HONDA ACCORD 2003

  • Thread starter Thread starter DAD
  • Start date Start date
D

DAD

Hello to everyone,
I'd like to know, if someone can tell me something about this car !
thank u very much !
David
Italy
 
Hello dg,
thank for your help ... I'd like to know if for u the accord is a good car,
...... do u have problem??? affidability ??
 
DAD said:
Hello to everyone,
I'd like to know, if someone can tell me something about this car !
thank u very much !
David
Italy
Click to expand...

That's such a general question. Look at www.edmunds.com and read the
comments of other owners. It's a very highly rated model, and you
can't go wrong. I have a 2004 EX V6 MT coupe and I love it.
 
Hello to everyone,
I'd like to know, if someone can tell me something about this car !
thank u very much !
David
Italy
Click to expand...


It has 4 wheels. Seriously though, it is very nice. I enjoy mine
tremendously. I look for any reason to drive it. I've had it just over
a year and put 44,000 kms on it.

Jody
 
I have owned seven Honda products in my lifetime: 2 motorcycles, 4 cars,
and a lawn mower. So I am a big fan. Have had a 2003 EX 4cyl since April
and am very happy with it. That said - all is not pefect with the 2003.
Most of these complaints are minor, but they have set such a high standard
in the past I have come to expect better:

1. The airflow control setup:
a. Air leaks through the center dash vents regardless of where you are
directing it.
b. There are no controls for these center vents to shut off the flow,
only levers to change its direction.
c. The air conditioner runs when the air flow is set to defrost the
windshield or to the dual flow windshield/floor setting. This is not always
a bad thing. Many times when I want air to the windshield, I also need
defogging. But this is not always the case, and I am perfetly capable
deciding that an my own.

2. Hood release:
a. It's on the side wall of the car at floor level next to your left
foot. Having to get practically down on my knees *outside* the vehicle to
reach this is unacceptable. It's almost like they forgot. The car was
completely engineered. Tooling and molds were ordered, and then someone
said, "Hey Harry, what about the hood release?" Oh shit - where are we
going to put it now?"

3. Fold down rear seat.
a. Dont get your hopes up about sliding anything very big though there.
The braces for the seat back limit it to about 2.5 feet in width.

4. Brakes:
a. Brakes have never been Honda's string suit, but the alloy wheels
offered this year and the finguration of the rotor and calipers seem to
allow lots of dirt, sand, and pebbles to get access to the brake area where
they tend to get stuck between rotor and pad. By 18000 I had had two rotor
resurfacings. Honda recognizes that this is a problem and the work has been
under warantee so far. Dust shields may help.


All in all, this is a fine vehicle with it's chassi designed to serve a dual
purpose for both the Accord and the Acura TL. Take a long test drive.
 
Are from Italy or is that you're last name?
If you are, I think the Honda Accord you have over there is similar to the
Acura TSX
here in North America.
 
Hello DAD,

The only comment I can make on affordability is to say, for me, the value
has been very good relative to the cost. I like the car, it has been very
reliable so far (12,250 miles) , and I find very little to criticize.
Compared to others in its class, I think it is one of the best choices.
 
I owned a 1998 Accord EX coupe 4cyl before purchasing a 2004 Accord coupe V6
6 speed last month. My 2004 has a few interior rattles as did my 1998.

I think the build quality of Honda's have been slipping ever so slightly
with every new generation Accord. They are still really nice and reliable
cars just not put together as well as in the past.

2003/2004 Accord climate controls are not well laid out or simple to use. I
actually think they are better set up on LX models.

For example on EX models and on possibly all V6 models except those with
Navi , There is one small mode button to press and scroll thru all the vent
modes while simultaneously viewing 1 small icon of a seated driver that
appears on the shared stereo/ climate control display. Arrows pointed at the
icon indicate defrost, dash or floor vents ( or any combination of vents )
are in use. You had better set a/c heater before beginning to drive.
Sometimes I find myself just lowering the windows if it gets hot while
driving rather than to set the a/c while driving (and I've never really been
a roll the windows down kind of person ). The fan control is via two small
buttons with up and down arrows.
Push the defrost button and the fan automatically goes to its highest
setting requiring that you manually lower fan if you didn't intend to set at
high. Separate auto temp controls for driver and passenger are a nice touch.
But, when you get into car after it has been parked for a while, you pretty
much have to turn the temperature knob to max cold or max heat to produce a
noticeable climate change before again adjusting and settling on a
comfortable temp setting.

In LX models there is a button for each vent mode and the fan speed is
controlled by a conventional rotary knob.

The hood release is in an awkward location on the drivers side wall under
instrument panel at floor board level. And when the vehicle is turn off at
night, the window control buttons stay lit and active until you exit. This
is useful but its odd that the power door lock button does not stay lit to
assist you to unlock doors and exit.

New Accords also have back lit instrument panels. A couple of weeks ago I
turned on the headlights in order to make car more visible while driving in
a daytime rain storm. Turning the headlights on also dimmed the back lit
instruments enough to render them unreadable in the day.

Homelink buttons used for programming garage or gate door openers are not
backlit, but there is a small somewhat useless amber LED lamp next to it. If
you raise your hand up close, you can reflect enough light to finally see
and press them.

Accord V6 models are powerful and refined and 4 cylinder models have more
than enough power for every day driving but with a little more noise.

I have mixed feelings on Honda's latest version of Accord. It has a lot of
features like an excellent sounding XM satellite receiver stereo, heated
seats on leather interiors, available satellite navigation system and more
horsepower while still allowing the use regular unleaded gas. Still Honda
could have done a better job on engineering and refinement before selling to
the public.
 
May I ask what you paid for yours? I'm trying to find out what a few
others paid. I purchased an EX V6 MT coupe also, and the fact that
the dealer took my initial offer worried me a bit. (ie. how much
cheaper could I have got it for?) No trade in, and paid 24900 + tax.
24900 includes everything (doc fees, registration transfer) plus DIO
rubber floor mats and auto dimming mirror/compass/temp.
 
Thank u DG!

dg said:
Hello DAD,

The only comment I can make on affordability is to say, for me, the value
has been very good relative to the cost. I like the car, it has been very
reliable so far (12,250 miles) , and I find very little to criticize.
Compared to others in its class, I think it is one of the best choices.
Click to expand...
 
You got a better deal than I did. I paid 25,000 plus TTL for a basic Accord
coupe V6 6spd but, local dealer didn't have one in color silver and had to
obtain one from another dealer in Texas. I did get a 5 year 60,000 mile
Honda care extended warranty for free ( paperwork said I paid $1 for it).

What do you think of the ride?

Do you think it's a little on the stiff side?

How about the climate controls have you gotten use to them?

Is it hard to hard to find 6th gear sometimes on your shifter?

Did you notice the half to 3/4 inch gap between top of glovebox and dash?
 
Well that's debateable, the ext. warranty is worth something. They
said the mirror is worth $300 and floor mats $100, but I really doubt
it. Don't know about the mirror but the mats are probably worth $10
each, but at least they have "Accord" imprinted on them.

I think it rides quite well. It's a nice firm, sporty-feeling ride.
My previous car was a GM W-body with stiff suspension so I was used to
it. Too mushy of a ride takes away from the sport feel. And the big
wheels and low-profile tires look so damn cool but I'm sure make the
ride a little rougher.

I do like being able to see the condition of my brakes w/o having to
take the wheels off.
I don't mind the climate controls. They are much much different than
my previous car, but I'm a techie and like buttons. The AUTO setting
is handy, and I like how it doesn't run the fan until the engine warms
up. The gears haven't been much of a problem....then again I'm just
learning how to drive this. I learned on a stick, but my previous
cars have been autos. So, I can't rip through the gears real fast
yet.
I didn't notice that gap until you mentioned it. But it's where the
glove box meets up with the the rest of the dash so it doesn't seem
real odd.

Some things that annoy me:
1. Turning on the lights during the day dims the dash so much
2. The CD player doesn't show elapsed time, or CD Text
3. The passenger seat is heated on the bottom only. But, it's only me
in the car most of the time
4. There's some kind of rectangular impression on the passenger airbag
cover that covers most of that piece. Does yours have that?
5. No speed controlled volume?? I thought everything has this now

Some not so obvious things I like:
1. NO ANTENNA
2. Distinctive styling between coupe and sedan. The only exterior
part in common are the headlights!
3. Built in XM. Nice to have, not sure yet if I'll subscribe after 3
months.
 
My experience with my 03 EXL has been generally good. Coming off of a
95 Camry, I do find the ride a bit stiff and it is clearly a noisier
car. But it is more fun to drive, spirited with just the 4 cyl, and I
think well laid out inside. I do find the car wanders / drifts a bit
more than other cars I've owned, and there is a fair amount of
vibration when I'm stopped at a light.

I really like the automatic climate control and don't understand what
others find confusing. Push Auto and it takes care of everything. Want
it warmer or colder, just change the temperature setting. My wife
loves the dual temp controls and it is easier on me when she wants it
warmer on her side. To change the outlet / level setting, push that
button. Ditto with the fan speed. And as the previous poster noted, I
love the fact that the fan doesn't kick in until there is warm air to
blow.

I also like the amber light that provides just a bit of illumination
on the console on those dark nights and crosscountry drives.

I like the lighted dash, and realize when I drive my Passat on cloudy
days that I've grown accustomed to the bright gauges on my Accord. I
agree that when you turn on the lights during the day, the dash is not
bright enough. You can turn the control to give you full brightness
when the lights are on, but of course, then you have to turn it back
down at night. A pain.

My Passat radio has a couple of features that I like. When you start
the car, it returns to a pre-determined volume regardless of where it
was when you stopped. That avoids that blast following a drive when
you've had the volume up. I'm not sure if it is speed sensitive.

Personally, what I'd really like is a noise sensitive system. I
remember years ago when visiting the new Astrodome in Houston, the PA
system volume rose and fell with the crowd noise. I'd like that in the
car.
 
Hey get an Accord wagon!

Pictures
here.......http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/honda/accord_wagon/2003_2/photo
/9653/
 
2003/2004 Accord climate controls are not well laid out or simple to use. I
actually think they are better set up on LX models.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen the setup on the EX or LX-V6, but I am quite
comfortable with the layout of the climate controls on my LX 4CYL.
In LX models there is a button for each vent mode and the fan speed is
controlled by a conventional rotary knob.
Click to expand...

I like this a lot! Before my Accord, I had a 2000 Audi A4. It was a
pain to press a button 20 times to turn the fan speed to high or to
increase the temperature. Knobs are better for this.

New Accords also have back lit instrument panels. A couple of weeks ago I
turned on the headlights in order to make car more visible while driving in
a daytime rain storm. Turning the headlights on also dimmed the back lit
instruments enough to render them unreadable in the day.
Click to expand...

You can turn the dimmer knob all the way to the right until it clicks,
and this will keep the display fully illuminated all the time, even
with the headlights on (though it's too bright for me at night in this
position)

Accord V6 models are powerful and refined and 4 cylinder models have more
than enough power for every day driving but with a little more noise.
Click to expand...

I'm quite happy with the power of the 4 Cylinder. I'm not going to
beat anyone off the line, but it's plenty of power to cruise at 80MPH+
on the freeways or to get you up steep mountiains occasionally. The
only downside, as you mentioned, is the noise. It's a noisy engine.
I'm starting to hear a little tick-tick-tick, and I'm wondering I need
my valves adjusted (only 13K miles on the car).



and a lawn mower. So I am a big fan. Have had a 2003 EX 4cyl since April
Click to expand...

I agree. It's good, but not the quality you expect from Honda.
 
I had a 1998 Accord 4 cylinder and you pretty much just learn to live with
the noise.Took car in for valve adjustment at around same mileage to see if
it would lessen vavle tap and it seemed a little quieter but not night and
day quiet.

I wish I had LX climate controls like yours in My 2004 EX. I hope control
designer gos to work for another car company before next generation is on
the drawing board.
 
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