Jalopnik
Exterior Design:**
In places the 2008 Honda Accord Coupe is woefully bland, in others awkwardly edgy. And what's with the rubber strip running across the hood? Having said that, it packs space for five and their luggage into a reasonably svelte shape, we suppose that's something.
Interior Design:**
As seen here in EX-L trim it's possitvly posh. The problem is, the grayish plastic and cornicopia of buttions clash with the nice leather. Too much that you touch is cheap plastic, while what you look at is awkwardly unintuitive. The Sat/Nav screen resides several inches behind a piece of prehensile plastic and can't be viewed anytime the sun is above the horizon. The high waist-line makes for huge blind spots.
Acceleration:****
The 268bhp V6 does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds. That's ridiculously fast for a practical, mid-size car. 15 years ago this would have outrun most Porsches. We just wish it didn't try and light up the front wheels with such ferocity every time your right foot starts feeling heavy.
Braking:***
Everything you'll ever need, provided you don't need an ideal brake/throttle relationship for heel and toeing.
Ride:****
Unremarkable in that you don't notice it as it competently goes about it's job, absorbing all but the worst New York's roads could throw at it.
Handling:**
The biggest problem. Floaty and imprecise at speed, the experience is dominated by understeer if you slow down. Still, it'll get you where you're going safely and quickly, just don't expect to enjoy the experience.
Gearbox:***
As unremarkable as a six-speed manual could be. But, it's not an automatic, and that's something. First gear is ridiculously short, most of the time, second is fine for pulling away.
Audio:****
EX-L trim brings with it every audio function you could want, in an unremarkable and very buttony way that is.
Toys:***
If we could award stars for the number of buttons on the dash, the Accord's would stretch across the page. When you can see it, the Sat/Nav works well, the center mounted dial spinning through menus with ease.
Value:*
Ours was specced up to $31,145 with delivery. We'll take our $30k-ish V6 coupes in 350Z form please.
Overall: ***
You can't question the Accord's competence at everything it sets out to achieve, but you can question its motivations.
All the V6's silly speed does is make us long for a simple, no frills, practical sedan or coupe with solid engineering, good handling, a reasonably sized interior and good build quality. A Honda Accord if you will. Oh, wait...
Comments
I don't know what it's supposed to do vs. the sedan, really. I just never really understood the foregone conclusion that every solid sedan must have some kind of coupe and/or convertible to accompany it...that goes for the Altima, Camry/Solara, G6, Accord, G35/37, and so on.
Why not just give us all the same options and performance in the sedan package (coughM3)? It's not like there is really any benefit to the coupe layout for what has to be given up (very negligible weight savings in exchange for losing everything else), so it's apparently all about styling. Which is shallow and pointless, just like most of the ever-slowing American consumerist machine.
I still differ from the masses in my opinion on the styling. Honda has always epitomized bland to me, so seeing one of these in person the other day was quite refreshing.
"We'll take our $30k-ish V6 coupes in 350Z form please."
Do real car people really like the 350Z? I could never quite figure it out. It always seemed kind of crude and cobbled together to me. I need a year-round sports car, but I live in Minneapolis. Should I buy one?
Didn't anyone tell you Hondas and Toyotas are above reproach and can do no wrong? You are going to get yourself kicked out of the auto critics club. And don't look for future employment at CR either.
Thanks for a honest review, that was refreshing.
I'm sure it's a nice car, seriously. I'm not representative of middle America and I don't want to be. I'm just not used to someone actually find some nits and not wetting all over themselves "reviewing" a new import.
I don't believe there is a perfect car but you wouldn't know it reading some reviews.
blind spots as design in so many cars and trucks WHY WHY WHY WHY!??!?!??
So what are you comparing it to that it gets 2 stars on handling? I'm not disputing, just slightly skeptical.
@ash78:
"I don't know what it's supposed to do vs. the sedan, really."
How about, not be as ugly...
You know the old saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."It's all relative to what moves you. To many people, an automobile is just an appliance. To others, it's a living breathing thing. I always try to find a balance between something that makes my pulse quicken, yet is still practical enough to be driven every day. If I was wealthy, then it would be irrelevant as I could afford different machines for different functions, but I am just your average kinda guy who likes to dream.
This car is the automotive equivalent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It is economical and serves it's purpose well, but man you are not going to be looking forward to having it for lunch (or driving it) day after day.
I'd take an RX-8 over a 350Z (even in a G35, the engine is booming, always trying to get your attention). As for the Accord, any chance you could get your hands on a 4-cyl model, to see if it still holds up to the traditional Honda traits? They've always seemed like a good fallback if I were to get any more boring than I already am.
"I don't know what it's supposed to do vs. the sedan, really'
For those of us with certain health issues, generally a coupe has more room to swing you legs out than a sedan. I have an '07 Accord coupe for that very reason.
@long_live_the_E36: You need to drive one. I think its a fun car to drive and can't wait to try the 370Z this fall
@Al Navarro: Touché!
Another thing. I'm a true gearhead and automotive enthusiast. I have several sports and performance cars, so I didn't need my accord to be that. What I needed was a comfortable and reliable daily driver.
My EX-L V-6 automatic Accord exceeds my expectations in all the areas I need for a daily driver. Now if it was my only car, I probably wouldn't own this one. My point is that how good any car is depends upon what criteria it is measured against.
I think it's a pretty sharp looking car. It's not blazing any new trails in the styling department, and that part of why it works.
If they had tried anything "exciting" with the styling, you know they would have missed the mark.
If it were powering the correct wheels, I'd drive it until the roads become overpopulated with the things. (I like to be different, you know?)
@Maymar: I'd also strongly prefer an RX-8 over a 350Z, but I hear that rotary motor doesn't work too well in cold climates and I don't have a garage.
@Maymar: The Renesis rotary in the RX-8 is a bit anemic, especially for a site where so many readers extoll the virtues of good ol' low down torque. I'd get an RX-8 over a 350Z, but I'd have to get a turbo kit for the RX-8 too.
If Murilee's still doing Junkyard Finds 20-30 years from now, no one will be mourning the 2008 Accord coupe up on blocks, a few days away from it's date with The Crusher.
if i owned several sports and performance cars, my automatic Accord would grow weeds.
Just noticed that somehow part of my prior comment didn't make it through. It should have continued on.
Unfortunately, the Accord is not the kind of car I dream about. While it seems pleasant enough, it just doesn't make my pulse quicken.
@Maymar: Why not a 128? It comes in around the same prices as a 350Z/RX-8.
I possitvly loves me a cornicopia of buttions.
Spell check? Not so much.
@long_live_the_E36: No, it's gaudy and cheezy, looks like something from an Anime film. you should buy a TT with AWD!
@long_live_the_E36: Nope, absolutely horrible in the winter. Snow tires might be up to the task if your area doesn't see real bad storms.
@B: I suppose that's another valid option - the Mazda is the one that just feels most right for me, from my armchair driver's seat. It's all hypothetical, but the Mazda, since it's supposed to feel a little lighter, and a little weirder (I like playing 'Count the Rotary Shapes').
It's the car you buy for your wife or college kid and never have to give it a thought afterwards.
@Citroen_SM: No way, the TT is a Golf IV in drag. It's simply not a real driver's car. Keep in mind I'm coming out of a track-tuned 318i and an E36 M3.
@reefer: To which car are you referring?
No thanks...I'll take 62 '78 Cordobas in Matte Black replete with dog dishes and Skull on the hood.
i could think of a few dozen cars that would come ahead of this one when shopping in this general vicinity.
The 350Z isn't exactly a competitor for the Accord. Hell, I own a RX-8, which seems to be discussed here more than the Accord, and I never considered the Accord in my purchase decision. Nonetheless, if I were to get a nice comfortable daily driver, I could do a lot worse than a 4 cylinder Accord coupe.
G35 > 350Z
@dolo54: I'll agree on ya there. 4 doors are handy....GOD, I'm OLD!
On the Jalop Fun-to-Drive scale, i propose that this is how ~$30k coupés stack up:
A5 or 3-series > G37 or 350Z > RX-8 > Mustang GT > G6-GXP > Accord > C30 > Solara
There is some overlap, of course, based on options and personal preferences. If you live in a snowy state, buy snow tires and/or get quattro.
As 'long_live_the_E36' might attest, you can extract great joy from a rwd car, but you can only thrash a fwd car in frustration.
special note to 'long_live_the_E36': the new Audis would probably change your mind. Much less understeer than ever before...
@OldeEnglishD:
Actually, I would much rather eat PB&J every day for a year than eat one bad oyster (and I love me my oysters) in the same time period.
My point is, automotive appliances (like this car...even though it is not a bad looking appliance, IMHO) are not necessarily valued for their ability to stir the soul. Rather for their ability to start when asked and to get you to your intended destination with a minimum of hassle. Having your car go into limp home several times for no fixable reason will sour you on fun very quickly.
Does anyone actually expect to get an A5 in the $30Ks? I still think that the Accord Coupe's biggest threat is going to be the Genesis coupe, unless Toyota does something truly inspired with the Solara, and they won't.
@long_live_the_E36: You've got it backwards. As an RX-8 owner, it loves cold weather and hates warm weather. The car has problems cooling itself so when it gets hot outside, the motor gets hot and you get all kinds of issues like compression loss and new motors.
@vividaurora: A ringing endorsement.
Where can I learn more about these issues?
huh, gawker changed while i was asleep.
I went on gizmodo (im not just a car geek) and they had this and now jalop
"Gearbox: First gear is ridiculously short, most of the time, second is fine for pulling away."
that would be a total dealbreaker for me right there - do you real want to be antagonized by a compromised gear EVERY time you are moving away from standstill or thereabouts. no thank you. (for "second is fine," i read "new clutch impending.")
prehensile plastic is a killer band name
Wow. That was a rather harsh review. This ain't an Audi but a rather upscale Honda. I've seen a few on the roads in Minneapolis and they're simply stunning in person. Just my personal opinion.
@ash78 & @Al Navarro: I too question why I have an affinity for the coupe form. I think it boils down to having that plain vanilla family car but pretending it's something fun.
I don't like the tail enough to not buy one. The '05's ('04 through '07?) rear is MUCH more attractive.
Honda = I give up.
Yes, that colour does make your a$$ look big, or any colour for that matter.....its a freakin boat
this is the most "unremarkable" review to date... kudos
Navarro: I too prefer coupes especially with rear windows that lower, unfortunately, not available under 45K. The b-pillar is behind me out of the way. I can't help but wince whenever I see a new Accord coupe on the road. Its gone from anonymously bland to awkwardly bland. It has a huge nose thanks to IIHS.
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