Getting acquainted with our long-term 2008 Honda Accord
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When the slow operation of the rear defroster and ye olde styling of the gear shifter are the biggest gripes you have with a car, you know you're probably in a pretty good one. And that's how I feel about the 2008 Honda Accord after spending the weekend in our recently arrived long-term ride. Our Accord is an EX-L V-6 Nav model, priced just north of $30,000, with about every feature imaginable checked off on the extensive option list.
The Accord spent some time getting dirty on Saturday in Southern California's inland empire, as yours truly ventured out to watch some friends thrash their cars through mud at a rally cross -- an autocross-style event, but for rally fans, with a short course laid out in a dirt field. Except this field was quite muddy due to recent rains. And it might as well have been called a Subaru Cross, as most of the participants were in a Subaru of some sort. The Accord and its all-season tires handled the parking area's mud respectably, and at no point did I feel like the car would get stuck and force me to humiliate myself by asking for a push, though traction control had to be disabled as it couldn't quite figure out what to do. Although ill-suited for short-track courses due to its size, I'd guess the Accord would have done no worse in the rally cross than some of the Subaru WRX STIs that were there on summer tires. Why someone would bring a car on performance rubber -- especially a lowered one -- to a dirt field is beyond me.
Of course, the amount of people who will be taking Accords into muddy fields intentionally will be in the double or even single digits. But it's nice to know you can. On the freeway, the ride is smooth and the handling is responsive. The 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 provides plenty of punch, and the five-speed doesn't want for an extra cog, but it wouldn't hurt, either. The shifter has another minor annoyance besides its bland looks -- it'll shift into D3 from D without having to press the shift button. I particularly like the steering feel, which is responsive and perfectly balanced, at least for my tastes -- not too heavy, not too light. Compared with the Toyota Camry, which I've dubbed "the most boring 270-horsepower car ever," the Accord is enjoyable to drive.
As for the often discussed issue of the car's size, I think it's a lot of yelling about nothing. It certainly isn't small and it's noticeably bigger than the previous Accord, but it's not actually that much bigger -- 4.8 inches longer, 1.2 inches wider, and 1.0 inch taller, hardly steroid-fueled growth like that of the Scion xB, for example. The exaggerated size is a side effect of its sheetmetal -- the other big complaint about the 2008 Accord. The boxier look is fairly bland in profile, but it's not bad looking. Rather, it's inoffensive modernity, like an Ikea bookshelf, which is probably what appeals to the car's target market.
Bottom line, the Accord has racked up 2700 miles in slightly over a month with us, and that pace isn't likely to decline substantially as it's an excellent choice for long-distance cruising.
2009 Honda Fit to make New York show debut
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The 2009 Honda Fit is making its debut in U.S.-spec trim at the New York auto show in March. Sales of the current-generation Fit have been limited in some areas only by how fast the subcompact five-door can be made. The new car, which made its world debut at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, is built on a longer wheelbase than the current model, which has only been in U.S. Honda dealerships for two model years. The 2009 Fit is expected to hit U.S. showrooms shortly after its debut at New York.
The new Fit (known as the Jazz elsewhere in the world) is available in Japanese trim with a 100-horsepower, 1.3-liter base engine as well as a 1.5-liter four pushing about 118 horspower. We'll likely only get the 1.5-liter option, which is reportedly capable of an impressive 40-plus MPG. A rotating front passenger seat and a CVT may also be available.
Stay tuned to MotorTrend.com for all your Geneva show updates March 4-5 and New York show updates March 19-20.
Felipe Massa: A Champion at Heart
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If you follow F1, you know by now that McLaren-Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton pipped the 2008 World Drivers Championship (by the narrowest of margins) from Ferrari piloto Felipe Massa at yesterday's Brazilian Grand Prix. It was a great race and an epic finish to a long and interesting season, the first in many years to be run without the aid of traction control (Yessssss!).
Felipe did everything he had to, winning the pole and the race in convincing style. As he crossed the finish line, he was the champion -- but only for an instant. Behind him, Hamilton slipped back into fifth position on the last turn, all he needed to do to beat Massa for the crown by a single point
For Massa, the passionate Brazilian, winning the driver's title in his home race would have been the highest of highs. Yet to miss it by an inch was to miss it by a mile. His disappointment was crushing, and it was visible in his eyes, his body language, his tears. As human beings, we can't always control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to it. It was in this idiom that the world got a good look at what Felipe Massa is made of.
"I know how to win," he said in the post-race press conference, "and I know how to lose. This day, like every day in my life, is something that I will learn from. I'm so proud to be a part of this team, and we should celebrate the Constructors' championship that we won. My guys worked so hard for everything we have accomplished, and we should be proud of this day."
He then went on to thank his family, his fans, the people of Brazil, and everyone at Ferrari from president di Montezemolo down. He finished his comments by congratulating Hamilton on a great season and a well-earned championship. You may recall that a year ago, Hamilton was in a similar situation to Massa, finishing a close second. I don't remember him being quite so gracious.
Lewis Hamilton is F1 champion. Felipe Massa is a champion among men. Complimenti.
Like October 1929, But For Cars: GM Drops 45 Percent, Others Not Much Better
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DETROIT - We all saw this coming. October car/truck sales were the worst in more than two decades. Some analysts predicted a couple of days ago that Toyota would pass General Motors in U.S. sales for the month, but that didn't happen. GM had a big sale in October 2007, so its 45-percent drop for October 2008 looks even worse. Toyota's "Save By Zero" campaign, in which you can buy a new Toyota, Lexus or Scion with 0-percent financing, propped up the automaker last month, so its sales dropped only 25.9 percent. Still, GM managed to lead Toyota, 170,585 to 152,101 units.
Let's look at just a few key models from various manufacturers. GM has listed the Chevrolet Malibu, Buick Enclave and Cadillac CTS as standouts during the last year. Malibu was up 82 percent (over the ramp-up of the new model in October '07) to 10,874, Enclave was off 47.5 percent to 2,228 and CTS was off 39.3 percent to 3,997.
At Ford, Fusion was off 3.3 percent to 10,836, Mustang was off 48.8-percent to 4,686 and F-Series was off 16.3 percent to 48,324.
Chrysler. Ahem. Dodge Ram, mostly the outgoing '08 model, was its best seller, off 21 percent to 10,747. It has almost caught the GMC Sierra in light pickup sales. Jeep Patriot was up slightly, by 62 units, to 3,252 for October '08. Dodge sold 4,380 of its new Journeys and 3,014 of its new Challengers.
Toyota sold 30,556 Camrys, off 12.8 percent. Prius was 11,804, off 13.6 percent and Tundra was off 65.4 percent, at 6,425.
Here are two important numbers. Chevrolet sold 6,478 Cobalts, off 60.8 percent. Ford sold 10,576 Foci, off 18.2 percent. In two years, Ford will have an all-new global Focus, while GM will have delayed its Cobalt replacement, the Chevy Cruze, by one year. Which will be the sales leader? Yep, the Ford, even though the Volt will be drawing customers into Chevy dealers. And now, to the corporate numbers:
1.) GM: 170,576, off 45.0 percent
2.) ToMoCo: 152,101, off 25.9 percent
3.) FoMoCo: 132,838, off 30.2 percent
4.) Chrysler: 94,530, off 35 percent
5.) Honda: 85,864, off 28.0 percent
6.) Nissan: 56,945, off 33.0 percent
Magic Wagon Turns 25
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The modern minivan is celebrating its silver anniversary this year. Yes, it was on November 2, 1983 that Lido A. Iacocca drove the first minivan off the assembly line in Windsor, Ontario. This radical concept--a front-drive garageable van with highchair-like seats and a low, flat floor--which he and Hal Sperlich had failed to sell Ford on some years before, was a serious gamble. Doubters pegged likely annual volume at 74,000 units. The reality has been more like a half million per year, with over 12 million sold in over 80 countries worldwide.
Chrysler still owns 40% of the market here at home, and together the Chrysler minivan brands have outsold each of its ever-more-impressive competitors. This trend could continue, especially if you tally sales of the VW Routan that now rolls down the same assembly line. And amid the doom-and-gloom sales reporting, Chrysler's minivan sales are a bright spot, jumping a reported 6% year over year, which translates to an increase of 12 market-share points in this down market. The Windsor plant is currently running three shifts at capacity, cranking out 1426 vehicles per day.
I don't usually jump at these plant-tour birthday parties, but I had a special interest in this one, as I played a tiny role in the history of the Chrysler minivans. My first permanent assignment as a freshly minted Chrysler Institute of Engineering graduate was in the Advance Vehicle Packaging department. It was our job to determine exactly where everything went on the inside of a vehicle -- not what it looked like, but the ergonomic interface, the position of the controls, visibility, etc.
My last major project there before running off to join the automotive-journalism circus was the 1996-model NS-body minivan. This was the Cab-Forward redesign (which I still think was the best looking of all the ChryCo minivan generations). There was considerable concern about how customers would react to that large windshield and long dash, so I was tasked with shepherding a project to build a running prototype out of an old van mocking up the proposed windshield/dash/seating position. Folks drove it, liked it, and the rest is history.
The birthday festivities included unveiling special 25th Anniversary trim packages, which basically add a new Dark Slate Gray leather option, new woodtone trim, French stitching, special wheels, and other touches. It's bundled with the dual-DVD screen package, so it won't come cheap (pricing hasn't been announced for the U.S. yet; Canada's 25th Anniversary packages are different, adding CAN$1400 of content with no bump in the sticker price).
And to tease us all, out in front of the plant was a plug-in hybrid-electric Town & Country. Chrysler has stated a goal of producing at least one of its recently introduced electric and range-extending electric vehicles by 2010 (no word yet on whether this Chrysler will edge out the Lotus-based RWD Dodge EV sportscar or the AWD Jeep Wrangler-based range-extended plug-in hybrid). The front-drive Chrysler uses a 190 kW (255-hp) electric motor powered by a 22-kW-hour lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged using 110/120 or 220/240-volt power. Performance claims include 0-60 mph in 8.7 sec, quarter mile in 16.2 sec, a top speed of over 100 mph, and a range of up to 40 miles of electric-only driving; 400 burning about eight gallons in the small onboard gasoline engine. To track progress of these EVs, visit www.Chryslergoeselectric.com
Now, for you trivia buffs, here's a list of 66 minivan firsts that Chrysler lays claim to:
1. First minivan introduced to the market (first front-drive small van) (1984)
2. First minivan to offer selection of engines, V-6 or four cylinder (1987)
3. First to offer long-wheelbase minivans, Dodge Grand Caravan and Plymouth Grand Voyager (1987)
4. First to offer luxury minivan with introduction of Chrysler Town & Country (1990)
5. First minivan to offer standard driverside airbag (1991)
6. First minivan with center high-mounted stop lamp (1991)
7. First minivan with child-safety locks on sliding door (1991)
8. First minivan to offer four-wheel anti-lock brakes (1991)
9. First minivan to offer Quad Command seating package (1991)
10. First minivan to offer all-wheel drive on front-drive platform (1991)
11. First minivan to offer integrated child seat (1992)
12. First to introduce an all-electric powered minivan, Dodge TEVan (1993)
13. First minivan to offer standard passenger-side airbag (1994)
14. First minivan with dynamic side-impact protection (1994)
15. First minivan to meet California 1997 Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification (1994)
16. First minivan to meet Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) certification (1995)
17. First minivan with seamless passenger-side airbag door (1996)
18. First minivan to offer dual-zone temperature control (1996)
19. First minivan in U.S. market to offer driver-side sliding door (fourth door) (1996)
20. First minivan to offer windshield wiper de-icer (1996)
21. First minivan to offer 16-in. wheels and tires for enhanced performance (1996)
22. First minivan to offer power memory seat and mirrors (1996)
23. First minivan to offer Easy-Out Roller Seats(r) (1996)
24. First minivan to offer adjustable cupholders (1996)
25. First minivan with cab-forward design (1996)
26. First minivan to offer adjustable reclining rear child seat with molded seat cushion (1996)
27. First minivan with removable windshield wiper module (1996)
28. First minivan with mid-cabin upper-level comfort control (1996)
29. First minivan with dual-action rear drum brakes (1996)
30. First minivan capable of transporting 4x8-ft (1.2x2.4 meter) material on top of folded seatbacks or with seat removed and liftgate closed (long wheelbase) (1996)
31. First minivan with rear seatback-mounted grocery-bag hooks (1998)
32. First minivan to offer Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) availability, ethanol/gasoline (1998)
33. First minivan to offer 17-in. wheels and tires for enhanced performance (1999)
34. First minivan to offer Auto Stick transaxle (1999)
35. First minivan to offer wireless headphones for in-vehicle entertainment system (2000)
36. First minivan to offer 6.4-in. (16.2-centimeter) LCD screen for in-vehicle entertainment system (2000)
37. First minivan to offer power-up/power-down liftgate (2001)
38. First minivan to offer removable, powered center console (2001)
39. First minivan with power dual sliding doors, allowing for minivan-first manual override, powered by an industry-first inside-the-door motor (2001)
40. First minivan to offer power sliding door obstacle detection system when opening and closing (2001)
41. First minivan to offer engines with power over 210 horses (2001)
42. First minivan to offer pop-up rear-cargo organizer (2001)
43. First minivan with three-zone temperature control system (2001)
44. First minivan with rear split 50/50 Easy-Out Roller Seats (2001)
45. First minivan with Stow 'n Go(r) seating and storage system (2005)
46. First minivan with Super High Density (SHD) foam cushion seating (2005)
47. First minivan with split-bench third-row reclining tailgate seating (2005)
48. First minivan with third-row easy-entry system - with the pull of a single strap, the second-row seat tumbles out of the way (2005)
49. First minivan with a driver-side inflatable knee blocker (2005)
50. First minivan with Door Alert (2005)
51. First minivan with overhead rail system with movable/removable storage bins (2005)
52. First minivan to offer Swivel 'n Go seat system (second-row seats swivel 180 deg rearward and includes a removable table that installs between the second and third rows) (2008)
53. First minivan to offer a removable, two-part sliding front console with power outlet (2008)
54. First minivan to offer an umbrella holder (2008)
55. First minivan to offer a dual DVD system that can play different media at the same time (2008)
56. First minivan in North America to offer a six-speed transaxle (2008)
57. First minivan to offer dual A/V jacks, 115-volt inverter and 12-volt power outlet in C-pillar (2008)
58. First minivan to offer ambient halo light package with movable LED pinpoint lighting (2008)
59. First minivan to offer an integrated child booster seat (2008)
60. First minivan to offer a removable, rechargeable LED flashlight (2008)
61. First minivan to offer first- and second-row heated seats in cloth or leather (2008)
62. First minivan to offer YES Essentials stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static cloth seats (now called Stain Repel seat fabric) (2008)
63. First minivan to offer Blind Spot Monitoring System (2009)
64. First minivan to offer Rear Cross Path System (2009)
65. First minivan to offer SmartBeam(r) headlamps (2009)
66. First minivan to offer swiveling third-row monitor (2009)
