New 2013 EX Sedan 6MT owner checking in with random observations

[darkest2000]

Hey guys!

Just found this forum after getting my new 2013 Accord Sedan EX 6MT, in Modern Steel Metallic (Finally! A color that I wanted)

As someone who's been driving Accords exclusively since 2003(my first car) I'm no new comer to the series, and being a fan of the standard shift, let me tell you the Accord Sedan in manual is not the easiest thing to find! Nevermind one in the color and trim level you want! So as you can see I'm extremely excited That said,, the transition from 5MT that I've been driving for years to the 6MT took some time to get used to but I'm getting a hang of it pretty well now. Any tips please do share! I only wish they still offered the manual transmission in an EX-L which is what my 06 and 09 were.

Anyhow, I've made some observations during my past few days of driving(more like babying) her, for what it's worth:

1. Hill Start Assist: Pretty neat for those that need it, an interesting thing that I've noticed:
Hill Start Assist will only kick in if you shift into 1st gear BEFORE releasing the brake. If you shift into 1st gear AS/AFTER you release the break, Hill Start Assist won't kick in and your car will still roll back like a normal manual car would.

So there, for those that want to impress their GF or whatever with their mad hill start skills, you still can with the 2013!

2. Wall Paper: Well, for someone like me who has mad OCD, the factory manual recommends using the image size of 1680X936, but WAIT! If you do that you might notice that the wallpaper doesn't fill all the way to the edge of the I-MID screen,there will be black bars on the top and bottom. So after a few trial and error sessions, I found out that using image size of 1680x1000 will allow the image to fill the screen completely.

Next week I'm taking my car in to have the dealer install the Aero Kit, Door Sill Trim and the OEM Leather Steering Wheel(one thing I miss about the EX-L), will try to post pictures after it's done!

[Saywhaat04]

Originally Posted by darkest2000

Hey guys!

Just found this forum after getting my new 2013 Accord Sedan EX 6MT in Modern Steel Metallic.

I've been driving Accords exclusively since 2003 (from 7th gen all the way to the current one) so I'm certainly not new the series, Being a fan of the standard shift, let me tell you the Accord Sedan in manual is not the easiest thing to find, let alone in the color and trim level you want! As you can see I'm extremely excited

I only wish they would still offer the manual transmission in an EX-L which is what my 06 and 09 were.

Anyhow, I've made some observations during my past few days of driver her, take it for what it's worth:

1. Hill Start Assist Feature: It's pretty neat for those that need it, an interesting thing that I've noticed:

Hill Start Assist will only kick in if you shift into 1st gear FIRST before releasing the brake. If you shift into 1st gear AS/AFTER you release the break, your car will roll back unlike a normal manual car would.

So there, for those that want to impress their GF or whatever with their mad hill start skills, you still can!

2. Wall Paper: Well, for someone like me who has mad OCD, the factory manual recommends using the image size of 1680X936, but WAIT! If you do that you might notice that the wallpaper doesn't fill all the way to the edge of the I-MID screen,there will be black bars on the top and bottom. So after a few trial and error sessions, I found out that using image size of 1680x1000 will allow the image to fill the screen completely.

So there...just a few observations that most people probably don't care about

Next week I'm taking my car in to have the dealer install the Aero Kit, Door Sill Trim and the factory Leather Steering Wheel(one thing I miss about the EX-L), will try to post pictures after it's done!

Congrats man! Take some before and after pics!!! I was going to go out and test drive a Modern Steel EX 6mt sedan today but it got sold Saturday LOL. Seems the EX models are moving, the Sport 6MT in my area are not. Strange.

My current Accord is an EX-L 5spd sedan, and like you I want to upgrade, also like you, I wish Honda still made the EX-L available in manual guise. Oh well. Congrats to you for sure!

[MTAccordEX]

Congrats. We bought the exact car in early December and are really enjoying it. This is my wife's car, and we were initially disappointed at the limited color selection available on the EX MTs, but once we saw and drove the car, we were immediately sold. At the time, ours was the only EX MT in our area, so we felt fortunate to find it and at a dealership we know and trust.

Let us know the details on the OEM leather steering wheel. Several of us EXers on the forum are interested in doing the same thing.

[pianoman223]

Originally Posted by darkest2000

Hey guys!

Just found this forum after getting my new 2013 Accord Sedan EX 6MT, in Modern Steel Metallic (Finally! A color that I wanted)

As someone who's been driving Accords exclusively since 2003(my first car) I'm no new comer to the series, and being a fan of the standard shift, let me tell you the Accord Sedan in manual is not the easiest thing to find! Nevermind one in the color and trim level you want! So as you can see I'm extremely excited That said,, the transition from 5MT that I've been driving for years to the 6MT took some time to get used to but I'm getting a hang of it pretty well now. Any tips please do share! I only wish they still offered the manual transmission in an EX-L which is what my 06 and 09 were.

Anyhow, I've made some observations during my past few days of driving(more like babying) her, for what it's worth:

1. Hill Start Assist: Pretty neat for those that need it, an interesting thing that I've noticed:
Hill Start Assist will only kick in if you shift into 1st gear BEFORE releasing the brake. If you shift into 1st gear AS/AFTER you release the break, Hill Start Assist won't kick in and your car will still roll back like a normal manual car would.

So there, for those that want to impress their GF or whatever with their mad hill start skills, you still can with the 2013!

2. Wall Paper: Well, for someone like me who has mad OCD, the factory manual recommends using the image size of 1680X936, but WAIT! If you do that you might notice that the wallpaper doesn't fill all the way to the edge of the I-MID screen,there will be black bars on the top and bottom. So after a few trial and error sessions, I found out that using image size of 1680x1000 will allow the image to fill the screen completely.

Next week I'm taking my car in to have the dealer install the Aero Kit, Door Sill Trim and the OEM Leather Steering Wheel(one thing I miss about the EX-L), will try to post pictures after it's done!

Congrats on your new ride! I ordered the exact same car, and expecting its build date to be Jan 6. So, hopefully I'll get it in 3-4 weeks!

I'm so thrilled to hear that you were able to get an OEM leather steering wheel - this has been my biggest gripe about the EX, the cheapy feeling plastic wheel.

So is it a stitch-on leather wrap they're installing? or did they just order an EX-L wheel and they're swapping it? How much are they charging, if you don't mind me asking?

[Marsean]

Originally Posted by pianoman223

I'm so thrilled to hear that you were able to get an OEM leather steering wheel - this has been my biggest gripe about the EX, the cheapy feeling plastic wheel.

So is it a stitch-on leather wrap they're installing? or did they just order an EX-L wheel and they're swapping it? How much are they charging, if you don't mind me asking?

I'm curious to hear about this too.



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[AccordinSoCal]

Me too, if its the steering wheel from the EX-L , how much are they charging?

(still hoping to put that a Coupe or Sport steering wheel in the V6 Sedan )

[glen e]

Originally Posted by darkest2000

Hey guys!

So after a few trial and error sessions, I found out that using image size of 1680x1000 will allow the image to fill the screen completely.

Thanks for this....just changed my pic and it worked perfectly, now if it only added some real value like a real wallpaper, besides sitting under the mode button at the end....

[H_CAR]

I thought the 6MT EX was only available in alabaster silver?

[darkest2000]

Thanks guys!

Yeah the 2013 6MT Sedan EX comes in Black or Modern Steel Metallic only (thanks Honda for narrowing down the choices, lol). I personally am a big fan of the Modern Steel Metallic so that worked out just fine！.

Regarding the steering wheel, I actually ordered the OEM EX-L part directly from Honda E-Store for $136.31, I couldn't find anywhere else cheaper than that with free shipping. Plus I got some 15% parts discount coupon at my dealer so it should be even less.

All the other parts (the SRS module, etc) have the same part number so they ought to be able to simply swap out the wheels and reuse everything else. And the people at the service dept thought the same. I guess we'll find out soon enough, lol.

For the labor I was quoted $220 or so but I'm going to try to talk to them into just putting it in for me since they're installing all those other things, and it doesn't look that hard.

I will keep you guys updated for sure!

[6speedDee]

Originally Posted by darkest2000

Thanks guys!

Yeah the 2013 6MT Sedan EX comes in Black or Modern Steel Metallic only (thanks Honda for narrowing down the choices, lol). I personally am a big fan of the Modern Steel Metallic so that worked out just fine！.

Regarding the steering wheel, I actually ordered the OEM EX-L part directly from Honda E-Store for $136.31, I couldn't find anywhere else cheaper than that with free shipping. Plus I got some 15% parts discount coupon at my dealer so it should be even less.

All the other parts (the SRS module, etc) have the same part number so they ought to be able to simply swap out the wheels and reuse everything else. And the people at the service dept thought the same. I guess we'll find out soon enough, lol.

For the labor I was quoted $220 or so but I'm going to try to talk to them into just putting it in for me since they're installing all those other things, and it doesn't look that hard.

I will keep you guys updated for sure!

the 6MT EX only comes in alabaster silver and modern steel metallic..not in black..the 6MT LX only comes silver and modern steel as well...the 6MT sport comes in BLACK and modern steel..it gets confusing..but not really,being that they only offer two ext colors anyways in the manual tranney..btw..I have a black 6MT sport..a white one would have been nice

[darkest2000]

You're right I confused the color option between the Sport and EX, lol. I was contemplating between the two models which is probably why I was thinking black.

Eventually went with the EX primarily due to availability, and plus it's much easier to add the Sport features to an EX but not so much the other way around.

[MTAccordEX]

As others have said, an EX with Sport features (dual exhausts, leather shifter/wheel, 18" sport wheels and spoiler) would really hit the sweet spot. But as pointed out, several of these can be added to the EX if you want to shell out the $$.

[pianoman223]

Originally Posted by darkest2000

Regarding the steering wheel, I actually ordered the OEM EX-L part directly from Honda E-Store for $136.31, I couldn't find anywhere else cheaper than that with free shipping. Plus I got some 15% parts discount coupon at my dealer so it should be even less.

All the other parts (the SRS module, etc) have the same part number so they ought to be able to simply swap out the wheels and reuse everything else. And the people at the service dept thought the same. I guess we'll find out soon enough, lol.

For the labor I was quoted $220 or so but I'm going to try to talk to them into just putting it in for me since they're installing all those other things, and it doesn't look that hard.

I will keep you guys updated for sure!

I looked through the eStore under steering wheels for the EX-L, but I'm not sure which exact part to order. Looking at this parts site: http://estore.honda.com/honda/parts/...b=B++3110&dl=#

I assume it's item #7 (78501-T2A-U51ZA) which looks to be like just the wheel itself?

If this solution works, that would be awesome!! When are they planning to install it?

[darkest2000]

Originally Posted by pianoman223

I looked through the eStore under steering wheels for the EX-L, but I'm not sure which exact part to order. Looking at this parts site: http://estore.honda.com/honda/parts/...b=B++3110&dl=#

I assume it's item #7 (78501-T2A-U51ZA) which looks to be like just the wheel itself?

If this solution works, that would be awesome!! When are they planning to install it?

Yes that's the part I ordered. It's suppose to come in this thursday so hopefully I'll have everything done by the end of the week if all goes well.

[pianoman223]

Originally Posted by darkest2000

Yes that's the part I ordered. It's suppose to come in this thursday so hopefully I'll have everything done by the end of the week if all goes well.

Hey there, hope you are enjoying your new ride! Were they able to swap out the EX steering wheel for the EX-L leather wheel?

Crossing my fingers that that's a viable solution!

Have a great weekend.