Topic: Test Drive: 2018 Honda Accord Touring 1.5T

[Noto]

I refuse to wear gloves while driving - I need the tactile feel of what's going on and the natural grip.  Driving gloves may give you great grip, but not great warmth.

A heated steering wheel is a nice luxury item, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a necessity.  I also would resist any argument that it isn't a nicety.

[tortoise]

A heated steering wheel is a nice luxury item, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a necessity.  I also would resist any argument that it isn't a nicety.

Agreed.  The list of necessities is pretty short.  Engine, wheels, transmission, steering wheel, windshield.

Everything else is a luxury.  That said, there are a few luxuries that I would consider mandatory.

[Noto]

^^ aren't semantics grand? 

[Jaeger]

Seems a silly debate. If you don't value a heated steering wheel then presumably it won't matter to you whether a vehicle is equipped with one or not. But some people really like the feature and its presence matters to them. So what's the big deal? Unless of course you subscribe to the fiction that manufacturers abandon  chassis, transmission and motor development when they choose to equip a vehicle with a heated steering wheel?

[dkaz]

I want a heating steering wheel so bad.

Gimme a break, out in BC!   

We had three stretches of -15 to -20 lows this winter. It was freaking freezing.

http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=2012-12-13%7C2018-02-05&dlyRange=2013-12-16%7C2018-02-04&mlyRange=%7C&StationID=51117&Prov=BC&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnProx&optLimit=specDate&Month=2&Day=5&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2018&Year=2018&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&txtRadius=25&optProxType=navLink&txtLatDecDeg=49.957222222222&txtLongDecDeg=119.37777777778&timeframe=2

I did wear gloves but like No-San, I prefer having tactile feedback of my bare hands.

The interior actually gets pretty chilly.  BC just isn't Vancouver.

Thats true I guess.  But lets have some fun, and really derail this damn Accord thread with damn heated steering wheels and outdoor temperatures.   I present Kelowna vs COTU temps! 

That's pretty similar. Those are average temperatures too remember, sometimes it's warm enough to ride a motorcycle and sometimes it's cold enough the average Kelownafornian freezes to death in 10 seconds.

[JohnnyMac]

I refuse to wear gloves while driving - I need the tactile feel of what's going on and the natural grip.  Driving gloves may give you great grip, but not great warmth.

A heated steering wheel is a nice luxury item, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a necessity.  I also would resist any argument that it isn't a nicety.

You need to the "tactile feel" in your Mazda 3 or turbo Fozzie in the winter time?  I get it when you are doing some back road blazing or at the track but driving to work in the winter I think you could manage with a thin glove that shields you from a cold steering wheel.

Not saying I don't see the appeal of such a thing but it really isn't a make or break feature on a vehicle that I would buy.  It's rather low on the importance list for me and I don't believe that car makers choose these type of options over a nicer powertrain or suspension setup.

[UnknownJinX]

I wish they would add a manual 1.5T and 2.0T model to their press vehicle fleet.  I'd really like to read about those instead of the CVT models that I'll never purchase.

Or even a DSG ( VW one not Fords version ) or the ZF 8 speed auto used by half the Euro manufacturers.

Honda CVTs are holding up well for the most part.

TBH, with the rev hang and the wet noodle clutches MT Hondas have nowadays, the CVT is worth considering.

Is it that bad?   

There are ways you can improve the feel.

You could get rid of the rev hang by tuning the car. The only problem with this is the possible warranty hassle.

Lots of people also delete the clutch delay valve(something that Honda put in after some S2000 drivers complained because they can't handle it).

Anyways, almost forgot about the elephant in the room: the CR-V and Civic with 1.5T engine is pulled in China due to fuel dilution issues. This can possibly affect the Accord as well.

What the heck is "fuel dilution" issues?  Not something I've heard of.  Please explain.

Basically, your oil level goes above the max line and the oil smells vaguely of fuel.

The 1.5T has become a meme in China already. It's an engine so advanced that it can make engine oil out of nothing! LOL

Fuel dilution typically happens more often in these engines during cold climate and/or short trips where the engine doesn't get to operating temperature quick enough.

I'm guessing Honda will make a thermostat change and an ECU reflash and all will be well.

So like every Canadian driving short short commutes for 6 months out of the year? All those gas savings are going to be chewed up by extra oil changes. 

Remote start - problem solved lol


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Yeah, cold idling is great for cars...

...right?

[rrocket]

Basically, your oil level goes above the max line and the oil smells vaguely of fuel.

That's definitely not fuel dilution....has nothing to do with your oil level.  If your oil level raises because there's fuel in it....that's not fuel dilution.  That's a catastrophic failure of some type.

[ArticSteve]

Basically, your oil level goes above the max line and the oil smells vaguely of fuel.

"Making oil" is a thing in 6 cylinder 4 stroke Mercurys that idle (troll) for 100s of hours between oil changes, but it's not going to happen in a car.

[NormT]

Seems a silly debate. If you don't value a heated steering wheel then presumably it won't matter to you whether a vehicle is equipped with one or not. But some people really like the feature and its presence matters to them. So what's the big deal? Unless of course you subscribe to the fiction that manufacturers abandon  chassis, transmission and motor development when they choose to equip a vehicle with a heated steering wheel?

I find myself clinging to thr warm wheel every morning.   Once you have it you won't wear gloves that often as you know you can always warm.

[tortoise]

Ha.

I laughed.

[Noto]

You need to the "tactile feel" in your Mazda 3 or turbo Fozzie in the winter time?  I get it when you are doing some back road blazing or at the track but driving to work in the winter I think you could manage with a thin glove that shields you from a cold steering wheel.

I would argue that you need that feel more so in the winter when you're more likely to lose traction.  Tactile feel isn't about track prowess - it's about safety.

I assume the steering wheel is removable so you can carry it outside to keep your hands warm in the winter.  Buicks are amazing.

Well-played.

...but to Norm's credit, he didn't troll at all there - and I applaud him for it.

[NormT]

Seems a silly debate. If you don't value a heated steering wheel then presumably it won't matter to you whether a vehicle is equipped with one or not. But some people really like the feature and its presence matters to them. So what's the big deal? Unless of course you subscribe to the fiction that manufacturers abandon  chassis, transmission and motor development when they choose to equip a vehicle with a heated steering wheel?

I find myself clinging to thr warm wheel every morning.   Once you have it you won't wear gloves that often as you know you can always warm.

Cool.  I assume the steering wheel is removable so you can carry it outside to keep your hands warm in the winter.  Buicks are amazing.

No, my right hand zippered jacket has pockets that are pre-heated from my physique.

[Jaeger]

You need to the "tactile feel" in your Mazda 3 or turbo Fozzie in the winter time?  I get it when you are doing some back road blazing or at the track but driving to work in the winter I think you could manage with a thin glove that shields you from a cold steering wheel.

I would argue that you need that feel more so in the winter when you're more likely to lose traction.  Tactile feel isn't about track prowess - it's about safety.

I assume the steering wheel is removable so you can carry it outside to keep your hands warm in the winter.  Buicks are amazing.

Well-played.

...but to Norm's credit, he didn't troll at all there - and I applaud him for it.

Setting the bar awfully low, aren't you?  Not trolling is worthy of an ovation?  That's like heaping praise on Trump for getting through a single day without saying anything racist.   

[Noto]

Perhaps "applaud" was the wrong word...I didn't click any Carma actions

...and I didn't bring my hands together in any audible fashion.

...perhaps "appreciate" is more to my point.

[Jaeger]

I dunno. NormT used to be annoying but now all the people trolling him in every thread are equally as annoying, so.......

I'm a big fan of injecting politics into everything! (sarcasm)

GM slappies sticking together? (sarcasm)

[Sir Osis of Liver]

 

[Gurgie]

 

Let me have the floor once you're done please [emoji16]

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