Bought a new 2,4 petrol estate in 2003. Brilliant car - seats, engine, gearbox, space. The build quality as well. Every journey was a pleasure until it met it's demise two years ago, it got written off by a cyclist when the car was stationary.

So went to look at the current estate model. Seats still excellent, as was the engine and gearbox but the interior - oh dear oh dear! I once heard it described as being designed for the X-Box generation. And the size of the boot compared to the previous model was ridiculously small. And yet the price had ramped up out of all proportion to the car's capabilities. So I bought a V70 and a cardigan instead. Sorry Honda - you concentrated too much on a market that wasn't ever going to be yours (3 series/A4/C class) - lifestyle estate. Reliable, low-key, spacious load lugger at Mondeo price levels should have been your market. And no, the CR-V will not fill the gap - on a long journey there is no comparison between a 4x4 barge and a long, low estate.

>> they are expensive used compared to the competition.

A high secondhand price says one of two things about a vehicle. Either it has the "right" badge on it, so idiots will pay more than it's worth to get that badge, or it's known to be something that will provide reliable service for years.

I reckon the Accord is in the second category as expensive badges appear to be a uniquely german thing.

The original Accord was a 1.6 petrol of around 85bhp, not 1.8.

I bought one of the first into the country at 10months old it was from a private dealer for his own use.

A fabulous looking car in dark metallic red, with a sand coloured velour trim.

It was 10 years in front of the Mk4 Cortina that i px for it.

Unfortunatly the body and chassis was rusting from day one, at 18 months old it was showing coming through the top of the wing.

So i got shut quick.

Always tried to buy another, but Honda never would produce another that i desired, they just got bigger and more expensive.

Same the the CRV, why Honda makes such ugly cars i don't know.

Hello xtrailman, my first Accord was definitely a 1.8 12 valve fuel injected engine. It was a 'C' reg i.e C185THN. It was pale green metalic, with cruise control, air con, sunroof and all sorts of other goodies. In 1985 there were no Honda main dealers only local agents. My local agent dealt in Reliant Scimitars and 3 wheelers and Citroen and had only one car from Honda, which was this Accord my company bought for me. It was marvellous and as you say, years ahead of anything on offer for the common or garden motorist. I then had 2 more as the model changed and it did get bigger and by then Honda had a main dealer network and a reputation to die for. Then the big diesel switchover came in 1994 and I was never able to get another Honda as a company car. Pity. I now run my own car and claim the mileage, much better off for me. However being in charge of the budget makes you think, and in theory I could run any car I chose, but cost is a factor. Honda got too expensive and priced people like me out of their particular market. Such a shame. I still think if the 'suits' in marketing put their minds to it they could produce another Accord that would sell well. lets hope. Cheers Concrete

It is indeed a shame. Japanese made cars are always the most reliable.

So why is the CRV so expensive?