Honda Car Forum

Joshua J. Belsky <belsky@brionne.cyberverse.com> wrote:
: Chris Aseltine <ophidian@newsnation.com> wrote:
:> "Joshua J. Belsky" <belsky@brionne.cyberverse.com> writes:

:>> I walked into the dealership planning on trying out the I4 and then trying
:>> the V6. I was so impressed with the 4 that I didn't even test drive the
:>> V6. I couldn't believe I was driving a standard, non-souped-up 4. It even
:>> felt like it had more low end torque than the version in the TSX,
:>> although this could be my imagination.

:> Come on, the 4 is a dog. Have you ever even driven a V6? Give me a break.

: You found me out. The biggest engine I've ever used is the one cylinder
: two-stroke that I strapped onto my bicycle. Hence, the I4 felt like it was
: running on jet fuel to me.

: Now, sarcasm aside, did I say that the I4 felt as powerful as a V6?
: No I didn't. Read my post again.

: And I might ask you, have you ever even driven the I4 Accord? Because let
: me tell you, it compares favorably with the sixth generation Accord's V6,
: which I drive a lot.

: When I got home from the dealership, I read the Edmunds.com Long-Term Road
: Test, and they spent more than a page on a glowing endorsement of the
: suprising power of the I4. So even if you disagree, you must concede that
: it is a matter of opinion. And I'm not alone in mine.

: -Josh

I agree completely with Josh. We have a '01 Accord V6 and a '04
Accord I4, both auto. Here are my impressions.

I was pleasantly surprised by the I4's low-end torque and its 0-30
acceleration, in no small part due to the 5-speed auto which does a
very good job of keeping the I4 in its sweet torque band. Before I
drove the '04, I didn't know why anyone would need 5 gears in an auto.
Now I know why. It seems the 4-speed on the V6 is missing a gear
between 1st and 2nd. While starting from a complete stop, if I step
on the gas just a bit more, the engine would stay in 1st for what
seems to be a long time, rev'ing up to 3500 for no reason before
shifting to 2nd. On the '04, the tranny switches nicely from 1st to
2nd and to 3rd at just the right times. The shifting on the '04 is
also much much quicker than the '01. I guess if you have 5 gears to
go through, you'd better shift them quick.

At 0-30, the '04 I4 is just as good as the '01 V6, because the tranny
on the '04 is better (and maybe the I4 does have a lot of low-end
torque). At 40 and above, the '01 is faster due to the V6's higher
power. If I push on the gas at 40, the V6 would just take off, but
the I4 feels a bit flat by comparision. Same at 60. At highway
speeds, a better tranny is no substitute for horsepower.

The I4 is much better balanced than the V6. As many people noted, the
V6 feels a bit nose-heavy, while the I4 feels agile, which makes it a
lot more fun to drive in the city. On the highway, where it is fast
and straight, the I4 seem to be too light, and the V6 feels more
stable.

The '04 is a bit quieter, less suspension noise and the body feels
more solid. The '04 I4 is very quiet, just as good as the V6.
Overall, I was very impressed with the I4 on the '04.

Tim

:> > "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.
:> > > ...
:> > > 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

I have about 23000 miles in 9 months on my 2003 Accord 4 door EX I4 manual
transmission leather and navigation package. It was built in Japan. The
place of manufacture is on the window sticker. It had 8 miles on the odometer
when I bought it last April.

This is my first Honda. I used the Honda dealer inventory search on the
Internet to find it. At the time I was buying, there were only six cars
like mine in dealer's inventory in the state of Texas. I picked the nearest
one, about 140 miles away, and negotiated the deal on the telephone. At
delivery, I only had to be at the dealer for about 30 minutes to write the
check and get the paper work done. So far the half-hour has been the only
time at the dealer.

I love it. The only service required has been oil changes and tire rotation.
That has not been done at the dealer. I haven't been to the dealer since the
purchase. The mpg is higher than the sticker. The performance suits me, but
I have been stopped for speeding. It will cruise comfortably at over 100 mph
for hours. I can spin the tires in first and second gears on dry pavement
during informal stop light drag races.

I didn't even consider an Acura. The engines are all too large for me. I like
the over 35 mpg that I get with the Honda on the highway.

---
James D. Howard Austin TX USA jdhoward@helps.com

"jdhoward@helps.com" writes:

> dealer since the purchase. The mpg is higher than the sticker. The
> performance suits me, but I have been stopped for speeding. It will
> cruise comfortably at over 100 mph for hours.
>
> I didn't even consider an Acura. The engines are all too large for me.
> I like the over 35 mpg that I get with the Honda on the highway.

Not at 100mph, methinks.

"Chris Aseltine" <ophidian@newsnation.com> wrote in message
news:TGJKb.768649$Fm2.739820@attbi_s04...
> "jdhoward@helps.com" writes:
>
> > dealer since the purchase. The mpg is higher than the sticker. The
> > performance suits me, but I have been stopped for speeding. It will
> > cruise comfortably at over 100 mph for hours.
> >
> > I didn't even consider an Acura. The engines are all too large for me.
> > I like the over 35 mpg that I get with the Honda on the highway.
>
> Not at 100mph, methinks.

I recently got 39mpg w/ my '02 Accord I4 w/5-spd. cruising at 70-75mph. My
average speed was probably more like 64-65mph since I had to slow down for
lotsa small towns.....

> I recently got 39mpg w/ my '02 Accord I4 w/5-spd. cruising at 70-75mph. My
> average speed was probably more like 64-65mph since I had to slow down for
> lotsa small towns.....

Were those gallons US or imperial?

"Randolph" <trash@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:3FFC4235.1323B72D@junkmail.com...
> > I recently got 39mpg w/ my '02 Accord I4 w/5-spd. cruising at 70-75mph.
My
> > average speed was probably more like 64-65mph since I had to slow down
for
> > lotsa small towns.....
>
> Were those gallons US or imperial?

They were U.S. gallons.

>
> I didn't even consider an Acura. The engines are all too large for me. I
like
> the over 35 mpg that I get with the Honda on the highway.
>


The TSX engine is basically the same 4 cylinder motor as in your Accord, but
tuned for more output. The TSX does require premium fuel instead of
regular, but it is still a very efficient engine.

John

On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 20:14:56 -0800, "John Horner" <jthorner@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>>
>> I didn't even consider an Acura. The engines are all too large for me. I
>like
>> the over 35 mpg that I get with the Honda on the highway.
>>
>
>
>The TSX engine is basically the same 4 cylinder motor as in your Accord, but
>tuned for more output. The TSX does require premium fuel instead of
>regular, but it is still a very efficient engine.

They are both K-Series engines but I believe the TSX, which is basically
the European Accord Type S, has full VTEC on both exhaust and inlet,
whereas the lower rated Accord has VTEC lift on only the inlet valves. I
haven't seen the details but I'd also expect the VTEC lift on the inlets to
be quite different between the two, the Accord having the fuel economy
oriented inlet cam profiles. They both have the i-VTEC variable valve
timing on the inlets.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

If you want evidence of how long Accords last:.

First, check the ads for used ones. How many other used car models proudly list
the mileage even if it is over 100K?

Second, check out how high the resale value is.

Third, check out the total model registrations in your jurisdiction. This is
public information. I've seen in NJ that there are more Accords registered than
anything else, including Camys.
JIMBO