I have a 98 EX 4 cylinder sedan with ~150k miles on it. Today, I got a 2006 LX 4 cylinder sedan as a loaner while my Odyssey was in for repairs. Wow!!!! I am in shock of the difference in power between the 2 Accords. The 2006 is rated for 16 more hp and 10 more ft/lbs of torque. The 2006's max torque is available at 1000 rpm's less than the 1998.

I don't know much about engines, rpm's, hp, and torque but could that small of a difference in numbers make such a big difference in performance?

While my 98 is old, it still performs very well and has been well maintained. In fact, ever since got the timing belt service done along with a full load of other maintenance (rotor, cap, plugs, wires, etc.), it runs better than it's run in years. My point is, I don't think the 98 has degraded performance wise to make it feel so sluggish compared to the 2006 model.

Is the 2006 that much of an improvement in performance over previous year models?

I was planning on trading my 98 for an updated model in the next few years. I wanted to get a V6 for the extra accelerating power (I'm a crazy NJ driver) but the 2006 i4 is so amazing, I'm scared of what a V6 would feel like.

 

Yea the k24 engines have a pretty nice power band. Still nothing compared to the v6.

 

What I think you're feeling is that lack of low-end torque in your 98. The wider power band of the K motor would be very noticable when comparing the two cars.

 

What you have to remember is that your 98 Accord has done 150k. The manufacturers quoted HP and Torque in 98 were for a new engine and transmission. Unfortunately over 150k even with regular maintenance your car is not going to be the quoted figure it was when new. Piston wear allowing gasses to escape between the piston and cylinder walls and bearing wear causing increased friction and many other factors on an old engine are likely to reduce the power

My Accord according (pun intended ) to Honda has 129bhp. I have just over 100k on it. If my car was to be put on a dynamometer (device to measure engine power and torque) I would be surprised if it had 100bhp.

 

is that really truee tho?? like losing up to 50 hp on a car with over 100k miles. cuz if you drive an an accord (ex. 98 accord EX 150hp) with 100k+ miles on it it still feels faster than a brand new car with around 120 hp or is it just me haha??

 

No, not unless they are in really bad shape. Abused and not maintained.

 

performance wise the cars are fairly similar the newer accord has more weight for that HP to pull around. Maybe your car needs a tune up and some new o2 seonsors

 

In my case I was suggesting a loss of around 30bhp. Yes I do believe it could be as much as that after 100k miles.
There is a forum and a guy has a F355 and has had an ECU upgrade on the car. Ferrari quote the 355 stock at 380bhp. He had it tested at about 320 on a dynamometer. Forget the exact mileage but it was not excessive. So about a loss of 16% on the quoted figure.

IMHO Wear does play a part in power loss. Not 50bhp (in the Accord's case) but still enuf to make the difference between the new Accord you drove and the one you own.

 

I guess the only way to tell if the accord motor has lost power due to age is to do a compression and leak down test. If the numbers look good, then it probably hasn't lost very much power.

As motors age they can and will lose power from piston, ring, and valve wear. It's sad but true.

 

I would be quite suprised if a well maintained car expecially a honda lost an outerageous 50HP at only 100K miles. I would guess that most hondas are still outputting at their rated HP or very close to it. If you are loosing HP due to leakage you would know it because of what would be coming out of your exhaust (blue smoke, black smoke, white smoke, etc), poor fuel economy, rough running, etc.....