On my way back from school yesterday I managed to snag a decent run against my class mate's 2005 V6 Accord EX Coupe (6spd).

I didn’t know it at the time, but the owner of the car that I ran, is in one of my classes. We “met” on the street when we were both going home after class, and I ended up talking to him for a little while after we ran our cars.

Apparently, he got his car four months ago and had just broken the engine in a few thousand miles back. So far he had added an AEM V2 CAI, HKS grounding kit, and suspension bits (H&R springs, not sure about the shocks). Nothing too serious had been done to it, in order to retain his warranty.
He went for the Accord EX V6 6 speed coupe, in all black. With it lowered, and with the dark tint, the car looked very mean, even with the stock factory lines. I wouldn’t mind rocking one of these, but for almost 30K there are a few other cars higher up on my list.

But I digress...

We lined up on the same local 3 lane highway, that I had referred to in some of my previous threads. It took a few stop lights, but we were finally able to line up next to each other without any traffic in front of us. Thing is, at the time, I thought the Accord (I hadn’t talked to the driver as of yet) was just going the same way as me. I didn’t know he wanted to run, due to the traffic we were navigating through from the university parking lot on out.

After we both managed to get to a light without traffic impeding our way, the Accord stopped short with his front bumper at my front passenger fender. This belied the fact that he wanted to participate in a stoplight du gran prix.

Luckily for me I tend to drive fast. When the light changed green, I left the line with some gusto (although a few thousand RPMs short of where I would have launched if I were actually racing). It was at that point that I heard the Accord's V6 wailing through its CAI as he brought the Honda's revs up and let out his clutch.

Instinctively my foot hits the floor.

At this point I am thanking the Honda god that I have such a flat torque curve, with 120+ of my 130 ft. lbs. (@ the wheels. I know, enough to sheer the lug nuts off, right?) available by 2800RPM. As the torque turned the engine towards its maximum power making speed, the pull at which the Accord's ambush launch had afforded it stopped. As I wound out 1st gear, our cars had pulled even, bumper to bumper.

As I grabbed 2nd gear, I gained a little more ground by putting my rear bumper at his driver’s side door. This is where I stayed through the rest of the gear.

And through 3rd gear.

As I shifted into 4th gear I had put a little bit more length on him.
By 90MPH, I was perhaps a car length in front of the Accord coupe, and my 100 it was a tad bit more at one and a half. We both shut down after 100MPH (as confirmed by the Accord driver later on) since there was a red light approaching rather rapidly.

As I alluded to earlier in the post, we then signaled to each other and pulled over to talk. We had a lengthy discussion about our cars and class. Complements were exchanged as was the home work assignment for tonight since I missed that earlier. Heh.
He had said he totally expected to stop me, and that he had raced a few Si’s before. All of which were at least a few cars behind him by 80. I, on the other hand, told him I was really impressed that a nearly stock Accord kept up with me for so long! He also said that, while he had never run his car at a real ¼ mile track, his friend’s GTech consistently shows his car running low 14s (between 14.0 and 14.3). Assuming that he is running on a flat piece of road and has the thing hooked up properly, his actual times should be pretty close to that, as per when my friends ran their GTech’s at the track to compare times.


Anyway, I came home and did some research since I was shocked a nearly stock Accord would be able to keep up so well. And, as I was amazed to find out, the 2005 Accord EX V6 6 sped (depending on what source you are looking at) runs between a 14.4@98MPH to a 14.2@102! That’s pretty damn astounding.

Take off a 1/10 or so for his mods and that’s pretty much where my car should be. So in fact the results of out race were pretty much spot on for its "on paper" performance figures.

Who would have figured that the Honda Accord would become such bad *** sleeper given it’s a heavy *** FWD family car heritage…

..And considering this race was much closer then some suns I’ve had with a 350Z, G35 coupe, and Mustang GT 5spd convertible there’s no wonder why I was a little more then surprised by how well the Accord kept up!


Cliffs notes: 2005 Accord EX V6 6 speed w/ AEM V2 CAI is barely slower then my car to 100MPH. I was left wondering why a near stock Accord is so damn fast!

Aparently, Accords run (according to multiple car rags) low 14s @ or near 100MPH. Frigging-A!

 

Read my signature....that'll explain everything

I've done the AEM V2 CAI, GReddy cat-back, custom j-pipe on the way, HFP suspension, and waiting for the grounding kit. The grounding kit helps so much in these cars because of the stupid fly-by-wire throttle bodies. Electronics suck!

 

yeah the new v6 accord coupes are pretty quick....i usually hate everything thats honda, but its actually the only honda id ever consider rocking

 

i wouldn't mind one of the new 05 accord hybrids. 255 with decent gas mileage... mmmm...

 

I almost bought one in 2000 but they only came in Auto at the time. It was between the V6 Accord, Mustang GT, and Prelude SI SH. Didn't like the insurance on the GT ($2400 a year!), didn't want auto, and didn't want a 4 banger. Went with the Stang. No regrets though

 

The accords have always been nice cars. My sister has a 96 one. They were always a favorite in reviews, and car and driver says they are one of their favorite sedans to drive. Good style, nice interior space, and not bad in the preformance area also. And get this, the hybrid (i think 99% sure) makes the most power out of all the accord models

 

Actually it's funny.
The 03-05 Accord V6 (gas) is rated at 240HP.
The 05 Accord V6 Hybrid is rated at 255HP.

Here is the kicker, which we proved on a dyno.
The 6 speeds have VIM (Variable Intake Manifold).
Plus HIGH compression...
Compared, we took a 6 speed and put a non-VIM on it, dyno'd it, and then put the VIM back on, dyno'd again and got about 8whp 7wtq difference. Not too bad, plus helped overall in the above 5000rpm range.
Then we tested 93 octane over 87 octane, and with high compression, we got 7whp 8wtq...so technically: The 6 speeds have 255ish crank HP on 93 octane...so yep, they are equal. But the Hybrid don't forget has more loss in the driveline due to it being auto...so there you have it. 6 speed is still faster

Little tidbits on the Honda engineering....oh yeah
THE CLUTCH IN THESE CARS SUCK, there is no engagement point and you are pushing on air....seriously.
It's not cable driven, it's electronic hydrolic...s t o o p i d.
I hate it but hey...whatever...takes more skill

 

that's still a good chunk of change worth of HP for a hybrid. i could see myself driving one. great for commuting and has some power for playtime when the roads open up.

 

Well thats a choice your gonna have to take, better gas mileage, and an autp with fairly equal power, or a stick, but worse mileage. Really ied probably end up gettin the auto, since hell it is an accord, so it would be a great daily driver, and easy enohgh to not mess with clutchin all the time (i get pretty tired having to clutch in rush hour traffic)

 

You got 100 grand to throw at a car?

yeah... it's a great piece of technology, but i'd rather have a z06.