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2013 accord details

114 messages,  Last post on Nov 18, 2012 at 12:25 PM

You are in the Honda Accord Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 12

#49 of 114 Test drive this AM by rayainsw

Sep 22, 2012 (3:22 pm)

Initial impressions: Good job, Honda!
The car: EX-L V6.
I found the ride smooth on most surfaces, though highway concrete slab seams and similar short, sharp bumps are both heard and felt. Doubt it would be an issue for most. It is certainly quieter than the last few Honda sedans I have driven - even with the moonroof in the vent position, as I typically drive, all year round. I found it to feel agile and responsive. The electric steering felt fine, to me.
The V6 is smooth and certainly has enough grunt – and combined with the 34 MPG highway EPA rating, is an impressive engine- again [ still ]. The new 6-speed transmission generally works well,
I found the seats and driving position quite comfortable – and had no issue with the headrest. NVH was well under control. [ I had the stereo turned off the whole drive. ] The big horizontal bar graph of instant MPG in the center of the speedometer I find useless.
One oddity noticed – several times, on a winding back road, the LDW yellow light in the dash [ accompanied by a warning chime ] displayed. Although I and the salesperson both saw this as LOW [ suspecting a PDI oversight = low tire pressure…. ]
I certainly hope this is something that can be permanently turned off??
For me, it was annoying, distracting & NOT helpful!
The other issue, for me is how Honda groups equipment and color offerings for the 2013. I would really prefer the EX-L equipment level [ minimum to have the V6 and 6-speed automatic], but without the LDW, the Blindspot camera and the Backup camera – for example.
Also, the Sedan is simply not available with the V6 and the paddle shifters. I have come to use the paddle shifter on my current coupe a lot – I enjoy the extra measure of control they offer. It would be very difficult for me to give up that aspect. The paddles shifters are only available on the 4 cylinder CVT Sport Sedan. Not even available on the ‘range topping’ V6 Touring Sedan. According to online information, the Coupe V6 does offer the paddle shifters – but most every exterior color offered on the Coupe comes only with a black interior. Not something I prefer, very impractical here near Hotlanta.
My ideal Honda seems unlikely to be assembled anytime soon.
[ EX-L V6 Automatic Sedan , paddle shifters, blue or red exterior, gray interior. ]
[ sigh ]
- Ray
 I do like the car, quite a lot, but . .

#50 of 114 Re: Test drive this AM [rayainsw] by benjaminh

Sep 22, 2012 (4:13 pm)

Replying to: rayainsw (Sep 22, 2012 3:22 pm)
ray: Thanks for the good report! Yeah, I hope the LDW can be turned off too. Let us know if you find out about that.

#51 of 114 Re: Naysayers [rich27514] by stealth916

Sep 22, 2012 (11:06 pm)

Replying to: rich27514 (Sep 22, 2012 12:50 pm)
I have been the original owner of many Honda vehicles, and I currently have four of them in the garage including a 2005 V6 EXL Sedan.
 
My Accord has 125,000+ one owner miles. I have been starting to get the itch to replace it, so I was waiting to see what the new generation Accord would be like before I did anything.
 
I am a very hands on driver. For me, the reports of shoddy electric steering and the lack of direct control over the 6-speed auto, are non starters. There is no circumstance I buy this car unless those two things are remedied.
 
Beyond that, the styling of the stock 17" rims is horrid - too many spokes. Perhaps they are fuel efficient, but so are moon caps and no one uses those anymore. You don't get into a decent looking factory wheel option unless you go 18", which for me is not worth the added expense near term or long term.
 
Sorry Honda - I may be one of your biggest fans and I have been enamored with your work for decades, but this sedan is a no-go. You got rid of the bug-eyed headlights that kept me from buying previous generations, and finally gave it the 6-speed auto we always wanted, but you effectively preclude us from interacting with the transmission in any way beyond selecting forward or backwards?
 
E P I C - F A I L

#52 of 114 Re: Naysayers [stealth916] by benjaminh

Sep 23, 2012 (3:19 am)

Replying to: stealth916 (Sep 22, 2012 11:06 pm)
The reports that I've read say that the electric power steering is pretty good on this Accord. And where are you going to find hydraulic steering today anyway on a midsize car? That is simply not available as far as I know. All manufacturers have phased it out for mpg reasons.
 
Why not test drive the Sport model with the 18" wheels and paddle shifters? You've read reports, but that's not the same as driving the car yourself. Yes, it's a CVT, but it's supposed to be a near revolutionary CVT that shifts a little like a regular auto. Or maybe you should try the best-in-class 6 speed manual?
 
I don't think you can really say whether you liked it or not or whether it failed or not until you drive it yourself. But if you do, hope you'll come back and give us your report with all of the good points and not-so-good points about the car.

#53 of 114 Inside Line Article by benjaminh

Sep 23, 2012 (7:20 am)

5 Cool Things About the New 2013 Accord
 
http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/2012/09/five-cool-things-about-the-new-- - 2013-honda-accord.html#more
 
Here's part of the story:
 
"....The manual transmission. Say what you will about Honda’s fall from enthusiast-driver grace, but one signal Honda’s serious again is the availability of 6-speed manual transmissions for both the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (185 hp/181 pound-feet and 189 horses for the Accord Sport trim) and the snarly single-cam 3.5-liter V6 (278 hp) in the Accord Coupe when it launches Oct. 19.
 
That’s an honest-to-goodness 3-pedal manual; don’t go looking for one of those in the Nissan Altima or Hyundai Sonata and we figure given the general direction of the family-sedan market, it would’ve been all too easy for Honda to go all-automatic, too. The 6-speed manual is standard for all 4-cylinder versions of the 2013 Accord sedan and coupe. And we’ll throw this in for what it’s worth: Honda’s all-new automatic for all 4-cylinder Accords is a continuously variable job. But before you cringe, Honda’s CVT is, as of this moment, the best of the breed. It quasi-mimics shift points and imparts a decidedly more agreeable perception of engine speed and acceleration building in tandem.
 
2. The chassis. Don’t blubber about losing its double-wishbone front suspension (even though ditching same for the Civic indeed was a mistake): the new Accord handles a little. Rides great, too.
 
Credit a couple of new components. First, a special non-contact torque sensor for the electric power steering may sound arcane, but it does seem to have added a better degree of response – we’re not saying feel – to the Accord’s power steering. Even the current-best EPS out there can struggle to replicate the kind of response to steering input that decades of hydraulic power steering conditioned us all to expect.
 
Second, the 2013 Accord’s got serious front dampers. With an eye toward minimizing body roll and, the front dampers have an internal rebound spring and optimized fluid and valving. Besides impressive body control for the new Accord, what’s the takeaway from this shock talk? Expensive – Honda made a costly choice to help improve the Accord’s handling and ride. Although nobody’s saying it straight out, this basically is the shock Honda uses for many Acura applications...."

#54 of 114 Re: Naysayers [owned3hondas] by sandman_6472

Sep 23, 2012 (8:30 am)

Replying to: owned3hondas (Sep 22, 2012 12:39 pm)
You make claims here that you can not possibly back up. What do you base your remarks on? You spout things that can not be proven. The only truth here is that you don't like the cars you've mentioned. You bought the Camry so obviously you liked it. If the Altima is such...junk as you call it, why are they selling so well? 80,000 miles and a Sonata will fall apart? Dude...are you kidding here?
 
It's obvious that Honda needed to do something really big here as the current model is so plain. I wish Honda well with the new Accord...I like Honda products and own one.
 
The Sandman

#55 of 114 2013 prices paid by thomasr1950

Sep 23, 2012 (2:58 pm)

What are dealers selling the Accord EX-L Touring for?

#56 of 114 Drove 2013 by van123

Sep 23, 2012 (4:18 pm)

Drove a 2013 EX yesterday. The CVT was not noticeable in the least. The car responds when you step on the gas, just like a normal transmission. The steering was light in the parking lot and firm on the road. Very comfortable seat especially with the power adjustments.
Thinking of buying one soon. Dealer will give us 20200 for 2010 Odyssey. Looking to downsize and get better gas mileage.
Kudos to Honda for stepping up their game and building a car that's ahead of the rest!

#57 of 114 Re: Test drive this AM [benjaminh] by tld

Sep 23, 2012 (8:35 pm)

Replying to: benjaminh (Sep 22, 2012 4:13 pm)
I sat in a EX-L this weekend and noticed the LDW Lane Departure Warning can be turned off from a button on the left side of the dash below the ECO button. There appears to be another button, possible traction or stability control right next to it.
 
The interior was very nice but I'm not sure how well the leather door armrests would hold up to long term wear. I like the seats in the Sport model as they looked durable and didn't have the fuzzy look of the LX and EX. The texture reminded me of a GTI.

#58 of 114 LDW Re: Test drive this AM [tld] by rayainsw

Sep 24, 2012 (4:22 am)

Replying to: tld (Sep 23, 2012 8:35 pm)
I am aware of that button. Thanks.
For me, the key is, as I stated
'I certainly hope this is something that can be permanently turned off??'
I can't imagine having to turn this off
every time I started the car.
It was really quite annoying ...
- Ray
Waiting for the Coupes to arrive at the Dealer.......

Messages Page 6 of 12

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