Motor Trend previews/Test drives 2013 Accord

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Being a double Honda/Acura owner and knowing Motor Trend magazine for last thirty years I am guessing purchase and sale has been already signed on the MOTY award :-)

I hope Honda understands that most MOTY awards are kiss of death!
 
I really like the looks of the new one, the fact they offer a V6/6MT combo is awesome. They just took a small part of the market that only the Altima/Maxima used to have. (And why I loved them so much)
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
... The article did note a dramatic reduction in road noise...

This is good. I found the road noise on a 2008 and 2012 to be unacceptably high for the class, and both were very new when I first drove them.
 
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Made in USA.


Is it true that the profits go back to Japan where the taxes are paid?
 
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
I really like the looks of the new one, the fact they offer a V6/6MT combo is awesome.

AFAIK, the V6 manual is only available on the coupe.

Quote:

They just took a small part of the market that only the Altima/Maxima used to have. (And why I loved them so much)

The new Altima and Maxima no longer offer a manual trans option.
 
As with the "NEW" 2013 Malibu, '13 Altima and now, this '13 Accord, I can't tell from the pictures alone that they're a new redesigned car. They all looked a bit "MORPHED" mabey but, not completly redesigned. I like all 3 in their current skin and I am sure that I'll like all 3 in their new skin.

But again, I couldn't see in pictures alone, the differences from the C5 and C6 Corvette until I saw them both side-by-side, and then...WOW!

Same goes for the current Altima and the previous Maxima(in pictures). I had to see'em on the showroom floor to notice their differences.

I wish Honda the best of luck, as I have lost some fondness for Honda vehicles. I really hope this ACCORD pushes Honda back toward the TOP of the catigory as I have owned Accords in the past and loved'em but, sorta out grew them and there lack of's!

Accords were always very refined in many areas, even more so in some areas of cars costing much, much more money. But, then they seemed to run out of money in some very important areas such as the ride and quiet catigory and overall comfort for passengers.

Nice drivers car but, not always a good passenger(s) car...IMHO!
 
Guys I've merged these to Motor Trend threads on the same vehicle and changed the subject to reflect it being a preview/test drive.

I like what I see here. Like the Altima and think the Fusion may be a player. I stay away from first year anything so I'm safe for at least a year!
grin.gif


Do not like that all three are Di'd and that may keep me from getting something like this. Around here they are BLOWING out the 2012 Accords LX sedans with the 2.4l I4 plus manual under $20k OTD.

The 2012 Altimas for less than that but no manual only the CVT.

I really need to stay in something that gets at least 40mpg.. But a little more space would be nice...

Bill
 
I have always like Accord 4 cyl engines. In fact, when I drove the V6 versions, I just wasn't all that impressed because their 4 bangers were really so good. Yeah, the V6 has more power where/when you need it but, the 4's were no slouches and better than most other 4's that I've driven.

I guess you could say that, I'm a 4 cyl guy!
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
The new Altima and Maxima no longer offer a manual trans option.


2009 was the last year. That's why Honda now has the market on that segment. If the V6/6MT is available in the sedan it could be something I own down the road.
 
I remember when a Honda was just about the most fun you could have in an econobox. I guess everyone ruins the good thing with 'longer, lower, wider' development.

Not my kind of car. But it is a nice one.
 
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Made in USA.


Is it true that the profits go back to Japan where the taxes are paid?


Pay US taxes. Even though the US has one of the highest corp. tax rates in the world. Because of this I would imagine they try every trick to pay lower taxes somewhere else.
 
The 2013 EX and up are going to have some nice safety features some of which I believe are not even available in the Acura TL -

Blind Spot monitoring (including view of right mirror on the dash LCD)
Land Departure Warning
Forward Collision Warning

What I would like to find out is how effective really are these features in real world practical situations. or are these just frou-frou features that just sound good to the ears (and excuse to bump up the price).

I know the author of the Motor Trend review called these features "nannies" and they "didnt care" about them and then went on to make fun of airbags, but I am sure there are people do who still "dont care" about cruise control too. I dont care what any reviewer "cares" about, I just want to know if they are "real" life savers or just feel good factors.
 
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I imagine features like this will eventually become integral parts to driving, for better or for worse. Our MDX has a backup camera which displays on the nav screen. I thought it was pretty gimmicky at first. But dadgum, if you can't back up to within an inch of a wall or a pole, and be perfectly square between the lines. All of a sudden, my opinion of backup cameras changed, after actually USING one.

I suspect it'll be the same with the stuff on the Accord. Though I will agree with the author on one point, and I can't remember which article it was in: who's going to be the first to sue Honda when they change lanes into somebody without the car stopping from them doing it?
 
The first thing I'd do if I bought one of these, is rip that stupid 'Earth Dreams' emblem off the engine cover. That's the best they could come up with...Earth Dreams...??!!

The last Accord I owned was a 92 EX-R (and a 91, and an 89) and I have fond memories. I always liked the Accord.
 
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Originally Posted By: rcy
The first thing I'd do if I bought one of these, is rip that stupid 'Earth Dreams' emblem off the engine cover. That's the best they could come up with...Earth Dreams...??!!


This is the same company that gave us "Super Handling - All Wheel Drive", aka SH-AWD on the Acura side. Stuff like this makes me think they come up with the marking jargon in Japanese, and it gets screwed up in the translation. I mean, what fluent-English speaker would really come up with this? Or do they just have some marking flunkies on the payroll?
 
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Made in USA.


Is it true that the profits go back to Japan where the taxes are paid?


Pay US taxes. Even though the US has one of the highest corp. tax rates in the world. Because of this I would imagine they try every trick to pay lower taxes somewhere else.

Our statutory rate -- i.e. the raw number on the books -- is indeed one of the highest in the world. But you do know that no company actually pays that much, right?

Our effective rates -- i.e. what companies actually pay, after deductions and accounting tricks -- are among the lowest in the first world.
 
This new version looks to come as close to their roots as any version has since the cd5 generation 1994-97.

IMO, the best Accords were made from 1986-1997. Although the 1980-1985 models were almost as good but not quite as refined a package.

I would have liked them to offer a DX version because honestly I don't care about or need all the extra electronics they are offering on the LX version.

The only concern that some have is that they went back to the standard front struts (used in Accords before 1986) over the long used Double Wishbone suspension from 1986-2012. Some claim that it is more difficult to get the same precise and firm handling without the cars ride becoming less comfortable, we will see.
 
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