Accord vs. Camry ?

On Saturday my wife and I both drove the 4 cylinder automatics and really
like both the Honda and Toyota. I couldn't find any significant difference
but my wife liked the looks of one better than the other and she can't
recall which one because we also drove the Mitsubishi Galant, Hyundai
Sonota, Toyota Matrix, and a PT Cruiser. The PT & Matrix is off our list
and it's between Honda and Toyota because the other 2 Asian cars depreciate
faster. Apart from emotions with prices, performace and features
essentially the same what are factual reasons for selecting one over the
other.
tnx
Hank

 

i like the matrix. sporty, 4 doors, toyota quality, hatch. insurance
companies might consider it a station wagon, meaning the rates are
lower. i like practical cars, and theres nothing much more practical
than a hatch, especially if youve ever had to make a trip to home depot
to bring home a door and a toilet.

 

Quite honestly, I think it comes down to which dealership do you like
the best.

We have nothing but scummy Toyota/Lexus dealers here in town; on the
other hand, my Honda dealer is golden. Hence, I buy Hondas.

That being said, a Lexus dropped into my lap awhile back; I've been
driving it ever since, and let the local garage do all the work. But if
it were my decision, and I was paying the big $$$, I'd buy a Honda.

But that's in this area. If I move, I'll look carefully at the Honda
and Toyota dealers in that area and decide then. I won't automatically
go Honda.

 

Saying that Mitsubishi and Hyundai "depreciate faster" is a nice way of
saying that they age rapidly. They wouldn't be fun to own for long.

The Accord and Camry are both good cars. Generally Honda has stiff
suspensions while Toyota has very soft suspensions. Not much else is
different in the standard trim models.

 

We'll were leaning toward the Camry because it's a little less costly and
has a drivers side power seat along with steerin wheel controls for the
radio. I also think it's quieter on the highway.
To me depreciation or aging faster means you get less for it when you sell
or trade. In time Hyundai will catch up and Honda and Toyota will feel the
pinch.

 

I don't think the Honda steering wheel controls are lighted. This might
have a bearing on you decision. To me, it doesn''t make sense to not have
lighted controls.

May not be true in 05 models.
On Saturday my wife and I both drove the 4 cylinder automatics and really
like both the Honda and Toyota. I couldn't find any significant difference
but my wife liked the looks of one better than the other and she can't
recall which one because we also drove the Mitsubishi Galant, Hyundai
Sonota, Toyota Matrix, and a PT Cruiser. The PT & Matrix is off our list
and it's between Honda and Toyota because the other 2 Asian cars depreciate
faster. Apart from emotions with prices, performace and features
essentially the same what are factual reasons for selecting one over the
other.
tnx
Hank

 

oops-I may be wrong about steering wheels controls.
On Saturday my wife and I both drove the 4 cylinder automatics and really
like both the Honda and Toyota. I couldn't find any significant difference
but my wife liked the looks of one better than the other and she can't
recall which one because we also drove the Mitsubishi Galant, Hyundai
Sonota, Toyota Matrix, and a PT Cruiser. The PT & Matrix is off our list
and it's between Honda and Toyota because the other 2 Asian cars depreciate
faster. Apart from emotions with prices, performace and features
essentially the same what are factual reasons for selecting one over the
other.
tnx
Hank

 

And it may be that LX doesn't have lighted controls, but EX does. Honda
does silly things like that.

Has Honda gotten around to lighting the window switches? For a long,
long time, they saved a penny or two by not doing that. Stupid.

 

Hyundai is now where Honda and Toyota were in the mid to late 70s.

Honda and Toyota better not get an attitude. Pride goeth before a fall.

 

my mom had a 93 eagle summit- a rebadged mitsu mirage, but with a 1.8l
16 valve engine. the engine was nice in such a light car, but the fit,
finish, trim, etc sucked. pieces fell off, the motorized mousebelt
jammed, various switchgear broke, like the O/D switch, headlight switch
etc. it was a cheap car, and felt like one.

 

IIRC the EX controls are lighted in '05.

Also, my '03 Accord EX sedan had a power drivers seat, so I assume the
'05 does as well.

FWIW, I've always been happy with the unlighted steering wheel controls
- I use them by feel, not sight.

 

It was as late as 02 that "power driver's seat" in the Honda brand meant
a little switch that controlled the height. Back and forth was still
manual, and there was no separately controlling the front and rear
height.

And as late as 02, Honda had the balls to market that as a "driver's
power seat".

There are plenty of little annoying things with Honda and its cars.

I can say this, because I'm a Honda guy from way back.

 

In Canada, The 2005 Kia Spectrum was voted economy car of the year. The
economy class, is the most hotly contest segment for the canucks (who have
to put up with 15% sales tax and higher gas prices). The fact the Spectrum
was able to take top honors is a huge success for the under dog company.

Kia is a off-shoot from Hyundai and share mechanics (like the engine and
chassis). The 2006 Elentra will probably be an improvement over the 2005
Spectrum...and should be a car to be recon with.

Hyundai is on Toyota&Honda's heels, not decades behind.

Pars

 

In Canada, The 2005 Kia Spectrum was voted economy car of the year. The
economy class, is the most hotly contest segment for the canucks (who have
to put up with 15% sales tax and higher gas prices). The fact the Spectrum
was able to take top honors is a huge success for the under dog company.

Kia is a off-shoot from Hyundai and share mechanics (like the engine and
chassis). The 2006 Elentra will probably be an improvement over the 2005
Spectrum...and should be a car to be recon with.

Hyundai is on Toyota&Honda's heels, not decades behind.[/QUOTE]

Not technologically, necessarily, although they are building simpler
cars.

But in the consumer mindset, they certainly are.

 

Not technologically, necessarily, although they are building simpler
cars.

But in the consumer mindset, they certainly are.[/QUOTE]

Interesting post. If Hyundai wants to compete with Honda and Toyota they
will have to build vehicles that not only look as great as Honda and
Toyota vehicles but also are as well built as Honda and Toyota vehicles.
It's possible to easily get over 200,000 miles on Honda and Toyota
vehicles if those vehicles are well maintained. When it is possible to
easily get over 200,000 on Hyundai vehicles--at that point they will be on
par with Honda and Toyota vehicles. This also applies to Kia and any other
car company. Neither Hyundai or Kia has reached that point as of 2005.

 

Has anyone *tried* to get 200K miles on a Hyundai?

I smell a program opportunity here for Hyundai. They should create and
market a "club" for people to join, people who expect to keep their
cars. Make some sort of incentive for people to drive huge miles on
their Hyundai cars. Wrap it all up in a marketing campaign. Tie it in
with engineering, who can get real world evaluator cars to observe.

 

Not technologically, necessarily, although they are building simpler
cars.[/QUOTE]

The technology is on par. Hyundai's 4 bangers do come with the double
overhead cam engine and variable valve timing.

Hyundai doesn't have the experience or established parts producer to take
their quality to the levels found in Toyota and Honda. Given the rapid
improvements over succeeding generations, it shouldn't take long before they
start becoming a player in the more influential comparisons test.

Pars

 

I believe the newer Hyundai can easily get over 200,000 miles or as well as
any other manufactures out there (exception being Toyota and Honda who have
totally proven themselves in that department).

This also applies to Kia and any other

I think they have reached 'the point', but I'm not 100% sure...I'll know
better next year. In my driving job, 3 of the other cars are Hyundai
variations from 2000 to 2005 (one bought used and the other two bought new).
Combined, they've already undergone about 160,000km with only oil changes
(the drives of those cars can't afford any of the fancy preventative
maintenance schedule, so their cars only get oil changes or break-work via
backyard mechanics). The only problem to report is a windshield fracture for
a 2004 Aveo (covered under insurance). The girl driving that car isn't happy
with the Aveo poor mileage (since we do about 5000km/month...mileage is a
huge issue) and is working on switching it for a 5 door Echo hatch. From my
calculation, she'd be saving about $60/month in fuel expense by switching to
the Toyota instead of the Kia. Which is weird considering both cars are
almost identical with similar stats and features.

Pars

 

Pars,
You may be right. Only time will tell. At one time in American history,
Ford and GM made the best cars. They dropped the ball. The same thing
could happen to Honda and Toyota. If they drop the ball, Hyundai and Kia
will be there to pick up the ball and run with it.
Jason

 

Aveo is a Chevy not Kia.