Accord, Passat or Avensis

Stinkah

Hello all,

I'm new to this board, used to use the tech boards all the time, but never the motors one. I'm not majorly into cars but I've reason to buy a car at the moment. I'm recently married with a kid on the way, so I need a good reliable, comfortable car, that's not going to cost the earth and that will be easily maintained and relatively cheap to run.

I've been searching for a while now and have narrowed the search down to three possible candidates, but would like so "expert" advice on which one I should pick, and maybe a couple of simple reasons why.

My choices are:

(all from 2004 onwards)
The Honda Accord
The VW Passat
The Toyota Avensis

My gut feeling is that thousands of taxi men can't be wrong in terms of reliability, so would be leaning at the moment towards an Avensis. Then again, they are a small bit on the boring side and the Accord is nice looking, comfortable car and Honda's are built to last. The final choice is the VW Passat, and realistically this is my outsider at the moment because I've only really thrown it in because of the VW name.

My preference would be to have leather seats but it's not a must. Thinking here is that with baby coming, any mess can be wiped clean pretty easy in theory

I've budgetted for a spend between 16 and 20k so that would obviously restrict my purchase power, but I'm not adverse be any means, to travelling to the UK to purchase and have been looking into what Car Giant have to offer and like what I see.

Anyway, I'd be very greatful for any thoughts suggestions from you guys.

Thanks in advance,

bbam

Hi...
I have a Passat for some time now, I've driven both the Avensis & Accord in turbo diesel models..
The Accord wins hands down in my book... Relyable, stylish, comfortable, huge boot space....

Best of all " A real touch of Class"

Cheers..
BAM

Stinkah

Wow, that was quick, and just want I wanted to hear.

I should have pointed out too that I'm looking to buy a Diesel, so obviously this is good news

vengeance52

bbam wrote: »

Hi...
I have a Passat for some time now, I've driven both the Avensis & Accord in turbo diesel models..
The Accord wins hands down in my book... Relyable, stylish, comfortable, huge boot space....

Best of all " A real touch of Class"

Cheers..
BAM

i got a 2.2i-CDTI accord in exec spec and i love it. drove the avensis and it was ok, but i didnt like the pedals for some reason. ive big feet so the accord was more comfortable driving position. When i drove the passat, theres loads of room and comfy enough, but found it heavy and slow.

This is my thread i had when deciding on my accord, and it was cos of boards i went for it. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53046386

joy123

to me it will be either toyota avensis or passat.
now its depend on urs driving profile
if u driving more then 6000 mile per year, i would say for fuel economy u should buy passat tdi. they r really good if u do lots of milage and they r reliable too.
otherwise go for toyota they r known to be reliable.


again its my openion.

E92

I wish you luck trying to find an Avensis with cow skin(leather) in it.(unless you try across the pond, most of our ones were fairly basic inside in them)

Of the three cars there, it would have to be the Toyota for me, as long as you stay away from the 1.6, as these have yucky seats(and are unlikely to offer any decent performance). 1.8 Lunas are the ones to have(or better still a diesel Luna), and there are plenty of them around. I would warn you that the Avensis, like all modern Toyotas isn't quite as trouble free as you might think(it certainly won't live up to the "best built cars in the world claim"), but it's not going to leave you stuck at the side of the road either, and would still be a lot better than most other cars out there for reliability.

My father has a 05 one, and thus far it's had electrical issues(it wouldn't start twice and required an AA callout on both occasions because of some electrical problem), air conditioning trouble(it turned out to be the pollen filter, so nothing major) as well as traction control issues too. Apart from that it is a lovely car though.

The Passat is overrated(especially for reliability) and the Honda is more expensive(though I haven't gone in one, but it is meant to be similar to the Avensis, just dearer, it has bigger engines, and probably would be a bit more reliable too) than the Toyota(not that the Toyota is cheap now either, they have fantastic resale value).

Don't just limit yourself to those three though, the Mazda 6 and Ford Mondeo should never be left out of the shopping list of any person considering a family car, and if none of those float your boat, the Opel Vectra is super quiet(super heavy depreciation too, nobody will want it when you want to sell it but you should be able to get a much newer one than anything else mentioned), and though I personally wouldn't buy them, a 407 is super stylish, and a C5 is meant to be ridiculously comfortable, though I'd be holding my breath on reliability there, with a Laguna you'll get to know your local mechanic VERY well indeed should you buy one.

A bit of an outsider is the Volvo S40, smaller than anything else I've mentioned, but reliable, very safe, and I don't care what anyone says, they are a seriously comfortable car(a lot of people think that they are bad over the bumps, absolute nonsense as long as you avoid sports suspension and stick with 15 inch wheels), and anything from 03 onwards is very well appointed inside. I think it is a seriously underrated car(I would say that wouldn't I since I drive one:D).

JHMEG

I would see the Accord and Passat as being a bit more upmarket than the Avensis, tho the Avensis has certainly moved up aswell. The Avensis tho should be the cheapest of the 3, and certainly isn't a bad bus.

The Accord is superbly built and the interior is very high quality. It almost has a German 'feel' to it. As a result it's on the expensive side.

The Passat disappointed. The interior is nice, tho I thought a little OTT in the use of silvery plastics. That was the other thing: the Passat's plastics felt cheap to me, something I was quite suprised at.

I haven't driven a Passat, but have the other two. Tho the Accords were both 2.4s, a Type-S and an Exec auto, and the Avensis was a 1.6, so it'd be unfair to compare them.

Green Hornet

Got to be the Accord. More stylish, comfortable and upmarket than the others and unbreakable. Seems to be a lot of posts complaining about the Passat on the forum as being "soft". The Avensis is most likely a very good car but bland as hell.

The Accord will cost you more but you will get a great trade in. The only thing to watch out for is the fact that the model is changing in September. Actually, the Avensis is also changing model soon but I doubt if the new one will be "dramatic" either.:rolleyes:

bazz26

OP wait until after 1st of July and import yourself a Honda Accord 2.2 diesel. The VRT will be reduced on it and because it is an import registered after 1st July the annual road tax will be around €420 compared with over €700 at the moment. I am going down this route myself next year.

The Accord is a lovely car and feels that little less main stream than the Passat or Avensis.

tippbhoy

Stinkah wrote: »

I need a good reliable, comfortable car, that's not going to cost the earth and that will be easily maintained and relatively cheap to run.

Reading into this sentence, the Avensis is the one for you, value for money, hugely reliable and a good size.

Personally i would rate it a bit boring but it's not designed to be an exec car. For me i'd buy the Accord, they're all mostly high spec and have a finesse about them that no Toyota could ever pull off. Several of my friends have had passats , they're not as reliable as people make out, granted most of them would have been the previous model...still...

If you're doing a lot of miles i'd spend the bit extra on the Accord, if you only want a run around then the Avensis imho.

kleefarr

Accord for the drive as well as everything else. (And the adverts )

fabsoul

bbam wrote: »

The Accord wins hands down in my book... Relyable, stylish, comfortable, huge boot space....

Best of all " A real touch of Class"

+1 Of the three it has to be the Accord

worded

What about an Audi A4?

Black_Knight

My dad has the Accord, 2ltr petrol. I drove it for a year. Excellent car, never any problems with it, reliable as a wee donkey. Only thing I felt was the steering felt quite light at times compared to other cars ive driven. Its nothing to get used to anyways.
+1 for the Accord

kyote00

It would be either accord or avensis for me...

Honest John report for Accord is interesting....
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=665&

JHMEG

kyote00 wrote: »

Honest John report for Accord is interesting....
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=665&

What's Bad
No longer British built.

LMAO!

coolbeans

Of the three I'd go for the Accord every time. Why? It's got one of the best diesel engines in the world for one.
It's built in Japan so it's gonna have proper Japanese reliability and the majority sold in Ireland had leather.:). Check this bad boy out.
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Honda/Accord/2.2-CDi/910034/

unkel

JHMEG wrote: »

What's Bad
No longer British built.

:eek: Well spotted, JHMEG

What's Bad for who? I thought honest john was honest, but maybe he's a bit deluded too? He is a Brit after all and they used to be a super power many generations ago :rolleyes:

JHMEG

unkel wrote: »

:eek: Well spotted, JHMEG

What's Bad for who? I thought honest john was honest, but maybe he's a bit deluded too? He is a Brit after all and they used to be a super power many generations ago :rolleyes:

Personally I'd prefer to have my Japanese car built in Japan. Ironically I think a lot of Brits would feel the same.

As a mechanic I know says about Lucas, a British company: they were making sh1t 25 years ago, and they're still making sh1t. He actually blames Nissan's misfortunes on the extensive use of Lucas parts.

kyote00

British built or not, what about all this stuff....even if you filter out the all stuff about radio/satnav and speakers (ffs)

What to Watch Out For
Radio TP problem when cars fited with satnav. Radio supposed to automatically seek best signal for selected station but instead can seeks out the strongest signal around the frequency which can result in unintended channel hopping.

Have been turbo failures on CDTIs.

Report of heavy use of rear brake pads.

Reports of heavy oil consumption as bad as 1,000km a litre on some CDTis and no low oil warning light, only oil pressure light so needs regularly checking.

Reports of mid 30s fuel consumption of early 2.2iCDTI.

Reports of problems with electrics: central locking and electric tailgate.

Problems with ABS and radio speakers.:rolleyes:

Noisy automatic transmissions due to known software fault with transmission ECU.

Have been cases of water ingress into rear wheel bearings.

DVD Satnav is by Alpine and can be repaired by them if it goes wrong, tel Alpine Electronics 0870 3333 407. No need to buy a new unit.

Problem of 2006MY 6 speed manual boxes on diesels jumping out of 1st gear. Modification available from Honda, but parts on back order in March 2007.

Report of faulty voltage regulator on 2.2iCDTI at 20k miles.

Report of dealers charging £100 to adjust non adjustable hydraulic tappets of 2.2 diesel.

Report of dealers repeatedly overfilling with oil at services.

Numerous report of fuel strainer/fuel filter of 2.2iCDTI clogging in cold weather leading car to run in 'limp home' model.

Reports of problems with swirl chambers of 2.2iCDTIs at high mileage. Best to have replaced before the 3 year 90k mile end of warranty.

groupb

worded wrote: »

What about an Audi A4?

You're only buying a badge.
The other three are better cars.

Stinkah

Just wanted to Thank Everyone for the replies on this so far. Superb information. I'm not too sure that I can wait until July such are my current circumstances, but my strong feeling is that the Accord is the pick of the bunch which makes me happy

Again, Thank you!

Wolff

I have an 07 Accord 2.2 CDTI and its a classy motor - the fuel consumption is brill - interior is excellent - I found the mondeo too plasticy and badly built - doors are flimsy and thought the same of the avensis - not in the same class as the accord

GERMAN ROCKS

id go for a passat they look the best in the driveway.

vengeance52

ive had no probs with any of my electrics, fuel consumption, getting about 56mpg from my 2.2 i-CTDI. Oil consumption is low, and better than my old mondeo.

The radio is spot on and doesnt jump to a diff station when seeking best signal. The 6 CD front loading player is VERY handy.

worded

Wolff wrote: »

I have an 07 Accord 2.2 CDTI and its a classy motor - the fuel consumption is brill - interior is excellent - I found the mondeo too plasticy and badly built - doors are flimsy and thought the same of the avensis - not in the same class as the accord

Hi - What MPG are you getting?

vengeance52

Accord Spec List here
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/specs/detail.aspx?deriv=33390

bazz26

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

id go for a passat they look the best in the driveway.

What a really daft reason to choose a car.

E92

bazz26 wrote: »

What a really daft reason to choose a car.

I completely agree. Though if this sort of petty snobbery is important to the OP, by all means choose the VW(it will be spending more time on the driveway too, cause it'll being going wrong more often, and might have electric handbrake trouble, so you can't move it). I've always wondered what people see in modern VWs that I don't, and now I realise that people are making all sorts of bullcrap excuses to buy them, so they clearly aren't good cars if this is the sort of nonsense is a "reason":rolleyes: to buy one.

JHMEG

bazz26 wrote: »

What a really daft reason to choose a car.

Even more strange is that German Rocks normally advocates French cars...

GERMAN ROCKS

JHMEG wrote: »

Even more strange is that German Rocks normally advocates French cars...

i said i wouldnt bother recmmend a french car as the op did ask only about those 3 cars.
let me clarify myself in my opinion out of those 3 cars i would go for a passat because i think it looks the best out of the other 2. my neighbour has a silver one and it always looks the best compared to the other neighbours cars. by the only problem she had with it is that the airbag light came on due to somebody kicking the wire under the passenger dash or something

Green Hornet

JHMEG wrote: »

Even more strange is that German Rocks normally advocates French cars...

Not too many others out there who do.:D

coolbeans

Stinkah wrote: »

Just wanted to Thank Everyone for the replies on this so far. Superb information. I'm not too sure that I can wait until July such are my current circumstances, but my strong feeling is that the Accord is the pick of the bunch which makes me happy

Again, Thank you!

Ahhh...sweet validation.:D

PCwiggum

bazz26 wrote: »

OP wait until after 1st of July and import yourself a Honda Accord 2.2 diesel. The VRT will be reduced on it and because it is an import registered after 1st July the annual road tax will be around €420 compared with over €700 at the moment. I am going down this route myself next year.

The Accord is a lovely car and feels that little less main stream than the Passat or Avensis.

Hi, sorry I'm a bit late joining this tread, but I'm torn between the Accord and Passat myself. I wouldn't consider the Avensis - don't know why - I just think its a bit bland (IMO, I don't want to offend any Avensis drivers).

My first choice was to buy a 2004 2.2DAccord in the UK after July 1st, but I've since found out the road tax will be still charged based on cc for all cars pre 2008, no matter where they are from.

That put me on to my 2nd choice - the Passat which would save me +€250/year on tax.

I would like to persuaded to stick to my first choice - help please!!

vengeance52

PCwiggum wrote: »

Hi, sorry I'm a bit late joining this tread, but I'm torn between the Accord and Passat myself. I wouldn't consider the Avensis - don't know why - I just think its a bit bland (IMO, I don't want to offend any Avensis drivers).

My first choice was to buy a 2004 2.2DAccord in the UK after July 1st, but I've since found out the road tax will be still charged based on cc for all cars pre 2008, no matter where they are from.

That put me on to my 2nd choice - the Passat which would save me +€250/year on tax.

I would like to persuaded to stick to my first choice - help please!!

Get the accord. i got the exact same make and model in NI last june and its the best decision ive made. i drove the passat and found it slower and doesnt handle as nice as the accord.

Never had one prob ever with the accord, i get about 55mpg and i love it.

i had a thread when i was picking my car, and i got alot of good info from others here on boards.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53046386

Green Hornet

PCwiggum wrote: »

Hi, sorry I'm a bit late joining this tread, but I'm torn between the Accord and Passat myself. I wouldn't consider the Avensis - don't know why - I just think its a bit bland (IMO, I don't want to offend any Avensis drivers).

My first choice was to buy a 2004 2.2DAccord in the UK after July 1st, but I've since found out the road tax will be still charged based on cc for all cars pre 2008, no matter where they are from.

That put me on to my 2nd choice - the Passat which would save me +€250/year on tax.

I would like to persuaded to stick to my first choice - help please!!

No contest. Go for the Accord. Sturdy, well built, economical, good resale value and has more character than the Passat. They never break down either whereas there are a few negative posts with regards to the reliability of the Passat on the boards.

PCwiggum

vengeance52 wrote: »

Get the accord. i got the exact same make and model in NI last june and its the best decision ive made. i drove the passat and found it slower and doesnt handle as nice as the accord.

Never had one prob ever with the accord, i get about 55mpg and i love it.

i had a thread when i was picking my car, and i got alot of good info from others here on boards.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=53046386

Thanks guys, swaying back towards the Honda - cheers for the link to previous thread Vengeance

E92

Don't forget that the lower road tax only applies to cars with a 08 reg or newer. Only VRT is changing on pre 08 imports in July.Pre 08 cars imported after July will continue to be taxed on engine size, like all other pre 08 cars here.

vengeance52

PCwiggum wrote: »

Thanks guys, swaying back towards the Honda - cheers for the link to previous thread Vengeance

no probs, i love my accord. i think it looks better than a passat too but that might be just me

It BeeMee

PCwiggum wrote: »

the Passat which would save me +€250/year on tax.

For the sake of €4.81 a week, I'd go with the Accord ....

PCwiggum

It BeeMee wrote: »

For the sake of €4.81 a week, I'd go with the Accord ....

When you put it like that - its a simple choice really - thanks!

legalbird12

Accord is by far the best. Take one for a test drive and you'll see

E92

The new Accord has been taking a bit of a pasting from Autocar. Basically the Accord has ideas above it's station.

2.4 i-VTEC review

That really didn't get a good review at all. See below.

"No, the can of worms explodes when you realise that this car costs not much less than a BMW 325i SE – a car with an award-winning, 215bhp, 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, as well as a riflebolt six-speed manual gearbox, rear-driven handling dynamism to spare, and more genuine premium-brand allure than you can measure in a hundred focus groups.
The range-topping Honda Accord, on the other hand – the model that middle-managers countrywide should surely aspire to own if the outfit’s premium brand ambitions are to be taken seriously – has a noisy, 198bhp 2.4-litre four-pot under the bonnet, which drives the front wheels through a five-speed automatic gearbox that is often slow to kick down and guilty of transmission slip. The Power of Dreams? This is anything but.
In fact, this car needs this powertrain only marginally more than it needs an unscheduled level-crossing meeting with the 7.58 from London Paddington."

2.2 i-DTEC review

That fared a lot better, but it's clear that Honda will have to do more than this if they want it to be considered alongside the 3 series, A4 etc. They did say it's more than a match for Volvo and Saab though.

vengeance52

E92 wrote: »

The new Accord has been taking a bit of a pasting from Autocar. Basically the Accord has ideas above it's station.

2.4 i-VTEC review

That really didn't get a good review at all. See below.

"No, the can of worms explodes when you realise that this car costs not much less than a BMW 325i SE – a car with an award-winning, 215bhp, 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, as well as a riflebolt six-speed manual gearbox, rear-driven handling dynamism to spare, and more genuine premium-brand allure than you can measure in a hundred focus groups.
The range-topping Honda Accord, on the other hand – the model that middle-managers countrywide should surely aspire to own if the outfit’s premium brand ambitions are to be taken seriously – has a noisy, 198bhp 2.4-litre four-pot under the bonnet, which drives the front wheels through a five-speed automatic gearbox that is often slow to kick down and guilty of transmission slip. The Power of Dreams? This is anything but.
In fact, this car needs this powertrain only marginally more than it needs an unscheduled level-crossing meeting with the 7.58 from London Paddington."

2.2 i-DTEC review

That fared a lot better, but it's clear that Honda will have to do more than this if they want it to be considered alongside the 3 series, A4 etc. They did say it's more than a match for Volvo and Saab though.

Same site:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/RoadTestsOnTheRoad/Honda-Accord-2.2-i-CTDi-Executive/205016/

"On the road, it’s easy to be slightly underwhelmed by the Accord, but its true strengths soon come clear. It delivers strong, real-world performance with a new standard of diesel refinement. Power is available from as low as 1400rpm and then builds strongly but smoothly, right to the 4500rpm red line, making overtaking an effortless affair.

Given the wet conditions, a 60-0mph braking time of 3.0sec is reasonable and the pedal feel inspires confidence.

To cope with the added weight of the diesel engine Honda has tweaked the spring and damper rates. We’ve always been impressed with the handling of the new Accord and the diesel variant is no different. It’s quiet, rides well and has a useful ability to cover big distances in comfort. It also entertains on twisting B-roads: with such excellent body control – even over viciously pock-marked and undulating surfaces – and precise steering and decent amounts of grip, it’s a rewarding experience. "

They compare it to a BMW, but if you compare it to a passat, im sure the accord will come out top.

JHMEG

PCwiggum wrote: »

That put me on to my 2nd choice - the Passat which would save me +€250/year on tax.

But could end up costing you more in the long run...

JHMEG

The previous paragraph of the 2.4 Accord review (which you didn't post, E92):
It’s also got an equipment list strong enough to make it the most technologically advanced car in its class. There are few problems, then, with the way this car looks, feels, rides or handles, and none at all with the fact that, at various times and to varying degrees, it’s clever enough to brake, accelerate and steer on behalf of its owner, and to warn him of a potential crash up ahead.

Has the BMW got electric windows in the back yet?;)

I also don't understand why they compare an Accord with an auto box to a BMW with a manual.

E92

vengeance52 wrote: »

They compare it to a BMW, but if you compare it to a passat, im sure the accord will come out top.

I did say that the diesel fared well:).

I agree that it probably is a better car than the Passat(though I'm no great fan of the VW), but Honda are pricing it to take on BMW, not VW let alone cars I would consider to be it's natural rivals e.g. Mondeom, Avensis.

Hence why the first thing I said was that the Accord has ideas above it's station, and it does. If they priced it realistically rather than idealogically then I know it would have gotten a much better review.

If Honda want the car to be considered a rival to cars like the 3 series then it's fair game that one should compare it to the 3 series, and not an Avensis, Passat, etc.

JHMEG

E92 wrote: »

If Honda want the car to be considered a rival to cars like the 3 series then it's fair game that one should compare it to the 3 series, and not an Avensis, Passat, etc.

In fairness its the press that are making the comparisons.

Also in fairness the Accord has a lot more goodies than the 325 they're comparing it to.

Stephen

The 2.4 vtec accords have always been poor sellers here thanks to the tax regime. I don't see that changing either.
My ould fella has put about 70,000 km on his 06 diesel accord with zero issues and fantastic fuel economy. I have a petrol civic with the same horsepower but the extra torque of the diesel makes it really fun to drive for a 4-door saloon. He's trading it for a new i-DTEC this summer

what_car

Stinkah wrote: »

Hello all,

I'm new to this board, used to use the tech boards all the time, but never the motors one. I'm not majorly into cars but I've reason to buy a car at the moment. I'm recently married with a kid on the way, so I need a good reliable, comfortable car, that's not going to cost the earth and that will be easily maintained and relatively cheap to run.

I've been searching for a while now and have narrowed the search down to three possible candidates, but would like so "expert" advice on which one I should pick, and maybe a couple of simple reasons why.

My choices are:

(all from 2004 onwards)
The Honda Accord
The VW Passat
The Toyota Avensis

My gut feeling is that thousands of taxi men can't be wrong in terms of reliability, so would be leaning at the moment towards an Avensis. Then again, they are a small bit on the boring side and the Accord is nice looking, comfortable car and Honda's are built to last. The final choice is the VW Passat, and realistically this is my outsider at the moment because I've only really thrown it in because of the VW name.

My preference would be to have leather seats but it's not a must. Thinking here is that with baby coming, any mess can be wiped clean pretty easy in theory

I've budgetted for a spend between 16 and 20k so that would obviously restrict my purchase power, but I'm not adverse be any means, to travelling to the UK to purchase and have been looking into what Car Giant have to offer and like what I see.

Anyway, I'd be very greatful for any thoughts suggestions from you guys.

Thanks in advance,

i have owned both cars so i can give real world experience of them.
i must say that the avensis was handy on fuel, about 830km for a full tank.
i had the luna diesel, climate, folding mirrors, cruise control, ew, alloys,
overall a nice big saloon.. but as i stated before, horribly boring.
i sold it after 6 mths from new!

i now have an accord type s , saloon. much better made car around, and made in japan! i went with the petrol accord auto, and avg 31-35 mpg over a tank, and regularly get 45mpg on a motorway run.

i must say its a very enjoyable car to drive and servicing costs not bad, first main service cost 190 yoyo's at a main dealer.

it has a premium feel over that of the avensis.. better materials in cabin, nice dash, and it looks great...

having owned an avensis, i would recommend the accord any day..far superior!

what_car

Stephen wrote: »

He's trading it for a new i-DTEC this summer

new model ? this autumn you mean?:)

the new accord is not released until september.

with an auto diesel option available in 09!