New But Not As Mighty Accord

Popular Car To Be Driven

Car that is designed and built to be driven is plentiful. Yet, also as an affordable car to be driven and has good residual value as well as being reliable are not many. Accord is one of few that could be categorized into

Though reliability could be an issue here; many new cars as new as recent 2000s production have apparently suffered more than their predecessor. The earlier cars are simpler to be built. Evidences are abounding even to the mighty Toyota which has many car recalls recently. A good indicator would be the cost saving measures taken by all automobile manufacturers which ironically stems out of keeping car’s price remain competitive.

The recent JD power’s result of car dependability is quite an obvious facts. The more advanced technology implementation being incorporated into a car the more vulnerable its dependability. The more premium brand the better dependable a car is, such as the case of Japanese manufacturers. Lexus is ranked higher than Toyota, similarly for Acura than Honda for the obvious reason. Does market competitiveness converge into less end customer friendly?

There is a relevant reason for Honda pulling out of F-1 arena and for similar reasoning as the new Accord is now following Camry’s path. Honda’s known sport car characteristic is relied solely upon its Civic brand as from now. We would not expect to see new model for its NSX nor S2000, perhaps Honda realizes that focusing on fewer popular brands would alleviate the hampering hurdles. Honda should have popular brands each for high volume low price and low volume high price segments.

Accord started off as a sub-compact car with 1.6 L engine in 1976.  And as the brand scored as the best selling Japanese car in US from 1982 to 1996, it grew into midsized car. Similarly its Civic sibling is now approaching into midsized car as well, leaving the current Fit or Jazz hatchback to fill the gap. The current 8^th generation Accord has missed its ability to attain its predecessor’s successful best selling Japanese car achievements.

Honda is now carefully marketed its Accord not as sport sedan category, even its Mugen badged Accord is anything but cosmetically sport family sedan. The car look handsomely sportive armed with full body kit, 19” alloy wheel and huge rear wing. Suspension, braking and double free flow exhaust are the only beefed up parts, there is no tinkering done to its 2.4 L engine. No modification on its engine management, not even on its intake ancillary system nada…!

The Accord has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list 21 times, in years 1983-1991, 1994-1995, and 1998-2007. In the 25-year history of the award it is the vehicle that has appeared the most times.

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