thinking about swapping 2k3 I4 accord for 2k4 V6

[OS]

I4 is ok for power, I went to the track and it ran a 16.4 stock. I say ok because I saw an IS300 run a 16.2 and a current BMW 3 series do 16.3 at this track before. These were all automatics, including mine.

That being said, I have the opportunity to pass off the car to my family, because they need a car, and buy something else. I have looked at all other kinds of cars including WRX, 325i and I like the accords more overall. (build quality, value, etc.). The difference in cost is about 3Gs for a LX V6.

My main concern is not the initial cost, but that the V6 is harder to work on and maintain. Oil change is probably a PITA and it has a timing belt which needs to be replaced every ~100k miles.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

$3k more for an EX

 

[Vortex22]

Uhhh... the 4 doesn't have a timing belt? And 100k is a little too long to wait for a timing belt anyway.
I also don't see why the oil change procedure would be much different.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: Vortex22
Uhhh... the 4 doesn't have a timing belt? And 100k is a little too long to wait for a timing belt anyway.
I also don't see why the oil change procedure would be much different.

The 4 cylinder has a timing chain. Of course the procedure is not really different, it's getting to the oil filter. Previous V6 accords the easiest way to change oil was to jack up the car or take off a wheel.

Man, I already feel like I asked the wrong forum.

 

[prontospyder]

What is the difference in insurance rates between the I4 and V6?

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: prontospyder
What is the difference in insurance rates between the I4 and V6?

I don't know yet, but I don't expect any dramatic difference. V6 accords are not exactly favorite cars among wannabe race car drivers (like the integra) and they aren't historically high theft targets.

 

[RossMAN]

Does the previous generation 2002 Honda Accord SE (i4) have a timing belt or chain?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

If you do get a V6 Accord, get the 6-speed coupe and at least get a little fun out of it.

- M4H

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Does the previous generation 2002 Honda Accord SE (i4) have a timing belt or chain?

those have belts.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
If you do get a V6 Accord, get the 6-speed coupe and at least get a little fun out of it.
- M4H

Well, the thing is the 6 speed only comes in the EX trim and since it's a rarer, higher demand car, it's harder to get cheap. I expect to be able to get a V6 LX for around 21k before tax, but there's no way I can get a 6 speed, EX coupe anywhere near that price. The cost is still several thousand more.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Does the previous generation 2002 Honda Accord SE (i4) have a timing belt or chain?

those have belts.

Damn yet another reason I should sell our Accord and buy an 04 LX but the price tag, argh!

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Damn yet another reason I should sell our Accord and buy an 04 LX but the price tag, argh!

4 banger accords are dirt cheap. I got mine for ~18k before tax.

 

[MustangSVT]

friend has 03 EX V6. its a Very nice car. Way beyond "econo sedan" image. he has black interior with leather.

and that this is pretty fast in a straight line. I didnt throw it around a corner yet.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Damn yet another reason I should sell our Accord and buy an 04 LX but the price tag, argh!

4 banger accords are dirt cheap. I got mine for ~18k before tax.

I'm going to hopefully remain strong and keep ours 'till 2010 or so.

 

[Dunbar]

Originally posted by: OS
My main concern is not the initial cost, but that the V6 is harder to work on and maintain. Oil change is probably a PITA and it has a timing belt which needs to be replaced every ~100k miles.

Ya, but you're buying a brand new Honda for cripes sake. Scheduled maintenance is almost non-existant for the first 3-4 years (other than oil change/tire rotation.) I drove auto and 6 speed coupes and the manual tranny was a much funner car.

 

[NutBucket]

'Square, if the filter on the V6 is anything like the setup on the Odessey, all you need to do it turn the wheels all the way to the right, reach in on the passenger side wheel well and remove the filter. I would guess Honda setup the Accord similarly. I wouldn't worry one bit about the extra maintanence. Go with what you like

 

[RagingBITCH]

James - all you have to do is turn your wheel to the right to access the oil filter KEV1N started a thread at v6p (sandwiches is his handle) about it. Simple as cake. I'm sure there's more in terms of maintenance costs, but seriously - in a span of 3 years or whenever the warranty is up - you're probably going to have a much better job, and you're going to go out and get a much better car. When the warranty is up you're probably going to mod the hell out of it. Your family needs another car so ditch the I4 and get the 6. I'm kind of wishing I had the option to do that now.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
James - all you have to do is turn your wheel to the right to access the oil filter KEV1N started a thread at v6p (sandwiches is his handle) about it. Simple as cake. I'm sure there's more in terms of maintenance costs, but seriously - in a span of 3 years or whenever the warranty is up - you're probably going to have a much better job, and you're going to go out and get a much better car. When the warranty is up you're probably going to mod the hell out of it. Your family needs another car so ditch the I4 and get the 6. I'm kind of wishing I had the option to do that now.

Modability is actually much better for the I4. The accord I4 is a K series engine, it shares the same lineage as the RSX, RSX-S, TSX, and Civic SI. Many of the parts for those cars can be used on the I4 accord. Frankenstein K series can be pretty crazy, people take the RSX-S head and put it on an accord block, and then strap on a jackson racing supercharger. Those things make almost 300 WHP. I suspect as more TSXs get wrecked and go to the junk yard, you will be able to pull off the heads and ECU and basically have a TSX.

The V6 OTOH doesn't have that many options. What particularly sucks about the V6 is that it's smog nazied up the ass, it has 3 cats, one for each cylinder bank and then another one after that. The first two cats are each integrated into the exhaust manifolds, which makes smog legal headers pretty much out of the question. You have more power from the factory, but future upgrades are limited.

I guess I will go test drive the V6 sometime, get an insurance qoute and then go from there. It's not that I regret buying my car, it's more that I have this opportunity that I don't want to let go to waste.

 

[olds]

Doesn't the EX with the 6 come with GPS?
That would be my choice.

 

[RagingBITCH]

olds - navigation is available on the EX 4 cylinder as well - leather only. It's a $2k option IIRC. Option as well on the 6 cylinder. Well technically not an option, as opposed to a higher trim level.

James - I would have thought the other way around about modability. I'm sure in time the 6 banger will have more parts available for it - it's still in an infant state - turbo's and sc's are bound to be released. Is the K series parts all swappable among different vehicles? (Like TSX, RSX parts all swappable onto the Accord) I wouldn't think a RSX and all that - you could just swap parts. The TSX on the other hand yes, since it's just a "souped up" 2.4 of the Accord. I for one might invest in doing TSX head swap I forgot you're in Cali with the whole smog sh!t, don't think we're that restricted in Texas. Honestly, you're gonna have to ask yourself what it is you want out of the car in the long run - if the V6 is really what you want or whatnot.

 

[Dunbar]

Ya, but you just got done telling us you can't afford the 6 speed. But you're gonna spend thousands of dollars on modifications? Remember, you have to add 80 horsepower to match the V6, and even then you don't have the resale value with mods...

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Dunbar
Ya, but you just got done telling us you can't afford the 6 speed. But you're gonna spend thousands of dollars on modifications? Remember, you have to add 80 horsepower to match the V6, and even then you don't have the resale value with mods...

He never said he couldn't afford it - he just said he'd like a good deal on it. I could have afforded a V6 EX coupe w/ leather and navigation myself - I probably couldn't have gotten a deal where I got it under invoice, like my I4 LX.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

James - I would have thought the other way around about modability. I'm sure in time the 6 banger will have more parts available for it - it's still in an infant state - turbo's and sc's are bound to be released. Is the K series parts all swappable among different vehicles? (Like TSX, RSX parts all swappable onto the Accord) I wouldn't think a RSX and all that - you could just swap parts. The TSX on the other hand yes, since it's just a "souped up" 2.4 of the Accord. I for one might invest in doing TSX head swap I forgot you're in Cali with the whole smog sh!t, don't think we're that restricted in Texas. Honestly, you're gonna have to ask yourself what it is you want out of the car in the long run - if the V6 is really what you want or whatnot.

Well, we just need to look at the 6th V6s who still don't have many mods. They do have the comptech SC, but that costs an arm, leg and testicle. Of course there is always nitrous, i've been talking to someone who has a 75 shot on his V6. He runs 13.7 at the same track I went to.

Not all the parts are interchangeable for the K-series, just alot. Vehicle specific parts are things like intakes, headers, but those already exist for the I4 accord. Things like the AEM fuel rail for the RSX actually fit the accord. Hondata is also said to be working on a programmable K-series computer. Those are just some examples, it depends on each part. I think of it as like a trickle down situation.

Originally posted by: Dunbar
Ya, but you just got done telling us you can't afford the 6 speed. But you're gonna spend thousands of dollars on modifications? Remember, you have to add 80 horsepower to match the V6, and even then you don't have the resale value with mods...

what RagingBitch said. The EX V6 is already like 2-3k more than an LX V6, and when you figure in that the 6 speeds aren't being discounted, the difference is effectively like 5-6k+. That's on top of the 3K difference of the LX V6 and LX I4. I could buy all the mods in the world for the I4 and still be out less than just buying the 6 speed. With 9k I could easily make this car as fast as the 6 speed. Besides, I don't believe in paying MSRP, and I don't care much for resale. I can just sell the parts separately and recover the sunk costs if need be.

 

[VTEC01EX]

I'd take an manual I4 EX over a V6 LX... but that's just me. You get most of the luxo-car features with the great economy and good power of the 4. Not to mention you're really close to that V6 LX price.

 

[Dunbar]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
what RagingBitch said. The EX V6 is already like 2-3k more than an LX V6, and when you figure in that the 6 speeds aren't being discounted, the difference is effectively like 5-6k+. That's on top of the 3K difference of the LX V6 and LX I4. I could buy all the mods in the world for the I4 and still be out less than just buying the 6 speed. With 9k I could easily make this car as fast as the 6 speed. Besides, I don't believe in paying MSRP, and I don't care much for resale. I can just sell the parts separately and recover the sunk costs if need be.

I think the "MSRP" thing for 6-speeds is a myth. All the dealers around me have 2-4 on the lot at any given time so invoice is obtainable IMO (about $24.5k.) The difference in price between the LX and 6 speed is simply how it's equipped. The 6 speeds are are fully loaded whereas the LX V6 you quoted is a "stripped" model. Not that there's anything wrong with a base model Accord. But with the 6 speed vs. a modded I4 you're still getting resale value, torque, and a smoother/better sounding engine. And like I said, the character difference between the auto and 6 speed V6 is huge. I recommend you at least test drive one, it's a completely different car...