4 cyl coupes: Camry Solara SE vs Honda Accord LX

[SuperTool]

Thinking about getting a new car. Both manuals, side airbags added to accord to have head to head.
Solara is 500 cheaper, has standard 16 inch alloys, vs 15 inch hubcaps on accord, has speaker controls on steering wheel, and has disks all around vs drums rear on accord.
Accord has speed-proportional steering, whatever that means, standard floor mats, and overhead console.
Solara is bigger, has nicer interior, and more standard features for less money. Accord has arguably better exterior, and some say better manual tranny.
So which one would you choose?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Are you positive drums are rear on the Accord? I could have sworn (at least on the sedan) that it came with 4 wheel disc brakes for the LX.

I got to see the Solara and Accord coupe both in person a few months ago when shopping for cars - the Solara is all new for 04 and is pretty sweet. (The Solara's interior is how the Camry's interior SHOULD be) Honestly I think the interiors are about equal level with the Solara having a nicer, more sporty looking exterior. I didn't get to drive the coupe versions but I'd honestly take the Accord though. Have you test driven either?

 

[KingNothing]

speed-proportional steering means that at low speed, the steering feels lighter (wheel is easier to turn) while at high speed the steering feels heavier (wheel is harder to turn).

Accord isn't anything special to look at, but the Solara is downright ugly. I saw one of the new ones in traffic the other day and I was like WTF is that? It was just so mind-wrenchingly hard to look at.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Never mind, I was way off on the disc brakes. That was for the EX. I do have to say though - even with drums in the back, the brakes are very sensitive and it definetly doesn't lack stopping power.

 

[SuperTool]

I test drove the accord ex 4 cyl auto
It was pretty good. If LX came with 16 inch rims and disk brakes, it would be a no brainer.

 

[SuperTool]

The problem with drums is when I get rims later on, it'll look ugly. I don't want an EX, because with sunroof, I don't have enough headroom.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I test drove the accord ex 4 cyl auto
It was pretty good. If LX came with 16 inch rims and disk brakes, it would be a no brainer.

Alas, it doesn't though. That's one of Honda's bad points - they don't offer different packages unlike Nissan or Toyota. (Other than DX, LX, EX, etc) On average it comes out to about $2000 more for EX over LX. Probably early next year I'm going to purchase a 4 door Accord - I've decided that the extra $2k is worth it. That is subjective of course and dependent on the person.

How did the Solara drive?

 

[SuperTool]

Haven't driven it. Maybe I'll do it today. I agree styling is weird. But probably a better cruiser than Accord.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

4 cylinder big coupe = slow. Why spend that much money on a combination that doesn't make sense?

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
4 cylinder big coupe = slow. Why spend that much money on a combination that doesn't make sense?

It's around 18K, so not all that much money. I see where you are coming from though.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
4 cylinder big coupe = slow. Why spend that much money on a combination that doesn't make sense?

It's around 18K, so not all that much money. I see where you are coming from though.

I would rather get a used vehicle with a V6, such as a Maxima.

 

[SuperTool]

I already have a used maxima

 

[SuperTool]

I found the acceleration of the 4 cylinder accord to be adequate, and Solara should be similar.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I found the acceleration of the 4 cylinder accord to be adequate, and Solara should be similar.

Agreed. With respect to Wink's comments, it's no RSX Type-S or some "compact sport coupe" - it's the practicality of the best selling cars in the U.S. with a little bit more driveability. The 4 cylinder is hardly a slouch in terms of acceleration though - I found it to be quite powerful for a 4 cylinder. I'm sure the 6 just blows away the 4 though. Getting the 6 would get me into too much trouble though.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I found the acceleration of the 4 cylinder accord to be adequate, and Solara should be similar.

Agreed. With respect to Wink's comments, it's no RSX Type-S or some "compact sport coupe" - it's the practicality of the best selling cars in the U.S. with a little bit more driveability. The 4 cylinder is hardly a slouch in terms of acceleration though - I found it to be quite powerful for a 4 cylinder. I'm sure the 6 just blows away the 4 though. Getting the 6 would get me into too much trouble though.

Not to mention better fuel economy, aren't 4 cylinders cheaper maintenance wise and 4 cylinders can use regular gas instead of premium?

If it weren't for those 3 reasons, I would have splurged and bought the Accord EX V6 instead of our Accord SE 4 cyl.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: SuperTool
I found the acceleration of the 4 cylinder accord to be adequate, and Solara should be similar.

before I bought my accord, I skimmed through an MT review on 4 banger accord, altima and camry. Supposedly the camry is a bit slower than the accord and altima, and the accord/altima were real close.

 

[luvya]

Accord. Because Solara is fugly!

 

[BCskunk]

solara...

less on the streets

 

[wasssup]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
speed-proportional steering means that at low speed, the steering feels lighter (wheel is easier to turn) while at high speed the steering feels heavier (wheel is harder to turn).

This is on my 2003 civic as well...i HATE this feature. On my older '98 civic which didn't have this, steering felt more natural, and more "fun" in general. With my 2003, no matter how much i have to turn, i don't think i've ever turned the wheel more than 180 degrees. Though, i'll be honest with you, most people i know ("point A to point B" drivers) like the new feel......

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Not to mention better fuel economy, aren't 4 cylinders cheaper maintenance wise and 4 cylinders can use regular gas instead of premium?

If it weren't for those 3 reasons, I would have splurged and bought the Accord EX V6 instead of our Accord SE 4 cyl.

For the accord, the V6 has a timing belt and the I4 uses a chain. Timing belt changes on these FWD v6 cars are really expensive, easily over 500 dollars and it has to be done around 100k miles. If you want to keep a car long term, it's probably a bad idea to buy a V6. Some people go through cars evey couple years so that's not a big deal.

I have the 4 banger and it has enough power for me to pass, merge, without the engine reving up. I kind of wish I had gotten a v6 for extra push in the seat, but I can't really complain with what's already there. I might still trade in for a V6 or buy mods, there's more mods for the I4 than the V6. :Q

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: SuperTool

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
4 cylinder big coupe = slow. Why spend that much money on a combination that doesn't make sense?

It's around 18K, so not all that much money. I see where you are coming from though.

I would rather get a used vehicle with a V6, such as a Maxima.

For this price/segment, there really aren't any good used alternative. The older gen accord/solara coupes with V6s were almost always auto only and they're actually slower than a new manual I4 accord. Maxima/Altimas are sedans only.

Seeing that a current gen manual I4 accord breaks into 15s, I wouldn't exactly call that slow.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Not to mention better fuel economy, aren't 4 cylinders cheaper maintenance wise and 4 cylinders can use regular gas instead of premium?

If it weren't for those 3 reasons, I would have splurged and bought the Accord EX V6 instead of our Accord SE 4 cyl.

For the accord, the V6 has a timing belt and the I4 uses a chain. Timing belt changes on these FWD v6 cars are really expensive, easily over 500 dollars and it has to be done around 100k miles. If you want to keep a car long term, it's probably a bad idea to buy a V6. Some people go through cars evey couple years so that's not a big deal.

I have the 4 banger and it has enough power for me to pass, merge, without the engine reving up. I kind of wish I had gotten a v6 for extra push in the seat, but I can't really complain with what's already there. I might still trade in for a V6 or buy mods, there's more mods for the I4 than the V6. :Q

Thanks for the info.

What model year Accord I4 uses the chain? At what mileage and how much is the timing belt? We've only driven 8000 miles in 17 months of ownership.

 

[SuperTool]

OK, I went to test drive the Solara. They didn't have an I4 to test drive, but they had one sitting in the showroom.
It looks much better in person than it does on pictures. The interior is great.
I testdrove a G35 next door, and I must say it drives awesome, but the interior looks cheap. If they just replaced the gray plastic on the door handles with metal or just left it vynil like the rest of the door, it would look much better.

 

[johnjbruin]

if only two cars existed, ie. the solara and the accord i4 coupes, then i'd pick the solara.
i think it looks better.
accord... well everybody has an accord... its just too common and i dont like that.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

The Solara does look nice. I've seen two.