1998 Honda Accord LX V-6: Anonymously Wonderful

From the November 1997 subject of Automobile and Driver.

They’re feeling just a little pressured on the manufacturing facility down in Marysville, Ohio, the place Honda has constructed Accords since 1982. Till this all-new 1998 Accord went into manufacturing, this U.S. manufacturing facility had all the time been in a position to depend on Japan to ship in further Accords if demand exceeded provide. Issues on the meeting line? Choose up the cellphone to Japan, and order some Accords.

However for 1998, Marysville goes “mom­line-less,” which is how plant executives describe the truth that for the primary time, all U.S.-spec Accord sedans will probably be constructed at Marysville, as will all Accord coupes. Interval. If that is not sufficient stress, con­sider this: The coupe and the sedan share just one main exterior half—the top­lights—and surprisingly few inside components. And this: The 1997 Accord continued to promote so properly {that a} prolonged plant shutdown to alter over to 1998 manufacturing left some sellers Accord-less. Lastly, the house workplace gave the U.S. manufacturing facility simply 20 days, starting August 19, to go from full manufacturing of ’97 fashions to full produc­tion of ’98s—that is 1750 automobiles a day.

However nobody at Marysville appeared wor­ried. That is, in spite of everything, Honda. And the plant has been making ready for this 1998 mannequin since January 1993—that is earlier than the redesigned 1994 Accord was launched. Count on no shortages of 1998 Honda Accords.

Which is sweet, as a result of there in all probability will probably be no scarcity of shoppers. The cur­lease Accord is a superb automotive, but it surely appeared barely off-target when launched 4 years in the past. Inside house was tight com­pared with different sedans in its value vary. Solely four-cylinder engines had been initially provided. The 170-horse, 2.7-liter V-6, finally launched, was easy and prepared however smaller than the V-6s in comparable automobiles.

All that modifications for 1998. Vir­tually nothing has been carried over—there is a new physique, a brand new platform, a brand new inside, and a brand new single-overhead-camshaft 3.0-liter V-6 with VTEC, Honda’s variable valve-timing system we have preferred on each Honda and Acura that has been so outfitted. Whereas VTEC engines within the Prelude, Integra, or NSX have supplied a noticeable kick-in-the-pants sensation when a sure rpm was reached below arduous acceleration, the Accord’s V-6 has a extra family-friendly, linear energy supply. It delivered our take a look at Accord LX to the top of the quarter-mile in a good 16 seconds flat, at 88 mph. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph took 7.7 seconds. A Toyota Camry LE V-6 we examined in August did the quarter in 16.2 sec­onds at 86 mph and the 0-to-60 dash in 8.0 seconds. The final Accord LX V-6 auto­matic we examined (November 1995) posted 16.8 seconds and 85 mph for the quarter and eight.4 seconds for 0 to 60 mph.

Energy from the brand new Accord V-6 comes on so easily—thanks partly to its intuitive digital four-speed automated trans­mission, which is far much less obtrusive than earlier than—that on the finish of the freeway merge ramp, you will look on the speedometer and be startled to study you are touring some 15 mph sooner than you thought. At 80 mph, the Accord feels so steady and hunkered down that you will need to foyer for an additional speed-limit enhance. Aside from just a little wind noise from the out­aspect mirrors, the Accord sedan is world­-class quiet.

Suspension-wise, this new Accord turns into much less compelling. In a straight line, on sometimes tough Michigan inter­states, the journey is extra jarring than anticipated, with expansion-joint impacts transmitted to the driving force by means of the steering column and pedals. The suspen­sion design—unequal-length management arms up entrance and multilink on the rear, with gas-pressurized shocks—stays just like that of the earlier mannequin; the LX now will get a rear anti-roll bar, beforehand avail­in a position solely on the EX. With the all-weather Michelin P205/65R- 15 MXV4 radials, the Accord sedan corners with out drama, as household sedans are wont to do. It is effi­cient, however not a lot enjoyable.

The Michelins yowl when pressed, giving up in predictable increments as typical front-wheel-drive understeer ensues. Again off the throttle, and the Accord snaps again in line, because it’s purported to. Skidpad efficiency was a reliable 0.78 g—identical as that of the aforemen­tioned 1997 Camry LE. The V-6 Accords—insiders ought to know the six is recognizable by its 5 wheel lugs; four-bangers get 4 lugs—have four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes that stopped our 3294-pound sedan from 70 mph in 194 ft, 3 farther than the Camry LE. Anti-lock brakes are non-compulsory on all DXs and on the bread-and-butter 4­cylinder LX. They’re customary on the V-6 LX and deluxe EX.

Talking of the DX, the bottom engine is a 2.3-liter, 16-valve four-cylinder with 135 hp. The non-compulsory four-cylinder engine is identical displacement, however with VTEC and 150 hp. The bump within the four-cylinder displacement from 2.2 liters in ’97 to 2.3 for ’98 was accom­plished through the use of thinner cylinder liners within the aluminum-alloy block. The 135-horse 4 is offered within the DX and LX; the VTEC four-cylinder and the V-6 might be had solely within the LX and EX. All engines can run on reg­ular gasoline. 4-cylinder fashions get the selection of a five-speed guide or a four-speed automated transmission, however all sixes get the auto field. The DX will get 14-inch tires and wheels; the LX and the EX get 15-inchers, with alloy wheels customary on the EX. None presents traction management.

Inside, the Accord LX sedan presents no surprises. Snug, supportive seats; a pleasant instru­ment cluster (constructed for the V-6 sedans and coupes by Ford, by the way, whereas Delco, which is owned by GM, equipped some electronics); a considerate management format; tasteful if understated material and vinyl trim.

Regardless of a excessive beltline, visibility is great, and the massive windshield provides to a sense of roominess. Though lower than a half-inch longer on the surface than the 1997 V-6 mannequin, and driving on the identical 106.9-inch wheelbase, the 1998 Accord sedan makes exceptionally good use of inside house, making it a real mid-size automotive, thanks partly to a substan­tial enhance in top (nearly two inches) and observe width.

Even with the entrance seats all the way in which again, rear-seat room is beneficiant. All three rear passengers get three-point belts. EPA-­measured inside passenger quantity for the ’97 is 94.7 cubic ft and 101.7 cubic ft for the ’98. The trunk is massive and simply accessible, and the rear seat has a move­by means of hatch that folds down, or the entire seat folds down if much more lug­gage house is required.

The underhood format is handsomely environment friendly, with all service factors accessible. Crank the V-6 up, and pop the hood. At idle, this is without doubt one of the quietest engines we have heard.

Exterior, although, we want Honda’s styl­ists had gone a bit additional. The 1998 Accord sedan actually would not appear to be earlier Accords, but when informal feedback made about our take a look at sedan are any indica­tion, it does appear to be just a few different automobiles, with the Chevrolet Malibu probably the most ceaselessly talked about. Designers took just a few possibilities with the Accord coupe. They took none with the sedan.

How a lot will that have an effect on gross sales? Prob­ably in no way. And the Accord ought to be priced proper. No agency numbers had been avail­in a position at press time, however Honda guarantees the four-cylinder mannequin ought to be stickered near 1997 costs, and the V-6 will actu­ally be a bit cheaper. Our LX V-6 sedan, properly outfitted with energy equipment however missing a compact disc participant and a sunroof, ought to checklist for about $21,700.

A future heads-up comparability take a look at will pit the brand new Accord in opposition to the competi­tion, significantly the Toyota Camry. It ought to be an in depth battle.