Could not find a thread on the same so thought about starting this one!
Date of TD: 29th Sept 2007
First Impression: It is huge!
Exteriors: I liked the looks of the car! The rear LED's look real cool and the car oozes class. Looks are anyway very individualistic and hence will not dwell on it here.
Interiors: Classy is the word for it. It is not as jazzy as the Civic but the part wooden steering wheel looks stunning and the central console too is much more beautiful (IMHO) as comopared to the Civic. The seats are comfortable and the driver side electric seat adjustment was something I was new to and liked.
Some points:
- Rear seat folds down to provide amazing amounts of seat space.
- Lock button on the boot. If you lock the boot from inside it cannot be opened from the outside.
- The rear center armrest opens into the boot. Great thing to have if you dont want to leave your items (say laptop) exposed in the car. Quietly shift it into the boot via the rear center armrest.
- Rear seats are wide but would not be very comfortable for 3 people because the seat is humped and not flat as in the case of the Civic.
- Dual Climate AC
Sounds good but could not really find out about the effectiveness of the same - No WMA/MP3 support in the audio system.
- Key has a button to open all four windows while at a distance so as to let the hot air out before you get in.
- If you step out of the car only to remember later that you have left the window open just turn the key in the driver side mirror and hold. The windows will up themselves.
- The machine that I got was uneasy at the start. Took a couple of cranks. Might not happen with the delivery vehicle (test drive cars are misued like crazy aren't they?)
- It is quite a rev happy machine. Hit almost 60 in first gear and was really thundering down the road.
- Suspension is stiffer than the Civic and when passing over a series of breakers the jitters come through to you (over the same breakers I had driven the Civic less than half an hour back and the jitters did not come through).
- Handles admirably for a car its size. Is quite nimble into corners and maintains poise. A ninety degree turn at 60ish or 70ish was easily negotiated (lots of space though and could not push it any harder as the car was a bit too big to be experimenting with such stuff)
Now for my query:- I loved the car. It is however slated to be replaced next year (rumors say in March - from a source in this forum). I dont like the looks of the new Accord (2008). I will keep whichever car I buy for 3 years max and hence resale is an important factor for me. How much depreciation can be expected on a car which is going to be a model old (in two to three years time frame)?
Given the importance of resale for me should I go for the Accord or should I go for the Civic? I loved driving the Accord around more because of the sheer opulence and also because it has been a dream forever. Heart says Accord, every grey cell in the brain shouts for Civic. Help!!