The 4G Accords do shift more firmly than the 5G and 6G Accords (experience with all 3) but smoother than the 2G that I had. Be sure your motor mounts are all good and take your car to the local Honda House for a tranny drain/flush/fill/fairy dusting. Should cost about $50 or so and they can tell you if particles came out in the fluid and if the fluid is the correct color or not. I do mine every 30K miles, with currently with 130K on the car I have yet to have a tranny problem (although the radiator is a different story alltogether (3 of em!)).