I was a Honda enthusiast in my youth going from a CRX V-tec to a Civic Coupe Vti to a Civic Hatch Type-R to an Integra Type-R... and then the German bug caught me. I'll save you the list but it topped out at a 2008 911 Carrera s convertible. Anyway moved to the states and continued the theme albeit a performance step down with my first ever automatic, a 2009 535i, kept for 18 months lost $16k... Which has just been traded in for my first ever Accord the V6 Touring. I spent literally days trying to find a car that wont depreciate like the 535i did, that's reliable, fast, relatively good on gas, full of tech, and big enough for my soon to be family, and not a kia or hyundai as with my European mid set these brands still hold the budget stigma even though they look great.

The Honda was not my first thought, seemed to of forgotten my love for the brand, I steered clear of all German brands as they are so expensive to fix in the US, and I just couldn't find anything that met the bill. I decided to spend the weekend away from Autotrader and motortrend reviews, and just go and test drive relatively big engine'd family sedans from all the dealerships to make my own mind up.

I drove several, so many my wife says I owe her a weekend of baby shopping in return However I found the winner, I have to say the Accord V6 Touring is in my mind not in the same class as most of the competition and then the competition they are in the same class as is vastly more expensive, what they have done with this car is succeed at being the ultimate compromise car. I thought I'd have to take a hit on performance from the 535i particularly if i wanted more space... nope. I have no idea what the 0-60 is but it feels fast, faster than my 535i which was apparently 5.7 secs, its more fun than the 535i, it has every bit of tech you could want in a car the nav and touch screens are extremely responsive. It has vastly more space in the rear seats. The front seats fit my 6"2 frame like a glove and the dash just feels luxury albeit missing some dash leather, Awesome head lights and sporty/luxury/aggressive front end. A great 6 speed auto box when in sport mode. and great gas mileage if you drive it normally.

Its safe to say 3 days into ownership I love Honda again. The rev happy engines are just so lively.

It wouldn't be fair to not list the cons. Although it handles well I can confidently say I feel safer entering a corner at speed in this than the 535i, however its fair to say its not setup for cornering at serious speed either, there's heaps of roll, but that makes it feel soooo comfortable when your not thrashing it. Theres understeer when pushed, The side profile isn't exactly award winningly sleek, and the Alloys have no redeeming features (why would honda put worse wheels on the top spec), 278bhp makes it wheel spin and torque steer, but thats kinda fun too. For some reason the radio doesn't sound great but then pandora and aha/slacker sound fantastic through the 7 speaker setup.

Im pretty critical of my cars, Im in my early 30's, this is my 16th, I've always said my most fun car was my 2001 Integra Type-R, the lift off oversteer was so much fun, even over my 1995 modded WRX and the flashy but nerve racking 911. But its difficult to explain, this Honda Accord V6 Touring is the first car I ever bought new, and yes its not the fastest car ive owned, or the most prestige brand, but its unquestionably the most complete package I ever owned, it just seems to do everything well enough to make me happy, and its at a sensible price, its the first car I've not had an ounce, yet, "knocks on wood", of buyers remorse.

 

Welcome new member to the HAF..I enjoyed reading your story..it is very good..

Thank You for joining.