So today marks exactly one month since I've owned the car. And the novelty still hasn't worn off yet, as I have just as much fun driving it now as I did when I first picked it up. So what's it like to live with everyday? Read on to find out:
The Good:- Fun-to-drive
- Excellent fuel economy
- Quiet
- Quicker than the green Mark VIII from a roll
- Everything works! (almost)
The Bad:- Wheelhop
- Torque steer
- Brake fade
- Balky 3rd gear
- "Me Too" car, no longer unique
The Ugly:- Paint Imperfections
- Manual trunk release stuck
- Fog lights just quit working (today)
I have a relatively easy commute of about 15 miles (each way), 30-35 minutes going to work and 45-60 minutes coming home. Since that isn't nearly enough time to enjoy all the Accord EX V6 6-speed Coupe has to offer, my lunch breaks usually consist of "test drives". That's how much fun this car is. And there really isn't much of penalty doing all that driving either, as this is the first car I've ever owned that averaged more than 20 mpg US. Actually, on the last tank of fuel I averaged 23 miles per US gallon in 85% highway, 10% city and 5% VTEC-to-redline driving. The car is super quiet, although, that isn't saying much coming out of a car with no mufflers and towards the last few months of ownership, a massive header exhaust leak. With a 3.0-liter 24-valve SOHC 244-horsepower V6 and 6-speed manual, this car exemplifies the expression "speak softly, and carry a big stick" (shift, lol). It's no match for the 4.10-geared, high-stalled beast I used to own off-the-line, but from a roll, this car *really* flies. It has enough power to push you into your seat in any of the first 4 gears, and there's plenty of power in reserve for passing at highway speeds even in 6th gear.
But all that sweet VTEC power is not without its drawbacks. First off, I haven't experienced wheelhop this bad since my 1994 Ford Taurus SHO 5-speed. Having been used to doing smoky burnouts for the past 8 years, the excessive wheelhop really discourages aggressive, dragstrip-style launches. Perhaps it's just too sophisticated for such childish antics; it wants to be driven in a more dignified manner. Then there's the torque steer! Initially, it was violent enough to actually hurt my wrist trying to correct it, driving one-handed. Keep both hands on the wheel (as well you should!) and it's manageable, but still noticeable. Coming down from VTEC speeds is no picnic either. The Accord stops well enough, but there is some fade if you get too aggressive. The front brakes are drilled and slotted (not stock), so it's most likely the rear solid discs that are the culprit. Moving away from the brake pedal, the clutch pedal is exceptionally light (much more so than in my old SHO's "stage 1" clutch) and the drive-by-wire throttle feels very natural. What does NOT feel natural is the notchiness of the gear shift. Prior to changing the transmission fluid, it was *really* bad. Bad enough to where 3rd gear would loudly protest whenever I tried to engage it, and threw it back into neutral (even with double clutching!). Now, however, thanks to the magic that is GM/ACDelco Synchromesh Friction Modified, all the gears are perfectly smooth. Even 3rd gear behaves about 90% of the time, only occasionally feeling a bit notchy, but otherwise - it's perfect!
From a cosmetic point of view, there are some paint imperfections. The tiniest of rust bubbles on the wheelwell, some rock chips on the hood, and very minor orange peel on one of the panels. I go to a lot of car shows, so I'm fairly critical of paint jobs, but overall it's not too bad. You wouldn't notice it just walking past it - which most people will walk past it - because it's a "me too" car LOL. Another annoying foible: the manual trunk release won't work. The remote will open the trunk just fine, but because of Honda's infinite practicality, you can't open the trunk by remote if the key is in the ignition. Oh... and the fog lights just stopped working today.
Despite these minor quality issues, overall fit & finish is excellent. Everything works, and the car feels tight and well put together. I look forward to putting many, many more miles on it. I normally drive about 800 miles per month... and put over 2,000 miles on the Accord in the first month of ownership. That alone should speak volumes. Thanks for reading!