'08 Accord has issues, '09 Camry has issues...any suggestions?

[lexani]

I've been looking at both of these cars for a while now and its crunch time. If all goes well, I'll be picking up a car by the end of next month. The only thing is the further I do research, the more I start problems I start finding about each vehicle.

I've narrowed it down to the '08 Accord and the '09 Camry to be specific.
Both cars are around the same price....35K with taxes and everything. The Accord is the Ex-L model (I4) and the Camry is the SE w/leather, sunroof (I4).

The Accord is a bigger car, but first year its out after all the changes. It certainly does feel great to drive. However there are know issues with its VCM all over.

The Camry has a much more quiet ride to it but on the other hand has a couple issues. Squeaks and rattles everywhere, the transmission (even on the I4's), and as well as small things such as the CD player going out after first week of delivery.

I'm leaning towards the Accord right now however the Camry is still up for grabs as well.

Question is: By choosing the Accord, would I be better off as opposed to the Camry? (keeping in mind that I do plan on keeping the car for a while)

Any suggestions/advice on anything you guys have heard or know is appreciated.

Thanks

[Mayoo]

I have a 2003 accord and its the first year of 7th gen cars. I had some problems which were fixed in 2004 and 2005 models. So my advice to you is to stay away from first year of any generation. According to me they like test trail products and all the problems on those will be fix on the next year.

So accord 2008 is again first year in 8th Generation series. So it will have alot of problems which will be fixed in 2009 model.

[flame02]

my dad got the camry hybrid and aside from sligh sligh creeks within the cabin when everything is quiet and a slight squeek in his brakes, everything is great. Smooth ride and efficient!

[Dixon007]

35k ? ur spending too much money on these cars. and they are 4cly. not even v6s. so ur getting ripped off. Why look only at accord and camry ? why not other cars ? fusion ? mazda 6 ? nissan ? the lancer ? all for examples. But if its crunch time, don;t pick one car for another because somebody on RFD said its better to go with this car. everybody is bias. so pick whats best for u and what u like the most. Alot of cars have problems. New or old. for whatever reason it is. some cars have ,more problems than others. quaility control is at all time high, so buying a new car is gonan be problem free for some time or u would like to think so. I know when i got my new car. drive belt was making sounds after 100 km. like wtf was that **** for a new car

[killbillvol1]

Don't buy Honda - the most arrogant and anti-competitive/bully-tactic loving of the automakers.

[KorruptioN]

Don't buy Honda - the most arrogant and anti-competitive/bully-tactic loving of the automakers.

To claim and not produce any proof or backup...

[vtec260]

Give Hyundai Sonata or Azera a thought. They have pretty decent quality now and deals offered for cash purchase seems like a bargain(something like $4-5K off MSRP). Most Hyundai cars come pretty much loaded except Accent. For over 30K price tag, I would spend my money on Azera.

[craftsman]

I have a 2003 accord and its the first year of 7th gen cars. I had some problems which were fixed in 2004 and 2005 models. So my advice to you is to stay away from first year of any generation. According to me they like test trail products and all the problems on those will be fix on the next year.

So accord 2008 is again first year in 8th Generation series. So it will have alot of problems which will be fixed in 2009 model.

+1

You will find that the first year of a generation will produce changes in years 2 and beyond.

A side problem that most people don't know is when these issues are "fixed" the availability of the "broken" part is very limited. For example, if part A needed a slight modification to be more reliable, then part A+ is produced. Part A+ also required a slight change in belt B (part B+ is now produced). Normally, this isn't a problem unless you need part A later on and find out that for part A+ to work you will need to replace belt B as well with B+.

So what you say?

Well it's possible that belt B+ will also require that pulley C be replaced with C+.

Impossible you say? Tell that to my 1988 Corolla heater control assembly that was replaced with an improved version for 1989 and the cables connecting to the controls no longer attach...

[craftsman]

I've been looking at both of these cars for a while now and its crunch time. If all goes well, I'll be picking up a car by the end of next month. The only thing is the further I do research, the more I start problems I start finding about each vehicle.

I've narrowed it down to the '08 Accord and the '09 Camry to be specific.
Both cars are around the same price....35K with taxes and everything. The Accord is the Ex-L model (I4) and the Camry is the SE w/leather, sunroof (I4).

The Accord is a bigger car, but first year its out after all the changes. It certainly does feel great to drive. However there are know issues with its VCM all over.

The Camry has a much more quiet ride to it but on the other hand has a couple issues. Squeaks and rattles everywhere, the transmission (even on the I4's), and as well as small things such as the CD player going out after first week of delivery.

I'm leaning towards the Accord right now however the Camry is still up for grabs as well.

Question is: By choosing the Accord, would I be better off as opposed to the Camry? (keeping in mind that I do plan on keeping the car for a while)

Any suggestions/advice on anything you guys have heard or know is appreciated.

Thanks

What's wrong with buying used? If you are worried about these early production years of a generation, why don't to pick-up a the last production year of the previous generation. All of the changes would have been to the assembly process and a longer history of what the issues are would be available. Therefore, there would be no mystery on what you are getting yourself into.

[seftonm]

Does the 4-cyl Accord have VCM? That sounds odd to me. What do you want in your car? Space, fuel economy, fun to drive, reliability, power, etc?

[Jon Lai]

35k ? ur spending too much money on these cars. and they are 4cly. not even v6s. so ur getting ripped off. Why look only at accord and camry ? why not other cars ? fusion ? mazda 6 ? nissan ? the lancer ? all for examples. But if its crunch time, don;t pick one car for another because somebody on RFD said its better to go with this car. everybody is bias. so pick whats best for u and what u like the most. Alot of cars have problems. New or old. for whatever reason it is. some cars have ,more problems than others. quaility control is at all time high, so buying a new car is gonan be problem free for some time or u would like to think so. I know when i got my new car. drive belt was making sounds after 100 km. like wtf was that **** for a new car

Perhaps 35K is the all in price? Accords start at $26K and Camry at $25K, with the packages he's listed it does look like he's going for a $30-31K car, add taxes, freight and PDI and you've got something around that number.

[VorteC]

Don't buy Honda - the most arrogant and anti-competitive/bully-tactic loving of the automakers.

Yes, buy Toyota instead because they're against anything that has to do with being human. Excitement, emotion, spirit.. woops you don't get that cuz its a Toyota.

[gilboman]

Yes, buy Toyota instead because they're against anything that has to do with being human. Excitement, emotion, spirit.. woops you don't get that cuz its a Toyota.

this comming from a guy driving in a 3200+lb FWD 4banger talking about toyota a company that has RWD V6's,V8s and the whole works.

honda doesnt even have a sportsedan and you are throwing around words like excitement, emotion and spirit. yes plenty of those in a FWD 4banger that weights more than 3200lbs and is as slow as molasses

and being human also means practicality as well.. as in comfort, refinement and quality.

there is a reason why toyota is #1 and lexus is #1 in the states. and honda/acura isn't. actually, acura is a utter and complete joke, but that's for another thread.

[The_Professor]

Does the 4-cyl Accord have VCM? That sounds odd to me. What do you want in your car? Space, fuel economy, fun to drive, reliability, power, etc?

I don't believe that the I4 has VCM, only the V6 (which can run on six, four or even three cylinders if I'm not mistaken).

[MrDisco]

Sadly, if you research any make/model you're going to find issues.

If you're only choices are the Accord i4 and the Camry i4 I myself would lean towards the Accord. I felt it had a stronger engine, the interior felt it had higher quality materials/assembly, and for a short while you won't be stuck in a sea of Camrys.

The Accord i4 does not use VCM.

If it makes you feel any better, the Accord was:
-picked by Consumer Reports as their top mid-sized sedan
-won AJAC's 2008 Best New Family Car award
-2008 "Top Safety Pick" by the IIHS
-five star rating by the NHTSA
-numerous other accolades by various publications

good luck