The Lockdown series continues with me and my 2 driving buddies, Alfred & David, also sharing our experiences, comments and reflections of the different cars we have owned.
David’s 8th car, the Honda Euro Accord was his first venture away from European delights to the efficiency of the Japanese car maker. Honda of the 1980’s really started making its mark as a great designer of cars and making some very good sporting engines. The VTEC engine developed in Formula One racing passed down into mainstream Honda cars and produced some high revving gems like the Honda Integra and the S2000 Roadster.
If this reminds you of a special car you have owned please share your experience or just name it or just “like” ours.
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2004 Honda Accord Euro
140kW 223Nm 6 speed manual
0-100km/h 8.1 seconds
One word that describes Honda in this era is “clever” and this car felt like a serious tilt at taking on the European luxury cars. A classy sports saloon that offered something a little bit special.
There was the beautiful grunty engine that sang as it revved well into the 6000+ rpm. A class leading slick six speed gearbox and a well sorted front end that did not struggle to put the power down. My only gripe is that I found the rest of the car a little soft for my liking. The Euro was tuned more for mainstream comfort than hard edged performance. One of those cars that felt really good day to day but didn’t really reward when you pushed it harder. But as an overall package I would say much more than competent.
Very refined and clever in many ways and I would definitely recommend. For me I actually preferred the 7th series over the update. The 8th series was wider but actually felt more cramped inside mainly due to the silly bulbous dashboard. The interior in the 7th series was both simpler and roomier. I also loved the alloy door handles which gave the overall look of the car a real touch of class.
I would still put the Accord Euro as the pick of the sporty Japanese saloons of that era. Maybe the Mazda 6 was better but I’ve not had enough experience with this car to be sure. It was also nice to have the choice of a manual in a variety of cars which is lacking today.
The problem with the Euro for me was that at no stage did I find it particularly exciting. I just did not lust for a drive in this car like others I have owned. I feel a little disappointed with Honda as a whole as 20 years ago they were an exciting, innovative brand that promised to do great things for the enthusiastic driver but they have not lived up to this promise.
Richard comment:
I have always rated series 7 Euro Accord David, as I felt it was Honda at its peak in styling, engine development and performance. I did rate it as then -Japanese BMW. The styling has stood the test of time especially in its luxury form with added side skirts. I thought it had a quality finish and that VTEC engine was a willing high revving flat torque curve performer. Though you did feel that second power cam kick in at the top of the range and whisk you through those last couple hundred revs.
I only experienced Alfred’s Euro with the after-market, Bilstein’sshockers and thought it handled well, there was no roll and fairly direct in steering. It had some steering feel but it did not possess the feedback of a traditional European. Well, because it was Japanese. Bullet proof, efficient and well put together. Maybe the German Bilstein’s brought some of that European feel to it. Just a little! But it surely hung on and could take anything you gave it. There is something magical about reaching 7500rpm as we have discovered in the Toyota 86, Corolla Twin-cam and as you described in your MR2.Soit stands as very good rated car for me.
Alfred comment:
My version of the euro was much more positive. Having come out of the BMW 528i, five years earlier, I only owned the Euro for 8 months before I ordered my FPV F6 from the factory. I had the metallic white top of the range full skirts and cream leather interior with the wood grain and roof.
The first thing I loved about it was the interior. I felt like I was back in my Beemer, which also had the cream leather. I felt I was in something airy and spacious with the right amount of quality that made me feel good every time I got inside it. The pearl white metallic with the body kit really finished its exterior potential without being loud and over stated. I loved the 6- speed gearbox and admired the V-Tec engine feeling like I was back revving out my twin cam Corollas again.
To get the performance you needed to know how to drive it and revving it to its limit was part of that formula to deliver the 147kw available. The key for me was installing the Bilsteinshockers all around. It transformed the handling with a combination of flat cornering and sophisticated cushioning with firmness combined. I loved that car also for its midsize space and ergonomics. You could recline the back seat also slightly for the rear passenger comfort compared to the new model which felt tighter, darker inside with no cream leather option and no space under the front seats for rear passenger’s feet.
To me, it felt like my Japanese BMW and the suspension was the differentiator that allowed you to maximise the performance together with the handling. When I see a well maintained one on the road today it still stands up in design and impression of quality. I would not be ashamed to have a great example like the one I had in my driveway with Bilstein’s for a great drive anytime.
