2008 Accord

Has anyone tried driving the new 2008 Accord? I was just wondering if its a
real noticible improvement for the ride, comfort and power, handling etc.

Thanks,
Al

 

No, it's amazing. Not one person anywhere, including honda has ever
tried to drive it.

 

"AZ Nomad" wrote

 

Gosh, I hope so because they certainly didn't improve the looks.....

Dan D
'07 Ody EX
Central NJ USA

 

Yeah, it's a real dog alright....just this side of butt-ugly. I do like my
'07 though....

 

I had a chance to see 2008 coupe and sedans yesterday at the dealership.
They were both black. I know that taste is something very personal, but
I have to agree with you: compared to 2007 new accord looks much worse.
Very "aggressive", much smaller-looking car.

I have 2004, silver - I like a lot how it looks like, I like 2007
even better because it reminds me much smoother and slimer 2002
and if I could afford it I would make a switch for 2007...

But 2008 - not apealing at all. Especially not black.

One interesting thing I noticed what the door edge guards looking
like a piece of tape in the color of the body paint. With the
name "stealth" and the price $99 it was pretty funny, but maybe
practical. Especially for coupe with much larger, easy to scratch doors.

Do you guys know any cheaper alternative?
But not as cheesy as electrical tape?
Duct tape would not be looking good either, however it would match my silver paint

 

That is interesting. I noticed the same thing when driving by a
dealership yesterday. Car looks smaller, but is in fact much larger.
It's even moved up a class in size. For now, I much prefer my 2003,
but I thought the same thing about the 1999 until I got used to the
2003. Now I think it's beautiful. Especially with the gold package.
Maybe the 2008 will grow on me. The only thing I would like for the
2003 is the LED trunk lights in the later models. I hate the looks of
the wing. Built into the trunk (ala Cadillac) is much nicer. Maybe I
should get a 2007 while there are still some around.

Dick

 

I was wondering the same thing. My guess is it's not that different
but experience is the best to listen to.

 

For me, the new Honda Accord is just okay (not great not terrible) in
appearance but I think the latest Camry is ugly.

 

I would second that -- looks OK. Of course, since I have an 0-6 Accord
coupe I4 I have no reason to buy new for quite some -- perhaps when the next
generation comes out. We will likely replace my wife's 0-3 Pilot next year
with the last of the current model when the price ought to be down.

 

Sounds more like a new GM car.

 

It looks like an Acura TL and a Hyundai Sonata mashed together. The
dashboard is an improvement over the old one which is real ugly and cheap
looking.

 

Accord EX-L Coupe, AT 2008 2007 2004
(data from MSN Autos website)
Engine:
2.4L I4 (hp) 190 160 160
3.0L V6 (hp) 268 244 240

Exterior:
Curb Weight (lb) 3366 3177 3104
Wheelbase (in.) 107.90 105.10 105.10
Length (in.) 190.90 187.80 187.60
Width (in.) 72.80 71.30 71.30
Track Front (in.) 62.20 61.10 61.10

I can understand the width change since 2008 model has
its ugly, ugly looking door handles sticking out of the body
How terrible it looks compared to flush handles in older models!

Interior:
Front Headroom (in.) 37.40 37.50 37.50
Rear Headroom (in.) 35.10 36.10 36.10
Front Legroom (in.) 42.20 43.10 43.10
Rear Legroom (in.) 33.10 31.90 31.90
Front Shoulder Room (in.) 58.40 56.10 56.10
Rear Shoulder Room (in.) 54.50 55.40 55.40
Front Hip Room (in.) 56.40 54.20 54.20
Rear Hip Room (in.) 46.30 46.10 46.10

You are right, to my surprise, that the exterior of the car is bigger.
However interior is not bigger, and in most categories smaller.
The 2008 is also almost 200 pounds heavier, so it makes it
like you are carrying one extra passenger all the time...
Stronger engine compesates this, but the fact stays true that
you are moving more steel to travel from point A to point B.
This has to have a negative impact on the fuel economy.

BTW - what category makes it go up in the class in size?

 

According to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#sizeclasses
class is based on interior passenger and cargo volume. A mid-size car
is defined as one with 110 to less than 120 cubic feet. A large car
has 120 and over. Edmunds still shows the 2008 Accord as an EPA rated
mid-size car, however, I cannot find it yet on the EPA website. I
have read other reviews that state the Accord is now a large car.
Can't give you a reference right now.

Dick

 

Coupe:
http://automobiles.honda.com/accord-coupe/specifications.aspx?group=interior
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) 11.9
Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) 92.1 (for LX-S) or 89.7 (for the rest of trims)

The sum will be 104 for LX-S or 101.7 for the rest.

Both coupes fit Compact range 100 - 109.

Same for sedans:
Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) 14
Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) 106 (for LX / LX-P) 101 (rest of the trims)

The sum will be 120 for LX or 115 for the rest.
So all sedans will be mid-size except LX which barely slip out to large.


When I was looking at the 2008 accord at the dealership I was
comparing coupe to my 2004, and it *looked* smaller than mine.

 

If it matters I read the 2008 is 3 cu. ft larger inside than the older
Accords. Most of it from my inspection is in head height.

 

Well, it must be sedan then, because coupe has smaller headroom.

 

Correct. I did not look at the coupe's specs.

 

Yes the car is bigger, and its in the full size category instead of a mid
sized car. It has alot more HP and is supposed to have better handling and
braking and ride. Its already in my dealerships where I am. I personally
like the looks of the new accord. I don't think its ugly at all.I was
thinking about dark gray for a color, but still not sure if I want this car.
Maybe.

 

I sat in a couple of 2008 sedans yesterday but didn't bother with a
test drive. (No 5-speeds in stock.)

Size: Accord isn't a full sized car by Buick standards. The back seat
is now more comfortable in terms of leg room and I think the two front
seats are a bit wider.

Seats: IMHO, the cloth seats in the 2008 EX are very comfortable, FAR
better than those in the last Accord (which I thought were lousy).
However, the 2008 leather seats are awful. You sit on top of the
leather seat, not in it. The leather is pretty hard which only makes
the poor seat design that much worse.

Exterior styling: IMHO, no contest, the 2008 is *far* nicer than the
previous Accord.
Dashboard: If I were to buy a sedan based on the dash design, I
wouldn't buy an Accord. Toyota does a much better job.

YMMV