriously started to flake off. The brakes, replaced once already, are "vibrating" once more, and hard stops produce a sound and vibration that I can only describe as similar to putting marbles in a garbage disposal. I hold out hope that I just got a bad example, and the service department will eventually be able to iron out the kinks. We shall see.
*Another Update: 33,000 miles on the ticker, nearly two years of use. Added headaches since my last update: brakes are a continual source of complaint. Rotors were replaced again, and rear pads gave out about 3,000 miles ago. A few months back, water was seen seeping inside around the rear roof pillar. (Fixed under warranty). The 30,000 mile service was expensive--nearly $500 with the cost of the rear brake pads included in that. On the upside, there has been no loss of power, the car still looks and drives "new", and fuel economy has been great---I regularly get over 30 MPG on highway trips.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 20,000
Condition: New Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: EX Automatic Tranny w/ several dealer accessories
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