"stevef" <sf@dum.org> wrote in news:vv3st65u643n83@corp.supernews.com:

> I see your point and have noticed the same articles.
>
> I will look closely at Camry before buying another Honda Accord,
> although my 99 has been great.
>
> Not sure what happened to Honda quality.
> "Joshua J. Belsky" <belsky@brionne.cyberverse.com> wrote in message
> news:vv3jn8jv5d3i93@corp.supernews.com...
> I test drove a Honda Accord EX with the I4 this past weekend and I
> loved it. Although it doesn't have the refinement of the Acura TSX,
> (which I am also interested in) the features are all there and the
> price is far lower. After my test drive, I had really been won over,
> and I left the dealership having about 95% decided on getting an '04
> Accord.
>
> Then I started reading online consumer reviews, and my mind started to
> change.
> There are *so many* negative reviews of that car. It seems that people
> have been having lots of mechanical and quality problems with their
> 2003 Accords. On the other hand, the negative reviews of the TSX just
> complain about performance and styling, not quality. But even the
> positive reviews of the Accord mention rattles and engine trouble.
>
> Now, I know that people who are upset about their car are more likely
> to post a review than people who are happy with it. People who have
> lemons need to blow off steam. But compared to other models of car on
> the road, the 2003 Accord had *way* more negative reviews, and a much
> higher percentage of the reviews were negative. (This, by the way,
> was true on every consumer review site that I checked.)
>
> So, I read the Edmunds.com three-month road test. They loved the car.
> But in those three months, they had to take the car back to the dealer
> twice. The first time was the gas-cap/engine-light issue, which I know
> has been visited time and again on Usenet. But the second was a loose
> clamp on a hose that caused the engine light to come on. I know that
> this is minor, and free to repair, but it is still a warning sign. As
> far as I'm concerned, if a car has to go to the dealer even once in
> the first three months, that's too many times. The fact that even in a
> glowingly positive review, there was a mechanical problem with the
> engine, worries me.
>
> So my question is this: Has Honda lost its way? Are they resting on
> their laurels? Is the quality still there? Also, all of the reviews I
> read were of the '03 model. Were the quality issues with the '03
> addressed in the '04 update?
>
> I know that Honda can make quality cars. The TSX seems to be really
> well built.
> But that thing is made in Japan, and the Accord is made in the USA. Is
> that what the problem is?
>
> Thank you for your opinions.
>
> -Joshua

I now have 17000mi on my '03 Accord V6/Nav and without a doubt, it is the
best car I've ever had. I took it back to the dealer one time for a
small rattle in the passenger side visor which was quickly corrected.
Nothing but oil changes other than that. I tested BMW 330 and Mercedes
C-320 when I was car shopping and neither can touch my Accord for
commuting 100mi/day. Rock solid, comfortable, quiet, 28mpg HWY (@80
+mph), 26mpg overall for my driving and $10k less than the competition
with comparable equipment. If the car had heated outside mirrors and
lighted steering wheel buttons I would call it perfect.