by "Amoore100" (amoore100)
Published 03/04/2017 at 16:53
by "Amoore100" (amoore100)
Published 03/04/2017 at 16:53
Tags: Rental Report
; Honda
; Accord
; V6
; EX-L
STARS: 2
Well, the Ody is back in the shop, this time for power sliding door service after the idiot light for the doors came on this Monday. My dad took it in yesterday and they gave him this brand spanking new Accord EX-L V6 loaner with only 3309 miles on the clock!
It’s a bit odd to see something with only three pillars on our typically five-door-heavy driveway, but it doesn’t necessarily look out of place besides the two Euro-estates—and since it’s a V6, there’s still a total of 16 cylinders between them!
I’m not a huge fan of the post-facelift styling on these, I much prefer the more simple, less garish lines on the original ninth-gen, but it’s nowhere near as unattractive as the ‘18 Camry.
Inside we see the scourge of fingerprint-attracting “piano black” trim which my mom’s Steinway D doesn’t even have. Also, not a single knob anywhere—changing the volume must be a real PITA! No climate control knobs is fine, even our 12-year-old Ody doesn’t have those, but for the audio controls no knobs seems a bit of a faff. On the whole, though, the interior felt a lot like my grandma’s ‘10 Civic EX-L (and smelled like it too!)
The back seat wasn’t too cramped (as evinced by a recent Lyft we took in one of these) but for some weird reason there’s a floor hump despite there never being an AWD Accord...maybe something for the Hybrid versions?
The trunk wasn’t huge and was kind of plain, nothing to write home about in terms of revolutionizing the trunk industry (same old gooseneck hinges, etc.)
The spare tire cover was somewhat shoddy though, looking and smelling like Home Depot particleboard rather than plush and felted as in my V50.
Motivating the whole package is the new J35Y1 “Earth Dreams” 278 hp V6 with the six-speed auto, on the whole nothing amazing, nothing too boring.
On the whole it’s pleasant but nothing to write home about. I can’t drive it as my dad won’t let me (that whole underage thing) but apparently the Adaptive Cruise Control was a bit too helpful on his commute yesterday, interfering more than he liked in comparison to his ancient Vo’ (and remember, this is coming from the man who sets his cruise at 35 on a boulevard to maintain the speed limit...)
So would we buy one? Definitely not, especially for $35 grand. But then again, we are the weird sort of family that will take a whiteblock five and four roof pillars over Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay. Besides, at $5K each and approximately $1-2 grand in servicing each year, it’s been so far infinitely more economical to run our aging Swedes than to buy a new Japanese four-door executive family saloon. What’s your take on this plush loaner, Oppo?
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
03/04/2017 at 16:56, STARS: 1
10/10 WOULD RATHER WAGON.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
03/04/2017 at 17:07, STARS: 1
Apparently my dad would too. He just left with my mom and brother in his V70 T5 and left the brand-new Accord sitting in the drive; that’s probably all that needs to be said.
"PS9" (PS9)
03/04/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 2
‘Earth Dreams’ has to be the lamest engine marketing name. May as well add a seal of approval from captain planet on there.
"Rico" (ricorich)
03/04/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 1
What’s the point in blocking a dealer license plate on a loaner car?
"CB" (jrcb)
03/04/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 0
To be fair, one is his car, the other is a rental.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
03/04/2017 at 17:24, STARS: 1
I find it ironic they put it on an optional V6. I’m pretty sure the polar bears would rather you chose the I4.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
03/04/2017 at 17:25, STARS: 1
*Raises hand.
Do you have any info on real world fuel economy? I’m curious what modern V6s get.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
03/04/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 1
Gooseneck hinges are completely unacceptable on a car asking for that kind of money. My SIL’s ‘05 Jetta has proper “exterior(?)“ hinges that make a modest-sized trunk very usable.
"cuts_off_prius" (cutsoffprius)
03/04/2017 at 17:28, STARS: 1
I filtered the V6 for you (note: fuelly seems popular with highway commuters): http://www.fuelly.com/car/honda/accord/2017?engineconfig_id=102&bodytype_id=&submodel_id=
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
03/04/2017 at 17:43, STARS: 1
My F30 has goosenecks, just that they’re concealed with a cover. Funny enough my old G6 had struts instead, so did the E90 that came before it.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
03/04/2017 at 17:46, STARS: 0
In case we, uh, do exciting things in it? No idea, just habit I guess.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
03/04/2017 at 17:47, STARS: 0
You would think you’d put more mileage on the free loaner than your DD, but hey ho, not my decision.
"CB" (jrcb)
03/04/2017 at 17:49, STARS: 1
Going with what you know and what’s comfortable too. I imagine your dad has his seats and mirrors in the perfect place, the radio and climate control the way he wants it, everything is good and familiar. Versus the Accord, which he’d have to mess with before driving off in.
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
03/04/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0
Well he dealt with it on his commute yesterday so it’s all set up already (with NPR playing as I found out when I started it), but I guess it’s that age old argument between a new pair of shoes or the ones that are already comfortably broken-in.