Accord still same ole' Maxima wannabe

Recently(last weekend), I had the chance to test drive the new 2003 Accord Coupe V-6. It was automatic. To say the least, this is no sports coupe and is still a lacking Nissan wannabe. In fact, its claimed 240 Hp, 217 TQ is very questionable in my mind. No way this car can even compete with the Maxima or Altima in any way, shape, or form as far as performance. In automatic form, this car is comparative in speed to my dad's 1998 Infiniti I-30 automatic. I expect the 6-speed to be a hair faster, but not significantly: the 6-speed couldn't hang with my '96 SE 5-speed. Honda claims a 6.7 second 0-60 from the 6-speed. That is not very quick for a car pushing 50 more hp than a car that can take it to the cleaners- any 4th gen 5-speed Max. The car is fat, it gives a brawny feeling. It sounds quick and responsive, which is exactly my point. It is a wannabe. The only high point I found was the high-end torque it provided, thanks to Honda's version of a variable intake.

I expected more from this car simply by hearing Honda's claims on it. Honda's V-6's simply can't hold a candle to the VQ series I am spoiled by. Their V-6's are cheap, in my opinion, and still need refining. Until then, leave your sports coupe and 4-door-sports-car claims at your research department and let Nissan do the talking. Cause an 8-year-old 4-door can lay the smack on your brand new sports coupe. It has a real V-6!

As for amenities, I likes some and didn't like some. I just did a performance summary.

Nissan > *
That's a fact.

i'm sorry, but this thread sucks. i guarantee that an Accord 6 speed will outrun any pre 2k2 Maxima if both of the drivers are of equal skill. and it will do it with better quality, reliability, and refinement. i'm not a honda hater, there is no reason to be. and just to set the record straight, C&D got a 6 speed to 60 in 6.2 seconds, which is only .2 slower than a 3.5 max. honda makes EXCELLENT motors

I read that Accord used to get that time was a base accord with nothing on it and half a tank of gas. I dunno if that true or not but the Accord coupe is nice, but Honda kinda has an idendity crisis.

i'm sorry, but this thread sucks. i guarantee that an Accord 6 speed will outrun any pre 2k2 Maxima if both of the drivers are of equal skill. and it will do it with better quality, reliability, and refinement. i'm not a honda hater, there is no reason to be. and just to set the record straight, C&D got a 6 speed to 60 in 6.2 seconds, which is only .2 slower than a 3.5 max. honda makes EXCELLENT motors
And I guarantee it won't.

I don't hate Honda's at all, my family has three of them. But Honda's V-6's are lacking to say the least, and not just compared to the VQ family. They do make EXCELLENT 4-bangers, but I don't like this little sports sedan/coupe campaign they are launching. Its not Honda's style or specialty.

In response to Thrasher's comments on the 0-60 time, I was wrong. The 0-60 time is like 6.1 with the base 6-speed model. The auto comes in much slower at 7.1 seconds. Its interesting the difference the tranny makes. I just don't think that even with the times posted, this Accord Coupe could walk a 4th-gen Maxima, especially from a stop. I can see the VQ hanging with it in that race. A highway race would be a different story. I need to get the sedan's times......

i'm sorry, but this thread sucks. i guarantee that an Accord 6 speed will outrun any pre 2k2 Maxima if both of the drivers are of equal skill. and it will do it with better quality, reliability, and refinement. i'm not a honda hater, there is no reason to be. and just to set the record straight, C&D got a 6 speed to 60 in 6.2 seconds, which is only .2 slower than a 3.5 max. honda makes EXCELLENT motors

It will/should outrun a pre 2k2 Max, you're right. But you think it will do it with better quality/reliabityl/allthose then a legendary VQ engine??? I doubt it. Honda does make good motors, but Nissan makes BETTER ones (we're still talking V6 here). More torque, more low-end power, hence better and smother everyday around city ride. High way, yeah, that's where they're pretty cool, but once again, not as cool as VQ's anyway.

i don't deny that nissan makes a sweet v6, i think the VQ is one of the best ever. as a counterpoint, though, Honda's 3.5 liter makes as much power as the VQ35. not as much in the low end, but honda motors are about as reliable as they get. i am just sick of people on this board ripping apart anything that isn't nissan...there are things better than nissan's out there, i don't like the direction they are going nowadays. infiniti, that is a whole different story. G35 coupe, mmmmmmmmm!

well, it is really hard to find many things better then Nissan in terms of money/reliability/power/looks. Customer service - Nissan sucks big time, so no question there. Infinity - well, it really looks like Nissan is trying to bring REAL Nissans to the US, that's all, plus I don't think that Nissan ever went the right direction. Overall, there is nothing better then a used Nissan anyway on the market

i don't deny that nissan makes a sweet v6, i think the VQ is one of the best ever. as a counterpoint, though, Honda's 3.5 liter makes as much power as the VQ35. not as much in the low end, but honda motors are about as reliable as they get. i am just sick of people on this board ripping apart anything that isn't nissan...there are things better than nissan's out there, i don't like the direction they are going nowadays. infiniti, that is a whole different story. G35 coupe, mmmmmmmmm!
and their 3.0 liter accord engine makes as much power as the 3.5L altima engine. but yeah low torque as usual.

I'm not a big Honda fan myself, but they DO make a good engine. PLUS if you were to take a Maxima and Accord and mod them both out performance wise, you'd be able to do a hell of a lot more with a lot less money with the Honda, then you would the Nissan.
The only thing I really hate about Honda's are the people who drive them. They'll take a 140 hp Civic, put a huge 3inch exhaust on it and think they've got a sweet ride! Gimmie a break! Sounds like an oversized lawnmower going down the highway!

All I got to say is that my 1996 SE has left alot of cars in the dust!!! My baby will go!!! :smokin:

well, it is really hard to find many things better then Nissan in terms of money/reliability/power/looks. Customer service - Nissan sucks big time, so no question there. Infinity - well, it really looks like Nissan is trying to bring REAL Nissans to the US, that's all, plus I don't think that Nissan ever went the right direction. Overall, there is nothing better then a used Nissan anyway on the market

FOR THE LAST TIME IT IS SPELLED



I-N-F-I-N-I-T-I

NOT INFINITY<THIS MEANS NO END TO TIME, ETERNITY.

Yes Honda does make nice cars too, I almost bought an Accord before I bought my first Nissan (Altima). At the time the Altima in 4 cylinder comparisons had more Torque and HP than the Accord 4 cylinder so I went with the Altima (93) plus it was a newer fresher design.

I wouldn't mind owning an Accord coupe, I think people here just get it twisted because we equate some of those Ricerz who own the Civic with bad manufacturing because of the way the pose their cars as opposed to your average Accord or Civic owner who just enjoy their cars because they are reliable and well made great cars.

I have a 2003 (12k miles) Accord EX V6 and a 98 Nissan Maxima (28k miles), so I will speak for both vehicles. I have to completely disagree with the original post, Honda in no way is trying to compete with the Maxima, they let their Acuras do that instead. The Maxima has always been a lost sedan without much direct competition, so to compare these two is not completely fair. But I have personally put my accord against my Maxima and the Accord blows it away every single time without question. The accord is smoother, quieter and I think the motor is a better v6 than the maxima (and that includes the brand new ones). Honda is a motor company before being a car company so I think we can safely assume they build a damn good v6. The Accord is also more reliable than the Maxima. I have never had an Accord give me trouble with Fuel injectors, knock sensors, o2 sensors, etc. I will take an Accord over any Nissan product any day of the week for many reasons (reliability, customer service, expense to fix, fit and finish gas mileage), but for sheer driving and torque and raw power the Nissan will win because it is a beefier motor. Overall the Accord is a better car than my 98 Maxima, and it is MUCH Faster. :nono:

I have a 2003 (12k miles) Accord EX V6 and a 98 Nissan Maxima (28k miles), so I will speak for both vehicles. I have to completely disagree with the original post, Honda in no way is trying to compete with the Maxima, they let their Acuras do that instead. The Maxima has always been a lost sedan without much direct competition, so to compare these two is not completely fair. But I have personally put my accord against my Maxima and the Accord blows it away every single time without question. The accord is smoother, quieter and I think the motor is a better v6 than the maxima (and that includes the brand new ones). Honda is a motor company before being a car company so I think we can safely assume they build a damn good v6. The Accord is also more reliable than the Maxima. I have never had an Accord give me trouble with Fuel injectors, knock sensors, o2 sensors, etc. I will take an Accord over any Nissan product any day of the week for many reasons (reliability, customer service, expense to fix, fit and finish gas mileage), but for sheer driving and torque and raw power the Nissan will win because it is a beefier motor. Overall the Accord is a better car than my 98 Maxima, and it is MUCH Faster. :nono:


240hp vs 190, very "fair" comparison. The rest probably true, except for personal tastes. I'd never go honda.

I have a 2003 (12k miles) Accord EX V6 and a 98 Nissan Maxima (28k miles), so I will speak for both vehicles. I have to completely disagree with the original post, Honda in no way is trying to compete with the Maxima, they let their Acuras do that instead. The Maxima has always been a lost sedan without much direct competition, so to compare these two is not completely fair. But I have personally put my accord against my Maxima and the Accord blows it away every single time without question. The accord is smoother, quieter and I think the motor is a better v6 than the maxima (and that includes the brand new ones). Honda is a motor company before being a car company so I think we can safely assume they build a damn good v6. The Accord is also more reliable than the Maxima. I have never had an Accord give me trouble with Fuel injectors, knock sensors, o2 sensors, etc. I will take an Accord over any Nissan product any day of the week for many reasons (reliability, customer service, expense to fix, fit and finish gas mileage), but for sheer driving and torque and raw power the Nissan will win because it is a beefier motor. Overall the Accord is a better car than my 98 Maxima, and it is MUCH Faster. :nono:

Thank you, finally somebody who isn't so damned bias. I agree with most everyone in this post, except the part about Honda's v6 being better than Nissan's. The VQ35DE is one of the best v6's ever, making close to 300 HP in certain cars. But you're right, Honda is first and foremost an engine/engineering company, hell, look at how many different kinds of motors they make for a wide range of products. What other car maker is so diversified.

I would take any pre 2k4 Max over an Accord, just because they are so much more fun to drive. But Accord's do have great reliability, I was personally thinking of getting a 6 sp. coupe about a year ago when I was taking my Max to the dealer 3-4 times a month. Things settled down now though, so it's all good.

240hp vs 190, very "fair" comparison. The rest probably true, except for personal tastes. I'd never go honda.




240 vs 190HP is a fair comparison? What are you living on planet Maxima? In case your math is a little rusty that is 50 HP, more than a marginal difference my friend. This thread has managed to compare apples and oranges, no matter how you slice it (pun intended). Accord are in a completely different class and price point than a Maxima. Other than size they have very little in common. Now if you want to put the new TL next to the nex Maxima then we're talking. The new TL puts the new Maxima to shame in overall refinement and handling, luxury. But if you like Nissan then thats what you prefer. I actually like both, but I can say with as much pragmatism as possible without interferance from bias that Honda builds a better overall car and motor.

240 vs 190HP is a fair comparison? What are you living on planet Maxima? In case your math is a little rusty that is 50 HP, more than a marginal difference my friend.
uh, i think youi misunderstood what the man was saying, my friend.
for you to compare your 240 hp v6 with a 190 hp v6 is not a fair comparison. hence the parentheses around the word fair.

also, the new tl and accords may be better than the maxima's, but only becaue they were designed to be. acura wants to take the title "best v6 in its class" from nissan, hence the creation of the TL and CL's. why do you think the sub-par TL was radically redesigned the same production year that the maxima was, but only happened to come out exactly 6 months after the introduction of the 04 Max.

Unless Honda has drastically changed their V6's for the better, ie. a LOT more torque, they can keep em. I've owned a 92 Nissan Maxima SE with the 190 hp VE30DE engine and after that I bought a 94 Acura Legend GS sedan with the extremely hard to find 6-speed transmission in it. I sold that pos Acura within a year. The motor was overrated at 230 horsepower (this was the Type 2 V6) and as for torque I can't remember, but it had to be low which is so typical of Honda.

The day that I was at a stoplight next to my wife who was driving my Maxima really made me a believer in Nissan power. We both took off at the same time, neither one of us dropped the clutch, it was a rolling takeoff at around 5mph. We were dead even until the valve timing changed on the Maxima, it was then bye bye Legend. We let off at 60mph and by that time the Maxima had an almost two car length gain on the Legend. Keep in mind that the Legend was rated at 40 horsepower more and had an extra gear to boot. Not to mention it had only 68,000 miles on it while the Maxima had over 110,000.

There were things that the Legend did that was better than the Maxima, to be sure. The handling and brakes on the Legend were much better, as was the interior. The Legend did cost over $10,000 more than the Max did when new though :eek:. We still have the Max and it now has 125,000 miles on it. The only major thing to go wrong with it was the VTC's which were replaced at 30,000 miles under warranty when I bought it used. I've also replaced the cv boots twice. That makes it the most reliable car I've ever owned, and I've had Hondas and Toyotas.

The other thing that sucked about the Legend was the cost of the parts. They were astronomically higher than the Maxima. The tranny was crap on the Legend as well.

IMHO Honda and especially Toyota are very overhyped. I got less perfomance and the same quality with Acura that I got from Nissan, and this in a car that cost almost double what the Maxima did.

Those looked like quotations to me, not parenthesis. :smile:

Those looked like quotations to me, not parenthesis. :smile:
it's all good. i still agree with you on most of your points. i'd take a new accord over an 04 max without a second thought. but i wouldn't trade my 02 for the honda 3.0. i've been in an 04 max as a passenger and it didn't seem as responsive as my car even with the extra 10 hp and however much extra torque, it's just too much of a fat-ass to get out of its own way.

i respect honda for making a 3.0 that makes 50 more hp than the nissan 3.0. if they could only bump the torque up a bit.

uh, i think youi misunderstood what the man was saying, my friend.
for you to compare your 240 hp v6 with a 190 hp v6 is not a fair comparison. hence the parentheses around the word fair.

thank you.


to keep arguing about nothing, i have to say this: i'd never go Accord over Maxima. despite the fact how much they killed the new Max, I still wouldn't go Accord. TL is a totally different story. But then again, if I was shopping at that price range, my choice would be 6spd G35 sedan, no question. They say new Max is bigger. I sat in one, damn it, it not THAT MUCH bigger then my 2k. And my 2k is just the perfect sizing for. Nothing is too far away, neither is it too close. G35 is about the same size, although they could improve the interior just a bit. My .02

And I guarantee it won't.

I don't hate Honda's at all, my family has three of them. But Honda's V-6's are lacking to say the least, and not just compared to the VQ family. They do make EXCELLENT 4-bangers, but I don't like this little sports sedan/coupe campaign they are launching. Its not Honda's style or specialty.


sad story,but i was walked by the new 6spd accord a while back:
How it happened:

i was on the feeder at a light getting ready to get on the belt and beside me was the new 6spd accord. he had a passenger and i knew it had to be stick because i heard how his car sounded when it shifted. since i thot he was innocent, i wasn't into wasting my gas. but i guessed wrong and he punched it as the light turned. so i heard his wheels squeek and i went after, but it was too late to call it a fair match cuz he pulled a surprise attack from the get go...should've known not to pursue, but it wasn't a pleasant experience...o well now i'm curious as to how they can REALLY run a pre2k2 max. just remember when you see the red V6 emblem (lettering) on an accord it's the V6 stick...watchout and take him only if you are into it from the beginning...don't slip into the drama after he's peeled some rubber on u and change ur mind and go. so i test drove the 6spd accord the following week to see what it's all about and they're pretty impressive at the low end. at the high end, i'd also be very careful because once they hit the 4th gear, it's no fun and games anymore. for now, i have yet to really run a V6 6spd accord from the start if i can find one (they're also pretty rare around here as with the standard tranny 5th gen maxes). for now, i won't be at peace until i get to run one fair and square haha :icon16:

as for the acura 2002 TL-S, they're heavy cars so don't hold them as a real threat cuz my 5spd walked one by 1 car distance. but that was because i reckoned the driver looked like an a**hole so i decided to make him understand hehe...hope this post has shed some light on the rare-new standard v6 accords

My mod(s) during those 2 runs above:
Stock rating of my car is at 227hp
*Unorthodox Racing UDP 227+8hp??
Royal Purple oil (hehe)
VLSD 5spd (available only on 20th Anniv. Max)
check out my site!
*my server crashed & cannot be updated but the pics are still there*

sad story,but i was walked by the new 6spd accord a while back:
How it happened:

i was on the feeder at a light getting ready to get on the belt and beside me was the new 6spd accord....

we win some, we lose some. Can't win them all, it wouldn't be fun. Damn it, I almost got beaten by a Beetle once, for the same reason, cuz i never thought the driver would do anything.

I test drove and 2003 Altima 3.5 today and i have to say I think they inflate their horsepower ratings. My accord is faster and soooooooo much smoother with 5 or so less horse. I think the difference is the 5 sp auto trans in the accord as opposed to a 4 speed in the Altima. Although the cars are very similar in road noise, and price and overall market position, the accord is just simply a better feeling car and faster, but somehow has less horsepower???? The only thing I would say the Altima has over the Accord is the handling, the Altima handles well.