not remotely interesting

[russ abbott - royds brother]

I've rather overlooked this riveting thread, but am teetering on the brink of buying a diesel Accord estate to replace my Vauxshed. Looked at the Avensis, but dismissed it as too ugly by far Very much prefer the Honda's sleeker looks.

Let me know how you get on with the accord.
My astra is on it's death bed.
So will have to get another estate in coming months.

Shame as the engine is still good.

[earlofsodbury]

Let me know how you get on with the accord.
My astra is on it's death bed.
So will have to get another estate in coming months.

Shame as the engine is still good.

Will do.

Or can I interest you in a 51 plate Astra 8v with a mere 134K on the clock?

[russ abbott - royds brother]

Estate?

Doubt i could afford it at the moment paul......how much.

[beckypumps]

After the Astra estate, this is gonna seem like a flippin' sports car mate!

Must confess I almost cried when I realized I could afford a S2 Elise for what I'll be lashing-out on the Hondy...

Not exactly a daily-driver, and not much space in the back for my pushbike....

I have been ebaying / googling folding push bikes, You would be surprised just whats available and full size. Also you should add jag x types on your list as they have bum heaters which makes the reaming from the 25mpg from the big petrol all the more pleasurable. Apparently they do a deezell as well.

[julian2002]

sodders,
I currently drive a 54 plate accord diesel estate. On the whole it's been pretty reliable but it's had a few issues during it's life...

1) Make sure it's had the exhaust manifold has had the recall done - early ones have a habit of cracking and gassing you. Replacement should be free if you're under 7 years and 115k miles - i wasn't and it cost nearly a grand to fix.

2) Make bloody sure the clutch is a good un. I replaced mine 40k miles ago and it's already slipping if i boot it in 3rd and smells a bit funny after an uphill overtake. They also use those awful dual mass flywheels which are prone to failure.

3) If the car keeps hitting limp home mode, get a reputable garage to swap the fuel filter before you entertain any of the more radical and expensive 'fixes', this is a fucker of a knuckle skinner of a job - so most garages say they've done it when they haven't and charge you for new injectors or a new fuel pump or something.

4) The electrics on mine haven't been stellar - this is possibly the main reason i'm chopping it in.
* The sat nav goes mental if you let it boot up and then switch the power off then on again - black screen for an hour or two before it pings back to life having wiped all your settings, this means no access to any of the other systems it controls while it's fooked.
* Drivers seat heater no longer works.
* Rear wiper stopped working.
* Going over a bump triggers auto wipe of the windscreen.

5) Air-Con is leaky and only lasts a month or so after a re-gas. Needs new pipework / seals to fix but that costs a kidney.

6) Various rumbles, squeaks and warbles from the back end indicating bush / bearing wear.

on the plus side.

1) i've put 100k miles on it in 2 and a bit years and it's never failed to get me where i was going.
2) i've mistreated it horribly with only 1 service at MOT time a year and oil top up when i can be arsed.
3) The engine is the best diesel i've ever driven and stands all the abuse i hurl at it.
4) The 'executive' models are massive spec.
5) The electric tailgate is FUCKING cool.
6) It's a relaxing car to drive and is generally a nice place to park my lardy arse.

[earlofsodbury]

very helpful Julian - thank-you very much

BTW, how many miles do you have on it now?

[meninblack]

134k! . My diesel Crapstra is on its last legs after a mere 3.5 years and 68k. It is reluctant to start ... the little orange "Help, I'm fucked" light now stays on for the first 10 miles or so ... I am followed everywhere by billowing clouds of black dieselstink ... "economy" has slumped to around 35 mpg on the motorway ...

Sadly I'm still lumbered with it due to the inability of Johnny Hun to churn out a nazi shitewagen to replace it!

[i_should_coco]

Jeez, what's with all the low-mileage stuff. Up to 192k on my nazi shitewagen now...

[earlofsodbury]

Jeez, what's with all the low-mileage stuff. Up to 192k on my nazi shitewagen now...

Mmm, my humble Primera did 220K before it became uneconomic to maintain, it's still on the road in the hands of a garage monkey 5 years after I sold it...

John - the 8V petrol is unkillable, the diesels not. Vauxshed ECUs are their main Achilles' heel.

[meninblack]

Yes, it's the "Dead ECU" light that comes on rather than the "Dead Motor" light. Sadly I have the 1988-vintage Isuzu 1.7 lump - it wasn't a very clever engine in 1988!

BTW, anyone thinking of a Diesel Honda should be aware that although the 2.0 litre diesel - the one in the ads, chased by adoring butterflies - is excellent, Honda 1.7 diesels share this rancid turd of a motor. So avoid!

[earlofsodbury]

Yes, it's the "Dead ECU" light that comes on rather than the "Dead Motor" light. Sadly I have the 1988-vintage Isuzu 1.7 lump - it wasn't a very clever engine in 1988!

BTW, anyone thinking of a Diesel Honda should be aware that although the 2.0 litre diesel - the one in the ads, chased by adoring butterflies - is excellent, Honda 1.7 diesels share this rancid turd of a motor. So avoid!

The Accord uses the Honda-designed 2.2 all-alloy block, aside from drinking oil it's a reliable lump by all accounts.

[julian2002]

sodders,
I'ts currently nudging 160k, the engine is strong as an ox - it gets a bit thrashy when i let the oil run low but top it up and it's smooth as silk again.

the 2.2 i-ctdi is a real gem of an engine - and i'd not hesitate to go for another car with it in - but go for a later model if you can they worked out the few gremlins it had by 07/08.

[earlofsodbury]

sodders,
I'ts currently nudging 160k, the engine is strong as an ox - it gets a bit thrashy when i let the oil run low but top it up and it's smooth as silk again.

the 2.2 i-ctdi is a real gem of an engine - and i'd not hesitate to go for another car with it in - but go for a later model if you can they worked out the few gremlins it had by 07/08.

Thanks again Julian, unfortunately the budget won't stretch beyond 05, but there are some sane-milers (if gen) that should have issues sorted - have run-up a model specific checklist now too

[julian2002]

you should be fine, the manifold was the big problem and was tech bulletin to honda dealers who should have done it as part of the general servicing. They are lovely cars and if i hadn't let mine get into such a state and it had less miles i'd be keeping it.

the only criticism i have about the thing as a package is that it's only 5 gears and could really use a 6th when on a run.

Others to consider are the smaller people carriers, the c-max is about the best of the bunch, not as many toys as the accord but on the whole not a bad motor.

[rockmeister]

so sodburger...are we now hondaman??
Can't see it myself, unless you imvest in an antimacassar for the headrest. You DO realise that Honda owners are respectable people. You're gonna scare a few old ladies methinks

[browellm]

so sodburger...are we now hondaman??
Can't see it myself, unless you imvest in an antimacassar for the headrest. You DO realise that Honda owners are respectable people. You're gonna scare a few old ladies methinks

Not least the ones who are bound and gagged in the boot.

[rockmeister]

oh sure...I meant the over 90's....70+ isn't really OLD.

[earlofsodbury]

Indeedy, I am now a Hondacidal maniac, complete with blacked-out rear windows and large rubber mats in the load bay. Surprising how many bodies-in-rolled-up-carpet you can get in the back of an Accord Tourer...



I like it. A lot. I calc'd fuel use last week for the first ~1000 miles of very mixed motoring: 48.5MPG, not bad for a large 140BHP estate... (read it and weep petrol-sniffers )

[Beobloke]

I like it. A lot. I calc'd fuel use last week for the first ~1000 miles of very mixed motoring: 48.5MPG, not bad for a large 140BHP estate... (read it and weep petrol-sniffers )

I did but nodded off when I got to "calc'd fuel use last week". What was the question again?

[rockmeister]

Its fine to be anal in all things...retention, self love, passion focus with women etc etc...shows consistency.