Buying an Accord Euro Manual or Auto

[n-b-d123]

Hello

Im in the position of purchasing an Accord Euro.

I have decided to go with the Luxury Navi edtion.

being a new car I believe I can choose Auto or Manual , I am a lover of manual cars usually.

I test drive the accord Euro yesterday and was very impressed, have to decide whether to get a manual or auto

are the manuals ok?
are they noisier ?
should i expect better economy from the manual
do the manuals perform a lot better than the 5 speed auto?
what are the pros and cons of each

Thanks for your time and any advice or opinions
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png

[oz95_4dr]

A manual will always give better economy, more power and require less brake pad changes - in the event that you require a gearbox service or repair it will normally be cheaper to repair a gearbox over a transmission. An auto transmission uses consumes a lot of power from an engine. It's not so noticeable in a V6 or V8 but in a 4cyl car it makes a big difference. This extra power causes your engine to work harder hence the poorer economy figures. When driving a manual you tend to use the lower gears to slow down your car and only rely on brakes to bring the car to a halt, in an auto you only use the brakes to slow down which causes more pad and disc wear. Lastly a gearbox has a series of gears, clutch etc... not that many parts - an auto on the other hand has hundreds of parts inside which is why the service or repair will always cost more. But (there's always a but!!) resale of manual cars can be tricky, most aussies have gotten lazy and prefer autos (no idea why) so it can be a little harder to sell down the track but on the same hand if there are very little manuals to choose from those people that want a manual will less bargaining power as they have less cars to choose from. If it were me (and it is I just bought a 2012 Euro) I'd buy manual every time. If you love driving, love the experience of driving and like feedback from your car - go manual. Hope this helps. Dan

[Neilz]

Doesnt the navi only come in auto? the Luxury has both..

[aaronng]

Doesnt the navi only come in auto? the Luxury has both..

Navi is an option for the Luxury model. You can get Navi on the manual version.

[jzx_andy]

nothing wrong with either transmission but the manual would be more "fun"

[eurasian]

I just bought a manual and the six speed is amazing in these IMO. I say go for the manual and save some money, a much more engaging drive.

[HEURO]

6 spd MT all the way

[I CU2]

The Accord Euro CU2 does not have a manual option for the Luxury Navigation variant, only on the Luxury.

There are three grades: Base (A/M), Luxury (A/M), Luxury Navi (A only).

[dale_s15]

The Accord Euro CU2 does not have a manual option for the Luxury Navigation variant, only on the Luxury.

There are three grades: Base (A/M), Luxury (A/M), Luxury Navi (A only).

Correct.

Go for the manual... I've got an auto now but had a manual prior to this and I'm really hating the auto.. i miss having a manual :(

[tron07]

The Accord Euro CU2 does not have a manual option for the Luxury Navigation variant, only on the Luxury.

There are three grades: Base (A/M), Luxury (A/M), Luxury Navi (A only).

cant you take the luxury MT and spec in a Navi?

[dale_s15]

cant you take the luxury MT and spec in a Navi?

Unfortunately not.

http://euro.honda.com.au/range-pricing.aspx

[MR2QIK]

You can't, I enquired. Having said that, I'd recommend test driving both (given you have good buying power when getting new). I test drove a M/T CU2 & would honestly would have gone with an auto. A M/T CL9 is way better than an auto CL9 though, must be the weight difference I guess (CL9 - CU2).

[kryptonite]

I cant drive a manual very well and pretty lazy - so its auto for me.

I would opt for a manual if I knew early that HONDA are such a bunch of dochebags when it comes to automatics.

I am sure I will be in for a tranny replacement in abt a year or so (even now with REdline fluid)

[cris]

ive got a 6speed manual and love it. a mate of mine is selling his auto euro to get a manual after he drove mine for a day.

[antony]

I love my auto,as its so smooth
quiet,and refined,but at the end of the day,its really what YOU prefer...

[08r3308]

love my auto , so smooth as other say and its a pleasure to drive

[adis]

I own a manual. Drove auto, and its not the same car. Auto is slower, lazier, boring, but easy to drive.
If you have half a clue when it comes to driving and dont mind being more involved when driving, get a manual. Better fuel economy, goes better, feels like a sports car.

[marquee]

Are you a man. Lol jokes if u like the auto just get it.

[I CU2]

Feels like a sports car.

Once I overtook a Prius! VTEC POWARRRR?

[roony]

Once I overtook a Prius! VTEC POWARRRR?

no way! proof or it never happened

[Jye]

I was sick of stop start traffic in Sydney so when I upgrade from my Civic to a new Euro I got Auto.

[aldo10]

I have never driven the manual version but I am kind of glad I didn't so I don't know what I'm missing. I got an auto because it's mainly the missus wheels. I find it quite boring as I need to change gears. To get a fix I drive my high performance non turbo diesel Hilux.

Seriously though I did ask Honda about the manual box when I bought it and they said you are generally up for a clutch at around 150 to 200K and they are not a cheap item. Are they pulling my leg? I thought that was a bit lowish. I sold my Landcruiser with 300K on the clock and the original clutch. I reckon it's all about driving style. My wife sold her Pulsar with 350K on the original clutch.

[HunterZero]

I have never driven the manual version but I am kind of glad I didn't so I don't know what I'm missing. I got an auto because it's mainly the missus wheels. I find it quite boring as I need to change gears. To get a fix I drive my high performance non turbo diesel Hilux.

You are missing one of the sweetest shifting manual gearboxes in the business, better acceleration and sharper throttle response. The only issue is that the driveline can lurch at low speeds/RPM in first if you're not careful with the clutch/throttle.

Fuel economy is much of a wash, the Honda automatics do very well for fuel economy.


Seriously though I did ask Honda about the manual box when I bought it and they said you are generally up for a clutch at around 150 to 200K and they are not a cheap item. Are they pulling my leg? I thought that was a bit lowish. I sold my Landcruiser with 300K on the clock and the original clutch. I reckon it's all about driving style. My wife sold her Pulsar with 350K on the original clutch.

Seriously, getting more than 300,000 km out of a clutch is extraordinary. It all depends on how you drive it and how kind you are on the clutch, you and your wife must do a lot of highway driving or be extremely gentle on your clutches and take off driving downhill all the time ;) If you get more than 160,000km out of a clutch, that's pretty good.

While Honda Automatic transmissions are reliable, I would still expect servicing costs for an automatic to be higher over the life of the vehicle, and when you factor in that you have to pay a $2,300 premium up front for the automatic, a cost to replace the manual clutch 10 years down the track doesn't sound so bad.

- HZ

[MR_LATE]

Once I overtook a Prius! VTEC POWARRRR?

pics or it didn't happen :P

[aiutn]

honda replaced my clutch at 125,000 km, machined fly wheel etc.

$2200

luckily i didn't pay for it out of my own pocket, but if i have this car around for another clutch i wont be going back.

i think the guy who owned my euro before me was a bit of a hoon, i expect a bit better life out of this clutch

[marquee]

2200 woa i payed 1200 with motel fluids

[I CU2]

Motel fluids - Do I wanna know? :L

[aldo10]

You are missing one of the sweetest shifting manual gearboxes in the business, better acceleration and sharper throttle response. The only issue is that the driveline can lurch at low speeds/RPM in first if you're not careful with the clutch/throttle.

Fuel economy is much of a wash, the Honda automatics do very well for fuel economy.



Seriously, getting more than 300,000 km out of a clutch is extraordinary. It all depends on how you drive it and how kind you are on the clutch, you and your wife must do a lot of highway driving or be extremely gentle on your clutches and take off driving downhill all the time ;) If you get more than 160,000km out of a clutch, that's pretty good.

While Honda Automatic transmissions are reliable, I would still expect servicing costs for an automatic to be higher over the life of the vehicle, and when you factor in that you have to pay a $2,300 premium up front for the automatic, a cost to replace the manual clutch 10 years down the track doesn't sound so bad.

- HZ

I drove that Cruiser into Brisbane city everyday commuting as well as that it towed a camper on offroad trips too. Not to mention twice a year to Fraser Island. I don't know, I'm pretty easy on my vehicles. The missus is worse! No one touches her cars.

After reading that I wish I had bought one now.