2008 Honda Accord LX from North America - Comments

To comment 20:42:

The reviewer clearly stated that he loves Honda's. But that he didn't like how big the Accord is these days. He never said anything about reliability issues or it being "poorly built" (which it clearly isn't considering how well the Accord has sold for the last 20 years) he simply stated he didn't like how big the car is. I mean honestly, you domestic fans must be really reaching to try to prove your point...

About the last comment on the Grand Marquis. Those cars are the most reliable cars on the planet, since they use Crown Vic's on the force. My grampa had a 92 and a 2004, which my mom now drives because he unfortunately passed away and passed it to my mother as part of his will. My grampa and my mother never had a problem with those cars even once. They are wonderful on reliability, and excellent on performance since these are the kind of cars cops use for those high speed pursuits. They are also so comfortable, that it's just like sitting on the couch. You can easily just fall asleep.

One thing they should do to improve is drop out the rear-wheel drive system and make it front-wheel or even better all-wheel drive to make them handle much better and much safer. This would also be much better for the police cars. Today these are the last of the old fashioned luxury cars, and I hope they still continue to make this car, because I love these cars to death, and so do a lot of people.

I also agree that the Honda Accord's are very poorly made. And besides the safety issue, why would they make it big enough to be a full size and still put a standard 4 cylinder engine in it? I wouldn't believe for one second that it would still have a lot of power and is still easy when it comes to cornering. There is the optional V6, which is acceptable for its size, but being now it's known for a full size car, why not just drop the 4 cylinder and make the V6 standard with an optional V8?

"I also agree that the Honda Accord's are very poorly made"

All Japanese cars are built with flimsier material than domestics. I was reading long-term road tests in the latest issue of Motor Trend last night, and noticed that their Honda Accord required a brake job at 15,000 miles. I thought our Honda requiring them at 30,000 was awful, but FIFTEEN THOUSAND!!! That is LUDICROUS!!!

And before some import fans start harping about how "magazine writers dog the cars" I should point out that the Cadillac CTS in the same test had gone over 20,000 miles with ZERO repairs, being driven by the same people as the Accord. If I don't get 70,000 miles out of a set of brake pads on my domestics, I regard that as really bad. Most of our Ford and GM cars go 100,000 miles or better on the original brake pads.

Well, The Cadillac CTS is a more expensive car than the Honda Accord, so that means the parts are also more expensive and they can last longer.

I also agree the Accord is way too big of a car, in fact it's even bigger than the CTS. GM is working its way out of the deep hole they're in. At least they are improving their vehicles, unfortunately they had to make a lot of changes like dropping out Pontiac and dropped out Oldsmobile almost 10 years ago already. You have to give GM credit for what they are doing.

Honda on the other hand is going to be in the same position that GM has been if they do not start improving their vehicles, like that Accord, because there have been a lot of bad reviews and complaints from a lot of people, including myself.

If you are getting 100,000 miles on your brake pads, either you never stop, or you are driving around without pads at all.

I have gone 120,000 miles in my truck on my brakes. I do mix driving (both stop and go and highway). It's all about not hitting the brakes hard, and stopping very lightly as you can.

"If you are getting 100,000 miles on your brake pads, either you never stop, or you are driving around without pads at all."

Not necessarily true. I have gotten MORE than 100,000 miles out of brake pads on both my domestics and my imports. I had a '96 Honda Accord that had it's first brake job at 130,000 miles, and I also had a '93 Ford Escort that had it's first brake job at 106,000 miles. Actually, the worst mileage I've ever gotten out of brake pads was from a domestic. I owned a 2004 Ford Focus that required new pads and rotors every 45,000 miles or so. I currently own a 2007 Hyundai Elantra that has 56,000 miles on it and my original pads still have about 65% of pad left on them.

"If you are getting 100,000 miles on your brake pads, either you never stop, or you are driving around without pads at all."

Brake pads on our Dodge were replaced at 115,000 miles and 232,000 miles. Only two brake jobs before selling it (in perfect condition) at 240,000 miles. Our Honda required pads every 30,000 miles or less. Both cars were driven exactly the same.

There are other factors such as the type of pad replacements. My domestic has slotted rotors with rims, allowing plenty of cool air to flow. I also have larger rotors and pads. If I cruised only they would have high longevity.

Let's look at facts shall we people?

1. "Turned out there was a gang in my area that were stealing side mirrors"

Sorry about the area you live in... but that is not a Honda problem...

2. "The car is much heavier than the previous Honda, which makes it very underpowered with a 4 cylinder"

The 2003 to 2007 body style Accord weighed between 3160 and 3324 Pounds... whereas the 2008 to present body style weighs between 3300 and 3400 pounds... for 4 cylinder models...

The new 177HP and 190HP motors in the new Gen. Accord equalize the power to weight ratio between the old and new generation because of the extra horsepower they have.

I have a 2008 EX sedan with the 190HP... it turns better, accelerates better, gets just as good gas mileage and doesn't feel all that big...

3. "For some reason, when backing up the gas pedal is sensitive. I have to give it light taps on and off. I held my foot down on the pedal and I backed in to a barb-wired fence, and had to get the rear right tailight replaced and the rear bumper replaced the second time."

It is no more "sensitive" than any other car out there on the road...

4. "I have a narrow driveway, and this car is too wide, so I don't use it anymore unless when I come back from food shopping, I use it because the side door is right next to my drive way, so it's easy as I don't have to make long trips when I'm unloading groceries. Last week I tried backing slowly in my driveway, which has small pot holes. I try to back a little more, and the front right wheel got stuck in one of the pot holes, and the light taps did not get me out. I the tried to hold my foot down very light, and backed into my chimney, and just got my car back yesterday after getting my rear bumper replaced for the third time."

Are you serious??? They come standard with Michelin or Dunlop tires that are BIGGER DIAMETER than what you had on your 04 Accord!! So unless you were always getting stuck in your "potholes", this car would actually be easier to avoid that issue because of the larger tires...

5. "The seats are uncomfortable and very low, and do not go up high enough, and the whole dashboard is very high and I'm short, so it's hard for me to see the hood of the car. I can still see where I'm going, but I have to drive very carefully."

Guess this one is a matter of opinions,...I think my Accord seats are way more comfortable than the 06 model we used to have... and the dash sightlines are actually better... so once again... I can't see how this is a serious comment.

Maybe it is just me, but the OP's comments seem way off base...

Well if your gas pedal is too sensitive when you are backing up, just use the clutch...

"Well if your gas pedal is too sensitive when you are backing up, just use the clutch..."

If you took the time to read the review, you would realize this car has an automatic transmission. Automatics DON'T HAVE a clutch.

My 2002 Ford Explorer Sport just had its first brake job at 108,000 miles. There was finally some minor shuddering on hard braking going downhill, so I just had all four rotors turned and pads replaced. Even at that, the pads still had life left on them. My '73 Dodge, which I inspect the brakes every 12,000 miles, has had virtually no change in shoe thickness since the last inspection--still 5/32" and those shoes have been on for over 47,000 miles.

Some people will be baffled and think I'm lying about getting such long life out of brakes, but I see how people drive. If you're a person who accelerates up to the stop light, especially in order to jump in front of the next guy, and then jams on the brakes, or tailgates and then constantly rides the brakes on somebody's bumper, jams on the gas and alternates with jamming on the brakes in stop and go traffic, you will constantly be complaining about needing brake jobs, and probably other premature repairs on your car -- transmission, suspension, gas mileage. If people want to drive like NASCAR, it will take a toll on their car. That's all there is to it.

I have a 2008 Accord as well, and if I could I would get rid of it. I myself do not like this car at all. The visibility is not so great; there are a lot of blind spots. The seats are very low so that I can't even see the hood of the car.

This Accord also has a complete different suspension from the other Accords I have driven, so the ride is very different. Still rides nice though, on a straight open highway it's a great comfortable ride. However when it comes to turning and parking, it's difficult.

I also did not test drive the car when I got it, but I should have. All what was in my mind before I got the car was "I just want another Accord, because I'm so in love with the Accord".

One good thing this Accord and the previous Accords have in common is that it's good on gas, it does not use that much gas. One night I came back from somewhere and I forgot to shut the car off, and the engine was so quiet so I did not know the car was idling all night for 12 hours until the next morning when I could not find my keys. After looking around the house for them, I was wondering if they were in the car. I go out side and noticed all the other cars had frost on the windows except mine (it was a cold morning) Then I found the keys still in the ignition with the engine still running. I must say though after idling and running for over 12 hours it did not use that much gas. It started with a bit below half and 12 hours later it was a bit above a quarter tank. That part amazed me, but it did not amaze me when I forgot to shut the car off and take the key with me.

Bottom line though, the car is not suitable for me, so if I could get rid of the car, I would.

To the previous commenter:

You really should have test drove it. I would NEVER buy a vehicle before test driving it.