1988 Honda Accord LXi from North America - Comments

Power antenna will not retract.

Valve cover gasket failed twice.

Passenger side Constant Velocity assembly replaced.

Changed timing belt, water pump and auxiliary belts and hoses as preventative maintenance.

This car handles almost as well as the first day I bought it with 7 miles. It's an absolutely wonderful car to own. Better than extremely dependable. It never went to the dealer for warranty work or repair work. Maintenance was always only preventative, never a result of a failure. This car is a poor man's BMW 3 series. It's bulletproof in terms of performance, reliability and comfort. No, it's not going to tear the road up, but it's very respectable in performance. I can stop this vehicle on a dime, and have never had a problem with warped rotors. At 165k, I'm still working on my original clutch. I've replaced the front disc pads twice and the rear brake shoes once. I've owned a 74 Porsche Targa, 68 GTO, 72 Corvette convertible and a 73 MGB, and they really had nothing over the Honda LXi. Sure they all had more horsepower (Except the MGB) and the Porsche handled a bit better, but the Accord was the more total car. I never questioned the reliability and performance of the Honda. It handled just as well as the MGB (talk about an unreliable car). The interior of this car is just like new. It's due partly to my upkeep, but the seats, carpet, and trim are all of the highest quality. Therefore, it is easy to maintain it as if it was new. The driver seat cushion has not lost any of it's form, and I'm a 6'-2", 215 lb. guy. This car owes me absolutely nothing, and I'll drive it until it won't run anymore. Which means I'll probably have it for another 165k miles.

I bought a rusty, but trusty 1988 Honda Accord LXi automatic for my fiance when her old car died (until she could afford something of her own). It turns out that she is now driving my 2004 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback (which is a good car as well) because I simply like the Honda better. This car reminds me a lot of a BMW 2002tii (I believe the power is roughly the same) in many areas, including the likelihood of giving it up to rust rather than to mechanical error.

This car is a life-saver in terms of no matter how many accidents it may have, the steel frame withstands quite a lot, although it'll bend like a gymnast. I'm also surprised that this car handles just as good as Honda intended their newer cars (newer Civic and Accord). 1986-1989 was a big step for Honda's flagship economy/luxury car. With the introduction of Mcpherson wishbone struts and electronic engine timing for the LX-i versions (a prelude to what is now VTEC), this car was the definition of what's now stability and control. How this car contends with my Pontiac Sunfire, I don't know... but I'm glad to see its wide variety of custom parts and little preventive maintenance compared to the latter domestic vehicle. I mean... c'mon... you can turn this thing into a Prelude (H22A engine) if you felt like it!