2003 Honda Accord Coupe
The Honda Accord is quickly approaching three decades of production, first arriving
on American shores in 1976 as a compact 4-cylinder, 2-door hatchback, and a few
years later, a 4-door sedan. Over this period the car has evolved from its basic
roots into a very refined and luxurious market-favorite, albeit now classified
as a mid-sized vehicle.
For 2003 the Accord line-up was completely redesigned and re-engineered, and
while the Accord Sedan looks very dissimilar than its previous iteration, the
same cannot be said of the Coupe. True, it shares much of the new sedan's front-end
and interior styling, but the rest of the design seems to take over where the
previous coupe left off. It is important to note that for the first time, the
Accord Coupe and Sedan are entirely different vehicles. So distinct in fact, that
they share no common body panels.
The 2003 Accord Coupe is very sleek, rising up like a wedge from the sculpted
hood to the tall, rounded tail. A high waistline crease draws the eye to the lower
section of the car, which features near vertical panels, devoid of any trim whatsoever.
The Accord Coupe is more powerful than the previous generation car by 20%, as
an extra 40-horsepower have been placed under the hood. A much improved rack and
pinion steering mechanism delivers better road feel, especially over bumpy road
surfaces, and will promote spirited driving, especially now that the car has the
legs to perform.
The 3.0-litre V6 is silky smooth and eager to rev when you get the urge to play,
and it emits a healthy roar when prodded. Style conscious singles and empty-nesters
will likely make-up the bulk of Accord Coupe buyers, but it is roomy enough for
small families that are willing to give up the convenience of four doors for the
sporty styling of a coupe. Attractive pricing and Honda's excellent customer satisfaction
record will bring new and returning customers to the dealership for a look, but
outstanding fit-and-finish, equipment levels and a rewarding driving experience
will have them leaving with the keys.
