2004 Accord: EX or EX V6

Hi,

I am about to purchase a new Accord and having a tough
time deciding between a EX I4 or EX V6.

I know I am comparing orange and apple. Just want to get
your opinions on whether EX V6's eng/trans is worth the 4K difference.
Which one do you think provides better value (I know V6 comes
with some more luxury features)? I have heard some nagative feedbacks
on Accord V6's transmission in the past. Has it improved in the
'04 model? Is V6's maintance charge signifficantly higher? Any
good/bad experiences with your purchase so far?

These questions may sound rather stupid for some of you experts.
Just want to get your opinions so that I can make the correct
purchase decision for myself.


Best Regards,
EH

 

I am going to be in the exact same position as you come Sept. of this year. I
am definitely going to spring for the EX (over LX) but still weighing options
of the extra cost entailed w/the V-6. If I had to make up my mind now I would
probably go with the 4, which still pushes a respectable 160 h.p. I feel as if
it may be hard to go from V-6 power back down to a four....not sure what your
current situation is. In any event either way you are getting a great
car.....good luck with it.

J.M.

 

With gasoline prices climbing once again the I4 is look pretty good. The 4
cylinder car feels a bit better balanced when driving, probably because of
the reduced weight over the front wheels.

Drive them both and see what you like and what matters to you. The 4 will
probably be less costly to run over it's lifetime.

John

 

I am going to be in the exact same position as you come Sept. of this year.
I
am definitely going to spring for the EX (over LX) but still weighing options
of the extra cost entailed w/the V-6. If I had to make up my mind now I would
probably go with the 4, which still pushes a respectable 160 h.p. I feel as
if
it may be hard to go from V-6 power back down to a four....not sure what your
current situation is. In any event either way you are getting a great
car.....good luck with it.

J.M.[/QUOTE]


Make sure you guys drive an Acura TSX before you make your decision. A
little more money but a damn nice car for the money in that range.

Scott

 

EH... kinda depends on what y'all use to... if having driven a v6
Accord, of which is much more quiet, has a lot more get up and go
torque, traction control, plus a better braking system than the 4
cylinder, then the v6 is the way to go... the transmission problems were
back in the '99, '00 and '01 years... with the 4 cylinder, y'all will
hear the motor, particularly in the get go and while cruising down the
highway... per maintenance, the 6 still has a timing belt that'll need
changing round 105,000, whereas the 4 has a chain drive... also, with
the 6, oil changes round 3700 miles versus stated 5000 miles fer the
4... with tires, the 6 has V rated more expensive tires, though could be
changed to the H rating to save money on replacements... per miles per
gallon, with the 6, we're averaging 32 thus far, with most of the
driving on the highway, of which is pretty darn close to the 4
cylinder's and bout 2 miles per gallon better than the 2002 v6 of which
had less torque and less horsepower... having driven the v6, just
couldn't see driving the 4... and to us, the LX made more sense than an
EX, fer we didn't care fer a moonroof, dual climate control, alloy
wheels or heated leather seats here in the south...

 

I have a EX I4 with a 5 speed stick. It really moves with the stick. I
drove an Accord stick for 16 years before that. It was fun to drive and
never gave me a problem except for the expected carb rebuild. So I put
my $1024 auto tranny money into the Navi which is the best in the
industry and is quite useful. I don't miss the second electric seat and
traction control which would have cost $4000 more with the V6 and auto
tranny, which I don't really want anyway.

 

Before I traded for my 01 Prelude, I had an Accord I4 5 speed and found it a
decent performer and smooth enough. Of course, the I4 in the Prelude is
substantially stronger.

 

My 2 cents..
I have a 98 EXV6, and yes just had my transmission replaced BUT I Would do
it all over again for the power, smoothness, better tires and wheels etc etc
over the EX. It made a difference when I drove the 98 EX and EXV6 and I
noticed it when I test drove the 03 EX and EXv6. 240 over 160 HP is a BIG
difference. All depends what you be using the car for...if its for toting
around town, the I4 will suffice, but If you do highway driving the V6 will
be notably better. Lets just hope they sorted out the tranny issues with
the 6!!!!
Also for the record.....240HP is about the limit of a FWD car. The Acuras
are all RWD if I remember correctly.
Matthew

 

Nope...the only RWD Acura is the NSX (and the old SLX, but that wasn't
really an Acura).

Some FWD Cadillacs have ~300hp, IIRC.

Adam

 

Correction: Acuras are all front wheel.
The Northstar Caddys have about 300HP and are also FWD.

 

(kat) wrote:

About 6 cyl Accord trannys:

Would someone care to expound on this? What were the problems with the
tranny from these years? The reason I ask is my son is interested in the
'99 V6 Accord.

 

'04 TL is 270 hp (but "better" tires). Real upper limit on front
wheel drive is somewhere between 270 and 300.

JM

 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002-09-20-honda-warranty_x.htm

Rgds, George Macdonald

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

 

1- I stand corrected on the RWD Acura issue.
2- The Accord extended warranty on the transmissions were on the 99-01
models as mentioned but there are MANY 98's with the problem as
well...including myself. Check older newsgroup posts....they're out there.
As discussed previously, Honda will work with those unfortunate souls with
the 98's with the problem but won't do it for free, just a deep discount.
Matthew

me??

 

The 240HP V6 transforms this car. It gives the Accord a much enhanced
quality feel. The I4 is great and supple, but vibrations and sound
constantly remind you that it is a 4, not a 6. Not just a matter of
performance. Gas consumption is up by 10-15% only. The major downside is
having to change the timing belt at 80-90000 miles at a cost (probably
400$). The I4 has a chain.

 

Scheduled belt change is 105,000 along with spark plugs.

And I just put my money where my mouth is: bought a new '04 EX V6 yesterday.

JM

 

Judging by the number of Accord I-4 I have seen passing me on I 75 every day
at speeds exceeding the 80 I run in my Prelude in the center lane, the 4
seems to be just fine on the highway.

 

Saintor said...

I'll have to echo this. The V6 engine has a lot to do with why
I like my EX coupe so much. If you try it, you'll really like
it.


Casey

I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.