What year is the BEST Honda Accord

[KeiCar]

Sorry Chapel, but you inspired me! Like the topic says, what year was the best Honda Accord made (Camry competitor)...?

Im partial to the 4th gen myself:

[Mike!]

1993. Last and best year of the 4th gen.

I loved my 1990 EX Coupe!

[roflingsam]

the current generation. ive seen one with over with 200k miles and it drives like its new. the previous generations had too many tranny problems

[TisforTurbo]

6th gen. Only because I had one and it was awesome

[DzlDub]

I had a 1996, therefore the 5th generation 1996 Honda Accord was the best

[BetterByDesign]

I agree 4th gen. You could actually feel the difference in quality in both ride and product. Taxi like, commerical grade. Still got written off in an accident though.

[mike02467]

the current generation. ive seen one with over with 200k miles and it drives like its new. the previous generations had too many tranny problems

huh? the previous gen was the 7th gen, and they didn't have the tranny issue, it was the 6th gen (98-2003) that had the issues with the automatic trans slipping and failing in well under 100k miles.

Kid I work with has a 2001 Accord EX ULEV. He's almost at 200k miles, is on his 3rd or 4th transmission (all except most recent were covered under warranty). I've driven it a lot but he doesn't maintain it. Currently needs a brake and suspension overhaul at all 4 corners. His steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position is very soft and rubbery. He drives like a gangster with only his left hand. If it weren't for the tranny issues it's been a very solid car for him.

[bzcat]

I had a 1996, therefore the 5th generation 1996 Honda Accord was the best

That was the last generation before the US-spec supertanker Accord so I have to agree.

[titleist1976]

7th Generation. V6, comfy and roomy, aging well.

[Maxvla]

4th generation was a game changer. Rewrote the book for affordable reliable mid-size sedans. Classy styling that looks nice even today.

[-DWM-]

I'm partial to the 3rd gen, but will admit that the 4th is best.

[adrew]

I'm partial to the 3rd gen, but will admit that the 4th is best.

Same with me. The 3rd-gen LX-i (and SE-i) is my favorite, but the 4th is a better overall car. One caveat is that the "best" Honda Accord cannot have an automatic. They have never been good.



The current EX-L V6/6-speed coupe is rather special as well. My dad has one and the thing is a hoot to drive -- way more power than you would expect, sounds great and really shoves you back in the seat. It is like no other Honda I've ever been in.

[snb3]

For its time & against its contemporaries, I'd say 86-89. As dependable & solid the Camry was then, it drove like slush. Stanza's stunk & Mazda 626 improved in 89, I think. I never had one myself but many friends did back in the day. The hardest to get were the black 5spd LXIs.

In my family were a 1991, 2001, 2003 V6 models. The 91 was bigger but drove closer to a Camry. The 01 was bigger still and the 03 EX V6, at the time, felt almost luxury like. That said, the late 80s felt that much better than anything else back then.

[thunderbird1100]

The 4th gen sedan and 6th gen coupe would be my votes. When I was close to 16 and first car territory I wanted one of the 6th gen coupes so bad, and ended up with a 1990 LX sedan slush box.

While initially thought I would hate it, I ended up coming to love it. Despite being a slush box the car felt light on its feet and still had comfortable room for 4 adults. Was only about 2860 pounds IIRC (compare that today's 4-banger Accord of 3200+). The 125hp F22 made more noise than go, but it was bulletproof nonetheless. I even liked the stock LX wheel covers. The best part about it was despite beating the living hell out of it, it lasted me a trouble-free 145k miles (144k miles on it BEFORE I started driving it) before the tranny finally quit on me. Gave it to my uncle who then got a new tranny for $300 and has daily driven it to work for the last 4 years or so.

Really wish the 6th gen coupe came with a stick with the V6, because it's a good looker IMO. But that would have treaded on Prelude sales a bit too much probably.


EDIT - and after those I've come to appreciate my mom's 2007 EX-V6 Sedan...despite it also being a slush box...way more fun to drive than the 8th gen.

[bificus99]

Same with me. The 3rd-gen LX-i (and SE-i) is my favorite, but the 4th is a better overall car. One caveat is that the "best" Honda Accord cannot have an automatic. They have never been good.



The current EX-L V6/6-speed coupe is rather special as well. My dad has one and the thing is a hoot to drive -- way more power than you would expect, sounds great and really shoves you back in the seat. It is like no other Honda I've ever been in.

Im liking it more and more. Too bad its not AWD.

[Sporin]

I have a 96 and loathe the automatic in it but otherwise the car is extremely well built and reliable.

I also had a 2008 4cyl. 5 speed and really liked that car.

There isn't a single thing the 96 does better than the 08 except fit in a smaller parking space.

IMO.

[someguy123]

06 & 07...............because LED.

[Waarp]

The 86-89. First modern Honda. Huge inside, room for 4 6 footers and all their crap and yet only 2500 lbs. 12 grand.

[TetsuoShima]

Current gen(coupe) is amazing especially with the V6. Most powerful and looks the best imo.

[GolfTango]

7th gen 2.4 will run forever and ever and ever. Timing chain, no auto trans issues as long as the fluid is changed regularly. Great insurance rates, safe, etc. This was the last time an Accord was a decent size before the bloat of the 8th gen.

[mk_ultra]

4th generation

[czykvw]

Hands down 4th gen! Looks great in wagon, coupe or sedan. Love how it barely has any front fenders, really gives it a low and wide look, Classic styling. At our honda dealership this is the oldest gen that come in the most for work. The owners love them.
Ive seen one all burgendy inside and out with 89k on the clock. And a coupe with 160k with the interior almost looking new? weird.
Ive always wanted a 4th gen and still do. I wouldnt mind its cousin at all either, the acura legend.
Since alot of you like the 4th gen accord check out this pristine example of a 93' legend that came in a few months ago..

[1995Camry]

the 4th gen coupe with a manual obviously

[Aonarch]

the 4th gen coupe with a manual obviously

[Iroczgirl]

218k miles and counting on an automatic 2002 accord. Still drives like new.

Even more impressive considering it doesn't get any maintenance, heck, it doesn't even get washed!

[jhtopilko]

1997. last japanese accord to us.

[two.twoliter]

the 4th gen coupe with a manual obviously

My 'first' car (inherited from my parents) was a 1990 LX coupe with the 5 speed. That was an excellent car, the only shortcomings being really light steering and crappy all season tires that most of them had. I also put on a big rear sway bar which really flattened out the handling.

I seem to recall that they changed the steering effort for the 1991 model year. I briefly owned a '91 LX and I thought it drove even better than the '90. Anybody know?

[personman]

I'm kind of partial to the 3rd gen's myself, but only with specific options -- coupe, 5-speed, fuel injected. As far as I remember, the carbureted engines were crap. The automatics were crap. And the sedan styling was crap.

This is, of course, because a couple of years ago my uncle had two Honda Accords - an 88 Sedan, automatic and carbureted, and an 89 coupe, 5-speed FI. The coupe was free, I think he paid $200 for the sedan. He used to deliver newspapers to the drivers who actually threw the routes, and I helped him quite a bit when I was staying at his place while attending college. We used to hate Thursdays and Sundays because of the large papers, the entire load wouldn't fit in the coupe and we'd have to take both cars.

I remember one night when he was out of town and I did the route for him, little Accord stacked to the roof with bundles of newspapers, I was headed down I-15 in Utah about 2am running about 85mph, got mixed up on my exits and thought that the off ramp that I was taking was longer. Saw the stop sign quickly approaching, touched and immediately smoked the brakes, and thought to myself, "I've made a horrible mistake."

Luckily at 2am no one was around, I blew through the sign and up the on ramp on the other side, went around for another pass. I learned an important lesson about momentum that night.

So many memories of that Accord.

[Impeccable]

huh? the previous gen was the 7th gen, and they didn't have the tranny issue, it was the 6th gen (98-2003) that had the issues with the automatic trans slipping and failing in well under 100k miles.

Kid I work with has a 2001 Accord EX ULEV. He's almost at 200k miles, is on his 3rd or 4th transmission (all except most recent were covered under warranty). I've driven it a lot but he doesn't maintain it. Currently needs a brake and suspension overhaul at all 4 corners. His steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position is very soft and rubbery. He drives like a gangster with only his left hand. If it weren't for the tranny issues it's been a very solid car for him.

I've heard some early 2003 (even some 2004s) v6 accords also had tranny issues

[Woodski]

absolutely the 4th gen.

but i'd own a 3rd gen hatch or sedan over a 4th gen, simply because i like the design better.

[Boosted03GTI]

Im partial to the 3rd gen since I had an 88 5 speed DX sedan. It ran for 200k before I sold it to a friend. 3rd gen LX-i is the one I really wanted though. 4th gen looked nicer but that was about it. I also love the 3rd gen hatch. I've never seen/heard of the 3rd gen SE-i, must be real nice!

And the Legend. What a great car. I feel like I should hit Craigslist for one right now. Thanks for the beautiful example above.

[yurikaze]

Any one with round headlights.

[Dr. Woo]

5th gen was (is) a magnificent car. The 7th gen NA-spec is excellent as well, even if it is a bit "supertanker" (as someone else in this thread put it, )

[SSLByron]

I love how we're nailing these within like four posts. OP got it right this time. 4th gen all day, any day. Great cars.

[Mike!]

I love how we're nailing these within like four posts. OP got it right this time. 4th gen all day, any day. Great cars.

I know there was a poll thread a year or so ago, and I think the 5th gen pulled ahead in that. Happy to see some 4th gen love today though.