I really love this engine, and think that an LX or EX in this configuration would be a welcome addition for Honda. With the bump in horsepower for the i4 in 2006, I'm not sure I know what I'd do with the horsepower in the v6.
Can anyone here peer into their crystal ball and see this combination in Honda's future?
+-----------------------------------------+ | Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping | | 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St | | cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
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I guess it depends on what you're comparing the engine against.
I test drove a '07 Toyota SE today, and while I love the comparative boatload of features you get for the money with the Toyota SE, the Honda K24A4 has the persona of a caged beast compared to the 4-cyl Toyota 2AZFE.
I know there's only eight horsepower difference between the two, but for some reason I kept thinking "putter-putter-putter" while I was driving the Toyota.
+-----------------------------------------+ | Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping | | 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St | | cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+
Yuh, Toyota Camry is more of an all-around family cruiser. It is by no mean sporty, but it does have a good quality ride and interior.
Horsepower can be deceiving. BMW feels more powerful with slightly less horsepower than many V6s out there. With Accord, you really have to kick it up to high RPMs.
But were you going slower? Did you actually look at the speedo to compare speed at various places along the same test drive route? (Then you get to figure out how much of any speed difference may be due to those high performance tires you put onto your Accord vs. the lousy tires on the Camry.)
Neither the Accord or Camry is especially sporty but you might see a
6-speed in the Accord I4 if Honda decides to standardize 6-speed manuals.
Uh-Oh! Been keeping track of my mods to the Honda ....
It has the same Michelin Energy MXV4 S8s that I had stock in the Honda, except they were 15" in the Honda vs 16" in the Toyota LE. I really hated those tires, so I replaced them with the 215-55/16 P Zero Nero M&S.
Still, the Honda i4 will bust those tires loose effortlessly..
I just think it's obvious that the Camry designers are gearing their efforts towards a nice, safe, tame, family market.
That'd be a dream come true for me. But unfortunately Honda and Toyota seem to approach options completely differently.
I guess, more than anything else, I'm really keen on finding out what kind of new standard features the '07 Accords will have in response to the incredible list of standard features that are available on the Camry.
+-----------------------------------------+ | Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping | | 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St | | cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
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There are good non-sporty applications for a 6 speed gearbox. Even in ordinary use, five speeds can sometimes feel a little bit too wide apart over a weak inline 4, particularly one with poor low-end torque.
In day to day city driving, I keep the RPM in the 1800 to 2200 range most of the time, sometimes venturing into the 2500-3000 zone (often because there isn't a good gear available to avoid it!) In this narrow "conservative band", it is just as useful to have more gears as it is to have them in the power band.
I agree, don't they use a 6 speed in the TSX that uses the same engine (although with a higher compression ratio)? seems like they coudl just standardize the manual to be a 6 speed with minor gearing tweeks for the 2 different engines. Hell, if they want to boost highway efficency, they could put 5th and 6th as overdrives, and just make 6th a super tall gear. 40 MPG highway?? ;-)
Hmmmmm... I still reckon having more than one overdriven gear is a waste of flexibility lower down. Perhaps raising the final drive and putting fifth as the direct drive...?
In the US you can get the 4 cylinder/6 speed euro-style Accord, but you have to go to the Acura dealer and ask for a "TSX" to get it. Darn nice car :).
Are you sure about that? I thought that all TSXs were made in Japan, mine certainly was according to the sticker. The Acura TLs are made in Ohio for sure.
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