Trip
02-11-2006, 01:44 PM
A few observations from my drive to Pittsburgh this weekend (4.5 hour round trip)
- TL 17mm rear sway bar upgrade: Wow!! I freaking love it!! Anyone that lives in Pitt can attest to some of the creative civil engineering in the roads :D They're fast, hilly, and twisty. Even with the snow tires still on, the car was significantly more nimble up and down the sharp twisties. There's a steep, twisty road in Moon (Schafer) that I normally drive up in second gear @ 25mph so the engine doesn't lug - plus any faster around the posted 20mph curves, the car would lean around the bends. I easily had it in third and flew up and around the bends at almost twice the speed ~ 40mph. Flat. Sure footed. And the engine had some impressive torque down low. :thmsup:
- Optical illusion: The 2006 Accord sedan has white instruments with the inner kilometer scale in grey. At night, when looking at the km markings, they seem to jump and jiggle around. I thought something was loose but when I inspected it in the morning, it's obvisouly one solid piece. Just a trick on the eyes. :paranoid:
- NAVI rules!! I noticed on the way back today that in full zoom, the mapping even shows the "turn- arounds" on the highway. i.e. where the fuzz typically sits. :) You can see these traps on the map long before you see the cop and they see you. Heh heh. :naughty:
- I think the Acura accessory billet aluminum shift knob I installed (w/ 5-speed pattern) added at least 5hp. :yes:
- The radio is definitely waaaay better than the radio in my 2003. The 03 radio has subtle back ground noise. It never really bothered me but the lack of it and how silent the silent passages are with the 2006 radio have opened my eyes (or ears :biggrin: ) XM radio is sweet. I didn't htink I would enjoy it as much as I have. I highly recommend it. It made the trip go by in a snap while listening to the comedy channels I "discovered". Didn't realize how much variety there was on XM. And yes, the XM winback $77 renewal still works. Just did it this afternoon. :thmsup: See the XM radio signup thread with the details.
- Overall, wow! The Accord is such a well balanced car. I love it. :thmsup:
- TL 17mm rear sway bar upgrade: Wow!! I freaking love it!! Anyone that lives in Pitt can attest to some of the creative civil engineering in the roads :D They're fast, hilly, and twisty. Even with the snow tires still on, the car was significantly more nimble up and down the sharp twisties. There's a steep, twisty road in Moon (Schafer) that I normally drive up in second gear @ 25mph so the engine doesn't lug - plus any faster around the posted 20mph curves, the car would lean around the bends. I easily had it in third and flew up and around the bends at almost twice the speed ~ 40mph. Flat. Sure footed. And the engine had some impressive torque down low. :thmsup:
- Optical illusion: The 2006 Accord sedan has white instruments with the inner kilometer scale in grey. At night, when looking at the km markings, they seem to jump and jiggle around. I thought something was loose but when I inspected it in the morning, it's obvisouly one solid piece. Just a trick on the eyes. :paranoid:
- NAVI rules!! I noticed on the way back today that in full zoom, the mapping even shows the "turn- arounds" on the highway. i.e. where the fuzz typically sits. :) You can see these traps on the map long before you see the cop and they see you. Heh heh. :naughty:
- I think the Acura accessory billet aluminum shift knob I installed (w/ 5-speed pattern) added at least 5hp. :yes:
- The radio is definitely waaaay better than the radio in my 2003. The 03 radio has subtle back ground noise. It never really bothered me but the lack of it and how silent the silent passages are with the 2006 radio have opened my eyes (or ears :biggrin: ) XM radio is sweet. I didn't htink I would enjoy it as much as I have. I highly recommend it. It made the trip go by in a snap while listening to the comedy channels I "discovered". Didn't realize how much variety there was on XM. And yes, the XM winback $77 renewal still works. Just did it this afternoon. :thmsup: See the XM radio signup thread with the details.
- Overall, wow! The Accord is such a well balanced car. I love it. :thmsup: