I've noticed, since Honda started to make their car's in N.A, it's been
taking them at least 2 years to work out the bugs from their new model
releases (however, in the past the 'bugs' used to be less severe).

Compared to other manufacture, Honda seems to be more proactive at
clean-up defects in their new release. So, there's a good chance that
the 2004 or 2005 Accord will have the issues addressed, that are now
effecting the 2003 model... However, if the 'defect' is a flaw in the
design, there's not much you can do about it (e.g current Civic and it's
primitive suspension).

Personally, I'd go with the TSX for the piece of mind and the fact that
it's a better tuned car. Also, the TSX's more aggressive look is not
just show. Around here, the Honda's (or Acura) that are aggressive on
the road, are the TSX and the punks driving the slammed Civic's (who
me?). Occationaly, you might see an Accord take pole on the fast lane,
which is still tame compared to what I've seen some of these guys
attempt with their TSX's.

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

"Joshua J. Belsky" wrote:
>
> 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
> --
> -Joshua Belsky
> jjbelsky@yahoo.com
> http://belsky.net