Used Honda Accord sedans: Super affordable & easy to find, but are they safe buys? We explain!
The current Honda Accord comes only in a hybrid variant that costs over half a crore. Used old Accords are available, on the other hand, from less than Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh. Tempting, if you are someone who loves big sedans and the Honda brand.
However, are they safe buys? Once you buy one, are you going to be spending an enormous amount of time and money just to keep them running? Let us look at the answers here.
The First-generation Accord
The first-generation of Accord in India was the sixth-generation in the global markets. It was launched at around Rs 15 lakhs and you will find them in the used car market for even less than Rs 1 lakh. However, these cars have a lot of running behind them. The average odometer reading of the 2001 Honda Accord is more than 80,000 km – 1 lakh km, which is quite a lot. And add some 15 years or more to that. Buying this Honda Accord generation in the used car market is for those who absolutely loves the look of those old American sedans and hardcore enthusiaists who have a lot of time. Some may even prefer the look of this sedan to the newer Accords. But mostly, this is a car for the garage and not the road due to reliability issues rising from old age.
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If you can find a car in pristine condition and feel confident about it, do test it for trouble at the Honda Authorised Service Centers and get estimates of future expenses, and go ahead. Again, enthusiasts only!
Second-generation Honda Accord
This is the Honda Accord that the Time Magazine said brought sportiness to the world of family sedans (That is what the Accord is, in the United States.) It was the sharpest-designed of all the large sedans at that time, and was loved a lot. Many still prefer the wedge-like profile of this Accord to the later generations.
This second-generation Honda Accord was launched in the Indian market in 2004 and was on sale till 2008. Honda introduced the 2.4-litre i-VTEC and the 3.0-litre V6 VTEC petrol engines, which were the most refined engine options in the segment. This generation of used Accord sedans, in good condition, is available between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. You may even get it for cheaper. This is a much safer option to buy but one has to check the vehicle thoroughly at the Honda Service Center. The car in many cases would have done close to 1 lakh kilometers, which is when things start to fail. Engine mounts, suspension, upholstery, pipes and filters… there could be a lot of work, depending on the condition of the car. Getting a thorough evaluation of the condition of the car is critical to peace of mind for this car.
Parts are still available – though you may have to wait a couple of weeks. Hence the advantage in identifying potential troublemakers and ordering them early. Buy this car, and give it a month or two while you and the service center (and a friendly neighbourhood mechanic) sort out everything that is needed, and you have a great car.
Point to remember: The 3.0 V6 option was mostly bought by enthusiasts, so so were probably driven flat-out a lot. Be careful if you go for this. There are the enthusiasts who abuse their car, and the enthusiasts who treat it with love and care. Be doubly cautious with the V6.
Maintenance and parts charges would not be shocking, IF you are realistic. Do not expect it to be at the level of hatchbacks or sedans. You are going to own a large sedan, and you need to have a moderately thick wallet! Keeping it in reliable condition means not just doing the minimum work but spending a little extra and doing pre-emptive work. A wild guess for a used car in good condition (after all the initial checking and replacements) would be Rs 50,000 per year. Worth it? Of course.
Third-generation Honda Accord
This was the last-generation Honda Accord that was launched in 2008 and was available until 2014. This is the safest generation to buy in the market. The third-generation Honda Accord is available between Rs 3 lakh and 4.5 lakh bracket. A little pricier than the other two generations but it sure is much more reliable and looks better than the previous-generation models. However, one should stick to a max 50,000 km odo reading when buying this model. Sure, you can buy cars with more running. Just be more wary. Many family cars and corporate cars would be in good condition, even with more on the odometer.
What should you look for?
Well handled models. Well, Honda Accord that you’re looking for should be less-abused that because rashly driven Accords may ask for very high maintenance, especially after so many years of usage. The car should be run around 50,000 km. It would be only possible to find in the second-generation and third-generation Honda Accords in India. The suspension of the older-generation Accords tend to give away at around 1,00,000 km and it costs around Rs 1 lakh to fix. Also, check the clutch properly if the car is manual because the clutch assembly is also quite expensive. Automatic transmissions in the Honda Accord are expected to be more reliable than the manuals in the third-generation model, which was on sale from 2008 to 2014. It is always a good idea to buy a company-owned car because they run lower than private cars and handled professionally or a single-owner car.
All that we said about the previous generation models apply to this generation too. But as its relatively newer, your yearly expenses would be lesser. Parts availability would be easier. Take it to an authorised Honda service centre and get it thoroughly checked. The service centre can give you a proper estimate on the upcoming work and how much money it may cost.
What you will love about the Accord
Since Honda Accord was originally designed for the American market, it offers a large cabin space and well-cushioned, comfortable seats. The V6 variant of the car even offered the leather seats, giving a plush feeling. The car came with a generous amount of space to keep various things securely in the central space between the front two seats. From the beginning, the Accord offers features like dual-zone climate control system and cruise control.
Cabin quality
Honda has always been known for offering a premium quality cabin and the Accord was no different. There are still many Honda Accords in stock condition with sublime dashboard and seats in sublime condition and rattle-free ride experience.
Ride quality
The Honda Accord offers a premium ride quality that feels like driving on a cushion. This is why the car was preferred by many chauffeur-driven customers. Also, the supremely refined petrol engine of the Accord ensures a minimal cabin noise, giving a lethargy-free ride.
However, there are a few things that one should always be careful about while buying a used Honda Accord.
Automatic transmission problems
This is one of the most common issues in the Honda Accord automatic. The torque converter unit of the Honda Accord automatic variants tends to get internally damaged due to the lack of transmission fluid pressure or leakage of fluid. This causes the car to jerk and creep when the transmission lever is shifted to “D”. Also, many owners reported that there is a lack of power in the fourth-speed of the transmission. So do check if the automatic transmission properly for any issues.
Clutch problem
It is always a good idea to go for lower run models in the used car market. Any Honda Accord with less than 50,000 km on the odometer would be an apt choice since the clutch will go on for another 50,000 km. However, most used Honda Accords with more kilometres than that on the odometer would mean a clutch replacement, which may cost quite a lot.
Fuel guzzler
The Honda Accord came with two engine options – a 2.4-litre in-line 4-cylinder engine that churns out a maximum of 144 Bhp and a 3.0-litre V6 engine that produced a massive 218 Bhp. While the V6 engine came only with the automatic transmission and returned a maximum of around 5-6 km/l, the manual transmission option with the 2.4-litre engine returned a maximum of around 8-10 km/l. This was a major disadvantage of the Accord in India. However, on the highways, the fuel efficiency improves by a lot it can easily return up to 12 km/l. The fuel efficiency of the Honda Accord truly depends on the driving style. Drive it gently and sedately, and you get acceptable fuel economy. Drive it fast and have a lot of fun, and go down to 8 kmpl. This is true for most big cars, and should not surprise you if you have already been looking into large sedans.
Hot AC
The Honda Accord manufactured between 2003 and 2007 has a known AC failure issue. The model’s condenser during these years did not come with a protective grille and was prone to break due to the road debris. One should properly check the cooling of the AC of the Accord manufactured during these years in the used car market.
Avoid modifications
There are many well-modified Honda Accord sedans in the market. While the modifications may look good, be assured that if any problem arises in the future, it may just create a huge repair bill. Some Honda Accords come with aftermarket suspension to lower the ride and even the air suspension set-up that make the car ride very low to the ground. These kinds of modifications should be avoided completely.
Overall, the Accord is a safe car to buy. Good third-generation Accords are easily available, and if you do your due diligence prior to buying carefully, you will be rewarded with a very enjoyable, reliable car for years to come.
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