2008 Honda Accord EXL 2.4 from North America

Summary:

Overrated car that falls short of expectations

Faults:

Blinking headlights. Every 15 seconds the headlamps (as well as tail) will "flicker" - VERY annoying.

NO trunk liner! It's an OPTION!!

Transmission whine in low speeds.

General Comments:

I would never had purchased this car if I had know about the faults. A trunk liner as an option? I never owned a car that such a basic thing be an option.

The headlamps flicker every 15 seconds - Honda says normal? Whats NORMAL about that? I never owned a car where the headlamps flickered.

I contacted the NHSTA about this issue. Many complaints there.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st August, 2008

14th Oct 2008, 21:33

OK so it doesn't come standard with a trunk liner. That isn't a flaw dude. You could check that option box just like anyone else. Surely you knew that it was without one prior to purchasing it. If you didn't the fault is yours for not looking in the trunk. Either way, the only valid complaint here is the headlight flicker.

2008 Honda Accord LX-P 2.4L from North America

Summary:

Great driving car... very happy so far

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

It is too soon to test the reliability of the Honda but I love the way it drives and the smoothness of it. I hear many people complaining about these things on the new Accord but I have not noticed any excessive road noise or any rattles or squeaks in the car. I got the base LX with the premium upgrade package that has the aluminum wheels, power drivers seat, and chrome exhaust tip along with a few other things. Even the 177 hp is enough to move this car well. I am still breaking it in but have found myself in the 75+ mph range on the highway, accidentally, because it is so quiet. I am really surprised how well it does on the highway. I will post updates as to the quality and reliability as I go. This is definitely worth looking at and I picked this car over the V-6 Fusion as it performs much better all around. This is my first Honda in over 20 years and if it stays as good as it is now for the long run I will be buying more of them. Oh, and I also picked it up for invoice with no haggling... not for sticker as some claim that Hondas ONLY go for...

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th May, 2008

12th May 2008, 16:39

The Accord is so gigantic it is now classified as a large car, therefore comparing it to the Fusion is pointless. But at least you'll get better mileage out of the Accord, even if that Fusion will leave you in the dust at a light.

13th May 2008, 15:39

What "excessive" amounts to is truly subjective. I test-drove an EX with the 190 hp motor and did think that the engine was surprisingly loud compared to competitors' cars. Road noise was also louder than the Camry, Altima, and Malibu. Maybe not "excessive", but louder for sure. It seems like a nice car in a competitive group that simply out-nices it.

2008 Honda Accord EX-L 2.4 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Highly overrated car

Faults:

Nothing yet.

General Comments:

While I can't say anything has gone wrong with the car I can't help but think that it's a highly overrated vehicle.

1. there is a lot of vibration in the steering wheel between 60-70 mph.

2. the car idles roughly with the a/c on.

3. dashboard creaks and rattles.

4. various other rattles that come and go throughout the car.

5. jerky transmission upshifts.

6.flickering headlamps.

7. heated seats very weak (not a big deal but I paid for them)

I don't expect the car to drive like a Lexus but for 26k I was expecting better than this. Amazingly none of these symptoms reared their ugly head during the test drive. Overall not a terrible car but you can do a lot better for your money in my opinion.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 8th May, 2008

9th May 2008, 20:02

I test-drove an 08 Accord EX in December and was surprised that I didn't like it more. I owned an 04 Civic and was looking to trade up. The first thing I noticed before I got into the car was how loud the engine sounded. Next I was surprised that it didn't feel stronger. Then I noticed that engine and road noise were more pronounced than some competitors which seemed incongruous in a car of this size. Otherwise the car felt like a bloated Civic (which really isn't a bad thing) It handled well and the steering feel was great. Ultimately, though, I chose a Nissan Altima 2.5SL which is faster, smoother, quieter, and more economical. Honorable mention goes to the 08 Chev Malibu. Excellent car. No Chevy dealers in our area had the trim and color we wanted (most of them only have one car--forget about a selection).