Scottee28
11-04-2007, 09:33 AM
I recently purchased my 2008 Honda Accord Coupe AT/V6+Navi, and wanted to post a write up with my observations on upgrades/downgrades pertaining to my previous 2003 Honda Accord Coupe AT/V6+Navi. I frequently read these forums and others, and wanted to express my opinions to anyone thinking of trading their 03-07 coupes in for an 08 coupe. All opinions contained herein are my personal opinions.
1. Power/Engine - Upgrade:thmsup: Since I am within my break in period I only punched it once to get on a freeway, all I can say is Whoa, power is much more noticable at all speeds over 03. I dont have to redline the tach, the power is there, when punching it the one time, you feel more power than 03. Freeway passing is fast with little effort of the engine. I also feel the VCM switching on, very slightly only. I think I feel it the most switching to 3 cylinder mode (extended cruising). It doesnt bother me at all, I appreciate knowing the engine is switching down to save gas, VCM is also an upgrade. Idle is ultra smooth, cant tell the car is on unless the A/C or Radiator fans cycle on/off. 03 was never as smooth as my 99, smoothness at idle is back with the 08. 99 was whisper quiet, 03 was louder, lost the whisper, 08 quiet and ultra smooth, not as quiet as 99. Transmission Even. It shifts briskly as the 03, doesnt jerk/buck into 2nd gear as in 03. Grade Logic holds the gears nicely, providing power holding shifts. Not as smooth as my friends Lexus IS300, Chrysler 300, Toyota Camry. In 08 u feels shifts all gears, in those cars, no idea shifts are going on, which I perfer, automatics should shift and not be felt. It doesnt seem to downshift with every light quick pedal movement, which is good, I didnt like the 03 shift jerking only to shift back as I barely pushed the accelerator since I didnt need that much power. Think its the Drive By Wire and Grade Logic/Transmission Programs working together better. Even.
2. Ride - Upgrade:thmsup: Again like night and day compared to my 03. Ride is much more comfortable, hardly any bounce on the freeway, the 03 was bouncing alot on freeways at 70-80ish. Ride now feels substantial, when tires hit large bumps, suspension absorbs them, 03 would feel like the tires were kicked back into suspension. Road and Wind Noise are much less than 03, not Mercedes or Lexus quiet but an improvement over 03.
3. Handling/Steering - Upgrade also,:thmsup: Chassis feels very solid, sturdy, I only made it slide slightly once going 60 off a 20mph offramp. No tire squeals, no major plowing of the heavier front end as in the 03. VSA did not turn on, so I feel you really have to go out of safety zones before it comes on. When braking heavy, car does not nose dive like the 03, also 08 barely rolls/tilts. 03 felt like you had to hold on to door handle car seemed to tilt so much in a turn. Steering is much quicker and doesnt wrench out of your hands. 03 had huge amounts of torque steer, when powering up or when wheels hit bumps. Steering is solid, like the feel better than 03, parking is smoother and quicker than 03, Upgrade.
4. Exterior - Upgrade:thmsup: I like the way the coupe is more agressive looking from all angles over my 03. The chunkier body appears more agressive to me then my 03. The 03 had a squashed water balloon look, very smooth, but very bland. The hood line is a little wierd since it doesnt meet the grill too nicely, but in my black or darker colors hardly noticable. I like the chrome window frames, the chrome door handles also. I did like the complete blackout treatment of the 03, however I had many warranty problems with the trim, replaced 4 times for black stickers bubbling off. Upgrade to the 08 door handles instead of the 03 door flaps. I like the 18in tires filling the fender gaps, I like the appearance of the stock rims multi spokes over the flat spoke look to the 03 rims. The tires on the 03 were weak, squeally unsticky rubber and small 16in, very standard size on the 03, the 08 tires are an upgrade. Doors close with a thud, not the "sounds like your window broke inside the frame" 03 doors. Trunk closes tightly and with a thud, not the light weight feel of the 03. License plate holder returns to rear bumper, allowing more painted trunk metal area to show. Large Honda symbols front and rear, the 03 was ok size, 99 was too small. Standard trunk lip spolier, adds to overall look. Wish - Honda would add power rear windows in coupes, would be a great upgrade. Wish - Xenons were optional from coupes.
5. Interior - Upgrade:thmsup: At first, I honestly thought the same as many of you, wtf with the middle button area? No more touchscreen? Some Knob? But after two days of using the new dash, I am impressed. First the lack of touch screen as in 03, glad its gone. Driving while touching letters was always a hit and miss, mostly I would always hit the wrong letter/number when entering information. Knob movement has feedback with click bumps, its extremely easy to dial to letters/numbers, fast and accurate. The screen located higher in dash is also much easier to view while driving. Screen is much bigger and brighter, no more touchscreen overlays causing dull colors, or fingerprints on screen, no sun glare, upgrade. Controlling the Navi is easier to enter destinantions as the 3 main large buttons are located around the knob. Menu, Map, Cancel/Back. Easy Upgrade. Moving the A/C and Radio controls off Navi, upgrade. 03 had many clicks off map, then onto A/C section, then A/C settings, with A/C separate, switching modes, fan speeds, etc. are all fast, almost as fast as switching system into full Auto. Same with Radio controls, Preset buttons have returned to the dash instead of inside Navi. Overall the buttons are big, easy to read, more of the daily use buttons are back on dash, feel of the buttons are much higher quality than 03. 03 at first look appears nicer, but general use is not as good as 08. Bluetooth Upgrade, period. No Traffic on screen with XM Navtraffic, Downgrade, period. Interior volume is much larger, headroom, etc., seats are comfy, and seem to have more movement in all directions than 03. Leather seating surfaces are of higher quality than 03. Overall fit and finish is higher than 03 everywhere. Plastics are rattle free, passenger seat doesnt wiggle and squeak. Loud radio volume doesnt rattle door panels, everything tight. No headliner squeaking. Hopefully everything remains silent. Moonroof visor meets the headliner perfectly, in my 03 there was a different size gap on either side. The moonroof visor itself is thicker and doesnt move closed when braking as the 03 did. Small touches like Homelink buttons light up and are bigger. Gauge cluster, Even leaning towards Downgrade. I like the 03 huge CD size speedometer at center, with tach and gas/temp flanking it. Dont really like the two same size gauges. The flat LED panel of the 03 was great to view all gauges, the 08 smaller raised panel with its two similar gauges is just Even. On both 03 and 08 wish the information LCD screen would be larger and able to display everything at once, trip a/b outside temp, oil life, maintenance codes, and odometer at the same time.
6. Stereo - Upgrade:thmsup: Overall, radio is more powerful clearer sounding and with more features than 03, MP3, AUX, XM, Subwoofer, VSC. The 03 CD slot looks better as part of the overall console, on 08 it looks like an after thought, like Honda forgot a place to insert CDs, so they stuck it where the 03 garage storage used to be, the looks of this add on CD part is a downgrade. Since I had 03, no XM built in, I like XM radio and will purchase it after trial expires. MP3/WMA is an upgrade also, I like having all 6 CDs in MP3 verisons for maximum songs. AUX input is ok, I have a Zune, it sounds clear but Zune has volume and car has volume controls, car doesnt control Zune or Ipod, its just AUX input is all. I would perfer an aftermarket stereo, dual deck area in the dash, but since Honda has over the last generation made it more difficult to add your own stereo, their OEM stereo is good. Upgrade
7. Storage - Even :) Trunk is slightly smaller than 03, only slightly, Even. Cupholders have the door again, one is deeper than front holder, also Even. I like the door, but I like the holding spring loaded brackets of 03, so Even. Below dash garage storage, Downgrade, its gone, due to the CD player there with Navi versions as stated above, only a half door storage, now holding cell phone. Armrest storage bin, Downgrade. Leather is nicer on its top, still moves forward, it is deeper slightly, however, dual layer trays are missing, power socket aux input part is big and takes up room, mini detachable tray is weak, you always have to take it out to get to things in the bin. Downgrade. Door pockets also Downgrade. They are not as deep or as big as the 03 pockets. Coin Holder and Font Power Socket have swapped places, why? Downgrade. Now coins are harder to see and get to since drive selector is in the way. If you used the 03 front power socket, wires could hang on passenger side, now in 08 due to the location swap, wires hang into drivers side, downgrade. Rear seat folding for access through to trunk, even though 60/40 split is gone, Even. I would always put entire 60/40 seat down in 03, not one side only.
Overall the 08 is a major upgrade to the 03 generation. Where 03 was a huge upgrade over the 98 generation, 08 is major upgrade, not huge, but major. Everything is upgraded, Power, Transmission, Exterior Body, Interior, Many New Features, VSA, TPMS, VCM, Auto Lock/Unlock Doors, New Steering, etc. makes the 08 a major upgrade. I like the more powerful engine yet slightly better gas mileage. Build Quality is improved across the board on interior and exterior. Panels are close gap, tailpipes even unlike 03, No squeaks, rattles as in 03. Tinted windows soon and Pics.
1. Power/Engine - Upgrade:thmsup: Since I am within my break in period I only punched it once to get on a freeway, all I can say is Whoa, power is much more noticable at all speeds over 03. I dont have to redline the tach, the power is there, when punching it the one time, you feel more power than 03. Freeway passing is fast with little effort of the engine. I also feel the VCM switching on, very slightly only. I think I feel it the most switching to 3 cylinder mode (extended cruising). It doesnt bother me at all, I appreciate knowing the engine is switching down to save gas, VCM is also an upgrade. Idle is ultra smooth, cant tell the car is on unless the A/C or Radiator fans cycle on/off. 03 was never as smooth as my 99, smoothness at idle is back with the 08. 99 was whisper quiet, 03 was louder, lost the whisper, 08 quiet and ultra smooth, not as quiet as 99. Transmission Even. It shifts briskly as the 03, doesnt jerk/buck into 2nd gear as in 03. Grade Logic holds the gears nicely, providing power holding shifts. Not as smooth as my friends Lexus IS300, Chrysler 300, Toyota Camry. In 08 u feels shifts all gears, in those cars, no idea shifts are going on, which I perfer, automatics should shift and not be felt. It doesnt seem to downshift with every light quick pedal movement, which is good, I didnt like the 03 shift jerking only to shift back as I barely pushed the accelerator since I didnt need that much power. Think its the Drive By Wire and Grade Logic/Transmission Programs working together better. Even.
2. Ride - Upgrade:thmsup: Again like night and day compared to my 03. Ride is much more comfortable, hardly any bounce on the freeway, the 03 was bouncing alot on freeways at 70-80ish. Ride now feels substantial, when tires hit large bumps, suspension absorbs them, 03 would feel like the tires were kicked back into suspension. Road and Wind Noise are much less than 03, not Mercedes or Lexus quiet but an improvement over 03.
3. Handling/Steering - Upgrade also,:thmsup: Chassis feels very solid, sturdy, I only made it slide slightly once going 60 off a 20mph offramp. No tire squeals, no major plowing of the heavier front end as in the 03. VSA did not turn on, so I feel you really have to go out of safety zones before it comes on. When braking heavy, car does not nose dive like the 03, also 08 barely rolls/tilts. 03 felt like you had to hold on to door handle car seemed to tilt so much in a turn. Steering is much quicker and doesnt wrench out of your hands. 03 had huge amounts of torque steer, when powering up or when wheels hit bumps. Steering is solid, like the feel better than 03, parking is smoother and quicker than 03, Upgrade.
4. Exterior - Upgrade:thmsup: I like the way the coupe is more agressive looking from all angles over my 03. The chunkier body appears more agressive to me then my 03. The 03 had a squashed water balloon look, very smooth, but very bland. The hood line is a little wierd since it doesnt meet the grill too nicely, but in my black or darker colors hardly noticable. I like the chrome window frames, the chrome door handles also. I did like the complete blackout treatment of the 03, however I had many warranty problems with the trim, replaced 4 times for black stickers bubbling off. Upgrade to the 08 door handles instead of the 03 door flaps. I like the 18in tires filling the fender gaps, I like the appearance of the stock rims multi spokes over the flat spoke look to the 03 rims. The tires on the 03 were weak, squeally unsticky rubber and small 16in, very standard size on the 03, the 08 tires are an upgrade. Doors close with a thud, not the "sounds like your window broke inside the frame" 03 doors. Trunk closes tightly and with a thud, not the light weight feel of the 03. License plate holder returns to rear bumper, allowing more painted trunk metal area to show. Large Honda symbols front and rear, the 03 was ok size, 99 was too small. Standard trunk lip spolier, adds to overall look. Wish - Honda would add power rear windows in coupes, would be a great upgrade. Wish - Xenons were optional from coupes.
5. Interior - Upgrade:thmsup: At first, I honestly thought the same as many of you, wtf with the middle button area? No more touchscreen? Some Knob? But after two days of using the new dash, I am impressed. First the lack of touch screen as in 03, glad its gone. Driving while touching letters was always a hit and miss, mostly I would always hit the wrong letter/number when entering information. Knob movement has feedback with click bumps, its extremely easy to dial to letters/numbers, fast and accurate. The screen located higher in dash is also much easier to view while driving. Screen is much bigger and brighter, no more touchscreen overlays causing dull colors, or fingerprints on screen, no sun glare, upgrade. Controlling the Navi is easier to enter destinantions as the 3 main large buttons are located around the knob. Menu, Map, Cancel/Back. Easy Upgrade. Moving the A/C and Radio controls off Navi, upgrade. 03 had many clicks off map, then onto A/C section, then A/C settings, with A/C separate, switching modes, fan speeds, etc. are all fast, almost as fast as switching system into full Auto. Same with Radio controls, Preset buttons have returned to the dash instead of inside Navi. Overall the buttons are big, easy to read, more of the daily use buttons are back on dash, feel of the buttons are much higher quality than 03. 03 at first look appears nicer, but general use is not as good as 08. Bluetooth Upgrade, period. No Traffic on screen with XM Navtraffic, Downgrade, period. Interior volume is much larger, headroom, etc., seats are comfy, and seem to have more movement in all directions than 03. Leather seating surfaces are of higher quality than 03. Overall fit and finish is higher than 03 everywhere. Plastics are rattle free, passenger seat doesnt wiggle and squeak. Loud radio volume doesnt rattle door panels, everything tight. No headliner squeaking. Hopefully everything remains silent. Moonroof visor meets the headliner perfectly, in my 03 there was a different size gap on either side. The moonroof visor itself is thicker and doesnt move closed when braking as the 03 did. Small touches like Homelink buttons light up and are bigger. Gauge cluster, Even leaning towards Downgrade. I like the 03 huge CD size speedometer at center, with tach and gas/temp flanking it. Dont really like the two same size gauges. The flat LED panel of the 03 was great to view all gauges, the 08 smaller raised panel with its two similar gauges is just Even. On both 03 and 08 wish the information LCD screen would be larger and able to display everything at once, trip a/b outside temp, oil life, maintenance codes, and odometer at the same time.
6. Stereo - Upgrade:thmsup: Overall, radio is more powerful clearer sounding and with more features than 03, MP3, AUX, XM, Subwoofer, VSC. The 03 CD slot looks better as part of the overall console, on 08 it looks like an after thought, like Honda forgot a place to insert CDs, so they stuck it where the 03 garage storage used to be, the looks of this add on CD part is a downgrade. Since I had 03, no XM built in, I like XM radio and will purchase it after trial expires. MP3/WMA is an upgrade also, I like having all 6 CDs in MP3 verisons for maximum songs. AUX input is ok, I have a Zune, it sounds clear but Zune has volume and car has volume controls, car doesnt control Zune or Ipod, its just AUX input is all. I would perfer an aftermarket stereo, dual deck area in the dash, but since Honda has over the last generation made it more difficult to add your own stereo, their OEM stereo is good. Upgrade
7. Storage - Even :) Trunk is slightly smaller than 03, only slightly, Even. Cupholders have the door again, one is deeper than front holder, also Even. I like the door, but I like the holding spring loaded brackets of 03, so Even. Below dash garage storage, Downgrade, its gone, due to the CD player there with Navi versions as stated above, only a half door storage, now holding cell phone. Armrest storage bin, Downgrade. Leather is nicer on its top, still moves forward, it is deeper slightly, however, dual layer trays are missing, power socket aux input part is big and takes up room, mini detachable tray is weak, you always have to take it out to get to things in the bin. Downgrade. Door pockets also Downgrade. They are not as deep or as big as the 03 pockets. Coin Holder and Font Power Socket have swapped places, why? Downgrade. Now coins are harder to see and get to since drive selector is in the way. If you used the 03 front power socket, wires could hang on passenger side, now in 08 due to the location swap, wires hang into drivers side, downgrade. Rear seat folding for access through to trunk, even though 60/40 split is gone, Even. I would always put entire 60/40 seat down in 03, not one side only.
Overall the 08 is a major upgrade to the 03 generation. Where 03 was a huge upgrade over the 98 generation, 08 is major upgrade, not huge, but major. Everything is upgraded, Power, Transmission, Exterior Body, Interior, Many New Features, VSA, TPMS, VCM, Auto Lock/Unlock Doors, New Steering, etc. makes the 08 a major upgrade. I like the more powerful engine yet slightly better gas mileage. Build Quality is improved across the board on interior and exterior. Panels are close gap, tailpipes even unlike 03, No squeaks, rattles as in 03. Tinted windows soon and Pics.