NOTHING ELSE MATTER: 2011

2003 Honda Accord. Click for larger photo

Honda Accord interior. Click for larger view

Honda Accord trunk

The seventh generation Honda Accord was introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model and continued with minor changes through the first half of 2007. With a roomy well-designed, high-tech interior, good safety ratings and one of the best in class fuel economy for the 4-cylinder models, the 2003-07 Honda Accord remains one of the top choices in mid-size sedan market.

The 2003-2007 Accord has front-wheel drive and comes as a four-door sedan or two-door coupe.
The powertrain choices include the 2.4L 4-cylinder or 3.0L V6 engine with and an automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. The 6-speed manual transmission is available in late EX V6 models.

The Accord has double-wishbone layout in the front suspension and five-link double wishbone in the back. The ABS is standard on all models; Traction Control is standard on V6 models.

Honda Accord offers rich-looking roomy interior with excellent fit and finish. The distinctive high-tech dashboard design with sharp looking instrument panel stands out from the crowd. Front seats are very comfortable and supportive even on long trips. Rear seat space is generous. Trunk is spacious. The rear seat folds down to accommodate longer items.

The Accord has firm, well controlled, although not exceptionally quiet ride. The wind and road noise are noticeable at higher speed. The suspension is stiffer compared to Toyota Camry. The steering is responsive and precise. Overall, the handling is excellent, with good road feel.

In the NHTSA frontal crash tests, the 2003-2007 Honda Accord received five stars for both the driver and the front passenger.
In the frontal offset crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2003-2007 Honda Accord received "Good" overall rating.

• Engine
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Overall
• What to look for buying a used Honda Accord
• Maintenance tips
• Specifications
• Links
• Repair information

Engine

Honda Accord 2.4L 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine.
Click for larger photo

The 2003-2007 Accord comes with two engine choices:

The lightweight 2.4L 4-cylinder 16-valves DOHC engine with an advanced i-VTEC valve control system. In my opinion, this is one of the best engines in its class. This is a strong, yet very economical low-maintenance workhorse; no timing belt to worry about - the maintenance-free silent chain is used instead.

The second choice is the 3.0L, 24-valves SOHC V6 VTEC engine, which shares its design with the V6 of the previous generation Honda Accord. It's a smooth and powerful motor - don't expect it to be cheap on gas. It has a timing belt that needs to be replaced at recommended intervals.

Strengths

- One of the best in class fuel economy for 4-cylinder models
- Excellent handling
- Great safety ratings
- Rich-looking interior
- Sharp instrument panel
- Fun to drive
- Easy to maintain

Weaknesses

- Expensive
- Road and wind noise
- Paint chips easily
- Front visibility is a bit obstructed by thick A-pillars
Problems are fairly rare and mostly minor such as various noises, vibrations and alike. Early models had some issues with an automatic transmission, most notable in V6 models, although in my understanding, this is a relatively rare issue.

Overall

If you are looking for a fuel-efficient mid-size sedan with good safety ratings and the Toyota Camry is a bit too plain and soft for your taste, Honda Accord is the right car. My recommendation: look for the 4-cylinder model. With a fair amount of power, the 4-cylinder Honda Accord posts one of the best fuel economy in its class. The high-tech 2.4L 4-cylinder engine is very reliable and does not require a lot of maintenance. In addition, the 4-cylinder model produces less greenhouse gases. I had owned the 4-cylinder Accord with manual transmission for over a year and took it on a number of long road trips and it performed flawlessly.
If you are looking for a model with an automatic transmission, consider an extended warranty, at least for the powertrain. Learn more about extended warranty.

What to look for buying a used Honda Accord

As a first step, check the used car history records. Even though it will not give you 100 percent guarantee that the car is perfect, it's well worth the money spent. It may turn out that the car is not even worth a look. A history report may help you to uncover some of the problems the car might have in the past such as accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, etc.
Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the vehicle was properly maintained.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a dealer before buying a car - in worst cases the repair might be quite expensive.
- During a test-drive, watch for anything irregular with the the automatic transmission.
- Make sure to test the CD changer.
- Check if the stereo and the heater control lights are working, if not, the repair could be quite expensive. Learn more at what to look for when buying a used car
- Prior to purchase, have the car inspected by an independent mechanic.
Shop wisely, check a few vehicles to compare; it's worth paying a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition. Check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.
Consider an extended warranty to protect yourself from unexpected repair costs.

Maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in an area with high humidity, consider rustproofing your car to protect the body and chassis components from corrosion.
- Change the oil regularly to keep your engine in good shape.
- Change transmission fluid in recommended intervals, using original Honda transmission fluid.
- Stick with original Honda parts.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected during a simple visual inspection at fast lube places - the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips

2006 Honda Accord sedan short specifications

Dimensions:
Overall length: Wheelbase: Overall width: Overall height:	191.1 in (4854 mm) 107.9 in (2740 mm) 71.6 in (1819 mm) 57.2 in (1453 mm)
Seating capacity:	5
Cargo capacity:	14.0 cu. ft (396 L)
Engines:
4-cylinder engine 6-cylinder	2.4-liter 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC, Aluminum-Alloy In-Line 4 166 hp @ 5,800 rpm, 160 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm 3.0-liter 24-Valve SOHC VTEC, Aluminum-Alloy V6 244 hp @ 6,250 rpm, 211 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
EPA Fuel Economy:
2.4L, 4-cyl engine, 5-speed Manual trans. 2.4L, 4-cyl engine, Automatic trans. 3.0L, V6 engine, 6-speed Manual trans. 3.0L, V6 engine, Automatic trans.	city: 23 MPG (10.2 L/100km) hwy: 31 MPG (7.6 L/100km) city: 21 MPG (11.2 L/100km) hwy: 31 MPG (7.6 L/100km) city: 18 MPG (13.1 L/100km) hwy: 27 MPG (8.7 L/100km) city: 18 MPG (13.1 L/100km) hwy: 26 MPG (9.0 L/100km)
Recommended Fuel:	Regular Unleaded
Fuel Tank Capacity:	17.1 US gallons (64.7 liters)

Links

Honda’s Ownerlink website- maintenance tips, recalls, maintenance schedule and more (registration required).
Fueleconomy.gov - compare fuel economy ratings.
Insurance quotes - compare insurance quotes before buying a car.
Used car history - check used car history records before buying a car.
Extended warranty - find out more about an extended warranty for your car
Edmunds.com - new car invoice pricing.

Repair information

If you need a repair manual with diagnostic procedures, check engine codes description, wiring diagrams, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, recalls, etc, follow this link:

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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

TIPS

2003 - 2007 Honda Accord Review