"The new Accord is a great driver. The suspension, (double wishbone front and independent rear) is never too rough or too soft. The steering is tight but smooth, and it has plenty of power available. It really is a perfect blend of sporty and practical. Driven in heavy rain or snow (that crappy weather I was talking about,) the stability and traction control is flawless; it’s just as easy to drive in adverse weather as it is when it’s dry.
The seats are comfortable, and with the 8-way adjustable seats and tilt & telescoping steering wheel, even a big 6′4″ fella like myself finds himself comfortable. When you’re in a spirited driving mood, the 268 horsepower engine provides a low, subtle rumbling sound that you don’t normally get with a car in this class. The coupe is altogether very easy to drive, and there isn’t much of a learning curve. Everything seems very logically placed and easy to find.
...
As much as I like the car, there are a few things that bothered me about it. While slowing to stop, the car feels like it shifts into first gear too soon, and while going at slower speeds, the shifting is a bit jerky at times. It’s not a major issue, but certainly something you’ll have to get used to. The car also torque steers a bit, but you only notice it when really stepping on it from a stop; not a problem for most people. Another minor complaint is the unresponsiveness of the throttle. When you’re about to pass someone and need some quick power, it takes a second for the engine to kick in once you punch the gas pedal.
My main complaint about the interior was the shift knob; you activate most cars’ automatic shift levers by grabbing the knob, pulling in the button (to release the lock) much like you’d pull a trigger, then shifting into Drive. With the Accord’s shift knob, you actually have to pull up on the button instead of in, making it slightly awkward each time you need to get into or out of Park. A few other weird things about the Accord’s interior include the dashboard button layout. The modern car’s dashboard already looks like that of a commercial jet with so many features, but Honda’s gone and made every button look nearly identical in size and shape, making it difficult to quickly change a radio station or turn your heat up while driving.
The side mirror controls on the door are also placed in a strange position. They must have run out of space, because they placed the controls for the side mirrors directly behind the main door handle, forcing me to squeeze my hand in there or pull my little finger back to get to the controls. This may not be as much of an issue for women or smaller men; our photographer Christine had no problems with it."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
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