The car is a marvel of reliability. The problems I've had were all minor in terms of monetary investment. The thing that's costing me the most in terms of keeping the car up and running is the fuel.
The hood line is very sporty by default, and the pop-up headlights give it an almost sexy look, along with a small increase in aerodynamic efficiency. I've received several praises about my car, even though everything is stock (because it is an uncommon sight in my locale, among many Grand Ams and Tauruses).
The rear end, in my personal opinion, brings down the almost futuristic look, with its blocky, seemingly uninspired tail cluster.
Under the hood is the norm of what you could expect in a 1988 compact sedan, but I will admit I am slightly impressed by the get-up-and-go I get without flooring it and with only 98 horsepower. Some of the more important things, such as the transmission fluid dipstick, the alternator, the oil filter, and probably a few other things, are in the seemingly most impossible places to easily access, however, which is a big drawback for anyone wanting to replace as much as possible to get the most out of their Accord.
On the inside is where the magnificence of the Accord rests. The instrument cluster is neatly laid out, and having an indicator of gear selection on the cluster in addition to on the slapstick, in my opinion, is nice to have so you won't have to glance down. The cluster itself gives off a friendly glow when the lamps are illuminated at night, brightly lighting the numbers and lines and giving the rest of the panel a slight glow to make it easier to read, unlike most unfeeling clusters seen on many late model cars from all makers.
The organization of the controls is handy, and I enjoy the combination stick layout. Everything is in easy reach based on how important a function it provides, e.g. the tilt being down under because it probably won't be adjusted on the fly (and it keeps you from hitting it if it were on the steering column), the ignition having a slight angle to it and a small illumination lamp for easy use, and four independent horn buttons, all on the outer edge toward the ring, so you can keep full control of your car while alerting someone (or something) with your horn.
The comfort of the ride is very kind to a sore back or bottom at the end of a long day of work. Working as a delivery boy, it is also very friendly to constant sitting. The seats give plenty of lumbar support even without the manual adjustment lever, and the cushioning on them is very pleasant.
Also, the ability to adjust the seat belt shoulder height is a nice touch for their day, and the wheel is easy to hold on to for long periods of time.
The climate control is respectable, having easy-to-use pushbuttons to select the type, and the standard levers to choose temperature and fan speed. Honda was even nice enough to add colored LEDs, so if you had defrost selected, there would be an orange LED instead of a green, so you can quickly glance at the panel to know the setting. The same is said for the fresh/rec air settings. The ability to control the side vents from right under the steering column was an interesting option, and it is easy to turn off both vents and point the center ones to the back if only the rear-seat riders wanted heat.
The radio isn't such a friendly player, though, and it is not recommended to even touch it unless you are at a stop sign, because it is hard to navigate.
When driving, the car is nimble, and has excellent handling and steering response. It is very easy to quickly parallel park in the tightest of situations, given your skill at it, because of the large wheel lock and the short size of the vehicle.
