accord 2.2 or 320d

trabpc

We are moving shortly (longer commute) and my wife is lookin to upgrade from her petrol 1.6 to either a diesel accord or an e90 320d. both 2005.

A few Q if i may.

Honest john (UK website) refers to some 2.2 accords been hard on both oil and Diesel! I am interested to hear from owners about this. Even one garage in Portlaoise advised me if I was buying one to keep an eye on the oil every 1000 miles!

so are they

1. hard on oil
2. What kind of economy are you guys getting is 50mpg realistic)
3. any one imported one.

looking also at a 320d se 2005 e 90 for €18500. has all the toys. with 65,000miles. UK import been sold in dublin private sale.

what are these like for reliability. linkages electrical etc.

Whats his price of €18500 like ?



could this be a mistake?

Is this guy for real (no wonder some garages are going out of business)

http://www.cbg.ie/Car_Detail.aspx?ID=1859259

any comments appreciated need to buy Dec or Jan at latest.
Thanks

Captain Slow IRL

Accord:
Bad points -
Engine's are delicate - if they are run low on oil, you're looking at the guts of €12k to replace with a new unit.
They eat through front brake pads and tyres.
Good points -
Fuel efficiency with excitement of a Type R
Feck all else goes wrong with them!

320d
Bad points -
They go through brakes all round and are very expensive to replace.
Servicing costs can be costly if done at a main dealer.
No spare wheel - you'll have to kit them out in run-flat tyres, about €250 a corner.
Bad wind noise (from all e90's)
Good points -
Brakes are unbelievably good, will pull the face off you if you have to do an emergency stop!
Pretty peppy.
They seem to be more reliable than the petrol e90's


Can't comment on fuel economy for either, but having driven and worked on a lot of each I'd veer towards the accord.

trabpc

Thanks
I presume the Accord is built to the usual Jap Reliability?

niceirishfella

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Accord:
Bad points -
Engine's are delicate - if they are run low on oil, you're looking at the guts of €12k to replace with a new unit.


errrmmmmmmmm €12,000 for an engine? Ehhhhh?

Captain Slow IRL

niceirishfella wrote: »

errrmmmmmmmm €12,000 for an engine? Ehhhhh?

That's what the bill had printed on it.

@trabpc - the accord and e90 320d are very reliable cars, I'd just feel a little better behind the wheel of the accord! Try and get a test drive in each, they're both very nice cars to drive.

bazz26

Drive both cars and see which one you (or the boss) likes the most.

RandomAccess

+1 for Accord. Still looks fresh today (I can't say that about the BM) and spec is usually good.

Henry Ford III

BMW every time.

Accord is relatively heavy on fuel, and isn't as involving or rewarding to drive. The engines do burn some oil, but with a regular check it shouldn't be an issue.

Imported 320d's are the perfect car for clocking. Be very thorough is checking out it's service history etc.

Biro

Henry Ford III wrote: »

BMW every time.

Accord is relatively heavy on fuel, and isn't as involving or rewarding to drive. The engines do burn some oil, but with a regular check it shouldn't be an issue.

Imported 320d's are the perfect car for clocking. Be very thorough is checking out it's service history etc.

Accord heavy on fuel? That's proof that you shouldn't listen to Honest John all the time.
They're one of the best out there on fuel. And even quieter than the BM. The BM is nicer to drive for sure. I'd sooner the Accord though. Better value.

I wouldnt have to even think about it. BMW all the way. Much classier car and it drives the correct wheels unlike the accord.

On the myth that jap cars are more reliable, this was in one of the papers at the weekend. http://www.autospies.com/news/Official-Bmw-3-Series-most-reliable-car-in-the-UK-37316/

Biro

Evelynn Worried Shampoo wrote: »

I wouldnt have to even think about it. BMW all the way. Much classier car and it drives the correct wheels unlike the accord.

On the myth that jap cars are more reliable, this was in one of the papers at the weekend. http://www.autospies.com/news/Official-Bmw-3-Series-most-reliable-car-in-the-UK-37316/

How many Fiesta's are hired out versus how many bm's? That's a stupid and pointless article. Mate of mine has a brand new 320d with no end to problems with it. Moral of the story is that nothing is as reliable as the mid-90's jap machines any more, not even new jap machines.
In any case that's irrelevant, cause there's no myth about jap reliability, and BM's are reliable too of late despite individual cases. Chances are neither car will cause you problems, so rule that out.
BMW will drive better, Accord is better value in terms of standard equipment and space. Both have excellent engines. Accord will be a bit more comfortable on long trips. Drive both, in any case you're not getting a bad car.

Biro

Biro wrote: »

cause there's no myth about jap reliability,.

My point was not very clear, Obviously jap cars are very reliable no body could dispute that, my point was other cars can be just as reliable.

Henry Ford III

Biro wrote: »

Accord heavy on fuel?

Relatively heavy on fuel is what I said, and I maintain that's correct.

smokingman

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Relatively heavy on fuel is what I said, and I maintain that's correct.

I'm getting 51mpg...is that heavy yeah?
In saying that, if I keep the heated seats and air con on, I only get 46.
Accord all the way - one other thing to keep in mind is that you get a hell of a lot more extras for the same price if you go for the accord.

Beautiful car and absolutely delighted I got one (Accord 2.2 Exec '05)

Biro

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Relatively heavy on fuel is what I said, and I maintain that's correct.

Relative to what? The 2 litre Petrol Accord? Relative to any other diesel in it's class it's better than most, on par with the rest, with maybe one or two exceptions.

trabpc

Thing is she actually likes both. She had driven both. I drive an 02 530d my self for the last 2 yrs and no one problem other than servicing and 2 bulbs.
just ove the 100,000 miles now. would I be correct in saying the 320d would be as good?

So I take it the Accord should easuly reach 50mpg?
You guys that own diesel Accords, are they heavy on oil?

Thanks again for the posts

pburns

Heard anecdotally from a friend of a recovery truck owner that the only thing keeping him in business are 'those new BMWs'. Apparantly 'all those electrics' are nothing but trouble...

Fact? Fiction? Post-Celtic tiger pique? You decide...

Haven't much first hand experience of these cars. I have heard the Honda's weak point is fuel consumption. I'd probably go for the Accord though - slightly less ubiquitous and doesn't have the greasy-pole-climbing/pr1ck image of the Beemer...

Bulmers

pburns wrote: »

Heard anecdotally from a friend of a recovery truck owner that the only thing keeping him in business are 'those new BMWs'. Apparantly 'all those electrics' are nothing but trouble...

Fact? Fiction? Post-Celtic tiger pique? You decide...

Haven't much first hand experience of these cars. I have heard the Honda's weak point is fuel consumption. I'd probably go for the Accord though - slightly less ubiquitous and doesn't have the greasy-pole-climbing/pr1ck image of the Beemer...

your friend probably picked me up!!..bought 320d SE last June and been on the back of a truck twice, 1st time computer went gaga and after a light show on the dash, died, last week, altenatr went, same thing christmas tree on the dash and died..so yes, electrics seems to be a problem...that said it is a lovely car to drive

vengeance52

Ive a 2004 Accord 2.2iCTDI. I love the car, i only had to top up oil once between service, but it wasnt low, i just like to keep it between min and max.

Im getting 53mpg or so and thats with either air con or the heated seats. ive never once had a reliability issue, its a great drive, comfy to sit and well spec'd car. It delivers the power smoothly over the rev's, unlike my old TDI mondeo, which catapulted me at 2,100RPM then nothin.

I tested a 320d when i was gettin my accord, and much prefered the accord.

CrowdedHouse

Bulmers wrote: »

your friend probably picked me up!!..bought 320d SE last June and been on the back of a truck

Me too...'problem with the turbo' was all I could get from the garage

And just as the weather got cold the climate control went walkabout...

trabpc

Looks like we will be buying an Accord so. Might head up north next week. will let you know

niceirishfella

trabpc wrote: »

Looks like we will be buying an Accord so. Might head up north next week. will let you know

Don't but one from the North - with all the washed diesel up there:eek:

Henry Ford III

Biro wrote: »

Relative to what? The 2 litre Petrol Accord? Relative to any other diesel in it's class it's better than most, on par with the rest, with maybe one or two exceptions.

Relative to other similar sized diesels. 46mpg (as posted by an owner) is pretty poor.

It's well documented in the motoring press, and on the net.

Cyrus

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Accord:

Good points -
Fuel efficiency with excitement of a Type R

WTF

id go with the bmw myself i think its a nicer looking car (in m sport guise anyway)

Biro

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Relative to other similar sized diesels. 46mpg (as posted by an owner) is pretty poor.

It's well documented in the motoring press, and on the net.

Well, I know 3 VW/Audi owners with the 2 litre TDI all getting around 600-650 miles to about 55 litres of diesel, A few other diesel owners (Ford, Saab, Mazda etc) getting around 520-570 miles from a similar amount, and my mate with a very heavy right boot who gets 640 miles from his Accord for the same amount of diesel. In my books that's up with the best.

smokingman

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Relative to other similar sized diesels. 46mpg (as posted by an owner) is pretty poor.

That was me - mind you, I should have also said that for that little test of mine, I had the two front seats heating on full, air conditioning always on, windows down for some of the journeys, automatic windscreen wipers set to "sense rain" etc, for the entire tank of fuel. I got almost 600 miles before I filled up.

Got 665 driving normally.

Anyone know how big the tank is?

bazz26

smokingman wrote: »

That was me - mind you, I should have also said that for that little test of mine, I had the two front seats heating on full, air conditioning always on, windows down for some of the journeys, automatic windscreen wipers set to "sense rain" etc, for the entire tank of fuel. I got almost 600 miles before I filled up.

Got 665 driving normally.

Anyone know how big the tank is?

65 litres afaik.

Stephen

My ould fella gets 55-56mpg out of his one, but with very little city driving. It was quite heavy on oil for the first few thousand miles but nothing out of the ordinary since then.

trabpc

niceirishfella wrote: »

Don't but one from the North - with all the washed diesel up there:eek:

Washed up diesel, is this true or is a rumour?

cyborg

could be SIMI propaganda

vengeance52

trabpc wrote: »

Washed up diesel, is this true or is a rumour?

dunno about that, well i bought my accord in the north, J C Cambell honda near newry and I havnt had a single problem with mine.

VolvoMan

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to everyone on here but the Accord is not the better car. Even the new generation isn't rated as highly as the E90 3 Series.

I am by no means a BMW fan by the way.

vengeance52

VolvoMan wrote: »

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to everyone on here but the Accord is not the better car. Even the new generation isn't rated as highly as the E90 3 Series.

I am by no means a BMW fan by the way.

Drove both and researched both and in my opinion the accord is the better car. more comfortable and reliable.

In most reviews the accord and bmw 3series are evenly rated.

Accord
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/honda/accord-saloon-2003.aspx

3 Series
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/bmw/3-series-saloon-2005.aspx

VolvoMan

vengeance52 wrote: »

Drove both and researched both and in my opinion the accord is the better car. more comfortable and reliable.

In most reviews the accord and bmw 3series are evenly rated.

Accord
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/honda/accord-saloon-2003.aspx

3 Series
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/bmw/3-series-saloon-2005.aspx

I'm not going to argue with your opinion and I do agree the Accord is a pretty good car as well. I just don't regard the opinion of Parker's very highly. Every other publication I've read has rated the Accord a 4 star car at best.

niceirishfella

VolvoMan wrote: »

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to everyone on here but the Accord is not the better car. Even the new generation isn't rated as highly as the E90 3 Series.

I am by no means a BMW fan by the way.

Volvoman, don't apologise for being the bearer of any news. You're entitled to your opinion, it could be right and it could be wrong:rolleyes: - but its still your opinion.

Biro

VolvoMan wrote: »

I'm not going to argue with your opinion and I do agree the Accord is a pretty good car as well. I just don't regard the opinion of Parker's very highly. Every other publication I've read has rated the Accord a 4 star car at best.

Still though - with all the reviews of the 3-series through the years as being the absolute best of the best, one couldn't help but be massively disappointed after driving one to find that it does handle better than the competition but not sports-car esque, cramped and dull inside and only acceptable performance from the 2 litre diesel as opposed to the would-have-us-believe massive performance! Objectively though they're right in terms of driving dynamics. The 3-series is better than the Accord. But in my opinion if you want driving dynamics than just get a sports car of sorts. If you want a family saloon then you need to take everything else into account. The Accord beats the 3-series in every other department really.
Also, why is it that all the car mags seem to agree that the C-Class has the 3-series at least matched on handling, and equipment, price etc is all similar or better, but the end result is "3-series wins by narrowest of margins"? They have their favourites and are predictable if you ask me. If the handling is the same, the merc looks better, is far rarer, way nicer inside, I'd put the merc as the winner.
It's like the Mazda 2 versus the new fiesta. Same platform, but the Fiesta won the test. No real reason, as they compared very well to each other. The real reason is because the car press love Ford and BMW. If its equal between a Ford and any other make, then the Ford will always win. Same with BMW versus the world.

Gryzor

have an 04 2.2 exec, smashin car. i average around 48-49mpg. My daily commute is around 25 miles each way, half dual carraige way, half city.

I find it a very comfortable car, solid on the road and probobly one of the queitest diesels around. As mentioned already, u can load up on extras with the accord for the same money. With emissions so low, its a good one to import from the UK (20% VRT), actually the 320d is probobly the same...

On the diesel accord, a couple of things that are known to go wrong, both have warranty extensions which apply in ireland even if car is bought in the uk.

1) Headlights let in moisture and fog up when switched on. I'm getting mine done on thursday, both lamps being changed for free.

2) Exhaust manifold can crack at around 75K miles, not sure how common this is??

/runs out to check dipstick!! hadn't heard they were overly heavy on oil :eek:

Captain Slow IRL

Gryzor wrote: »

1) Headlights let in moisture and fog up when switched on. I'm getting mine done on thursday, both lamps being changed for free.

There's a recall for that, it should have been checked the last time you were at your main dealer. (Or are you a naughty boy bringing it to indo's!?)

Gryzor wrote: »

runs out to check dipstick!! hadn't heard they were overly heavy on oil :eek:

Shouldn't be an excuse to neglect checking the oil level anyway.

vengeance52

Gryzor wrote: »

1) Headlights let in moisture and fog up when switched on. I'm getting mine done on thursday, both lamps being changed for free.

How long is the warrenty extended, cos ill check my headlights later and ring my local honda if theres a problem

Gryzor

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

There's a recall for that, it should have been checked the last time you were at your main dealer. (Or are you a naughty boy bringing it to indo's!?)

I bought in the UK in July, the initial recall work had been done before i bought it. They stick 2 metal clips onto the top of the lamps, and hope that sorts the problem. On my car and many others it didn't fix it, so replacing headlamps is the next step.

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

Shouldn't be an excuse to neglect checking the oil level anyway.

Too true..:o

Gryzor

vengeance52 wrote: »

How long is the warrenty extended, cos ill check my headlights later and ring my local honda if theres a problem

i posted about it before...basically extended by an extra 3 years or 95000 miles, which ever comes first

Captain Slow IRL

Gryzor wrote: »

I bought in the UK in July, the initial recall work had been done before i bought it. They stick 2 metal clips onto the top of the lamps, and hope that sorts the problem. On my car and many others it didn't fix it, so replacing headlamps is the next step.

I could never understand how the clips were to work, but a lot of the time they did! Ah well, at least it's being sorted!

trabpc

vengeance52 wrote: »

dunno about that, well i bought my accord in the north, J C Cambell honda near newry and I havnt had a single problem with mine.

Thanks for that Rang JC cambell on monday 24th he has an 05 2.2 with 40k miles coming in on monday dec 1st. He was looking for 8500Pounds got it for 7800 pounds( I know I can get them privately for 6500) but as he is main dealerer she is getting 1 yr warranty + 1 year aa membership.

We drove a few e90 05 320d Diesels and her first and last comment on each car was "god it very plain inside comaped to the older BMW's" she much prefers the dash on the accord and I would have to agree, althought it looks well on the outside. where the hell did bmw go with the styling of the new Bm's. I won't even start on about the styling on the e60-Sloppy.(oh! i just did)

Will post a pic when we have it.

Thanks again for advice & comments.

beatman91

I drove both of these, as my brother has the BMW and a good friend got the accord.

I really feel you get more for your money with the Honda. He got a UK import Accord and it has every option I've ever heard of for little money. Engine is great, he has it for 6 months now and loves it.

I'm not saying the BM is bad but as far as value for money, you get more for less.

Both good cars and you won't go wrong with them.

trabpc

Ok I said id post a few pics. 40k on the clock. 7800GBP

I believe if I wait till Jan ill get vrt for €3666

Or do it now for €4163

If I wait till Jan Will they look for proof of date I bought the car up North?

She does not mind waiting till Jan before she drives it.

Gryzor

VRT is paid on the value of the car on the date you walk into the office, not the purchase date. never heard of it being backdated.

Nice looking motor aswell, enjoy :-)

vengeance52

trabpc wrote: »

Ok I said id post a few pics. 40k on the clock. 7800GBP

I believe if I wait till Jan ill get vrt for €3666

Or do it now for €4163

If I wait till Jan Will they look for proof of date I bought the car up North?

She does not mind waiting till Jan before she drives it.

looks pretty tidy, and make sure ya get those floor mats, cos they can be expensive cos there fitted just for the accord.

Id say in Jan, ya might get a few more quid of the price if ya haggle enough.

jason31

think the accord is looking somwhat dated theses days and the new one is out!!

trabpc

jason31 wrote: »

think the accord is looking somwhat dated theses days and the new one is out!!

Yea I think ill spend 4 time more and buy the new one!!!!!

seamy_orr

trabpc wrote: »

Yea I think ill spend 4 time more and buy the new one!!!!!

Good luck with the new purchase, I had a 05 iCTDi Accord Exec imported from the UK which I sold on a while back due to emigrating. They are a classy car and in my opinion will never lose that unique sporty look. I had the Accord for 7 months, never once experiencing any problems and was always an absolute pleasure to drive. I got 54 mpg out of the average tank which was about 50/50 urban/rural. Never had any problems with burning oil, but the correct oil must be used when servicing. 0w30 fully synthetic.

Happy motoring man, I am green with envy...

smokingman

trabpc wrote: »

Ok I said id post a few pics. 40k on the clock. 7800GBP

That's exactly the same as the one I got in August, even the colour!
Sweet sweet car and you will never regret it.
I've different rims than that one but they're nice though.
Got mine with 48k on the clock for 17G euro.