I was hoping that after the investment the car will at least drive "like new">>>>
It will never drive like it did the day it rolled off the assembly line. All of the suspension and drivetrain components have aged 7-8 years, its an old car. Unless you want to completely replace the entire suspension, wheel bearings, drive shafts, struts, shocks, engine bearings and internals, etc, etc.. the car will not drive like it did when it was brand new. Your car also isnt as smooth or quiet as it was when it was brand new, my car isnt even as solid as it was at 35k miles. However, of all the cars I have owned, the Honda runs, looks and drives the 'newest' at its age and mileage. Unlike the others, the Honda feels like it can easily go another 100,000 miles and 8 years... whereas the other cars were feeling very old and tired. For being as old as it is and having the mileage it does, my Accord is running pretty new, but thats in relative terms.
but it doesn't; that's why I am actually pissed about the enginerring>>>
New timing belts isnt going to make your car magically run like a nrand new machine off the dealer lot. It made my engine a bit smoother and a little more responsive.. but that was about it. Changing the belts is a preventive maintenance, its not done in hopes of having a brand new engine when its done. Changing oil does absolutely nothing in terms of engine performance, yet you still do it every 3k miles as a preventive maintenance to keep the internals lubricated thus reducing engine wear, and increasing engine life.
But like I said, it is pretty much the worst thing I have owned>>>
No, the Cavalier was the worst thing youve owned, glad to hear your memories of that car are distant. The Accord is the 'worst' car youve owned because you are used to much more expensive
and sophisticated cars. I am certain the owner of a Maybach would think your Lexus was the biggest piece of sh!+ he had ever ridden in and woul turn his nose up to the thought of a lowly Volvo. Start comparing the Honda Accord to cars that were intended to compete with it, and you will see the Accord rise above all others. For its price and class, it last far longer and is far more dependable than comparable cars. And with the latest generation of the Accord, its now more luxurious and had quality and features that were previously only offered in high-end luxury cars. To the owner of a Lexus GS330, the new Accord is not such a brutal step down anymore. We've already been around and around on this, and I dont choose to get back into the ring. Back to the 5th gen, a well built, well engineered car...with the newest and last model year of that generation now approaching 7 years old, while hiding their age better than most other comparable cars out there.
for a long time;and it is not by choice. That's why I really have a fit about it>>
I bought my Accord because I wanted the Accord, not just on the basis of Hondas reputation, but because I like the car in general, it being miraculously reliabile was an added bonus.
I don't mind paying money, but I want to have something nice to drive>>>>
All of us agree that the Accord is a very pleasant car to drive... you are the only one disagreeing, and you arent the only one who has owned more expensive, high-end luxury cars. The difference with me is, I can understand that my Accord is 8 years old with 100,000 miles on it... I dont expect it to perform like a brand new car, and I am very grateful that it runs and looks as good as it does despite its age. If it were a Lexus LS430, then yes, I'd be dissapointed... but lets get real here.
But through my experience, there isn't a need for the Honda>>
Have you driven any of Hondas more elaborate products (Acura)?
The TL, CL, NSX, MDX, RL, etc. Toyota without a doubt, creates better works of art, but Toyota is a MUCH larger auto manufacturer (the 3rd largest in the world behind GM and Ford) but Hondas more than hold their own, and both Honda and Toyota are rated similar in terms of overall reliability and quality...much the reason why Honda and Toyota are almost always together in a single sentence.