Faults:

The front brakes (calipers) went bad at 88,000 miles.

The starter was recalled at 85,000 miles.

General Comments:

At 96,000 miles this car handles better and is more reliable than both brand new 2003 and 2004 Chevy Malibu's I have had. The 2.3L V-tec is extraordinarily powerful for a 4 cylinder engine. All I need is a basic tune-up and a front wheel alignment and I'll have a brand new car, even with 100,000 miles under it's belt.

Chevy could never make a mid-size sedan that could ever compare to the Honda Accord. In fact there is no manufacturer that can.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Hi.

Previous car was a 2000 Honda Civic 1.6i VT EC and although this car is 1 year older you can tell it was aimed at a much higher market.

The engine noise is much less noisy and the whole build of the car is of much better quality not to say that the civic was not. Although the engine is only 400cc bigger than the civic, it is much better in terms of torque and all round low down power.

Power is rated at 145bhp and 0-60 at 9.1 seconds although it feels quicker. The brakes are very good and will stop in an instant (disks all round front vented) and the 5 spoke Honda alloys look nice. The steering is very light compared to previous car and has bit less of feel although this it is still refined, responsive.

The specification is very good with electric tilt slide sunroof, mirrors (heated) and electric windows all round (one touch), wood trim and full leather interior including steering wheel. The drivers seat adjustment is also electric and the Ariel.

It also has outside temperature meter, trip computer, rear and front heated window and front and rear fog lights. The climate control is very effective and is an improvement on standard air conditioning.

Also has cruise control which is odd at first to use, but soon get used to it there are controls on the steering wheel. The satellite navigation works very well and is not even an option and was installed at the factory.

It has a Bose stereo tape player installed with a 6CD Changer in the boot and the sound quality is very good, there are controls on the steering wheel to adjust volume etc.

It also has remote central locking with dead locking with separate remote boot release.

This car is exactly what I want and might change it for a Type R next year. Fuel consumption is between 30-38miles per gallon and insurance is reasonable at 1000 pounds fully comp for a single 21 year old male with 2 and half years experience.

In Summary the car is good to look at, quickish, very refined, comfortable, well equipped and good to drive.

Faults:

I broke the cruise control by using it to speed up and slow down.

Other than that, the car is VERY reliable.

General Comments:

The car is very fast in the higher rev range - above 4000rpm, the VTEC kicks in and the car pulls away.

Locks/deadlocks resist very well to crooks.

You can tell the car has a great chassis when you hit a corner.

The front seats are very supportive (big lumbars).

Faults:

EGR valve - twice

Leaking rear main engine seal ($700)

Check engine light seems like it's always on now at 58000 miles.

General Comments:

I will not buy another Honda, at least not one made in America. My 1998 Odyssey, made in Japan, has been utterly reliable.

Interior squeaks and rattles, especially during winter.

Transmission is clunky. I consider it "semi-automatic" because you need you carefully manipulate the gas pedal to get the car to shift smoothly. Does not downshift from 2nd to 1st well and when it does it tends to slam into 1st - you'd think the thing was hit with a sledgehammer.

The check engine light is on constantly since about 50000 miles and no one can get it to stay off. I wish the bulb would burn out!

The ride is stiff and noisy. There is excessive wind and road noise. It bounces over bumps instead of absorbing them.

I bought the car because I had such good experience with my previous 2 Hondas. I also was bamboozaled because of its gorgeous exterior looks. I won't make the same mistake twice.