2000 Honda Accord SE 2.0i VTEC [RIP]

[DeusExMackia]

“…for I did not speak of my own accord”

Afraid we’re gonna break that rule here.

This is a 2000 Honda Accord SE 2.0i VTEC in saloon form. 87k miles on the clock, an interior that barely shows its 18 year age and enough old-age-pensioners character to make even Paul McCartney looks positively juvenile in comparison.

A superbly clean MOT history, an impeccable service log book and no signs of any of the usual rust anywhere, this really is a good find if I do say so myself (trumpet blowing over). Finished in San Marino Red and rocking original Honda plastic rims, it’s in great condition for its age and should see good service for a while yet.

The interior may well be positively late-90s, but it has plenty of amenities - air con, cruise control, and a sun roof - meaning it should be pleasant to own (he says).

In terms of driving, it’s far from a corner-killing machine; more to the point, it feels really rather large, much like the gargantuan steering wheel (which is quite a step up from the stubby one in the old Arosa). The throw on the gear stick is huge too; hardly a sports machine, as you can tell.

But that’s all irrelevant, because what matters is the feel of the engine when you pass 4500 rpm. It’s not the full-bodied Integra-esque VTEC YOOOOO deal, but it makes the noise, and that’s all that matters.

I’ve always had a love for these things, and I’m finally able to tick off owning a Honda from my bucket list. And I’m already starting to think I won’t be able to drive a car without VTEC ever again.

All it needs now is a nickname…

[Radster]

Now you’re playing with power. Vtec poweeeeer!

[VicVictory]

Oh, excellent… you got the manual transmission. Now you won’t need an old priest and a young priest…

[Detsikeulii]

@DeusExMackia

All it needs now is a nickname…

How about… Accalia? Because idk, it’s a nice name.

I actually went to a baby name website and searched anything that begins with “ac” and Google is already throwing ads of baby care stuff at me

[DeusExMackia]

@Mr.Computah Hell yeah. VTEC does what Nintendon’t…non-VVL engines don’t? Don’t think it has quite the ring to it.

@VicVictory THAT REFERENCE IS APPRECIATED

@Detsikeulii

Google is already throwing ads of baby care stuff at me

I admire your sacrifice. Don’t know if Accalia is a bit too feminine for my taste though

[NormanVauxhall]

Lovely machine! Congrats!

[Slim_Jim]

Welcome to the VTEC family.

[DeusExMackia]

I don’t know why I didn’t join sooner.

[abg7]

OK, so it’s not a Type-R, but it still has VTEC, and I can applaud you just for having an old Accord in your garage instead of some generic modern crossover. Remember when mid-sized cars were all the rage in Europe? Those days are long gone and will never return; in fact Honda hasn’t even bothered to sell the latest Accord there for several years now.

[Rk38]

MMmm, that’s a fine example, welcome to the Honda family!

[adamd]

@DeusExMackia

All it needs now is a nickname…

You mean you’re not gonna stick with the meme and call it Jesus?

[Hshan]

Hmmm, my usual weird chain of thoughts:
Jesus -> Christ -> Christine

[DeusExMackia]

@abg7 It is a shame crossovers are all the rage these days and that saloons don’t have the same appeal anymore to most buyers, but hey, I’m hoping to keep the dream alive with this thing.

@Rk38 Thankee #feelingblessed

@adamd Don’t think Jesus quite works. Maybe something else biblical? Tbh tho @szafirowy01’s suggestion might actually work, Christine suits it…ish

[vmo]

Excellent car, men!

F20A engine, no?

[DeusExMackia]

“On [rainy] days like these…”

How typical that on the first day I’m back at work over Easter, my job has had me driving all over the bloody place. Good excuse to test the Accord, mind you…

Verdict so far: VTEC on country lanes is a lot of fun, and I’m far too easily amused about having cruise control.

Those lights need some attention though. Plan is to sort out the fogging problem and then get some bangin’ Night Breakers to get rid of that 90s pale yellow looking crap.

[DeusExMackia]

“Eating Miles”

Richard Hammond once drove an Accord Type-V (same gen as mine, far more well equipped though) 650 miles on a road teast and was pretty affectionate about how nice the car was as a long distance cruiser. Considering that the only comparison for motorway driving I have is the plucky old Arosa, which gets pretty draining to be in after 3 hours at 70 mph, my new ride is borderline luxurious.

From one side of the country - Kent - to the other - Cardiff; ~200 miles of driving it and I got out the other end feeling as awake as I had when I got in. It’s a properly splendid car to drive over long distances.

Just one problem: the motor for the aerial has suddenly decided it doesn’t work anymore. Gonna need a scout about on the internet to save me having to yank up my vintage piece that looks like it belongs on a 1982 Ford Granada.

[VicVictory]

Psh. You’ve never known true antenna love until you’ve shoved a bent coathanger into the broken stub of a mast antenna on an '84 Dodge, to use as the permanent replacement.

[DeusExMackia]

“I’m going on Jeremy Kyle in a few weeks to talk about my unhealthy addiction to taking pictures of my car”

Sitrep: 5 weeks into ownership. Still coming to terms with the fuel economy never getting above 30 MPG (VTEC yooo). The boot is massive and very useful. I f*cking love this car.

…Oh, and Welsh roads really are a lot of fun. Shameless plug inbound, but after setting my imaginary sports car shoot out in the Brecon Beacons, I thought it might actually be worth going up to have a look and see if what I’d waxed lyrical about in that article is true. Can confirm it is.

Drove it down to a nearby beach this evening to watch the sunset, and to pose by the sea of course.

In terms of work on the car,

• Aerial motor has been disconnected and properly put away, so no more “vmmmmmmm” sound whenever you start it up, and no more 70s nostalgia either. Signal doesn’t seem to have been affected, so that’s sorted.
• Weird clunking sound that happens whenever the sunroof closes has been solved via WD40.
• MOT is coming up in the next few weeks. Fingers crossed it won’t be a hassle, but you never know with these things.

[DeusExMackia]

“I mean I don’t want to brag, but…”

…the Accord passed its MOT with zero adviseries. ZERO. This is an 18 year old car, it should not be this easy. I just jinxed it didn’t I.

Either way, I’m pretty darn happy. Decided to finally drive up to the Black Mountain Pass the day after it passed, seeing as I am in South Wales which frankly means there is no excuse.

Please have this poorly shot footage of me driving over the crest and past that famous hairpin:

- YouTube

Listen very carefully and you can even hear VTAAAAC, which still hasn’t got old.

Sadly however, it’s not as good as I was expecting. 40 mph limit, a lot of tourists driving painfully slow. The views are stunning though.

If you want my reccomendation, however, try this:

Out of Llangadog (where the Black Mountain pass ends), follow the A4069 north - a proper country road blast - to Llandovery. Then join the A40, heading eastwards. It follows the River Gwydderig at the bottom of this outstanding valley that marks the northern border of the Brecon Beacons. The road is absolutley stunning, with plenty of incredible corners and even a few changes in elevation for good measure.

Then, pass through Sennybridge and turn back on yourself to join the A4067 and then A4215 towards Merthyr Tyfdil, until it joins the A470. Not only is this road stunning in its own right too, but it offers some properly incredible views of Pen Y Fan, one of the tallest points in all of the Beacons. For me personally, this route was a lot more enjoyable than the Black Mountain pass.

We’re driving back to East Sussex soon, another cross-country trick which I’m fairly sure will be just as easy as the last.

[stm316]

Why was the camera not stable through that video?