Accord totaled, need a 'new' car

[greenjp]

Finally got a response to my retort, they've upped their offer to about $4,700. Not bad but I still take issue with some "condition adjustments" and their "value" of taxes/title/tags cost is way below actual so I'm going to ask for another $1,400.

jeff

 

[macarose]

My 2006 Accord EX-L, unusual model with most of the good features and a manual, was totaled in an accident yesterday. Had 225k miles and ran great, supremely reliable. Dude in the red car pulled out in front of me, I had somewhere between 0 and 1 second to react and plowed into him at about 40 mph. Police deemed him responsible so hopefully the insurance process will be smooth. Two of my kids were in the car, everybody is a bit banged up and scraped but mostly OK.

So on to the topic, need a new car. My 12 year old daughter remarked as we're sitting there on the side of road "how are you going to get another car with a stick shift?". How indeed. If I had the resources at the moment I'd get an Integra Type S, but alas need to keep the price to around $20k. The ideal used car would be one of the recent Accord Sports with the 2.0T and stick but those seem to be unicorns.

Criteria is a sedan/wagon/hatch with a reasonably powerful engine, stick, sporty-ish, good feature set, $20k-ish or less, <100k miles, 8 years old or less. Quick Autotrader search suggests the following makes/models could be options:
Audi A4/A5 (not too many of these but they exist)
Mazda 3 (Grand Touring spec)
Genesis G70 (had one of these pop up, price a bit of a stretch but doable)
VW GTI (would want the SE or Autobahn) or a Jetta GLI
Civic Si (the prices on these seem to be ridiculous)
Focus ST
Elantra N Line (styling on this one is a bit much but I might be able to live with it)

Not really interested in a WRX though it would check most of the boxes. Just don't see myself as a WRX guy lol.

Would appreciate any insight on the above models or suggestions for things I've left out. Thanks!

jeff




View attachment 219061

That's one nasty accident but thank goodness everyone is OK.

As many people at BITOG already know, I operate 48 Hours And A Used Car and here is a recent testimonial from one of the regulars at BITOG.

Feel free to PM me once you know exactly what you want. All the best.

 

[greenjp]

Managed to squeeze a couple hundred more out of 'em but looks like that part is settled. Now for the bodily injury claim...

Here's the month-in review of the Civic:
- the styling is still a bit much but I'm getting used to it. I realize now it actually has aftermarket wheels (not sure why, they're the same size and similar style as stock), and there's a jaunty little add on lip on the middle spoiler that I'd love to remove if I can figure out how.
- the ride and handling balance is really great. I can see why they slap an Acura badge on it. I drive a lot of rental cars and this thing is in a different league from most of what's in the price range.
- For what it is (a "sporty" commuter car), the engine is outstanding. Nothing great off the line but the pull through the midrange is very good and I've seen 45 mpg on the highway. Quiet, the sounds it does make aren't offensive, and smooth.
- the transmission is good, shifts are smooth and with the typical Honda shifter action. 6th could be taller.
- interior is fine for me and 2 or 3 of the kids. We have an Odyssey for when we need more space.
- quality-wise the car seems better than it needs to be. The interior materials are mostly good, the doors and hatch are solid, etc.
- the headlights are awesome. LED I guess, a clear bright white like the Xenons on my old Saab, very bright and the automatic high beam function works well.
- the infotainment features are good, could be faster but it's way better than our 2015 Odyssey. CarPlay works well.
- this car has the "premium" stereo which has 10 speakers one of which is a subwoofer. It's OK to fairly good, could use more oomph from the sub. Better than my old Accord's, not as good as my Saab 9-5's.
- the road noise is quite loud. I think it may be because the tires are the original Continentals and at 55k miles are nearing their end of life. They're 60k warranty tires. We'll see what happens when I replace them.
- the driver's seat does not have adjustable lumbar support, and I find it has too much of it and/or the lumbar cushion is too firm. I almost always dial it back to the minimum or close when it's adjustable. Probably going to take it to an upholstery place to customize it a bit.

jeff

 

[chazthespaz]

Sorry about the Accord! But it gave its life for you and the kids.

 

[greenjp]

Sorry about the Accord! But it gave its life for you and the kids.

Indeed! The "new" Civic is going strong, no issues to-date and it's a pretty great little car. I did manage to remove the little add on spoiler attachment, and a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport AS solved the road noise issue. My body has gotten used to the seat so I haven't bothered trying to modify it. It's a dying breed as now even Honda is offering fewer and fewer manuals.

We actually just last week had to get a new Odyssey to replace our 2015 that my wife crashed, pretty minor accident but at that age the cost to repair got it totaled. A story for a different thread...

jeff

 

[Hohn]

My 2006 Accord EX-L, unusual model with most of the good features and a manual, was totaled in an accident yesterday. Had 225k miles and ran great, supremely reliable. Dude in the red car pulled out in front of me, I had somewhere between 0 and 1 second to react and plowed into him at about 40 mph. Police deemed him responsible so hopefully the insurance process will be smooth. Two of my kids were in the car, everybody is a bit banged up and scraped but mostly OK.

So on to the topic, need a new car. My 12 year old daughter remarked as we're sitting there on the side of road "how are you going to get another car with a stick shift?". How indeed. If I had the resources at the moment I'd get an Integra Type S, but alas need to keep the price to around $20k. The ideal used car would be one of the recent Accord Sports with the 2.0T and stick but those seem to be unicorns.

Criteria is a sedan/wagon/hatch with a reasonably powerful engine, stick, sporty-ish, good feature set, $20k-ish or less, <100k miles, 8 years old or less. Quick Autotrader search suggests the following makes/models could be options:
Audi A4/A5 (not too many of these but they exist)
Mazda 3 (Grand Touring spec)
Genesis G70 (had one of these pop up, price a bit of a stretch but doable)
VW GTI (would want the SE or Autobahn) or a Jetta GLI
Civic Si (the prices on these seem to be ridiculous)
Focus ST
Elantra N Line (styling on this one is a bit much but I might be able to live with it)

Not really interested in a WRX though it would check most of the boxes. Just don't see myself as a WRX guy lol.

Would appreciate any insight on the above models or suggestions for things I've left out. Thanks!

jeff




View attachment 219061

I'm really sorry to hear about your loss, that sucks.

In late 2024, I set out to find a 10th generation Accord with 2.0T and six-speed. I had driven one way back in 2020 and fell in love. I snoozed two days on a gem and lost what turned out to be my last chance to really find one. I had a differnt one trucked up from TX to IN planning to buy it unseen, but of course it was a trainwreck with an absolute lie of a Carfax (it had been in a major wreck undeclared, I found ample evidence of it). I sent it back after driving it a couple days and lost $800.

Partly from exhaustion and fatigue with the seeming impossible task of finding a clean 2.0T/6sp, partly as a concession to my wife, I considered the 10 speed auto. I found a 2022 Touring with low miles and have had it since January of last year.

I will always enjoy manuals, but frankly speaking the 10sp has won me over. The ability to milk higher mpg is quite remarkable (I got 35mpg on this morning's commute, and I typically get 35-40 with the 2.0T). The final drive ratios on the 10sp auto and 6sp manual are drastically different:

• 10sp: 3.55FDR; 1400rpm @ 60mph
• 6sp: 3.842 FDR; 2000rpm @60mph

I really do "get" the love of manual transmission. But I'm willing to bet that after a couple months with the 10sp, you'll be glad you went that route.

The sport-mode paddle shifting is actually pretty well-executed. It will let you start in 2nd but it's very tricky to not spin the tires accidentally.

The Touring models also have a lot less road noise than the Sport version of similar vintage that I'd driven. There's still way too much road noise for a "touring model"-- a Lexus it is NOT--but it's certainly improved on the Touring vs the Sport. The seats are better, too.

The only real downside to the Touring is the 19" wheels, which look cool but ride poorly and are way, way too heavy. That's easy to remedy though if you wish.


The Touring will give you a lot more of a chance to get the 2.0T and the 10sp is actually a pretty good transmission. Change the fluid every 33k or so and it should last a long, long time.

 

[greenjp]

Love your license plate!

My "new" Civic is in fact a manual, but the new Odyssey is the 10 speed. Right cars right transmissions

 

[Hohn]

Love your license plate!

My "new" Civic is in fact a manual, but the new Odyssey is the 10 speed. Right cars right transmissions

Thanks, I went back and forth between several ideas before settling on this one.