Learn me please!... 7th gen Accord Sedan (2003-2007)

Hello everyone

Browsing used 2003-2007 Honda Accord sedans...looking exclusively at 4 cylinder/5 speed models. Did a search but only relevant threads I found were from 2010 and mostly focused on the coupe.

What to look for when buying? Common issues? Reasonable upgrades you make it more amusing on the road (handling wise)?

Any input greatly appreciated!!!

Fine cars. Mechanically identical to the coupe. First Accord to have the K-series four, which is a great engine. Just make sure it has been generally well maintained, the only real issues I have seen out of them are timing chain tensioners letting go near 200k when OCIs are repeatedly stretched. Even then, with the number of them for sale by regular non-enthusiast people on CL with around 200k, you can infer that they are pretty bulletproof. Just keep up on regular maintenance and they last a very long time.

'06-07 models are preferable if you have the option; they got a power bump, revised trim, etc. They are not fast cars but being a Honda the aftermarket is pretty significant, so it is cheap and easy to liven up the handling a bit.

My dad has a 5spd 4 cylinder sedan. It's been fairly solid for the 160k miles or so it has. A few minor things though.

• Headliner sagged (after around 10 years of florida heat)
• Headunit died. Kind of annoying that it is integrated with the ac controls, but its easy to fix, just annoying you lose a storage cubby for the radio and have to have two headunits basically 
• It does seem to burn about a quart of oil every 1.5k to 2k miles. Have to make sure the oil level is always topped off.

Also very interested in this. How many of them have a sunroof in 4cyl/5sp format? I'd prefer the two extra doors if the weight penalty isn't too much. 

In reply to mazdeuce :

Anything with an EX or EX-L trim will have a sunroof.

I just bought a 2006 V6 manual trans sedan, and have been driving it for about a week.

The 6 is smooth as butter, takes regular, and I now have two tanks of 27mpg at mostly 80mph freeway use, with a lead foot. I imagine the 4 would do a bit better than that. The gearbox is typical Honda with good positive engagement and slick throws, while the clutch has a high takeup and feels about as bad as most Honda clutches do. The car is very quiet and comfortable. I'm not aware of any "easy button" handling upgrades. 

Brakes aren't particularly good from the factory compared to competitors. Some have adapted Acura RL brakes to work with good effect.

I'm not aware of any particular issues with the K-series motor or manual transmissions. They seem to have been extremely reliable. Now that I'm driving one, I've noticed many remain on the road in Michigan, mostly 4-cylinder models, and have not noticed any rust. 

If you get one and want to add bluetooth, I'd recommend the GTA carkit adapter rather than a new head unit.

In reply to mazdeuce :

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/d/2003-honda-accord/6295884336.html

Am I the only one amazed at how cheap these cars are? 

Erich said:

I just bought a 2006 V6 manual trans sedan, and have been driving it for about a week.

The 6 is smooth as butter, takes regular, and I now have two tanks of 27mpg at mostly 80mph freeway use, with a lead foot. I imagine the 4 would do a bit better than that. The gearbox is typical Honda with good positive engagement and slick throws, while the clutch has a high takeup and feels about as bad as most Honda clutches do. The car is very quiet and comfortable. I'm not aware of any "easy button" handling upgrades. 

Brakes aren't particularly good from the factory compared to competitors. Some have adapted Acura RL brakes to work with good effect.

I'm not aware of any particular issues with the K-series motor or manual transmissions. They seem to have been extremely reliable. Now that I'm driving one, I've noticed many remain on the road in Michigan, mostly 4-cylinder models, and have not noticed any rust. 

If you get one and want to add bluetooth, I'd recommend the GTA carkit adapter rather than a new head unit.

I appreciate the input, and congrats on your purchase. While I am tempted by the 6cyl, I figure the 4cyl is more reasonable for my mundane commuting/errands, and will likely be found at a lower pricepoint. I am interested in tinkering with some shocks/springs and putting some sticky tires on it though...just for fun ;)

In reply to JAhmed :

I also noticed their price. I think they'd make a great One Lap car. Good upgrade path with the K24 and good transmission swap options, factory big brakes from Acura, sane speeds and should be comfortable with a full interior. The four door would make packing/unpacking nicer at a slight weight penalty. 

In reply to mazdeuce :

Seriously. Seems like the engine/trans/body is pretty solid...if it needs some beefed up brakes and suspension, that's fine with me...

A friend tells me that the manual trans likes Honda MTF but NEVER Redline MTL or MT-90. Also that third gear can be troublesome at times. 

I know the sway bars from the TL Type-S fit, and I think the 4 cylinder came factory with no rear sway.

Dang. Didn't realize how plentiful these were with good miles and prices. 

Linky McLinkface

My wife has one, but it's an automatic. The four cylinder burns a bit of oil, but is otherwise running well. I don't particularly like the shift programming in the automatic, and the driving dynamics are pretty bland, but it works well as an appliance.

I have an '08 manual i4 sedan. LX trim. Nearly the same. Mine came with a K24Z2. Not exactly a whole lot can be done to that engine as far as the forums say. Might be different for the A's.

Window trim likes to hang loose. Engine loved burning oil. Honda thankfully did a recall and I got new pistons, etc to fix that issue.

Stock brakes are crap. Slow car. Seats aren't the comfiest.

Other than that, they're not horrible. Hell, I'm pretty sure mine is still using the original clutch at 114k miles.

thedanimal said:

Dang. Didn't realize how plentiful these were with good miles and prices. 

Linky McLinkface

$10,000 asking?  It's a somewhat different animal, but I recently bought DD#2 a flawless 2006 Impala with 48,000 on the clock for literally half that.

thedanimal said:

Dang. Didn't realize how plentiful these were with good miles and prices. 

Linky McLinkface

That's a little rich for my blood...I already blew all my money on my toy car 

mazdeuce said:

In reply to JAhmed :

I also noticed their price. I think they'd make a great One Lap car. Good upgrade path with the K24 and good transmission swap options, factory big brakes from Acura, sane speeds and should be comfortable with a full interior. The four door would make packing/unpacking nicer at a slight weight penalty. 

Thing is, you could also just buy an Acura TSX and start with all that...an extra gear, 40 more horses (and even more potential), better brakes, etc. You could certainly make the Accord work if you wanted to but literally everything about the TSX is better except for fuel economy. Not worth it to try and build the Accord into what the TSX already is (a ROW Accord Euro-R).

In reply to pointofdeparture :

The Accord will get me classed as economy sedan. 

One disadvantage of Accords: their great resale value. An Infiniti G35 of the same era cost 150% as much new and now costs 50-75% as much secondhand.

I've owned a 2005, 4 cylinder, auto, Accord Sedan since 2008(?).  It has about 150K miles, and I haven't had any unexpected repairs - just regular maintenance, and regular maintenance is inexpensive.  It does burn about a quart between oil changes now.  Everything still works too (its an LX model).  I've autocrossed it, which wasn't horrible but not great either.  The auto has gears 1-3 independent, then does to D and OD(?), so a shiftable five speed auto.  Manually shifting between 2-3 is good enough to enjoy the Dragon and other mountain roads, its more a touring car than a sports car.  The hill-hold feature is nice.  Still knocks down high 20s-30s on the highway.  It has mainly been my wife's car but I did a 50 mile round trip commute for a year and it is really comfy doing that.  Sure there are more exciting "sporty cars" for the price, but I'd recommend one all day long.  My son will be inheriting it in June after he gets his license. 

In reply to mazdeuce :

Ah, I forgot One Lap is weird with classing.

In that event, find a clean Accord with a bad motor and then find a rear-ended 6-speed TSX to combine with it...

-06-07 Got a power bump
-Ex got Rear discs
-Tl & TL-S Sway bar (some clearance issues on larger s bars) are a good oem upgrade
-TSX Intake Manifold supposedly yields good gains with no dyno proof.
-Only header available (DC) does end up cracking
-Wait for a TSX since they are shockingly similar in price.
 

It is the generation where Honda figured out rust proofing. Wife has an '03 with 240k. It developed some bad oil consumption(1qt/250 miles) and ran low enough to skip time and frag the engine. $2500 later it has a new(er) engine with only 79k. 

Wait a minute, didn't you join this board while owning a mildly modified 4cyl. Accord, or am I just losing my mind?

Esoteric Nixon said:

Wait a minute, didn't you join this board while owning a mildly modified 4cyl. Accord, or am I just losing my mind?

LOLLL wow, strong memory. That was my wife's 2012 model, one generation later than the gen I am inquiring about now. What can I say...I have an affinity for Accords...