am a young family man with 2 kids that presently lives in London but will start working in Birmingham in 2 months time, so i need a reliable car that will be doing at least 400miles every week.
Unfortunately my budget is limited to five to seven thousand pounds and the rest of the family (my wife and kids) have told me they want me to buy a family saloon cars.
Based on the reliability index Honda ACCORD 2003 to 2008 model seems to be the most reliable car in this bracket. However, my budget could only buy those with high mileage from 80,000 upwards. Due to reliability, I think I prefer ex fleet to privately used from supermarket dealers. Is that right? Any other options?
More specifically , I have found one petrol engine one with 2 previous owner and 82,000 mileage for 5,300 pounds but with official combined fuel consumption of 35mpg while I found another accord diesel based with 52,000 mileage for 7,300pounds with combined fuel consumption of 54mpg. Which one should I choose?
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Buy the petrol engined one if it has a full Honda history. From experiences recounted on here you Won`t get anything like 50 mpg from the admittedly impressive oiler.
Do not be afraid to buy privately from the proverbial elderly Accord owner if the history is there.
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OTOH, the petrol won't give 35mpg. My Civic 2.0 only just does that, being gentle on longer runs and the Accord will be lucky to hit 30mpg.
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Click on here www.hondabeat.com/highmiles.php for peace of mind!
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Have a look at FAQ No.14 via link at top of this page ( or click www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=13 ). {added a space after 13 to make the link work}
High miles should not be a problem (better than low miles) but be sure to follow HJ's advice re changing oil and filter.
I have no idea whether the car which you fancy has a chain cam (good news) or a cambelt.....if the latter, study service receipts to see if and when it was changed.
On this site we like to get feedback so do please let us know how you get on in both the short and longterm.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 03/05/2008 at 15:16
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I have no idea whether the car which you fancy has a chain cam (good news) or a cambelt.....if the latter study service receipts to see if and when it was changed.
Don't you start using the line "Chain Cam" their is no such thing it's a cam chain! That's why you say cam belt not belt cam. Chain Cam is just dodgy non-technical HJ speak!
On another note check what the high mileage servicing costs are for the Accord. At 80K plus even on one of them it will start needing some bits & ost Honda spares are eye wateringly expensive!
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Isn't there some hideously expensive valve adjustment work needed on these at a particular age ?
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I have read the reports of other owners with high mileage honda cars at this website www.hondabeat.com/highmiles.php. They were very encouraging, some as high a mileage as 460,000. Moreover, according to HonestJohn Car-by-car breakdown, the Accord engines at least the diesel ones are chain cam not cambelts. I am now waiting for the finance to be approved to purchase the car and if not, I know I will have enough savings to purchase one by the end of July. Thanks everybody for your advice.
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You can get over 30 from an Accord - I've has a 2.4 for four years and it's average over that time is just below 34mpg.
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I agree with this MPG on a 2.4 Tourer manual. I live in the country and can get 34-35, but cruising at 85 mph brings it down to 32.
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Does it have to be an Accord?
This Civic has low miles tinyurl.com/4r4dy7
I do about 400 miles a week and my old shape Saab 9-3 TiD wafts along doing 45mpg if you hoof it and currently up to 58mpg not hoofing it.
Enough room for wife, booster seat and baby seat and enormous boot.
Should be able to pick up a sub 60k car for around 5k or less if you're lucky.
Just get it serviced by an independent.
No cam belt to worry about either.
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You can get 50mpg out of the diesel - I managed it with two, one over 120k and one loaner over 3k. Both were execs so at the heavy end. Run it at over 70 and you will not achieve it though - fill to fill my lowest was around 43mpg and that was at a little over the speed limit on a French autoroute fully loaded.
The diesel apparently suffers a manifold cracking problem (mine was changed at around 95k).
Great car but the sat nav on the current version ruins the ergonomics.
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