1989 Honda Accord EXI review from North America

Radiator needed changing at 195000 kms.

Blew first gear (automatic) at 198000 kms.

For a 4 four banger, this thing has some get up and go. Even after blowing first on the automatic transmission (my fault) and being forced to start from second off the line at every stop, she still impresses me!

The handling is equally impressive, and comfortable with the 195/60 14s tires.

The bigger front brakes (on EXIs and EXRs) fixed the rotor warping problems wich plagued most of the 3rd generation accords. On the downside however, because of the bigger front calipers, you have no choice, but 14 inch rims (or mags) for the front tires. Them being more costly to replace and diminishing fuel economy, allthough slightly, compared to the 13 inchers common to most of these cars.

Fit and finish, even on this car with 205000 kms, is still remarkable. You don't need to bother with interior trim falling off and ripping and breaking easily as you do with its American counterparts.

The body on this car was definitely not intended for use in Northern climates:not uncommon to these cars where I live, the rear bumper shroud is holding on by screws added on by the owner in order to keep the part in question. All I can say if you live where there's snow and salt is:Rustproof this car ASAP!

Automatic or manual transmission?The latter definitely!Allthough it was an act of foolishness that caused itself to mainifest, this transmission did not even try in the end'causing first gear to become non-existent.