Are Hondas worth it?

[BENZ BOY15]

Are they worth the premium they charge over the American & Korean makes?

While our Hondas have had great reliability records and are decent cars, I wonder if the Americans have caught up.

Or even if they didn't....is the rather stiff premium worth it?

[Madman]

Maybe at one time they were, but not anymore.

[Soup DeVille]

Are they worth the premium they charge over the American & Korean makes?

While our Hondas have had great reliability records and are decent cars, I wonder if the Americans have caught up.

Or even if they didn't....is the rather stiff premium worth it?

An Accord over a comparable Camry or Taurus? Probably not.

An Odyssey over a Town and Country? every bit of it.

[GoCougs]

The largest detriments against Honda is the incessant road noise, flinty ride, and interior rattles. These are not minor for me. However, the attention to other details is impressive; my $21k Accord was in a number of ways better (details mostly) than my $42k G37. However, the overall product is impressive. Honda got distracted with    such as the Crosstour and Ridgeline, which cost them in diverting $$$ from the ho-hum "new" Civic (and from the looks of it the "new" Accord). Honda reliability is unbeatable too. So, yes, IMO they are worth it, if you can stomach the detriments. After living for ~7 years and ~150,000 miles with them in the Accord, I'm not sure I could. If in that market space again the new Camry SE V6 is a notably better vehicle in every regard.

[2o6]

Are Hondas really a price premium anymore?

[GoCougs]

I should also add Honda is behind on many technologies, such as chain-driven camshafts, DOHC drivetrains, modern VVT/L, and 6sp ATs. These haven't been bleeding edge tech for years so the "playing it safe" reasoning I often see just doesn't wash IMO.

[ifcar]

Are Hondas really a price premium anymore?

Some, especially against the more basic cars in the class they're most comparable to instead of the pricey upscale ones. The Odyssey is one key example, and even the Civic is more than something like a Corolla, Sentra or Forte, if not a Focus or Jetta.

[Soup DeVille]

I should also add Honda is behind on many technologies, such as chain-driven camshafts, DOHC drivetrains, modern VVT/L, and 6sp ATs. These haven't been bleeding edge tech for years so the "playing it safe" reasoning I often see just doesn't wash IMO.

They have all those things. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point.

[GoCougs]

They have all those things. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point.

True, but not exclusively. Most all automakers have almost fully transitioned to those technologies whereas Honda hasn't come close to a full transfer. The whole of their V6 line is still in the '90s with belt-driven SOHC heads. VTEC is old school in its lack of continuously variability. The 5 sp AT is still used extensively.

[Soup DeVille]

True, but not exclusively. Most all automakers have almost fully transitioned to those technologies whereas Honda hasn't come close to a full transfer. The whole of their V6 line is still in the '90s with belt-driven SOHC heads. VTEC is old school in its lack of continuously variability. The 5 sp AT is still used extensively.

I've long arguesd that SOHC has distinct advantages for a lot of mid-range engines. Its kind of weird to be defending Honda in this regard though.

[sportyaccordy]

I should also add Honda is behind on many technologies, such as chain-driven camshafts, DOHC drivetrains, modern VVT/L, and 6sp ATs. These haven't been bleeding edge tech for years so the "playing it safe" reasoning I often see just doesn't wash IMO.

They dont need it, like you said yourself the J engine is competitive, as are their 4 bangers

I still think a built J would serve an NSX nicely

They have been experimenting with DSG on motorcycles but other than that, if it aint broke

[veeman]

On the used car market, hondas rule.  Last year, my sister in law sold her 4 banger 11 year old accord with 150 thousand miles for three grand to a used hispanic market car dealer.  While filling out the paperwork, she saw a few customers in the lot eyeing it.  If that were an 11 year old taurus, she probably would get less than a grand.

When she bought her new elantra and her fiance wanted to trade in his 10 year old jeep GC, the dealer confided that the only 10 year plus old cars with >100,000 miles on them that are worth anything on the used car market (regarding mainstreamers) are hondas, toyotas, and maybe some nissans. 

I love my 2007 leather v6 sonata with 70,000 miles and I paid as much as I would have if I bought a new cloth seat v4 accord.  But I know I can't sell my car despite whatever the blue book/grey book says for what its supposedly worth.  There's no takers.  People don't want them.  They want used accords. 

[sportyaccordy]

Hondas are awesome to sell but miserable to buy. So it kind of evens out. I would def look elsewhere for a used car. Nissans seem to be undervalued

[2o6]

Hondas are awesome to sell but miserable to buy. So it kind of evens out. I would def look elsewhere for a used car. Nissans seem to be undervalued

...because they suck.

[GoCougs]

I've long arguesd that SOHC has distinct advantages for a lot of mid-range engines. Its kind of weird to be defending Honda in this regard though.

Pretty much, only because it tends to be cheaper. The problem is (cam) independent VVT/L is not possible with SOHC.

[GoCougs]

They dont need it, like you said yourself the J engine is competitive, as are their 4 bangers

I still think a built J would serve an NSX nicely

They have been experimenting with DSG on motorcycles but other than that, if it aint broke

Where would Honda be today if their V6s had DOHC and continuous, independent VVT/L, and 6sp ATs?

But as implied Honda ain't stupid - if they can keep older technology performing more or less at the market average, why bother? (The risk of course is if they get caught off guard and leap frog'd. Nissan's CVT technology for example.)

[SVT666]

Where would Honda be today if their V6s had DOHC and continuous, independent VVT/L, and 6sp ATs?

But as implied Honda ain't stupid - if they can keep older technology performing more or less at the market average, why bother? (The risk of course is if they get caught off guard and leap frog'd. Nissan's CVT technology for example.)

You've never said that about pooprods before.

[Atomic]

YES  Maybe not the most exciting cars today, but far superior in most ways from personal experience with dozens owned by family. I am already experiencing separation anxiety thinking of giving up my 2006 Accord EX 4 cylinder (onced owned by my dad, now deceased). No squeaks, rattles, loose parts, etc. All of our Honda's and Acura's gave us this level of satisfaction. The '06 will be gifted to my niece once my 2013 Volvo XC60 T6 R-Design arrives. She better take good care of ths favorite! Lol, but so true...

[GoCougs]

You've never said that about pooprods before.

LOL because pooprod motors aren't older technology they're ancient technology...

[hotrodalex]

Yet the LS7 is one of the best engines built today.

[SVT666]

LOL because pooprod motors aren't older technology they're ancient technology...

The Chevy LS engines and Chrysler's HEMI are two of the best engines on the market.

[GoCougs]

Neither of the preceding two posts is true; by definition. If it were, most all engines would be pooprod today (and they were, once upon a time), now 98% of engines are not pooprod.

[CJ]

The Hemi and Chevy LS engines are still quite good, and there really is no doubting that.  I'd buy the Ford equivalent every day of the week, but the engines are durable, long-lasting, and offer excellent power.

[SVT666]

The Hemi and Chevy LS engines are still quite good, and there really is no doubting that.  I'd buy the Ford equivalent every day of the week, but the engines are durable, long-lasting, and offer excellent power.

They're very reliable, very powerful, very good NVH, and are quite fuel efficient.

[nickdrinkwater]

...because they suck.

How so?

[Raza]

How so?

Well, I've never really driven a Nissan I like.  They fail to excite and come wrapped in ugly sheetmetal (although the new Maxima is nice) around crappy interiors.  But the last time I looked at Nissans was years ago.  They may have gotten better, but the Juke and Murano convertible are unforgivable.  For a company that talks about paradigm shifts in all their commercials and "four door sports cars", they offer little dynamically over their competition and fall behind in reliability compared to Toyota and Honda, if I recall the last survey correctly. 

[hotrodalex]

Neither of the preceding two posts is true; by definition. If it were, most all engines would be pooprod today (and they were, once upon a time), now 98% of engines are not pooprod.

No.

An engine is judged on its own performance, not by the competition's offerings.

[sportyaccordy]

Where would Honda be today if their V6s had DOHC and continuous, independent VVT/L, and 6sp ATs?

Prob a lil less cash loaded + profitable.

But as implied Honda ain't stupid - if they can keep older technology performing more or less at the market average, why bother? (The risk of course is if they get caught off guard and leap frog'd. Nissan's CVT technology for example.)

Lets be frank, most Honda buyers dont care about technology.

And in any case, often times the new tech doesn't pan out (Hyundai/Kia are the biggest culprits of this). Even w/a low curb weight and DI (but bewilderingly a low compression ratio) the Elantra is just not cutting the gas mileage mustard.

We are due for another leapfrog moment

[sportyaccordy]

They're very reliable, very powerful, very good NVH, and are quite fuel efficient.

Incredibly compact + light as well. Are they a good fit for a luxury car, no, but who gives a shit. LSx are among the greatest modern engines out right now.

[SVT666]

Incredibly compact + light as well. Are they a good fit for a luxury car, no, but who gives a shit. LSx are among the greatest modern engines out right now.

Why aren't they a fit for luxury cars?  Ever been in a new 300C?  Very quiet and refined.  You would never know it was a pushrod engine.