Faults:

Engine revs on upshifts (this is not the first stick shift we've owned).

Car feels prone to stalling.

Nothing has gone wrong that hasn't simply required initially awkward changes to driving style.

General Comments:

This car was chosen because of a reputation for reliability and generally good vehicle pricing in 2008. The interior felt well-assembled, and the vehicle looked generally good.

We purchased the base model to replace an inefficient truck with something that has space for more than two people. The car provides ample room for at least four adults, with space in both the front and back seats -- however, moving the front seat forward to accommodate additional passengers makes getting into and out of the car awkward.

While we were presently surprised by the increase in interior space, we have mixed feelings about its layout. The radio is an attractive unit integrated into the dash, but the buttons are large and unintuitive -- further, the same knobs did different things in other Accords we test drove. Although our Accord is wide, the front seats have a large console in between them -- and feel narrow. The car is comfortable and useful, but we just don't understand some interior details.

The engine has plenty of power for any driving situation, and once we got used to the drive-by-wire throttle response, the transmission shifted smoothly and easily. Of our four recent vehicles, including a diesel model, the Honda has the loudest idle. Once we get to speed, the noise seems to calm down.

Although the engine has plenty of power, we have noticed that harnessing this power requires restraint from shifting up during acceleration. While this is not a huge problem, it makes for some nervous moments during highway merges (even at 65 MPH) and is a challenge to get used to, coming from a diesel. This car has iVTEC valve timing, and proper shift timing is something we will just have to get used to.

Overall, we like this car, and it does a good job. Problem is, we don't love it. Even thought it has reasonable style, it lacks personality; and while it has space, it feels like a small car's seats were simply installed in a larger car. Our main disappointment comes from an utter lack of good surprises from the car, but there has yet to be a major letdown. We look forward to a predictable 15 years of ownership.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong, but it's still very new.

General Comments:

I usually prefer the styling of a coupe, but I really like the styling of the sedan and chose it over the coupe for the extra space, access to the rear seats, and the resell value.

At the dealership, I test drove the V-6 and the four cylinder each twice. I decided on the 190 hp 4 cylinder engine and am very impressed with its power, performance, and gas mileage, which has been about 28 mpg. It redlines at 7100 rpm so downshifting for passing power is a rewarding experience with the engine's nice sound at higher rpms.

The ride is excellent and better than I had anticipated. It's fun to drive on any road, but especially on twisty roads, where the steering, engine, and the suspension create very supple, responsive handling.

The number of convenience features is impressive for the price... moon roof, heated seats, compass, sound system, leather, and automatic everything. I particularly like the engine oil life readout and the automatic headlights that switch on and off depending on ambient light.

I am impressed that the Accord has won Car and Driver's top ten car award so many times. Now I can see why.