I was looking at Accords over the weekend, and the ones I saw were all made
in Maryville, OH. I wonder if they have a different track record than
Accords made in Japan.

Where are these negative reviews and articles? I could not find the review
on Edmunds that Joshua referred to about trips back to the dealer within the
first 90 days. In fact, of the 900 or so consumer reviews of the '03 Accord,
the average score is around a 9.2 which seem to be very good. I spent about
half an hour and could not find anything about reliability issues. If more
details could be provided where all of these negative reviews are, I would
like to read them.

Thanks

"A-MAN" <admin@a-man.org> wrote in message
news:bst7fc$c7i@dispatch.concentric.net...
>
> "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?
>
> In all the negative posts you see, you also have to keep in mind that the
> Honda Accord is one of the best selling cars in America. By sheer numbers
> alone, they are bound to issue cars with more quality problems, but I
would
> be willing to bet the percentage is still amoung the lowest of all
> manufacturers (in fact, numerous magazines make just such a reference).
>
> I am extremely happy and have had no trouble with my '03 EX with 7,000
> miles.
> The Accords are made in Japan as well. Mine was built there.
>
>