Faults:

At 68000 miles the clutch has started to slip, which seems very low, especially when compared to every other car I have owned. It would seem that the torque capability in design was not enough to deal with the engine.

Having started to check out the replacement cost, it would appear that the final amount is likely to end up at well over £1000!!

I am not sure what most other vehicles are like, but would not have thought even a Rolls could end up much higher if at all.

According to several mechanic sites, the front sub-frame and steering rack are required to be removed for what should normally be a straight forward service replacement.

In addition, specialist tools are required to change the unit as well.

It does make you wonder if someone got their maths wrong on this one, or was it just a money maker?

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I bought a Honda Accord after buying a Saab 9-5 with many faults; there was many problems with the engine and the ride was very uncomfortable. I sold the Saab and bought an Accord.

I bought the Accord for £26k with all the options, and am pleased to say one of the best purchases of my life. I have had many cars previous to this, and in my opinion this is the best of the lot. The engine is very smooth, very fast and gives reasonable mpg, 35mpg combined.

The sat nav that it has is one of the best I have seen in any car.

My favourite feature of the car is the performance, because it's a big family car, you don't expect the car to accelerate the way it does.

Overall, I am very pleased with the car, and needless to say the next car I will buy will also be an Accord.

Faults:

Slipping clutch replaced by the independent dealer before taking delivery - very poor for an 88k miler.

Clicking clutch, master clutch cylinder faulty, which is a common fault among the newer Accords and Civics. This is still not fixed and I have to grease it up every month for smooth operation.

Cracked exhaust manifold - replaced by Honda dealer under warranty at 95k miles.

Paint chips very easily and already has rust spots in places.

General Comments:

This is my first foray into the Japanese cars. Previously I have owned French cars, such as Renault Clio and Peugeot 405/406 all of which were reliable and relatively trouble free. This Honda... isn't.

For a Japanese car, whose maker is renowned for its reliability, it is terrible. Many things have gone wrong with it, something that my previous 9 year old 406 would only think about at over 200k miles. Clutch? Exhaust manifold? Clutch cylinder? These are all fairly major things that I don't expect to fail in a 3 year old Japanese car. If it wasn't for warranty, I wouldn't be happy at all. I am waiting for the next thing to break. Other comments...

Very quick car, thanks to its truly amazingly refined diesel engine.

Good handling for its size.

Relatively comfy, but not as good as my previous 406/405 - seats a little firm and 17" wheels are the main culprit.

Absolutely rubbish "premium sound system".

Decent economy for its performance (~45mpg).

Aesthetically pleasing.

Paint quality is of very questionable quality.

I wanted to love this car but I just don't. Its reliability niggles leave me cold, and was the main reason for buying this car in the first place. Only time will tell whether it will change my mind...