CTC Review: 2008 Honda Accord Coupe

[CD_Editor]

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My week with the Honda Accord Coupe V6 could not come at a better time: it has been almost one year to the day since this 2008 model was revealed in Detroit and almost exactly two years since I reviewed the seventh-generation Accord Coupe V6.  The eighth-generation Accord is, once again, larger than its predecessor and the coupe more sculpted than the sedan, with the traditional flowing lines that all coupes should wear.  More...

[Cortina]

I'm looking foward to your blog on this car. I was a little dispointed that they didn't go with a 2 tier Interior to be in keeping with the Civic. I guess it was to risky B/C the Accord appeals to the 35+ crowd IMO. 

I must say though the coupe is so much nicer than the saloon. 

Wing, Are you using a digtal cam for the little walk round .

Wow it Manual. This has to be the only Manual V6 on the N/A market. 

Mmmm, wait a minute. BMW do a Manual of course. but thats it I think. 

[Mitlov]

Wow it Manual. This has to be the only Manual V6 on the N/A market. 

Not counting luxury models, there's the Nissan Altima and Mazda6.

[Cortina]

Wow it Manual. This has to be the only Manual V6 on the N/A market. 

Not counting luxury models, there's the Nissan Altima and Mazda6.

Oh yer of course. Silly me.

[tpl]

I'm looking foward to your blog on this car. I was a little dispointed that they didn't go with a 2 tier Interior to be in keeping with the Civic. I guess it was to risky B/C the Accord appeals to the 35+ crowd IMO. 

I must say though the coupe is so much nicer than the saloon. 

Wing, Are you using a digtal cam for the little walk round .

Wow it Manual. This has to be the only Manual V6 on the N/A market. 

Mmmm, wait a minute. BMW do a Manual of course. but thats it I think. 

BMW don't do V6s only inline 6s

[JSCC]

LoLz. 
Enough said.

[Jaeger]

Definitely more appealing than the sedan in just about every respect.  Still a little on the large side for my tastes but it hides its mass well, being far less blocky (at least, from the A-pillar back) than the sedan.  Thanks heavens they made the V6 available with the 6 sp. manual transmission on the Coupe.

[Kai]

I'm actually happy Honda didn't go the 2-tier way and I'm in the mid 20's crowd.  It's more a different futuristic design but as an driving enthusiast, you'd like to scan one place for you speed and rpms.  Maybe having the speedometer up there keeps it in your peripheral vision.

I've seen this car at the dealer and it's quite big, not really Prelude like, which Honda was after with the 2003 model.  It's nice that they made a 6 speed manual for this car and a little more performance would help it too.  (Handling, braking, etc)

[sirAQUAMAN64]

While I'm normally a fan of that blue, it looks a little too 'fun' on it. Seen a black one and man that colour suited it. Even the red does, adding some sport. Will reserve opinion on the blue till I see on on the road, but the new Accord Coupe certainly is a hot number.

6MT 

Enjoy the week!

[si]

The new upper-level Accords have the feel of a TL for less money - too bad I'm sure they also share the disappointing plough when pushed.

[JSCC]

The new upper-level Accords have the feel of a TL for less money - too bad I'm sure they also share the disappointing plough when pushed.

Have no fear,
cause the new generation TL will be here,
by the end of this year.

Due to the product cycle for the Accord/TL, there will always be a 1 year gap period, between the new Accord and the new TL.

[wing]

SAM, did you watch the video? Because of the way the light hit the car the blue looks much brighter in the photos than the video.  The colours in the video are more life like.

[Giant Dwarf]

Styling-wise, I find the front to be much too large and bulbous.  It appears from some of those pics that the front over-hang is noticably larger than the rear overhang.  To my eye, that's just bad proportioning. 

Must be a wonderful GT car to cruise in though.  Quiet, comfortable, well-equipped, powerful and most of all reliable.  Too bad it wasn't a few weeks from now -- I'd like to do the long-distance passenger comparison to the last gen V6 coupe you had two years ago, Wing.   

[Cortina]

I'm looking foward to your blog on this car. I was a little dispointed that they didn't go with a 2 tier Interior to be in keeping with the Civic. I guess it was to risky B/C the Accord appeals to the 35+ crowd IMO. 

I must say though the coupe is so much nicer than the saloon. 

Wing, Are you using a digtal cam for the little walk round .

Wow it Manual. This has to be the only Manual V6 on the N/A market. 

Mmmm, wait a minute. BMW do a Manual of course. but thats it I think. 

BMW don't do V6s only inline 6s

Details. Details.

The colours in the video are more life like.

So you are using a Video Camera. I thought you were using a 7 to 10 Megapixel digtal Cam.

[jww]

Ah yes - the 2-dr coupe niche. I wonder if it will displace SUVs/CUVs in terms of sales in the marketplace 

I must admit that while I am not a big fan of 2 dr coupes. I see their appeal, it's just that to me, it's simply another part of the marketplace where everyone seems to think they need to have a big play. Driving an Altima or Accord coupe suggests 'wannabe-ism' to me. I can't afford a real sports car, so I'll drive a family car that has been dummied out to a coupe instead. I don't doubt that they are very good cars, and the evidence is plentiful that they can be fun to drive - but the thought of attributing sports car status to a family sedan just somehow doesn't sit right with me.

'course, that probably would change if I were to drive one.

[wing]

Cortina, I have a 7megapixel digicam that does 30fps video as well as a camcorder.  I used the digicam for the T&C and video camera for the Accord.  Quality wise (once compressed down to the web) it is identical.  But the video camera is easier to hold steady (although I still suck at that) and zoom and such.

When using hi-quality mode on the digicam I can only record 15sec at a time which is a pain because you end up with 100 small slips, it was easier just to keep the camera rolling and just walk around and such and chop it later.

[safristi]

Maybe a pre_LUDES ta somefing better from HONDA    Ohhh and LOSE THAT BLUE it's fer Tonka TRUCKS......c'mon Honda GET some KOLORS in yer palate...ya know a nice Pearl creamy silver white (not shrieking Cieling PAINT)...some cerebral colours here fer ADULTS........fer gawds sake....do U employ 6 year old X Boxers fer advice?

[Zombie]

Ah yes - the 2-dr coupe niche. I wonder if it will displace SUVs/CUVs in terms of sales in the marketplace 

I must admit that while I am not a big fan of 2 dr coupes. I see their appeal, it's just that to me, it's simply another part of the marketplace where everyone seems to think they need to have a big play. Driving an Altima or Accord coupe suggests 'wannabe-ism' to me. I can't afford a real sports car, so I'll drive a family car that has been dummied out to a coupe instead. I don't doubt that they are very good cars, and the evidence is plentiful that they can be fun to drive - but the thought of attributing sports car status to a family sedan just somehow doesn't sit right with me.

'course, that probably would change if I were to drive one.

I think most people that buy a car like this want a car that looks and feels sporty but can seat 5 people. I don't see a problem with this I since I have long been a fan of the Accord coupe and the new Nissan Coupe. I'm not sure how you define these people as  "Wannabes" since the performance numbers for both the V6, 6 speed, accord and Altima have been quite respectable for a FWD car. 0-60 for both are about the same at 6.2-6.3 seconds accord-ing to http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=123357
these numbers are better then alot of other cars that I would consider sportier.
http://www.car-videos.net/performance/speed.asp?Speed1=0&Speed2=60

I know 0-60 isn't every thing but there it is.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

SAM, did you watch the video? Because of the way the light hit the car the blue looks much brighter in the photos than the video.  The colours in the video are more life like.

No, hadn't till now. Does look much darker and more contemporary in your video. Suits it better.

Also just took a look at the T&C video. I happened to like that music.

Maybe I'm the only one, but would be nice if in your videos you play with things (open dash cubbies, folding thingies, on coupes how the front seats move forward for access, under cargo floor storage, etc). Things people rarely get to see from other photo sources and typically only get discovered in person. Just like you did with the display on the Accord or the rear power seat of the T&C, but more of it. My $0.02. First time watching them, but enjoyed the videos 

[wing]

Good feedback as always SAM -- I'll try, one issue though it is VERY hard to hold a camera and fold seats.   I have a tripod but the threads on my camera are stripped.