'06 Accord EX vs '07 Camry LE: Power, Safety & Price

Because of my recent enhanced upderstanding of the safety features
listed below, and how my '05 Accord LX doesn't have them ...

Traction Control
Stability Control
Emergency Braking Assistance
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution

(newer Honda LXs have ...)
Rear disks
DRL

I decided to take a hard look at the Camry LE, versus what I'd have to
buy from Honda to get the features above. I already knew I couldn't get
the features in any LX / Special Edition / Special Value models with a
stick, and because I like a manual transmission, I'd have to go up to
the the EX with V6 and 6M.

Aside from power and handling, the Accord EX and Camry LE are very
different in character because of differences between the two in
handling, economy, convenience, and comfort, but controlling for as many
factors as possible, the Camry i4/5M LE looks like a heck of a value.

Beginning in 2007, Toyota includes so many of these features standard
for the Camry that the single "VS" (vehicle stability / traction) option
for $650 gets you all the safety features above.

That means if you can live with an i4/5M versus a V6/6M,
your MSRP savings for this level of safety is:

$27,850 V6/6M Honda EX
-20,680 i4/5M Camry (with VS option)
------
$ 7,170 or, 34.7 percent less for the Camry LE.

And if you really have to have the extra power of the V6/6A, the Camry
still wins as the 3.5L produces HP/Torque comparisons of:

268HP/248FT-LB, versus
244HP/211FT-LB for the Accord EX V6/6M

And better fuel economy, and at MSRP of $24,270 with
the VS option group included, is still $3,580 less than
the EX Accord.

But this is a digression, since you can't get the V6 Camry with a stick,
(which I want), and don't want the extra horses if it means giving up up
the stick. (If you like automatics, this could an even sweeter deal for
you ...)

Focusing on our original comparison, and limiting ourselves to how the
cars are different ...

Honda EX V6/6M

More power, sportier handling
Alloys
Sunroof
Remote anti-theft
Leather seats & trim for doors, shifter, steering
Heated seats & mirrors
Folding rear bench w/ pass-thru
Remote window operation
Universal remote transmitter (garage/alarm)
Dual climate control
Illuminated vanity mirrors
Floor mats

EPA Mileage / Range, City/Hwy w/17.1 gallon tank
21 / 30 -- 359/513

and on the other side ....

Camrey i4/5M LE

Better fuel economy
Smoother ride
Quieter cabin
3.5 foot smaller turning circle
Rear seatbelt pretensioners
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Split folding rear bench
Rear center armrest storage
Speed sensitive volume
Aux mp3 audio input
15 vs 14 cu/ft luggage
Dusk sensing headlamps

EPA Mileage / Range, City/Hwy
24 / 34 EPA
444/629 Range with 18.5 gallon tank
Average of 100 miles greater range!

------------

So the Accord is your pick if money doesn't matter, and luxury, sporty
handling an power are tops, and,

If $7,170 is a chunk of change for you, and,
A smoother, quieter ride is important, and,
Fuel economy and range matter, and,
You can live with a butt-ugly grille,

The Camry LE looks like a winner.
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

For about $2K more than an I4 Camry you can get the Camry Hybrid that
should average something like 35 mpg. It has a much smaller trunk but
more HP than the I4 Camry. I'm pretty sure the Camry Hybrid stacks up
well in your comparison.

We have one vehicle that is now used almost exclusively for short trips
in town. A Toyota Hybrid could be a practical choice if we wanted that
size car. But we're also looking at the new Civic. Not that much
smaller, great mpg but perhaps $10K less expensive than the Camry
Hybrid in another year or so. However, I worry about the short trips in
town and what that might do to a new engine, especially in winter.

 

For about $2K more than an I4 Camry you can get the Camry Hybrid that
should average something like 35 mpg. It has a much smaller trunk but
more HP than the I4 Camry. I'm pretty sure the Camry Hybrid stacks up
well in your comparison.

We have one vehicle that is now used almost exclusively for short trips
in town. A Toyota Hybrid could be a practical choice if we wanted that
size car. But we're also looking at the new Civic. Not that much
smaller, great mpg but perhaps $10K less expensive than the Camry
Hybrid in another year or so. However, I worry about the short trips in
town and what that might do to a new engine, especially in winter.

 

The purchase of a hybrid has been criticized of late as offering a false
economy. CR wrote that you almost can't drive enough miles for it to
make ($$) sense, especially compared to the more parsimonious gasoline
engine cars. But if it gives you a nice big environmental "warm and
fuzzy", I guess that's something ... unless you start looking at the
energy required to manufacture and recycle batteries, etc.

I guess I would look at a Prius if I were going that route.

WAY smaller ...

Except for the biggie safety thing: You can't purchase vehicle
stability control w/traction control even as an option on the Hybrid.

It's also hundreds of pounds heavier than a regular i4, so I'm afraid it
would corner like a pig and would not stop as short.

Hmmm. Is the idea of suspension kit for a hybrid an oxymoron?
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

The purchase of a hybrid has been criticized of late as offering a false
economy. CR wrote that you almost can't drive enough miles for it to
make ($$) sense, especially compared to the more parsimonious gasoline
engine cars. But if it gives you a nice big environmental "warm and
fuzzy", I guess that's something ... unless you start looking at the
energy required to manufacture and recycle batteries, etc.

I guess I would look at a Prius if I were going that route.

WAY smaller ...

Except for the biggie safety thing: You can't purchase vehicle
stability control w/traction control even as an option on the Hybrid.

It's also hundreds of pounds heavier than a regular i4, so I'm afraid it
would corner like a pig and would not stop as short.

Hmmm. Is the idea of suspension kit for a hybrid an oxymoron?
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

Consumer Reports admitted a mis-calculation for the Prius and probably the
new Civic would be a reasonable choice too.

 

Consumer Reports admitted a mis-calculation for the Prius and probably the
new Civic would be a reasonable choice too.

 

The only way I'd give up my stick is if my knees can't physically push down
a clutch pedal anymore, haha. as for the safety features, I was suprised
honda dind't offer it on the I4. I lot of peopel have made mention that it's
not really needed with an I4, but living in new england, I would of liked
it. that being said. I still managed to get an I4 EX manual with leather and
NAVI for under 25k. It wasn't too bad in the snow either (although we got
lucky with a pretty mild winter) I took a look at toyotas site, and I didn't
see anyway to get a camry with navigation in a manual transmission.

 

The only way I'd give up my stick is if my knees can't physically push down
a clutch pedal anymore, haha. as for the safety features, I was suprised
honda dind't offer it on the I4. I lot of peopel have made mention that it's
not really needed with an I4, but living in new england, I would of liked
it. that being said. I still managed to get an I4 EX manual with leather and
NAVI for under 25k. It wasn't too bad in the snow either (although we got
lucky with a pretty mild winter) I took a look at toyotas site, and I didn't
see anyway to get a camry with navigation in a manual transmission.

 

I forgot: Is Accord Hybrid even available with stick?
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

I forgot: Is Accord Hybrid even available with stick?
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

I believe that the Acura TSX includes all of those features, and it is
available with either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic.

Anyone looking at well equipped Camrys or Accords should at least check
out the TSX to see if it is the best choice for you. Acura dealers are
discounting TSX pretty agressively while the new Camry, especially with
desireable options, can be harder to find a good discount on due to it's
newness.

John

 

I believe that the Acura TSX includes all of those features, and it is
available with either a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic.

Anyone looking at well equipped Camrys or Accords should at least check
out the TSX to see if it is the best choice for you. Acura dealers are
discounting TSX pretty agressively while the new Camry, especially with
desireable options, can be harder to find a good discount on due to it's
newness.

John

 

Nice to see people still like to drive a stick shift. I've always loved the
Honda (and Acura) manual transmission. Had an '89 Prelude Si stick shift
and now have an '05 Accord LX stick shift. The traction control would have
been nice but I've lived without it this long. Then again the whole EX
package offers nice options for about 2k more. Test drove the Civic EX but
got a really good deal on my Accord. Paid $16,945 + tax & tags.

Trying to stay on topic, much of it depends on whether you like driving the
Accord or Camry more. If you want a smoother softer ride, the Camry is the
way to go. If you want something that is more of the driver's car w/road
feel, get the Accord. Both are by no means sports cars but each gives
value, depending on personal preference. Can't go wrong with either.

-Dave

 

Nice to see people still like to drive a stick shift. I've always loved the
Honda (and Acura) manual transmission. Had an '89 Prelude Si stick shift
and now have an '05 Accord LX stick shift. The traction control would have
been nice but I've lived without it this long. Then again the whole EX
package offers nice options for about 2k more. Test drove the Civic EX but
got a really good deal on my Accord. Paid $16,945 + tax & tags.

Trying to stay on topic, much of it depends on whether you like driving the
Accord or Camry more. If you want a smoother softer ride, the Camry is the
way to go. If you want something that is more of the driver's car w/road
feel, get the Accord. Both are by no means sports cars but each gives
value, depending on personal preference. Can't go wrong with either.

-Dave

 

Nope and it doesn't pay for itself as a hybrid either.

 

Nope and it doesn't pay for itself as a hybrid either.

 

It does have an i4/6M configuration, and this engine variant puts out
205hp. Still not the 268hp of the 3.5L V6 Camry, which gets higher fuel
economy. Go figure.

Edmunds reports MSRP w/dest of $28,505 and a TMV price of $27,652, still
$4-7k more than a Camry LE. But it does have the i4/6M, and I'm
guessing that the ride comfort / cabin noise compares favorably, with
better handling.

Comes down to the money and how badly you want the "Acura" label, which
we know that anywhere else in the world is just a Honda.
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

It does have an i4/6M configuration, and this engine variant puts out
205hp. Still not the 268hp of the 3.5L V6 Camry, which gets higher fuel
economy. Go figure.

Edmunds reports MSRP w/dest of $28,505 and a TMV price of $27,652, still
$4-7k more than a Camry LE. But it does have the i4/6M, and I'm
guessing that the ride comfort / cabin noise compares favorably, with
better handling.

Comes down to the money and how badly you want the "Acura" label, which
we know that anywhere else in the world is just a Honda.
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

 

Once the price gets near $30K and sport enters into the equation
there's no sense looking at modified FWD grocery getters when great RWD
performance sedans like the G35, IS 250 and 3-series are available.
IMHO, Accords and Camrys are good values at around $20K but not when
they're over $25K.