My simple Honda Accord EX V6 page
Factory spec:
- 2001 Honda Accord EX V6 Sedan
- Front engine / Front wheel drive (FWD)
- 3.0L V6 SOHC VTEC engine (200hp / 195lb-ft tq), 4-speed automatic transaxle
- Four (4) wheel disc brakes with ABS, 15" rims with 205/60/15 all season tires (OEM)
- Red exterior / Tan leather / Wood trim
- Seat-mounted Side airbags for front passengers
- Traction Control (TCS)
Mod:
- 17" rims/wheels (215/50/17) from 2006 Gen 7 Accord V6
- K&N replacement air filter (part #: 33-2133)
- Sylvania Xtra Vision Halogen bulb (HB3 = 9006) low beam headlight
Future Mod:
Mod only if I have time and money (or both and if
I feel like it):
- Front fog lights
- Tinted windows all around
- Metal pedal covers
- Lowering springs
- Rear anti-roll bar
- Blacked-out headlight housing
- MP3 Headunit/Video display
- Replace speakers
Driving impression:
The engine has good pick up. The 3.0L SOHC VTEC engine does a decent job. Since this is NOT a aggressive DOHC VTEC implementation, there is no pronounce VTEC transistion (like the ones in C (NSX), B (Civic & Integra), H (Accord Euro R & Prelude) and F (S2000) series DOHC VTEC engines).
I imagine the implementation of VTEC on this particular SOHC engine is simply for better breathing, flatter torque curve and some mild hp increase in the upper rev range.
A little too much body roll on corners and nose dive on braking [to my liking], but its too be expected for a long suspension travel, comfy oriented family sedan.
The tall tires ([edit: now I have 17" rims now] (205/60/15) 215/50/17 series) and the grip of OEM tires [in good weather] (lack of in this case) contribute to so-so handling characteristic with slow turn in and moderate understeeting. [edit: I have 17" rims now] (I am hoping that a set of 205/55/16 or even 215/50/17 rims and tires from other Accord V6's can perform better.) The 17" rims provide slightly wider (205 on 15" & 16" rims vs. 215 on 17" rims) and lower profile (60 on 15" vs. 50 on 17" rims)tires. More rubber on the shoudl equates to more grip. The difference in handling was not too apparent between 15" and 17" tires (should partly due to the stock M + S tires). 17" rims and lower profile tires does looks better than though .. lol :D I went with 17" AV6 rims for a factory look (though the AV6 17" rims does weight more than the factory 15" rims)
Automatic gearbox is not my gearbox of choice and this one is no exception, can't really complain too much though. Its does what its suppose to do most of time (but then it seems to have a "mind of its own" some of the times just like all other automatics out there.).
Plenty of wind and road noise, especially when compared with the same model year Toyota Camry (close enough competitor). The ride is decent and reasonably comfortable. Its no Lexus-smooth or LS400-big but plenty of interior space for both front and rear passengers.
The gas milage range from 22-25 mpg depends upon occupants and driving style. I think its decent enough for a V6 engine combined with a 4-speed automatic transaxle.
Not much complains and not much praises from me. This Accord will get the job done by getting you from point A to point B and be reliable enough not to give you much trouble (as long as you keep up with the maintenance).
Updates:
12/23/2008
-
It just rolled over 120k miles and I've just put new tires on it (Falken ze912 it is). Still trouble free, mostly. I need to have a SRS light (seat belt buckle recall?) looks at by the dealer. But other than that, its still going strong. And I *might* need to clean the K&N replacement filter soon. And for 2008, I have been doing around 371 miles per week *only*, that is about 19,287 miles per year *only*. Well, I have been putting some miles on the POS altima as well, so that "ease up" some milage on the Accord.
04/11/2008
-
I'll probably need new tires soon, maybe within a couple of thousands miles (right around the new oil change). Maybe I'll give Falken ze912 a try, I have read good things about them and they are reasonable in price (i.e. cheap). I guess I don't really want to sink in any more money into the car, so I have not done anything to it. I'll just do parts replacement as things need to be replaced. Keeping the cost of operation low is a good thing. :-)
01/28/2008
-
The car celebrated its 100k miles birthday late last year. The motor is still running strong. The timing belt, water pump, etc changed were performed early in 2008. So it should be good for another 100k miles until they need to be changed again. Roughly, I am doing about 23k miles per year, I guess I haven't been driving often enough .. LOL. The AV6 is still going. :-) Soon, I will have fun picking out my next set of tires (the current set of tires is over 50k miles).
08/06/2007
-
Based on rough calculation, for the passed 1.5 yrs, I am averaging about 490 miles per week (slightly more than 25k miles per year). The AV6 holds up pretty well. There are definitely signs of an aging car, but everything works like it should and it hasn't given me much trouble.
05/23/2006
- I have my front and rear tires to be 34.5 psi and 33 psi respectively. The turning is quicker, the car felt lighter on its feet, and the mpg is getting somewhere close to what it was before. Hopefully, I will continue to play around the psi a little bit more and find the optimal tire pressure.
05/04/2006
- I think the mpg got more to do with "how heavy is my right foot" than to do with the air filter. With my *lighter* right foot recently. I am getting consistantly around 25 mpg with mixed (local/hwy communte). And on long trips, I can get in excess of 26 mpg with a *medium heavy* right foot. But still, I think the clean air filter helps as well as the *weight* of the right foot. Just put on the set of 17" rims from Gen 7 Accord V6 6sp. I don't expect much of a difference, but hope that the slightly extra meat on the ground will turn the car slightly better. The bigger rims does weight a little more than the 16" rims of Gen 7 Accord V6. I gues you can't get *something* for *nothing*. I am still playing with the tire pressure and see what combo works well.
01/17/2006
- The freshly installed K&N slot-in airfilter, combined with cool ambient temperature gives a better throttle response than the old [dirty] OEM airfilter for sure. I don't know if there's any increase in hp when compared to a brand new OEM airfilter, but I think the K&N airfilter would worth the money if the service interval is +50k miles and have better breathing [for the vehicle] than the OEM airfilter for a longer time. I will see how it will affact the mpg for my mixed driving commute everyday. I used to get about 23-25mpg with the old [dirty] OEM airfilter. I would be a winner if the mpg even come out even [with the benefit of better throttle response]. :)
Log:
03/14/2009
- Engine oil changed @ 124,816 miles
12/21/2008
- Engine oil and transaxle oil changed @ 119,931 miles
- New set (of four) of Falken ze912 (215/50/17) tires at four corners
??/??/2008
- Missed a recording but an oil change has been done somewhere in between :p
04/05/2008
- Engine oil changed and tire rotation @ 108,000 miles
01/26/2008
- Engine oil changed @ 103,690 miles
01/12/2008
- Timing belt, water pump, etc changed @ 103,xxx miles
11/15/2007
- Roll passed 100,000 miles
10/23/2007
- Engine oil changed @ 99,000 miles
- Tire rotation at the same time.
08/04/2007
- Engine and transaxle oil changed @ 95,100 miles
- Right headlight low beam bulb failed @ 95,080 miles. Both low beam bulbs were replaced with Sylvania Xtra Vision Halogen bulb (HB3 = 9006)
05/2006 - 07/2007
- Mystery time period for my maintenance log .. lol :D
05/03/2006
- Replaced 16" rims (Gen 7 Accord V6) with 17" rims (2006 Gen 7 Accord V6)
04/2006
- Oil changed @ 61,7xx miles
- SRS and EKG sensor (something like that :p ) recall done
- The cap of the master brake cylinder replaced under extended warranty (with $50 out of pocket deductable :( )
02/06/2006
- Oil Changed @ 57,5xx miles
01/15/2006
- Installed K&N slot-in airfilter (part #: 33-2133) @ 55,934 miles
11/2005
- Installed Gen 7 Accord V6 16" rims/tires
- Replace rear anti-roll bar link (fixed clicking noise when turning onto a drive way) under extended warranty (with $50 out of pocket deductable :( )
- Changed engine oil (53,5xx miles)
09/2005
- Changed transaxle oil (48k miles)
- Replaced front brake pads (48k miles)
- Resurface front brake disc (48k miles)
- Changed engine oil (48k miles)
12/2000
- Car purchased from a SoCal Honda dealer
[2000 Nissan Altima GXE] | [Home]
Last Updated:
04/06/2009