Honda Accord 1.8 VTEC
Discussion
Anyone owned one of these? My VW Passat 1.8T is starting to do my head in with regular trips to the garage. The latest thing I'm noticing is white smoke on start up from cold, which the people on the VW forums think could be a weeping turbo seal...anyway, with 128,000 miles on the clock I am wondering if it is time to go. Unfortunately I only noticed the white smoke after spending £150 on new air mass meter and bits and £440 on service, cam-belt and water pump change-doh!
I want a nice reliable family car for about a grand and have seen two 2000/2001 era Honda Accords for £695 and £995 respectively. Anyone owned one? They have done 54,000 and 78,000 miles. I'm just concerned the 1.8 might be a bit gutless after my Passat, as it doesn't have a turbo. Having said that the 1.8 is only 11 BHP down on the 2 litre which would be my preferred choice. (cant find any Type Rs for sensible money anywhere locally!!).
I know they aren't exciting cars, but for cheap bangermatic motoring would they do the trick?
I ran a '99 one from new to 125,000 miles. We kept it in the company until well past 220,000 miles. Nothing went wrong with it. Was still on the original clutch even.
I would seek out a 2.0 if you can, as the economy is little different.
The 1.8 is just shy of 140bhp, though like most Honda engines it enjoys being revved to eek out the 'performance'. The Accord should be lighter than the Passat, so the power to weight ought to be similar if not slightly better. The handling certainly will be better.
I would seek out a 2.0 if you can, as the economy is little different.
The 1.8 is just shy of 140bhp, though like most Honda engines it enjoys being revved to eek out the 'performance'. The Accord should be lighter than the Passat, so the power to weight ought to be similar if not slightly better. The handling certainly will be better.
Good solid cars, guess its finding one that has been looked after as they tend to get run into the ground. My friend had one on an s plate, and it had a light in the instrument cluster that used to come on when VTEC engages. Dunno if it was aftermarket or not but it was bright and bloody annoying.
It will feel a bit gutless after the 1.8t, just takes a bit of readjustment.
It will feel a bit gutless after the 1.8t, just takes a bit of readjustment.
A weeping turbo seal would produce blue/black smoke surely?
White smoke is commonly associated with the burning of coolant, although a bit of white smoke on start up could easily just be water from condensation inside the exhaust. Quite common in winder months and nothing at all to worry about.
ETA : Accords are nice cars. Should be nice and reliable if looked after but servicing can be expensive and is often neglected. Also have a look at Primeras. The P11 is getting on a bit now, but sound (if you can find one without rust), but the P12 is a lovely thing. Very modern and a very cool interior. £1k might be pushing it though, but you'll get a nice SE spec for £1.5k easy.
Also, how about a Rover 600? It's basically a rebadged Honda Accord. Same interior, Same engines, just a different badge on the front. Lovely, underrated cars. Probably the best car Rover built in the 90s until their demise. Well within budget, you might even be able to pick up a turbo, although thats probably askinging for trouble :P
White smoke is commonly associated with the burning of coolant, although a bit of white smoke on start up could easily just be water from condensation inside the exhaust. Quite common in winder months and nothing at all to worry about.
ETA : Accords are nice cars. Should be nice and reliable if looked after but servicing can be expensive and is often neglected. Also have a look at Primeras. The P11 is getting on a bit now, but sound (if you can find one without rust), but the P12 is a lovely thing. Very modern and a very cool interior. £1k might be pushing it though, but you'll get a nice SE spec for £1.5k easy.
Also, how about a Rover 600? It's basically a rebadged Honda Accord. Same interior, Same engines, just a different badge on the front. Lovely, underrated cars. Probably the best car Rover built in the 90s until their demise. Well within budget, you might even be able to pick up a turbo, although thats probably askinging for trouble :P
Edited by MysteryLemon on Sunday 15th September 10:44
MysteryLemon said:
Also, how about a Rover 600? It's basically a rebadged Honda Accord. Same interior, Same engines, just a different badge on the front. Lovely, underrated cars. Probably the best car Rover built in the 90s until their demise. Well within budget, you might even be able to pick up a turbo, although thats probably askinging for trouble :P
No, it's not the same as the Rover 600. You're thinking of the preceding model.Edited by MysteryLemon on Sunday 15th September 10:44
Recently had a 2002 2.0 accord (and have previously had an Accord Type R).
This generation Accord is very well built hard to think of anything in particular to look out for other than usual old car things to check.
If you can find an exec model you will get heated leather and cruise control and aircon.
It will feel a bit gutless if you are coming from a turbo, the 2.0 goes fine without using vtec but for a decent bit of oomph you do need to use all the revs. They corner nice and flat, steering is overly light, the interior is the only down side they feel ancient inside with a bare old style dash with big buttons straight out of the 80's.
A safe bet for a cheap runner does everything well and is reliable but is as bland and forgettable as could be, old people love them!
This is what makes the Accord Type R such an unusual car as it comes from the dullest possible base model but when you thrash an Accord Type R down your favourite B road it comes alive in your hands like a big 4 door Integra Type R Dc2 ie its brilliant, but the standard Accord has none of this.
This generation Accord is very well built hard to think of anything in particular to look out for other than usual old car things to check.
If you can find an exec model you will get heated leather and cruise control and aircon.
It will feel a bit gutless if you are coming from a turbo, the 2.0 goes fine without using vtec but for a decent bit of oomph you do need to use all the revs. They corner nice and flat, steering is overly light, the interior is the only down side they feel ancient inside with a bare old style dash with big buttons straight out of the 80's.
A safe bet for a cheap runner does everything well and is reliable but is as bland and forgettable as could be, old people love them!
This is what makes the Accord Type R such an unusual car as it comes from the dullest possible base model but when you thrash an Accord Type R down your favourite B road it comes alive in your hands like a big 4 door Integra Type R Dc2 ie its brilliant, but the standard Accord has none of this.
Edited by rallycross on Sunday 15th September 10:57
Edited by rallycross on Sunday 15th September 11:11
My Dad came home with one in 2000 as a company car. He desperately wanted the Avensis SR, but the boss was set on Honda. At the time I had an Avensis CDX.
Both cars are incredibly well made. Some people will say "The don't make them like that anymore", and I would say that's true for Toyota.
My experience of driving the Accord is the 1.8 feels underpowered unless you hammer it, at which time your wife will raise her eyebrows, tut and cling onto the door handle in the passenger seat. The 2.0 is a better bet. My best friend ran one until 240k when it was still not borked, but he needed more economy.
But here's the most important part:
YOU WILL NEVER EVER FIND A CAR WITH A CAMPER HORN ON IT. EVER. You will be embarassed to use it. It makes Noddy seem edgy.
You've been warned
Both cars are incredibly well made. Some people will say "The don't make them like that anymore", and I would say that's true for Toyota.
My experience of driving the Accord is the 1.8 feels underpowered unless you hammer it, at which time your wife will raise her eyebrows, tut and cling onto the door handle in the passenger seat. The 2.0 is a better bet. My best friend ran one until 240k when it was still not borked, but he needed more economy.
But here's the most important part:
YOU WILL NEVER EVER FIND A CAR WITH A CAMPER HORN ON IT. EVER. You will be embarassed to use it. It makes Noddy seem edgy.
You've been warned
Most of my sheds have been accords.
I've had a 1996 2.2 accord coupe 100k+ a 1994 2.0 vtec accord saloon 100k+ and i've now got a 2000 accord 2.0 vtec with 117k on it, all three cars have been great with only minimal routine servicing really.
My only wish is that tax and the fuel economy was slightly better on them, other than that they get my recommendation for a daily driver.
I've had a 1996 2.2 accord coupe 100k+ a 1994 2.0 vtec accord saloon 100k+ and i've now got a 2000 accord 2.0 vtec with 117k on it, all three cars have been great with only minimal routine servicing really.
My only wish is that tax and the fuel economy was slightly better on them, other than that they get my recommendation for a daily driver.
MrGman said:
Most of my sheds have been accords.
I've had a 1996 2.2 accord coupe 100k+ a 1994 2.0 vtec accord saloon 100k+ and i've now got a 2000 accord 2.0 vtec with 117k on it, all three cars have been great with only minimal routine servicing really.
My only wish is that tax and the fuel economy was slightly better on them, other than that they get my recommendation for a daily driver.
This is a very valid point. My 2.0 Avensis (of which I have one even now) returns a mixed use mpg of 40. 45 is doable on a long run. The Accord you can knock 5 off.I've had a 1996 2.2 accord coupe 100k+ a 1994 2.0 vtec accord saloon 100k+ and i've now got a 2000 accord 2.0 vtec with 117k on it, all three cars have been great with only minimal routine servicing really.
My only wish is that tax and the fuel economy was slightly better on them, other than that they get my recommendation for a daily driver.
Thanks for feedback. Actually some research today does show that the 1.8 does 0-60 in 10.2 secs and averaged only 32 MPG. My Passat does 0-60 in about 8.5 and averages 34 on road tests. Maybe I should hold out for a 2 litre Accord. Obviously I would love a Type R but they make good money. I drove one some years ago and felt it lacked something in the mid range for the supposed 212 BHP ( I was at the time driving a 1.9TDI as a daily driver which may have coloured my judgement). As for the Passat, there was no white smoke today. It seems to do it more on warmer days? I.e. last Weds when it was 19.5 deg C. All the forums suggest coolant so I'm keeping an eye on it. My mechanic mate confirmed that leaking turbo seal = blue or black smoke. The other thing I thought of was that it had previously been running lean due to the air mass meter being faulty and perhaps the ECU has over-compensated since the new one has been fitted and hence when the car is cold, the mixture is too rich?
Another cheap banger that come to mind is the 2 litre Avensis from 1998-2002. These seem to go well and not use much fuel. Either that or maybe stretch to the Honda Accord from 2002 onwards which goes very well indeed in 2 litre form and the 2.4 ain't far off a Type R in performance.
Another cheap banger that come to mind is the 2 litre Avensis from 1998-2002. These seem to go well and not use much fuel. Either that or maybe stretch to the Honda Accord from 2002 onwards which goes very well indeed in 2 litre form and the 2.4 ain't far off a Type R in performance.
I would definitely drive an Avensis. I prefer the seating position to the Accord.
WARNING: Be very careful of the MK1 Facelift Avensis. The VVTi engines have an incredible record of oil consumption. Not the end of the world if you're happy to top up each week with oil when it's on offer at Tesco, but Oil Burning is bad news (it ended up costing me a cat and an o2 sensor)
Stick to 1998 and 1999 Avensis' - or you have to leap to The Mk2 Facelift from 2006 to skip the problem.
WARNING: Be very careful of the MK1 Facelift Avensis. The VVTi engines have an incredible record of oil consumption. Not the end of the world if you're happy to top up each week with oil when it's on offer at Tesco, but Oil Burning is bad news (it ended up costing me a cat and an o2 sensor)
Stick to 1998 and 1999 Avensis' - or you have to leap to The Mk2 Facelift from 2006 to skip the problem.
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