Honda Accord Tourer
Posted by: MW on 28 July 2004
I'm considering changing our 1996 Accord Aerodeck ES 2.2i for a new Tourer 2.4 Exec auto. The new Tourer has had good press, any thoughts? I like Honda reliability, aren't I boring, but peace of mind. I have to load Fenders and amps in the back for my son, as well as sports equipment.
Posted on: 28 July 2004 by bigmick
I was trying to convince my wife that an estate would suit her needs rather than a small mpv and I tested the diesel versions of the tourer, V70, Mondeo and Vectra estate. Basically, they're all huge and modern diesel engines are almost universally fab. The last two were competent but the interiors were yeuch and there's that image thing; as Clarkson would say buying a Vauxhall is like telling your friends and family that your life's been a complete failure. Bonkers and irrational but there you go. Seats don't go flat in the Mondeo but it's a sharp drive and decent diesel engine.
The V70 and Accord were the best, but the Volvo engines are now a it old and dirty, but plenty of go. Some of the interior stuff a bit plasticky and cheap. The Accord diesel is an amazingly smooth engine, the interior is solid, though not really to my taste, the seat fold mech is easy and the powered tailgate would be genuinely useful; thought the backside is quite ugly. I had earlier tested the saloon and there is a fair bit of extra road noise coming from the tourer boot. I've got a 530d and IMO the tourer diesel is not a gazillion miles away in terms of driving pleasure.
Curveballs, I was also impressed with and advise you to check out the X-trail and the Touran DSG which my wife finally plumped for. Tons of space, great diesel engine and trick gearbox.
If you don't need to move kids probably the Accord.
The V70 and Accord were the best, but the Volvo engines are now a it old and dirty, but plenty of go. Some of the interior stuff a bit plasticky and cheap. The Accord diesel is an amazingly smooth engine, the interior is solid, though not really to my taste, the seat fold mech is easy and the powered tailgate would be genuinely useful; thought the backside is quite ugly. I had earlier tested the saloon and there is a fair bit of extra road noise coming from the tourer boot. I've got a 530d and IMO the tourer diesel is not a gazillion miles away in terms of driving pleasure.
Curveballs, I was also impressed with and advise you to check out the X-trail and the Touran DSG which my wife finally plumped for. Tons of space, great diesel engine and trick gearbox.
If you don't need to move kids probably the Accord.
Posted on: 29 July 2004 by MW
Mick
Thanks for the info. One kid, but Fender Strat and Peavey Bandit, plus acoustics. Wife wants a Lexus RX 300, but the thought of all that dosh raises my BP (is this her cunning plan?) I only use the car twice a week to go swimming, so it's a bit of a persuasion job.
Max
Thanks for the info. One kid, but Fender Strat and Peavey Bandit, plus acoustics. Wife wants a Lexus RX 300, but the thought of all that dosh raises my BP (is this her cunning plan?) I only use the car twice a week to go swimming, so it's a bit of a persuasion job.
Max
Posted on: 01 August 2004 by Hawk
quote:
Originally posted by MW:
I'm considering changing our 1996 Accord Aerodeck ES 2.2i for a new Tourer 2.4 Exec auto. The new Tourer has had good press, any thoughts? I like Honda reliability, aren't I boring, but peace of mind. I have to load Fenders and amps in the back for my son, as well as sports equipment.
I'll second bigmick on the Accord Diesel engine, it really is a very special piece of engineering.. I currently drive an Accord 2.0 Exec Auto Saloon and i would swap it for the diesel at the drop of a hat...
If you need an auto though the 2.4 is the one to go for... but its worth trying the 2.0 if you want to save a few £££
I'll confess to working for Honda so i may be a little biased! but the only credible alternative when i was involved in product testing was the merc c class estate. I think it looked better, was quieter on Motorways but had a cheaper feel to it, especially the interior and price for price spec, or lack of it! I agree with bigmick on the volvo's, they are past masters in the big estate market but when driven back to back with the Honda and the Merc they feel very agricultural...