Better than: Accord Coupe with an automatic
But not as good as: BMW 3 series
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 90.00
A little while ago we sampled the Accord Coupe and, truth be told, we were disappointed that it had the four-cylinder backed by an automatic transmission. Where's the fun in that?
Well, we have now experienced the hot setup: the V6 backed by a six-speed manual box. Our test car even had the EX and Navi packages. Yes, deluxe.
Something to think about: The Accord's 3.5-liter V6 makes 271 horsepower. Remember when a 225-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8 was worthy of magazine covers?
The Accord EX-L is a sleeper for sure. Sure it's heavy and wrong wheel drive, but it's also a surprisingly capable and good looking sports coupe.
The stir-it-yourself V6 Accord has a surprisingly strong link to the surprisingly fun Hondas of days past. It likes to go around corners, it has engaging steering and shift linkage, and it's eager to play. Tromp the gas in any lower gear and it doles out eye-opening amounts of acceleration. It will shred the tires in second without hesitation; some stickier rubber would only serve to make it more enjoyable. I can see why these fare so well in full race trim, with all the extra weight torn out and some proper suspension and traction modifications, the Accord V6 six-speed would be a riot on track.
I admit, my first car ever was an Accord, so I feel a special connection withe model. The latest coupe is a nice car. Adding more power only makes a good thing better.
I'm not going to call this a Miata substitute, but it's a sporty, comfortable car for 99 percent of the people out there.
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