Introduction

Stylish look, roomy, well-designed interior, high-tech engines, excellent quality, and high resale value made the sixth generation of Honda Accord (1998-2002) one of the top choices in the mid-size sedan segment.
Available as a four-door sedan and two-door coupe Honda Accord offers three engine models:
The 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine with 135 horsepower,
another four-cylinder, VTEC 2.3-liter engine with 150 horsepower
and the 3.0-liter, VTEC V6 engine with 200 horsepower.
Inside the Honda Accord has plenty of room. Fit and finish is very good. Great visibility. The instrument panel is easy to read, user-friendly controls located exactly where you want them to be. Driver's seat is firm and supportive, the rear seat folds down for extra cargo room.

The engine

The 1998-2002 Honda Accord offers three engine models:
the 2.3-liter 4-cylinder 16-valves SOHC (Single OverHead Cam) engine with 135 hp, which might feel slightly underpowered but is very reliable.
Best option, in my opinion, is another 4-cylinder engine -
the 2.3-liter 16-valves SOHC VTEC engine with 150 hp and 152 lb.-ft. of torque. It's also very reliable and besides reasonable power also offers very good fuel economy:
23/30 MPG or 10.2/7.8 liters per 100 km.
The third engine is the 3.0-liter 24-valve V-6 VTEC with 200 hp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. It offers impressive performance and smoother ride since it's heavier.
All three engines have a timing belt that must be changed regularly. Honda Accord engines are very reliable if properly maintained.

Strengths

- High reliability
- Good fuel economy for mid-size sedan (4-cylinder models)
- High crash test ratings
- High resale value
- Interior quality and comfort
- Good handling
- Excellent brakes

Weaknesses

- Price
- Road and engine (4-cylinder models) noise
- Might be costly to insure. Check the insurance quote first.
Some of the possible problems are automatic transmission problems (mostly on V6 models) and just minor stuff like the check engine light with EGR related codes on V6 models.

Overall

Honda Accord is certainly one of the best choices if you are looking for mid-size family sedan. I particularly recommend the models with 2.3-liter VTEC engine.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash your car regularly, wax it once in a while to keep the car body shiny and protected from harsh environment.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Change transmission fluid regularly.
- Take care of minor problems as soon as you can, so they won't cause serious problems and an expensive repair later.
- Always check your parking space for leaks, and if you find one, get it fixed as soon as you can.
- Try to avoid overheating the engine - it may cause serious problems.
- It make sense to replace the water pump when you change the timing belt.
- At least once a year have your car inspected in the garage on the lift (e.g when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at one of those fast lube places; the car must be on the lift.
- No matter where you service your Honda, try to stick with original Honda parts.
Check more Car maintenance tips from Samarins.com.
If you have problem with the automatic transmission of your Honda, even if it's out of warranty, check with your local dealer; it might be still covered. In 2004 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. expanded voluntary transmission recall to certain Honda and Acura automobiles. Visit Honda website for details.
If you want to know more about your Honda, have some question or need owner's manual, visit Honda’s Ownerlink website (see links section below).

Honda Accord short specs. (2001 model)

Dimensions (sedan)  Length 189.4 (4811mm)
Width 70.3 (1786mm)
Height 56.9 (1445mm

Engine

DX models 2.3L, 16-valve 4-cylinder, 135 hp, 145 lb.-ft.
      EX, LX 2.3L, 16-valve 4-cylinder, VTEC, 150 hp, 152 lb.-ft.
      LX V6, EX V6  3.0L, 24-valve V-6 VTEC, 200 hp, 195 lb.-ft.