Test drive Honda Accord 4 doors 2006 - 2008 sedan
Under the curtain
The new eighth generation of Honda Accord, which will be seen in the North American market next year, will not come to us in the mass order soon. The company has not yet changed its overseas priorities. But, judging by the promotion of two new Special Editions in Russia, produced by limited circulation, Honda is in no hurry to abandon the seventh generation Accord. It was the Accord Type S, the most sports (according to the advertising booklet) from SE, that the honor, or fate, has fallen, to take on the second, the most massive coming of snow during this autumn season. The fears that the car will merge with the whiteness of winter nature and deprive us of aesthetic pleasure from the contemplation of its courageous forms, turned out to be in vain. Light roll drives and milk-blue sides bristled with gray mud sandpaper. At the same time, oddly enough,
the hood, the roof and the back remained quite clean. This amazing phenomenon made the car around and find the differences from the already known basic version. Everything seems to be the same as it was, but not quite. The barely noticeable skirts of the spoilers in a circle, black chromium door handles, the same color is the frame of the radiator grille, cast 17-inch wheels tone, darkened headlights reflectors. It does not look avant -garde, but stylish and aesthetically finished. However, the eye does not find something familiar. Of course, mudguards, and therefore the studded winter tires of the size of 255x45, taking into account the decent departure, perform not only their direct purpose, but also give the slurry from the asphalt on board. Well, the founding father of Sochiro Honda, as historians say, was a big joker, and therefore we perceive this innovation in design for a given. However, the Americans pay for such pleasure, buying a dirty -like composition in aerosol spray cans and depicting charismatic makeup on their iron horses that did not know the real mud. 
It is clear that the Japanese did not go to the radical alteration of the salon, which was good before. But they brought him, in their opinion, to perfection. There can really be no complaints about aesthetics. Finishing the central console, as well as armrests with inserts of plastic under carbon fiber, goes well with the rest of the interior of deep black color. True, brilliant carbones requires constant wiping, and therefore packaging with cleansing napkins need. By the way, there is no place for them in the glove compartment. It is so small that it barely accommodates two pairs of gloves. However, for storing larger things there is a two -tier compartment in the inter -cell armrest. There is also a socket for all kinds of chargers, the plugs of which the nest of an ordinary on-board cigarette lighter spits out due to insufficient depth. Everything else is quite in the traditions of accord, and only for seats a combined leather-tissue finish is chosen, and the fabric has the appearance of a well-made suede.
Trying to find the buttons of the electric regulatory of the chair, the left hand finds only a couple of healthy levers. The first is responsible for the height of the pillow, the second for the back of the back. Longitudinal setting of position with the help of a traditional frame under the seat. Well, do not fall into hysteria because of this! Although the car costs a lot of money, the savings on such trifles would be clear in the cars of a slightly different class. But the correction of the steering wheel is two -position, along the corner and departure. True, with high growth, bring all the moving components of the driver's seat to such a state that it is convenient, and the upper part of the steering wheel does not overlap the instrument shield with white and red backlight, it turned out to be not too simple. But when it was completed, everything fell into place and gained the harmony of perfection. As practice shows, if you can’t remember what seats, controls in it, the display and other details in it, but you understand that you intuitively used the entire electronic-mechanical arsenal for its intended purpose, which means that ergonomics at the highest level . It is this impression that the Accord Type S. And this is what you feel for the feeling of white envy for the quality of assembly and fitting the details. 
After starting a 2.4-liter engine in 190 liters. With. There is silence in the cabin. True, the starter, as if reluctantly, scrolls the crankshaft. But a couple of seconds, even in the frost, is enough for the motor to come to life. In our version of Type S, a five -speed automatic transmission is responsible for the transfer of the moment to the wheels, although there is also an option with six -speed mechanics. Not knowing the details, and you will not catch that the gas pedal is electronic. She reacts almost instantly to the slightest press, and the hydrotransformer quickly switches the programs, trying to quickly sort out the entire row and reach an economical regime. There are practically no delays, as well as any shocks or extraneous sounds. To catch the moment of switching, you need to strain the ear, but this, in general, is useless. However, let me, and where is the shock dynamics that should distinguish a similar car? Again the notorious ecological noose? And if you try gas to the floor?! The effect is almost the same as with a smooth press, switching by about 3000 rpm. A little faster than it was, but not much. The pseudoral regime is much more interesting. The programs were selected completely, the tachometer arrow is driven under the red zone 6800 rpm. But still 
to wield a convenient, but with a handle, knowing that he gave money for an automatic machine that is simply obliged to be able to switch everything as you need is not very joyful. The last hope for the D3 mode, into which we translate the selector. This is a completely different song of a gambling and gambling. True, the impression is that you use only three programs, but completely. Now you can focus on active drive, adjusting the trajectory with gas and the steering wheel. The possibilities of the last 2.85 turnover from the stop to the stop. A good indicator, but stiffness could be done more or provide for its correction through the onboard computer. Unfortunately, this is not, but you can use the high-class audio system and cruise control, as well as to view the indicators for fuel consumption and course parameters without tearing your hands from the steering wheel. The suspension settings in Type S are quite rigid, but not so much that it affects the comfort of the driver and passengers. At the same time, controllability, in particular and due to a multi -link rear suspension, is at a height. However, to drive the car on
bad asphalt, and even more so on the lane, is still not worth it. The course of shock absorbers is not so great, and the clearance of 145 mm is definitely not for pardon. The snow -capped road, rolled up to the ice state, turned out to be very insidious even for the electronic VSA stabilization system. It would seem that impeccable work under the traction does not present any surprises. Start, the beginning of the wheel slipping, an almost instantaneous restriction of power and torque, and as a result, a gradual set of speed without any drifts. A similar effect gives a deliberately quick entrance to the turn. Electronics calculates the compliance of the direction of movement with the corner of rotation of the steering wheel and, in the event of a deviation from the course, presses the engine. But, if you remove the leg from the accelerator on a slippery road and make a sharp or simply incorrect movement of the steering wheel, the stabilizer is lost, as well as the car. There is nowhere to reduce the supply of fuel more, and to increase it, which would be logical in a similar situation, the system is not trained. Alas, the entire principle of its work is built on restrictions. So VSA, as well as all other similar safety devices, does not completely cancel the confident driving skills.
To say that Honda Accord Type S The next revelation of the Japanese brand would mean crooked. But small delicate strokes, included in a stable and recognized concept, once again emphasize that it does not require a detailed revision.
