Article Comments - 2008 Honda Accord First Drive, Full Test and Long Term Test

309 messages, Last post on May 02, 2009 at 8:03 PM

You are in the Honda Accord Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Coupe, Sedan

First Drive: 2008 Honda Accord Sedan - The '08 Accord strikes a familiar balance of performance, value and efficiency. But this time it's not bland. (more)

First Drive: 2008 Honda Accord Coupe - An oddly sexy Honda Accord with the heart of, well, a Honda Accord. (more)

Full Test: 2008 Honda Accord EX V6 - At the test track, the new Accord hit 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 91.8 mph. That's a solid improvement over the Accord in our last V6 Family Sedan Comparison Test, but it's still well behind the Camry V6 that whomped to 60 in just 6.5 seconds and scorched the quarter in 14.6 seconds at 97.3 mph. (more)

Long-Term Test: 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6 - With every new generation of a vehicle as popular as this, questions are raised, even more so in a segment as fiercely competitive as the family sedan market. Has Honda gone too far in an effort to spice up its volume offering, aspired to too much sophistication? (more)

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#300 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [szer] by carzzz Dec 03, 2008 (4:20 pm)
Replying to: szer (Dec 03, 2008 3:42 pm) "'Accord is using a timing chain" FYI, your accord V6 has timing belt. Accord I4 with K series engine (03+) uses timing chain! Replies to this message: szer (Dec 03, 2008 4:57 pm) ctl (Dec 04, 2008 4:43 pm) szer (Dec 04, 2008 4:51 pm) elroy5 (Dec 04, 2008 8:01 pm) and 2 more... elroy5 (Dec 03, 2008 9:10 pm)
#301 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [carzzz] by szer Dec 03, 2008 (4:57 pm)
Replying to: carzzz (Dec 03, 2008 4:20 pm) sorry for my mistake. I thought it was using the timing chain like my K24 series 08 CR-V. pardon my ignorance , but it is an overstatement that using a timing belt is old technology and is bad. After reading through some information I googled out timing chain vs timing belt, aside from the longevity standpoint, quoted "While chains and gears may be more durable, rubber belts are quieter in their operation (in most modern engines the noise difference is negligible), are less expensive and are mechanically more efficient, by dint of being considerably lighter, when compared with a gear or chain system. Also, timing belts do not require lubrication, which is essential with a timing chain or gears. A timing belt is a specific application of a synchronous belt used to transmit rotational power synchronously." So, overall, it's not like the world is going to end and it's not going to make me regret my purchase. Replies to this message: ctl (Dec 04, 2008 4:43 pm) szer (Dec 04, 2008 4:51 pm) elroy5 (Dec 04, 2008 8:01 pm) bvdj84 (Dec 05, 2008 5:05 am) ctl (Dec 11, 2008 11:02 am)
#302 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [carzzz] by elroy5 Dec 03, 2008 (9:10 pm)
Replying to: carzzz (Dec 03, 2008 4:20 pm) I have no problem with my timing belt. It's the reason I only hear the fuel injectors clicking when I start the engine. Timing chains do go bad. I had to change the timing chain on my Chevy truck. Not because of the chain, but the tensioner, but it's the same amount of work either way. I will probably change the belt myself, when the time comes, and I'm looking forward to it.
#303 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [szer] by ctl Dec 04, 2008 (4:43 pm)
Replying to: szer (Dec 03, 2008 4:57 pm) Well, talk about being defensive... I didn't say if I am in the family sedan market, those factors will cause me to write Accord V6 off, as it has its advantages over others. It is just plain fact that the current Accord V6 is a pretty old design, enlarged from that 3.0 V6 from... 1998? Timing chain... let's just say that there is a reason everyone is moving to it (including Honda itself). Like to change your belt? go for it, it is your car I just think that among the family sedans, if I can pick and choose, I will probably take some major parts from Accord (body, chasis, suspension...), but two things for sure not will be that V6 (give me Nissan or Toyota GR) and that 5AT. Replies to this message: szer (Dec 04, 2008 4:51 pm) elroy5 (Dec 04, 2008 8:01 pm) bvdj84 (Dec 05, 2008 5:05 am) ctl (Dec 11, 2008 11:02 am)
#304 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [ctl] by szer Dec 04, 2008 (4:51 pm)
Replying to: ctl (Dec 04, 2008 4:43 pm) talk about being aggressive.... I admitted my mistake(and now it's being considered as defensive) and highlighted that a timing belt will not be so bad after all. BTW if you don't have the car shut it and drive whatever car you want. Nobody cares... seriously
#305 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [ctl] by elroy5 Dec 04, 2008 (8:01 pm)
Replying to: ctl (Dec 04, 2008 4:43 pm) Even the 305hp 3.7L in the new Acura TL is sohc with a timing belt. That's just the way Honda wants it. These engines are competitive with all those dohc engines, and smoother than most, including the Nissan VQ. Honda does things their own way. They don't make their engines a certain way, just because everyone else does. If there's one thing Honda knows well, it's how to get the most out of an engine. Replies to this message: bvdj84 (Dec 05, 2008 5:05 am) ctl (Dec 11, 2008 11:02 am)
#306 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [elroy5] by bvdj84 Dec 05, 2008 (5:05 am)
Replying to: elroy5 (Dec 04, 2008 8:01 pm) I am seriously thinking of getting the V6 if I get the Accord, because the mileage is so similar. Though the 4cyl will suffice. But, it is not like a GM car where you have to get the 6cyl to get any smoothness out of the car. Honda 4cyl is great. I never felt slow in it. You just have to remember that the Accord, though more sporty now, it is not a sports car. If you want pure horse power, your looking at the wrong car. But, you are going to get very refined and clean power from the Accord. I agree, Honda has worked very at using all the power you can get from the engine, while keeping the MPG reputable.
#307 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [elroy5] by ctl Dec 11, 2008 (11:02 am)
Replying to: elroy5 (Dec 04, 2008 8:01 pm) Yes, even the 3.7L is sohc with timing belt. Why? because it is yet another enlarged-from-old-design solution. That's not the way Honda "wants" it, it is the way they being conservative with their cost, same reason they would stuck their RL in a V6 while all others have V8. Simply Because develop a new engine line is very expensive, and they don't want to spend it if the old ones can still "make do", and apparently from you there are buyers also think so. It took a long time for them to upgrade the I-4 to dohc, let's see how long it takes for them to upgrade the V6. As to "get the most out of an engine". Honda started from building motorcycles, with high-revving engines. They show you high horse power numbers in real high RPM, where few ever get to, but give away what it really is on the torque number (just compare the LX and EX and acura TSX, it is the same engine). I hardly find them having any advantage in engines over others, Nissan Toyota or even Mazda. And calm down, we are only talking about engine/transmission, not trashing the car. Sales number and price are the objective numbers that speak for itself.
#308 of 309 Re: 0-60, 1/4 miles [szer] by hondalvr1 Jan 27, 2009 (10:20 am)
Replying to: szer (Dec 03, 2008 3:42 pm) Sorry - uses a timing belt and needs replacement regularly
#309 of 309 Handling instability by corvette May 02, 2009 (8:03 pm)
Not sure which Edmunds review addressed this (and it may have been in the handling commentary on the section with the track test numbers), but I'm glad that they pointed out that the Accord was very tail-happy with the stability control turned off. This was one of the common concerns when stability control was popularized--that manufacturers would use the feature to try to cover up designs that were inherently unstable. From an engineering standpoint, software should not be used as a hammer to attack hardware problems. There will always be situations that were not tested for in the software, and where the design will have to fall back on the hardware (in the case of the Accord, its suspension design).