Honda Car Forum

and more efficient? I'm debating whether or not to get a used Honda Accord 4 cylinder or a Honda Accord V6. Being that the 4 cylinder is a DOHC 16 valve and the v6 is a SOHC 24 valve which motor will last longer? I live in southern california where road conditions are always nice. hardly any mountains but some hills on my route. I was just wondering if I were to buy a used Honda which motor should I get that will OVERALL last me the longest?

i think you're comparing apples to oranges. all honda engines are reliable and perform well. the 6 cyl gives you more power/torque. if you're mean 'efficiency' in terms of fuel consumption, then the 4 cyl is more efficient because it consumes less fuel.

Just think of it as do you want a 4 cylinder or a v6. Do not worry about DOHC or SOHC. they made the 4 cylinder in DOHC because they need the power. while the v6 already got the power so they just made it in SOHC. Honda is known for their 4 cylinder cars. They will both last you a long time. Honda's v6 does have more power and you may have more fun with that one.If you are buying used you will never know which one will last longer just because you do not know how the person that owned it before you drove it. also you do buy used from a private owner then make sure to get it cheeked out with a mechanic. If they do not let you, just let the car go. It has problems you do not want to deal with. when buying used think of how many miles. Is it a v6 or 4 (depends on which one you want). do not worry if they put vtec in the add. all Honda have vtec.

I can tell you that both engines are reliable but you will get more life out of the 4 cylinder. Plus the 6cyl models have had transmission issues. The 4 cyl is peppy enough to get you where you need to go and will be more efficient in gas mileage.

Both of these engines are durable and can last a long time if properly maintained and serviced. Honda Acoords are pretty legendary for their reliability. If you get a previously owned vehicle it's important to find out if the car has been maintained in accordance with the service scheduled and not abused/neglected, for either the 4 or 6 cyl model. Have an independent mechanic check out any car that you're seriously considering to purchase. Whether to get a 4 or 6 cyl model will depend on your preferences and needs. If economy and cost of operation is most important, the 4 cylinder model will of course be more fuel efficient in terms of operation and more economical to service. The acceleration is adquate for everyday driving. The V6 is more refined/quieter at higher speeds and under acceleration. V6 models will tend to have more comfort/convenience features such as leather upholstery, sunroof, etc. than most if not all 4 cyl variants.