Faults:

Central locking fault, the car doors unlocked themselves (not good for security).

Exhaust rattle.

General Comments:

I've had few cars bore me as much as this one. Very bland interior, so so styling, forgettable ride, and zero character etc. I do now understand why Honda's appeal to old people, but at 36 I think I may have bought this car 30 years too early.

I bought this car due to its low mileage and good history (one elderly previous owner).

Very disappointed in the performance of the 2.2 vtec engine, to get any real power out of it you have to push it hard, and at low revs it feels more like a 1.6.

On the positive side, the engine has been very reliable and does inspire confidence in its longevity.

As a reaction to this car, I am now considering selling in favour of an Alfa.

Please excuse me, I'm getting sleepy thinking about this Honda.

Faults:

Brakes squeal and the Air con does not work. Previous owner was the cause of the stone chipped front end and the white paintwork only looks good when polished. Engine a bit tapperty when cold and it takes a couples of turns on the crank to start in the morning. Expected more power from Honda engine and it uses more petrol than my Caviller even with a light foot.

General Comments:

Quite well equipped, even for the base model. Rides quite smoothly and handles well with a very responsive turn in, but it takes some getting use to when parking as its hard to see the corners (the previous owner had fitted parking sensors). Looks quite sporty with a factory spoiler on the boot. Interior wears very well with no tears in the seats. A clip has broken off the rear bumper (parking no doubt) and there is lots of scuff marks on the bumpers. There is a mud trap between the bumper and the rear wing and I've seen older Accords with the Rover 600 rust issues at this spot. Haynes don't do a manual for this model.

Think I'll go for the 2.0 next time though.

Waiting to see if the Honda reliability is true.

Faults:

New radiator at 108k (warranty job). Nothing else.

General Comments:

I have very mixed feelings about this car - which now belongs to my wife (who loves it).

On the one hand:

1) Looks fantastic (especially in the rather goth purple/black paint job it came in). Odd brown Rover-esque wood effect trim inside doesn't look so great (in an otherwise black/grey interior) but such is life.

2) Drives well. Fast, fuel effecient, tight handling, 140-something bhp for a 2 litre, ABS and PAS as standard.

3) (Once the radio was changed for something more up to date) excellent interior trim level with all electrics, electric driver's seat, twin airbags, air con and - amazingly on a non-range topper - cruise control. Also great leg room and boot space.

4) Being a Honda it is more or less indestructable. The radiator needed chaning at 108000 miles, but you can't really complain at that milleage. It starts first time every time regardless of conditions and gives the impression that it will never ever die. The interior still looks brand new despite the fact that the car is nothing like.

On the other hand:

Unlike the positives there's nothing bad about the car that I can really put into anything as organised as bullet points. It is, after all, a masterpiece of design and endurance and tehcnical wizardry. Nevertheless it's just a bit - well - bland.

Don't get me wrong, it's all right, it does the job, it looks like a medium executive car (a lot prettier than a Vectra or a Mondeo, but not as quite as nice as it's Rover 600 sister). However it's just a bit boring to drive - you don't feel you're arriving in anything more than a machine designed for driving. As such despite driving extravagant distances in it, I never really felt at one with it, I just felt the operator rather than the driver.

Just by way of contrast I had an old Range Rover before this car which in every objective respect was awful - it wouldn't go 5 miles without something falling off, handling was terrible and it wasn't even very comfortable - but by God you knew you were driving a car with both heart and soul.

Now the Honda does have something of a soul (it's not a Kia after all) but as it has "Honda Motor Company UK Part 203194-4 Soul for 2 litre Accord" stamped on it, it can never be a real one.

Having said all that, however, it's still a great car - which starts the argument all over again...

Faults:

No faults, reliability cannot be faulted.

General Comments:

I should have chosen a larger engine as the 1.8 struggles with the weight of the body, the 2.0 is a better option.

Faults:

I bought the car from a local Honda main dealer, it is a one owner, full service history etc. I paid £8,900 for it, six months later I went back to trade up for a newer model and the dealer offered me £6000 for it!

I have found the servicing very expensive, but overall the car has been very reliable.

General Comments:

Great on the motorway, but as I said servicing is totally overpriced and when you go back to part ex they will give you ridiculous prices so beware. I should have sticked with my BMW.