bgawad

iTrader: (8)

Hey guys ill get straight to the point,
My dad went to an auto auto auction a 5 week ago. He called me several times to tell me what cars were there and how much they were going for. He called me about a benz, audi, bimmers... i was getting pretty excited untill the last call. He called me telling me he just bought an 2002 Honda Accord Red with 98000miles for 4700. Its the V6 SE. I was really pist off, i thought he was going to do a lot better for my mom. So the next day we picked it up and whata you know the SES light is on.. Ugh so i drove it home it drove well but i did the reset procedure for the airbag (from the stupid honda forums) but the light stayed on. Although the deal wasnt to bad, I just let the car sit for 4 weeks i hate seeing a Honda in my driveway since i own a 4th and 5th gen stick maxima... well this got me thinking i went on craigslist and came across an 03 maxima SE with navigation, sunroof and black leather (no heated seats or steering wheel). It has 110000 miles and it looked in good condition. Called the guy up and he seemed somewhat interested in the accord. If this guy sees the accord and likes it should i trade for the max? looked up the book values and there literally about the same price (air bag light was taken into consideration when doing the prices) btw the carfax on the Honda is absolutely flawless.
thanks guys!

fishtale6spd

iTrader: (13)

Do it the Max is way better

BigLou55

iTrader: (6)

depending on the condition I would especially it it was a 6 speed

bgawad

iTrader: (8)

It's an automatic it's the majestic blue color. This car is for my mom as far as reliabilty for a female, what would be the best choice?

BigLou55

iTrader: (6)

both are reliable cars but the max is a better choice IMO, just make sure its not an oil burner(not sure if the oil burning is just as bad with the 03)

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

You like the Max. Maybe your mom would prefer the Honda. Ask her.

DW

mau108

Both cars have their share of problems. The biggest for the Max would be the oil consumption, the Accord would be the automatic transmission.

Both are good cars, I'm a Honda/Acura guy (3 out of 4 of our cars are Honda/Acura's). They are easy to work on, cheap and I've had no major problems with any of them. Maxima is a great car (it's my winter beater lol) but I find it's not a great winter car. My 99 Honda Prelude drove better and handled the cold Canadian climate better then the Max (sad I sold her ).

One other ding against the Maxima would be it requires Premium fuel where as the Accord doesn't. Talk to your mother explain to her the pro's and con's, she will be driving it, she will be taking care of it so see what she is comfortable with.

BTW you can't come to a Maxima forum and ask which car is better, big time bias!

Rods03Max619

iTrader: (5)

Agreed.......

Grand_hustle17

iTrader: (22)

02-03maxima >98-02accord

Nexus67

iTrader: (23)

Would you be driving it or your Mom? If she doesn't care then it'd probably be easier to keep the Honda. Unless she's a modder like us

EDIT: didn't see this post earlier. +1

Gizm0

iTrader: (1)

Most people on here will tell you to get the maxima... Post the same on Honda accord website and most people will tell you to keep the Honda... Bottom line, if the car is for your mom, it's up to her to make the decision...

Lanaue

For your mom Honda, She dosen't need the extra hp or 91 octane. As much as I love my max my wife's Accord has been flawless 160k miles. Just basic mantinace. I've had ses lights on every Max I've had. Rarly on our honda. Dollar for dollar the honda is cheaper to own,the max is just more fun.

ranmas2004

iTrader: (2)

I thought they didn't start making the 6-speed until 2003?? I would pick up the Max....even though Hondas reliability is second to none. Maxima is more fun to drive. But the Honda will have more aftermarket support and the Honda manual transmission feel really good shifting. Your choice.

bocian

iTrader: (1)

02-03 5th gen came in 6 spd

Id say keep the accord, the max could be a bit more in maintenance, hondas are very reliable cars, i had an acura integra gsr a while back when i was 18 and i beat the living daylights out of that thing for 3+ years and 60k+ miles and it didnt give me any trouble, just regular maintenance...
as Lanaue said, the honda is cheaper to own, the max is much more fun for me, its the max all the way, for your mom, id say stick with the accord

aackshun

iTrader: (3)

He's referring to the Accord....

Should wait and get a 05 V6 Sedan 6MT rare as fawk

That's what I wanted... Before I test drove a 6mt VQ back to back to a 6mt J30, never looked back since that day.

Genes1s

iTrader: (5)

I'd stay away from 98-02 V6. They only come with Auto Tranny. The tranny is a piece of junk, trust me I had one before I bought my 00 Max. Maxima has better low end torque and much quiter. The things that I miss about the good old accord, is the chassis. It doesn't take much to tune the suspension to make it handle like a go cart, unlike my Max, still floating like a big boat.

I love Honda, grew up building Honda just didn't like the tranny on that particular models.....

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

If it's a 5 spd auto it's definitely trash. That would be the same as the Acuras. ALL of them fail b/c of not enough fluid getting to the gears, etc. They simply burn up. Honda didn't think it was a good idea to put in enough squirters.

If it's a 5 spd, don't even think about keeping the car, op. The recall on those trannies was even a joke. They just added a couple squirters that doesn't actually increase the life span.
I think they used the same tranny all the way till 05-06! People are pissed. Take a look on the forums - replacing a tranny 3 times and it's not even 100k wtf.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

Wow. You would think that the torquey VQ would be trashing it's auto box, but it's the Honda...and their engines aren't known for low end torque.

Ironic.

OP, if your Mom wants the Honda, get her the Maxima auto

DW

Genes1s

iTrader: (5)

4 speed auto you mean??? Anyway, yes absolutely agree. It's the same tranny that plague 98-04 Odyssey. If you really really have to, make sure you do often drain and fill. That would help to minimize the amount metal shaving.....that will eventually clog up the system.

aackshun

iTrader: (3)

Both, 4AT/5AT Honda V6 Trannys are G-A-R-B-A-G-E

They're worse then our 5MT's

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

If the Honda tranny's are so horrible, why is the maxima considered less reliable?

DW

aackshun

iTrader: (3)

Because people can't maintain them, Maximas are primadonnas.

ES_Kev

Its been said a bunch of times already, but the accord auto trannies are horrible, get rid of it while you still can.. My sis' accord had the tranny replaced 2 years ago.. I also used worked in the service department at a Honda dealership, and it was like for every 10 accords, 1 would have tranny issues... And an even worse ratio for the Odysseys.

mau108

With the Honda's you have to religiously change the automatic transmission fluid. I'd stick with Honda DW-1. Don't even follow Honda's interval, change it every 3rd or 4th engine oil change (drain and fill EASY!).

When I got my maxima, it was the first thing I did and that fluid was dark, drained and filled, then did another drain and fill the next week with a filter change and new gasket. Will be doing another drain and fill with Maxlife ATF again when my next oil change comes up.

I think the Max's 4spd auto is lacking a gear but its a solid transmission.

CraigSE

It is a rock solid trans.
Got one in the family still, a 00 automatic, its bulletproof and shifts like new with the odd drain and refill of the trans fluid.

Grand_hustle17

iTrader: (22)

98-02 didnt come with a V6 and MT option.... im srry maxima all day... stock for stock i still think the maxima

Grand_hustle17

iTrader: (22)

agreed, 3 of my honda friends (03 TL, 04CL, 00 V6 accord) say they dont really want to mod heavily because the transmissions are known to be the weak link

L_U_D_I_AMaxima

iTrader: (3)

I would say ask your mom first... with the honda you have to mess with the timing belt, the maxima has the advantage of the timing chain... yes the accord does have a crappy transmission but I have seem some of those gens with over 200K and still the original transmission... I guess it depends on the owner and how the car has been maintained. The Maxima will be more luxurious and have the feeling of a big car. Also don't forget that the maxima has one of the worst in the world turn radius, your mom might not like that. I know the next couple of lines might start a huge fight, but from I have seen Honda's tend to sell for a higher price just b/c everyone will say "yea its a honda, they last forever" which we know its not true...
Also before my 5th gen I had a 91 accord that was much much better in the snow than my maxima, even with good winter tires on it.
If she is going to drive the car just ask her...

kurt1

Is the same 4 speed auto in the earlier maximas the same as the j31 4 speed auto box??

mrjasonlyrics

They are both great cars but because I don't like the body shape on that accord i'd definitely go for the 5.5gen maxima with a 6spd. Besiedes the guys on the forum will help you anytime the car has and issue

pahanorlando

iTrader: (5)

My brother owns 03 TL and had to replace transmission twice. First time it was about $2500-$3000

locknuts27

iTrader: (2)

I don't believe there was a 6spd option for 2002 honda accord! For that body style it only came with auto and 5spd for the four banger.

Genes1s

iTrader: (5)

I used to have 2000 AV6 with J30A with auto tranny. The Engine is rock solid and they are more lively than my 3.0 Liter 00 Max especially at higher RPM thanks to the VTEC. They sound sweet also also due to VTEC. With simple bolt on like agreesive cam shaft from Acura CL or TL, bigger intake manifold, and exhaust system this can easily reach 260-270 with no tuning. If you bore it to 3.5 liter than this is what you see in Odyssey, Pilot, and MDX.

The issue is the freaking auto tranny. I was once tempted to swap the auto tranny with 6 speed tranny out of Acura TL 04-08, but got hang up in the wiring harness....

If you must go with Accord, get the 2.2 cylinder auto, you'll get 30 mpg with rock solid tranny.