2008 Honda Accord: No Manual Shift Control

That's my number one beef with the new Accord. I know that no one uses it, but come on Honda! As the only Japanese company in F1 (I think), I wished to see a bit more enthusiast-oriented kit in their cars. Even the Camry (of all things) has a manual shift gate.

Accord drivers tend not to shift much, hence not only the absence of a manumatic but also the absence of the previous generation's manual tranny option for the V6 sedan. Pity. But maybe the shiftier sort like me belong at the Acura store anyway.

Toyota is in F1 also, never won anything but still...

I agree with louiswei! The shifter looks beyond cheap and as if the shifter bin for the civic and accord are shared. I have only used the manual shift mode in my car only a few times but it's nice to know it's there.

Does anyone really like those? I thought they just threw that in to convince idiots that their new family truckster was 'sporty'.
 
Personally, I drive an actual manual transmission, so pretty much all manumatics feel sluggish and worthless.

In Honda's defense, both the Accord's shifter & the Civic's shifter are very space-efficient. Let's see this shot of the Altima & you guys will see what I'm talking about. Now, Honda could've been a bit more space thrifty by moving the shifter to the far left & installing a cubby on the right, but that's another story.

The font on the shift gate looks awful...

The '08 Accord feels like a big lesson of "if it ain't broke, why fix it?"
  
The interior is more complex and doesn't appear to be any higher quality
The gauges (as has been mentioned before) look like a cost-cutting special
The car is almost *too* big for this class- the old Accord had ample space and power, while achieving high MPG (for the class) as well.
  
And the kicker?
The price has gone up to accommodate all these changes
  
I think I'd rather get a Sonata at this point.
  
Full disclosure: proud owner of an '03 EX-V6 Accord. The only thing the '08's got is style (and even that's polarizing).

I used the manu-matic in my 2004 Outlander quite often. But to tell the truth, it was mostly just playing, and I was missing my real manual. At least the Accord has D, 3, 2, and 1, whereas some just have D and L. Isn't the Ford Edge like that? Does it at least have an O/D off button for when you want to avoid riding the brakes down a hill?

I always though that grade logic in Honda automatics made those buttons redundant. Japanese import interiors are getting worse. I got driven around in an 08 Camry today and it was a real disappointment. Lots of hard plastic and misaligned all over the place. Now I see why the GM guys get so frustrated when people knock GM for their interiors. I've never liked Toyotas and today's experience definitely didn't win me over. Incidentally last week I got driven around in an Impala and it was about the same. Except the mirrors were comically small and the digital readouts looked like they were from my VCR from the eighties.

Honda feels manumatics are for Acura only. Its that simple. They dont offer gear shifting on any autos in Hondas. Once again, this shows that Honda developes vehicles with a blind eye towards the competition. I know they are very capable from an engineering perspective, but I dont see why Honda cant acknowledge some good ideas come from other brands and incorporate their ideas.

Doesn't the automatic on the Fit Sport have paddle shifters?

If I recall, I don't think the Accord ever had a manumatic option - it was either full manual or full auto. That being said, nothing stops the driver from shifting the auto into 3rd gear while going forward.
 
Manumatics can range from being just plain frustrating to actually a joy to use. I think the worst I've used to date is Volvo's in the S40 - talk about sluggish. VWAG's Tiptronic isn't too bad, neither is BMW's new 6-speed in the 3-series, but Toyota's takes the cake in the IS350.
 
Of course, this excludes VW's DSG or BMW's SMG (which is actually pretty terrible once you've driven a DSG equipped VW/Audi). I'm of the camp that enthusiast cars should only have full manual transmissions, but the DSG is likely to make a convert out of me. Consistently perfect, rev-matched downshifts are a thing of beauty...

Even though my '04 maxx only has a raggedty 3-speed manual mode for its auto trans, I've found it very handy for controlling hill descents, especially if the roads are icy.

its not an expensive feature to add and everyone else (except Ford) has it now. Honda should do the same, especially since the press claims the Accord is the sportiest family sedan on the market.

Even though "man-u-matic capability" is cool, I wonder, after the new factor wears off, how often is this feature used?
 
Maybe on a sporty car, or truck/SUV, there may be some useful function to it, but on a "family car," I'm not so sure.
 
I know my wife would think it's just silly, and her argument is that you bought an "automatic," and you want to "shift" it? This feature would make absolutely no sense to her—and I bet to thousands of other customers too.

"especially since the press claims the Accord is the sportiest family sedan on the market."
 
Since when? I think the sportiest family sedan on the market would be the Altima.
In terms of ride/handling balance, feedback, refinement, and chassis composure the Accord wins.
 
With Hondas not so pleasant history with 5AT's maybe its a good thing Honda didnt offer a manual mode. I did hear through the grapevine that the Acura brand will have a 7 speed flappy paddle DSG type of tranny available on the new Acura TL and possibly the TSX. I dont think the V6 Honda vehicles will see a 6AT anytime soon.

"In terms of ride/handling balance, feedback, refinement, and chassis composure the Accord wins. "
 
according to you. There isnt objective data to support that although C&D will always swear the Accord is light years ahead of the competition in those categories.
 
I would be surprised if the TSX gets a 7 speed when the $50k RL currently has a 5 speed.

"In terms of ride/handling balance, feedback, refinement, and chassis composure the Accord wins. "
 
"according to you"
 
Exactly! Isnt blogging about stating opinions?
 
The "7 speed DSG" isnt confirmed just something I heard. The 2009 TSX will be different as its a FMC. The RL wont get a FMC untill around 2010. So it is possible that the TSX/TL may get something special in the transmission department, I certainly hope so.
 
Of course the RL will get a "freshening" late this year and its supposed to be pretty extreme as it needs to be. From what Ive gathered the freshened RL will only share the doors and roof with the current model. It will sport an enlarged V6, some interior/chassis tweaks and more rear leg room.

"Exactly! Isnt blogging about stating opinions? "
 
It is but you seem to have a tendency to report your obviously pro Honda opinions as if they are undisputed facts. To a Honda fan I have no doubt the accord is by far the best midsizer on the market. Objectively speaking however, that is very debatable.

"It is but you seem to have a tendency to report your obviously pro Honda opinions as if they are undisputed facts. To a Honda fan I have no doubt the accord is by far the best midsizer on the market. Objectively speaking however, that is very debatable."
 
Yes I am a Honda fan but I do like other non Honda vehicles too. Do I think the Accord is the best midsize sedan as far as ride/handling balance and feedback are concerned? Yes, but that gap has closed considerably. There are other cars that strike a chord with me too. The Malibu LTZ is one and the Altima SE is the other.
 
In conclusion, yes Im a die hard Honda fan but I do appreciate a good product from another manufacturer when it comes along.

@ahightower:"Does it at least have an O/D off button for when you want to avoid riding the brakes down a hill?"
 
Well that's what D3 is for, generally. It disables the top two gears of the transmission - essentially the overdrive. Also good for when you have four fat people as passengers, their luggage in the trunk and a small trailer behind the car, and you want the car to hold higher revs.
 
And benson2175 is right that Honda's Grade Logic (a tilt sensor) should automatically employ engine braking to keep you from accelerating down a hill. However, it has its limits, so sometimes D3 is the way to go.

the grade logic is not for engine braking like the system that LAnd Rover and BMW X series among others have.
The grade logic is for the transmission not to be "looking" for suitable gears when going uphill.
The car downshifts when necessary and then sticks to it. Then when it upshifts it has the necessary toque to stay in that gear and does not down shift again (unless you hit the gas pedal harder).