Topic: A 2008 Honda Accordalon joins the family.

[Jaeger]

Thanks for the comments, all.

arcticsteve - thanks for the tip on the door locks - I'll let Dad know he has the option of changing that feature if he wishes.

wing - yes, it is a nice neighborhood - thanks. 

DoubleClutch - the handling was a let-down for me as well.  Driven in the manner that it will likely be driven by most of its buyers, the handling is just fine.  It is simply not set up with the enthusiast in mind.  Not even close.  Going from the Altima to the Accord, well, the difference is readily noticeable, to say the least.  Now, I have had much more seat time in Dad's 4 cyl. than I did in the 6 - but I really didn't think it fared any better.  Whatever gains were achieved by it's larger and wider tires were lost to the extra weight of the engine and increased nose-heavyness.

Edmunds has done full tests on both vehicles, and the results confirm my impressions:

2007 Altima 3.5SE

Slalom: 67.0 mph

Handling: EXCELLENT, Good ,Average ,Poor, Very Poor

20008 Accord EX V6

Slalom: 61.8 mph

Handling: Excellent, Good, AVERAGE, Poor, Very Poor

Now these are two perfectly good family sedans that provide all the family practicality you could want, but one likes to play and the other likes to do math homework.

But to tell you the truth, the biggest wet blanket, in my opinion, is not the chassis / suspension, but the sleepy 5 speed slush box.  Not only does it lack a 6th forward ratio (pretty much standard in the class) - it does not offer manual shiftability - not on any model, at any price.  Even the base Altima with CVT gives you 6 "gears" that you can shift tiptronic-style, with quick and positive responses.  The V6 Accord had noticeably improved midrange passing power, but didn't feel all that much stronger than the 4 off the line. 

Edmunds clocked a 7.1 0-60 for the auto / 6 Accord - which isn't slow, but not what you'd expect of a motor this strong - particularly from a manufacturer known to under-rate engine output.  Why do I blame it on the tranny?  Well, check out some mag results for the Accord Coupe - liberated from the June Cleaver slush box and the variable-cylinder gimmickry and fitted with a 6-speed manual, it scoots to 60 in 5.9.  That is a HUGE difference.

Now, it's true that the Accord Coupe is smaller than the sedan, but it is far from small in absolute terms.  In fact, it's about the same size as the Altima Sedan.

I don't doubt that Honda will sell a bazillion of these things - the base model in particular represents tremendous value.  But it is clear that Honda has completely abondoned the enthusiast driver (at least where the sedan buyer is concerned).

Jaeger

[dorin]

Nice neighbourhood

Uh-Oh where's Dorin  or BT to say that the houses are too big and use too much energy  and so on.... 

Now that it's been pointed out, you're totally right.  Those houses are ginormous!

Rather than ranting on about the waste, I'll point out that they're too big for their lots instead. 

Jaeger, nice write-up.  I guess Honda has now turned the Accord into a satisfying Buick for the older crowd.

[safristi]

..BU(i)CK ORFF Dorin....we Older crowd...RULE ya PUNKS....so be nice to yer DOJO at U of Eh!!! and maybe just maybe he'll give ya a PASS to the MUTLIPLEX.........