New CU2 Accord Euro - My car, my review!

[Euro76]

Great review!

I happened to test the manual new euro this morning. What a cracking drive! Very impressed. I especially loved the gearbox - the shifter is in a nicer position and it is such a sweet sweet gear change.

The engine also feels completely different. It revs so much more freely it has to be seen to be believed how different it is - it just spins and spins through the rev range FAST. I wonder whether they have lightened the flywheel in addition to the shorter gear ratios.

Power is actually pretty good - the car moves along very nicely indeed. I can see how some people would say the new model is faster because it revs so much more freely and the accelerator is more responsive to input. HOWEVER - looking at the speedo carefully I am not convinced it accelerates faster. Very similar to the old model actually - maybe slower. The short gear ratios confused my sense of pace. It is probably like the Civic type R - people test drive one and think it is a rocket because it revs so easily - but put it against the clock and it is 0-100 in 7.5 seconds.

The car is quieter and more compliant over bumps and pot holes. Great improvement in ride and cabin noise.

The HUGE leap forward is in the steering feel and the handling. This new euro changes direction and corners similar to a CL9 with coilovers and sway bars. It is flatter around corners and just loves to change direction. Stock for stock there is no comparison between the old and new in the handling department.

Overall Honda is on to a real winner here. Value for money is outstanding and I really enjoyed how the new model drives. The manual is a real drivers car. If it had 30kw more power it would be outstanding. Would I buy one? Hell yeah, this is a great car.

I have not test drive the new CU2 Euro, however I am very sure that CL9 chassis could handle more power, for at least another 20kw or more. Take a look at JDM Euro R, their power figure is 160kw I believe? It's 20kw more than Aus spec Euro. CU2 however should be able to handle more power, 148kw sounds not quite difference than CL9 although I agreed you said extra 30kw will be better.

[yfin]

forgot to mention that the floor mats in the euro are soooo ugly ! They have these wavy lines on them that look very 80s......

Looking at the accessory brochure i see that there are some "packs" available (pricing not set yet):

Sports Pack: Sports grille, aero bumper front and rear, skirts, spoiler, 10 spoke alloys

Elegance Pack: inerior panel 9 piece set, shift knob, sports steering wheel, door garnish...

I am sure the aero bumpers are going to be pricey as they are a complete bumper replacement.

[aaronng]

I can hear VTEC kicks in slowly maybe you press gas pedal deeper in slow way?

It was taken on a dyno using full throttle.

[T-onedc2]

Great write up mate

[buddah51au]

I had the oportunity to take a standard CU2 Auto for an extensive test drive and came away very impressed, a great all round package. I do not agree with some road test reports about the vauge steering, i found it to be very well wieghted. Honda has a winner on its hands.

[kimnkk]

I am sure the aero bumpers are going to be pricey as they are a complete bumper replacement.

I'm not sure how much they are here, but apparently in the states, for the bumpers and skirts alone, it's US$3000. Knowing how much we get rorted here, i'm guessing the front, rear and skirt replacements will set us back at least $4k. They would be good down the track when you can probably get them thrown in for free.

[yfin]

They would be good down the track when you can probably get them thrown in for free.

yeah i expect there would be a sports model eventually with all of that included. Shame it is not available now.

[SPQR]

Great review!
The engine also feels completely different. It revs so much more freely it has to be seen to be believed how different it is - it just spins and spins through the rev range FAST. I wonder whether they have lightened the flywheel in addition to the shorter gear ratios.

The higher compression ratio helps (10.5 increased to 11.0).

[Type R Positive]

VTec crossover on CU2 is supposed to be 5300RPM.Type R Positive is this so?

I honestly don't know. Seems to me that it really takes off at around 4k rpms. I will have to try to take more notice. I feel this car has the most grunt around 4k - 6.5k rpms.

I'm trying to find a tsx dyno but can't find any?

[Blitzen]

nice write up, but all things need run in, and your already vtecing it?!...

[Blitzen]

Try to guess when is vtec. I can't tell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q19wN4fWFqs

I heard a lil' bit at 6,750rpm (1min 22sec into the video)

[Type R Positive]

Nice comments Yfin.

I am glad someone else likes it and just not me. I guess lots of people bag it because they got CL9 and won't upgrade. The Yanks are REALLY bagging the crap out of it... The biggest thing that pisses me off about this car is that one yank (I think it was Edmond's) slags it, so the whole media follows... I just read the Wheels review of the european CU2, and they only had positive things to say. I still haven't seen any 'professional' heads up reviews of CL9 vs CU2, only regurgitated crap.

The handling is out of this world. I still can't believe it. I said it before, THIS IS A DRIVERS CAR!!!!! I don't know how or why everyone is complaining about the steering. Grip is sooo much better. The VSA would kick in all the time in my CL9, cutting power when ever I booted it in 1st or 2nd. Not in the CU2. I haven't really given it a hard time yet in 1st though. I only got VSA kick in flogging it around a 90* corner at 60km/h in 2nd. So far, no matter what I do, the car just sits flat!!! The tyres are the limiting factor, but it amazes me so much how well it works with these 'comfort' tyres.

I had the feeling that it revs easy, but I don't know about the flywheel weight. The reason I say this is because when you back off, there is a definate lack of engine braking. Either Honda has given the fuel map some over-run for smoothness, or the flywheel is heavier then what is thought. I think the extra torque is the biggest factor though. Because it is so smooth (tried to replicate the head banging CL9), I thought it could actually benefit from a lightened flywheel. Anyways, I will just have to wait till more info on the matter comes to hand.

Honda has worked so very hard on this car. They have given us a car that just works so well. I know im very happy with it. I still kick myself when I think about the price of this car. My base CU2 has some better features than my $80k VX Prado! You definately get a whole lot of car for very little money.