Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Hondas: What you really think.

Accords are 240HP not 270HP

The S2000 is amazing and really shows what Honda can do when they put there performance hats on. Unfortuantely the rest of there line-up is boring.

The S2000 for $32K out the door is an amazing bargain as the Honda whoops up on any car up to $45K in its price range including the Boxster. For a RWD, Convertible, 240HP, 6-spd its really is the performance bargain!

Overall their bread & butter cars (Civic, Accord) are boring and somewhat overpriced. I was definitely not impressed with any aspect of the last Civic I drove ('03 Coupe EX 5 Spd.). I haven't had the opportunity to drive an S2000, but I'd probably like it.

Acuras are a somewhat different story - I drove a CL Type S that was pretty sweet. But I personally wouldn't pay that much for a FWD car. I've ridden in my friend's TSX and it didn't do much for me.

A lot is said about their reliability and build quality, but I've seen plenty of Civics and Accords that are about 5 years old and have as many problems (squeaks, rattles, minor defects) as any other car.

Sketchy brakes. If there's a recurring theme I've seen with Hondas and Acuras, it's marginally capable brakes. They don't stand up well to the handling capabilities, tend to overheat, and to me that compromises the car overall. My G2 Integra wasn't as bad about it as my G1, but if I had the chance to own it over again, knowing what I know now, I'd spring for an aftermarket set.

I liked my Integras, I had a decently fun time in a Del Sol in Seattle, and TLs are comfortable bigger sedans (just don't drive 'em like a BAT-suspended Contour). But I'm not excited by Honda/Acura anymore. I'd like to drive an NSX sometime, but that's about it.

My stepdad owns two Hondas, a 1996 Odyssey and a 1988 Civic hatch. Both have been uber-reliable. In fact the Odyssey just completed a 7500 mile trip to the east coast and back for my mom and stepdads summer trip and never missed a beat. It's quite comfy for a small van and I recommend it if anyone is looking for a good small people mover.

PS. Where is our resident Honda expert?

I donâ??t mind Hondaâ??s very much, they make decent every day drivers, but they really lack in the performance department, if you get a civic, get one with a 5 speed, because you will have NO pick up after 30 miles per hour. In my Stock Zetec 5 speed the other day I smoked a 93 Civic, gas pedal about 1/2 way down, with A/C on. Thatâ??s just sad on his part, it was lowered, had altezza lights, badly needed a paint job, OH and hood pins, because you need those hood pins with that breakneck speed from a 1.6L I4 . Anyways I would get a Honda, to make my daily driver in all honesty; I donâ??t mind the looks of most of them. And the economy is right when it comes to gas mileage... Would I mod one? Most likely not. Which brings me to my next point. I wouldnâ??t want to mod them simply because itâ??s so damn popular to mod a Civic, here every time you see a civic; it has an ugly ass body kit, or a huge fin. Come on! Give me something you donâ??t see every day. I mean, you donâ??t see a Pre98 Contour with a new body kit, a modest spoiler and a nice set of wheels every day, I have seen 1 other contour with body mods. Not to mention one that could smoke most foreign economy cars stock.

In summary, Yes I would own a honda, no I wouldnt mod one.

I had a 98 Civic EX and I loved it. I didn't have it long enough to test the relaibility but we drove it from AZ-Cal-Neb and it ran good. Its was a good little car for around town and going to work in. It was a lease and we were going overseas so we traded it in for the Contour. Honda wanted to much for the lease buy out. They still wanted full price for a year old car. But they do hold their value alot better then an american car.

Without having read all the replies yet, are you talking about Honda in general, or the Honda's that have been modded?


In general, it's just another brand of car.

In modding, uh, it's just another brand of car.

Really, who gives a darn. I work for myself and will drive what makes me happy. My car is a Ford. My beater truck is a Chevy. My wife drives a Honda. The company that produces a car that I like best will get my money. To hell what everyone else thinks.