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Honda Accord

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The Honda Accord is an automobile manufactured by Honda. The Accord was introduced in 1976 as a mid-sized hatchback, with styling similar to an upsized contemporary Honda Civic. A conventional four-door sedan was debuted in 1977.

Concept

Original plans for the Accord were to make it a mid-size car, along the lines of the Ford Mustang. The Accord was originally planned to be a V6-powered car with a long hood and sporty pretensions. Honda chose the name Accord, reflecting "Honda's desire for accord and harmony between people, society and the automobile." The initial design was changed to a fuel efficient, low emission vehicle since it was introduced during the fuel crises of the 1970s. In the United States and Japan, a version was produced using Honda's CVCC technology, meeting emission standards of the 1970s and 1980s without a catalytic converter.

Like the smaller Honda Civic, the Accord uses front-wheel drive and a transverse (sometimes called "East/West") engine layout.

The Accord became the first Japanese car to be produced in the US in 1982, when production commenced in Marysville, Ohio.

First Generation (1976-1981)

The first gneneration Honda Accord was launched in 1976, right at the peak of the fuel crisis. Because of this, the Accord sold well, due to its small size and great fuel economy, taking one of the best selling car spots. In contrast though, the first generation Honda Accord is known to be a very troublesome car, with many reported problems of transmission failure, interior discoloration, and trim pieces falling off. http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2004/01/26/cx_dl_0126feat.html Though these problems were quickly delt with, which brought quality up.

Second generation (1982–1985)

In 1982, the Accord was redesigned, and it became the best-selling Japanese car by name in the US, holding that position for 15 years. Modernizing both interior and exterior, the second generation Accord is mechanically very similar to the original. Quality was also vastly improved over the origional, making it one of the most reliable cars on the US market, which is a position it still holds today.

Third generation (1986–1989)

Fourth generation (1990–1993)

Fifth generation (1994–1997)

Sixth generation (1998–2002)

Honda Accord Wagon (1999) manufactured for japanese market
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Honda Accord Wagon (1999) manufactured for japanese market

Seventh generation (2003–present)

Honda Accord (2004) manufactured for japanese market
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Honda Accord (2004) manufactured for japanese market

Worldwide

Accords sold worldwide such as in Japan vary greatly from the US models. In Japan, more feature-rich Accords are offered because of a lack of competition with Honda's upscale brand, Acura. Until 1997, the Accord bi-yearly facelift or four-year redesign was always released a year prior in Japan. Older generations of Accords such as the US 1990-1993 (4th Generation) was actually offered in years 1989-1992 in Japan, and 5th Generation from 1993-1996. Other differences were in features. The 1989-1992 (4th generation) offered in other countries received unheard of equipment for an Accord (until recently) such as a Navigation System, TV, mini-disc player, digital automatic climate control, traction control, Anti-Lock brakes, side-marker lights, heated mirrors, outside temperature gauge, an in-cabin air refiner, map lights, seat heaters, standard fog lamps, headlight washers, rear fog light, full-power seats, telescoping bumper pole, half-mast antenna switch. Trims also vary widely in other countries. An Accord Si and Si-T model can also be found in some countries including Japan along with a "Euro R" trim in Europe.

In 2003, the North American Accord grew larger still to satisfy American demands, while the worldwide Accord (the European and Japenese models) were redesigned without a size increase of a similar magnitude. Comparing the two different Accords, it is clear that the North American version is distinct from the worldwide model, with the North American model being heftier and larger. The F-series VTEC engines made its debut in the European and Japanese Accords, and the 90° C-series V6 engine was replaced by a more-compact 60° J-series unit for the US Accord. Honda offered the North American Accord in a number of Asian markets, with mixed sales. Both variants of the Accord are sold in Australia -- the North American model and the worldwide model. The worldwide model sold in Australia is called the "Accord Euro". The worldwide Accord is sold in North America as the Acura TSX, where as the USDM Accord is sold in Japan as the Inspire. Each model had a number of minor differences. The worldwide model offered a number of hi-tech features not seen elsewhere in the North American range, and minor adjustments to body styling. The Japanese Accord and Inspire also feature Honda's Intelligent Driver System or HIDS which feature safety enhancements such as the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and adaptive cruise control. The first 2003 Honda Accord rolled off the Marysville, OH assembly line on September 26, 2002.

Design quirks

There are several inexplicable design behaviors and options that have been used in the Accord over the years. Many opinions are formed as to why Honda chose to design certain aspects of the Accord the way they did.

In 1989, the Accord SE-i was offered in the US and was given a host of options. One included a Honda-Bose music system. On these systems, the BASS control could only be turned a 1/4 to the right unlike the TREBLE, and BALANCE whose levels could be normally adjusted.

In the US only, the 1990 Accord included what ended up being an unpopular safety feature: automatic shoulder belts. These belts would automatically retract around the driver and passenger upon entry of the vehicle. They were sometimes referred to "suicide" belts because of their quick activation. The lap belt was still required to be worn requiring extra work by the driver and passenger. Honda discontinued the automatic belts in 1992 on all models in the US.

In 1993, there were a total of 11 different trims offered for the Accord. The DX, LX, 10th Anniversary Edition, EX, and SE. All trims included a driver-side airbag, however only the SE sedan received both a driver and passenger-side airbag. The passenger-side airbag became standard on all Accords in 1994. Opinions at the time were Honda attempting to lure customer's into purchasing the high-priced SE because of the safety benefit. Other reasons may relate to the SE Sedan being exclusively produced in Japan. This SE also lost some of the features previously seen on the 1989 SE-i such as bronze-tinted glass, steering wheel audio controls and luxury carpeting.

A rust problem has been prevalent on the Accord since its introduction in the 70's, yet the design flaw remained until 2003. This flaw caused the Accord to typically form rust in or around the rear wheelwells. Repairs can reach into the thousands depending on the severity of the corrosion. #redirect

Performance Modifications

Despite its "family sedan" heritage (and name), the Accord has an oddly loyal following. Older generations of Accords are often purchased by youthful import tuners who perform modifications, install parts from Japanese market Accords and engine swaps from the sporty Honda Prelude to create the likeness of a sports sedan. In fact, several web-sites are forum's dedicated to different generations of the Accord. In fact, the web-site [cb7tuner.com] is a forum completely devoted to performance modifications, technical information, and general discussion of the 4th generation (1990-1993) Accord as well as [3geez.com] for the third generation (1986-1989) Accord. There is also a [accordracing.com], a site where Accord enthusiasts of the 4th generation and on come together and share there Accords and exchange information on just about anything to do with the Honda Accord. A newer site, [gen5alive.com], has just opened, catering to 5th generation (1994-1997) accord owners. This site is quickly gaining popularity with owners and modifiers as in depth product reviews, instructional diagrams and a closely knit community help provide members with a sense of pride in ownership.

Resale Values

The Accord has always been a competitively priced model from Honda because of its competition with the likes of Ford Taurus and Toyota Camry. Even so, the Accord has some of the best resale values in its class. Specifically, more scarce models such as the 1993 SE, 1989 SE-i, and 1990-1997 DX trims yield the highest prices.

Awards

Trivia

See also

Notes and references

External links

List of Honda vehicles>Cars: Accord | Accord Hybrid | Acura | Airwave | Ascot | Avancier | Ballade | Beat | Capa | City | Civic | Civic Hybrid | CR-X | CR-X del Sol | Concerto | CR-V | Domani | Element | EV Plus | FCX | Fit | FR-V | HR-V | HSC | Insight | Inspire | Integra | Jazz | Legend | Life | Logo | MDX | Mobilio | Mobilio Spike | N360 | N600 | NSX | Odyssey | Orthia | Passport | Pilot | Prelude | Ridgeline | Stream | S2000 | S600 | That's | Today | Vigor | WOW | Z600 | Z | ZEST
Motorcycles: Honda CB series>CB series | CBF series | CM/CMX series | CX Series | CBR series | NSR series | CR series | Pacific Coast | XR/XL series | Bros/HawkGT | VF/VFR series | VT series | VTX series | ST series | Valkyrie | GL series
Mopeds and light motorcycles: Honda Ape>Ape models | Cub series | CT series | ST series/Dax | S series |Wave series | Z series
Planes: Honda MH02>MH02 | HA-420
List of Honda engines>Engines: A-Series | B-Series | B20A | C-Series | D-Series | E-Series | F-Series | F20C | G-Series | H-Series | K-Series | L-Series | R-Series | Circle L | J-Series
Robots: Honda E0 > Honda E1 | Honda P series | ASIMO

 


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