2005 Honda Accord Hybrid

Hybrids are still viable contenders as gas prices continue to hover just under $4 a gallon and no relief in sight. Alternative energy vehicles have a very checkered and infamous past, most notably with General Motors EV-1, which by most accounts was a pretty cool automobile until they abruptly canceled the program. It wasn't the first time GM pulled a weird move that resulted in several conspiracy theories.

Only a couple years later however, the Japanese marched in with the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. The first generation Insight was truly cool, using expensive high-strentgh but ultra-lightweight steel, and super aerodynamic design to achieve a new level of efficiency. Then the four door-Prius came along and found a spot in garages across American suburbs.

Honda introduced a Civic Hybrid, but it didn't have a hatchback or "hip" status like the Prius, which Hollywood celebrities drove to award ceremonies. Then Honda rolled out an Accord Hybrid. This was based on the North American seventh generation Accord. Hondas are frustrating cars. You feel like there's potential for a really great car, but they always seem to settle for just good. Unfortunately, "just good" meant they still had flaws. One of the things that has always bothered me about Hondas is ride quality and road noise, two things competitor Toyota seemed to care about and try refining.

Flaws aside, the Accord Hybrid seemed like a good idea. If you couldn't stand the dingy looks or compact size of the Civic but still wanted fuel savings, the Accord Hybrid was an option.

One of the things that made it interesting was the pairing of 6-cylinders and an electric motor. The 1st-gen insight only had three cylinders and the Prius just four. 6-cylinders seemed to address hesitations about hybrid performance while still utilizing the electric motor for efficiency. In fact, the combination produced 15 more horsepower and made the '05 Accord Hybrid faster than the gasoline V6 Accord. There was just one problem: the 29/37 mpg wasn't that much better than the regular Accord and not great as far as hybrids go in general.

Not surprisingly, since it looked like a regular Accord, drove like a regular Accord and was $3k more than a regular Accord, the Hyrbid Accord didn't take off, and wasn't offered after 2007.

The seller of this example seems to be a former Marine who "just got married at age 66" and took exceptional care of the car. With just 57,008 miles on the clock, they also barely drove it. Accord Hybrids were positioned at the top of Honda's lineup, so they usually come very well-equipped, and this one has nice leather seats and a bunch of other goodies.

Honda just reintroduced an Accord Hybrid for 2014, but until now this was the only Accord Hybrid, and it still remains a rare and interesting alternative energy car. Being a hybrid, it still bears a price premium, but it's a good design and will still be mostly efficient and very reliable transportation for a long time. Or, at least until it needs a new electric battery (every 10 years).

Available here on ebay for $12k.

63k-Mile 1991 Honda Accord LX

A lot of people think the short-lived 1990-1993 fourth generation Accord was the best. It improved on the ground-breaking third generation and featured the frugal and simplistic sheet metal the fifth generation lacked. It drove well and lasted forever, and on a penny budget too.

There is no doubting the appeal of this car. Cars just aren't made to look like this anymore, but there aren't any really good reasons why. Our windows are getting smaller, hoods larger, and trunks higher. But in the early 1990s, automakers finally came to terms with U.S. government regulations, fuel efficiency, and cost-effective manufacturing solutions to create cars that kind of did it all. They were safe, affordable, reliable and decent looking. Today's cars, at least today's Accord, may be safe, but it is no longer affordable, reliable, or good looking.

Since they were such decent cars when new, Honda sold a lot of them, and a lot of them were used. What was left was usually spliced and diced following the street-racer craze of the late 90s and early 2000s. So finding any clean, original, low mileage and well-kept example is getting increasingly difficult.

This car is one of those, however. The seller states it's a one-owner vehicle with the mileage as being only 63,699. They say the body and paint are in above average shape, and they just detailed the car (bonus points to sellers who do this before a sale - believe it or not, many don't even bother).

Mechanically, they state it is the 4-cylinder variant and has been maintained regularly. They say it runs great, shifts smoothly and is ready to go.

Inside, the cozy burgundy interior looks tidy and seems to corroborate the low miles.

I do note that the plastic wheel covers are from the fifth generation Accord, a small gripe. Maybe the original pieces broke.

Available here on ebay in Pennsauken, New Jersey with no-reserve bidding at $1,785.

Never This Nice: 41k-mile 1992 Honda Accord EX

I use the Honda Accord as a benchmark of banality.

If a vehicle is fairly basic but dependable transportation, I will deem it Accord-like.

Although the Accord is a respected nameplate that practically defines the whole company and was a bestseller for years, it is just a basic family sedan. Front-wheel drive. Four or six-cylinder engines. Simple electronic systems. Nothing cutting-edge, experimental, or exciting about it. That said, the Accord tried to be the best boring family sedan out there. Solid build quality. Reliability. Ok-styling. They were also reasonably priced (before Honda foolishly tried to upmarket them and rip off the consumer on what are essentially still basic fwd sedans).

This is a fourth generation Accord produced from 1990-1993. The fourth gen was a huge leap forward and featured totally new styling and new engines. This was when Japanese designers were paying close attention to the ultra-functionalism and common sense styling of the German automakers. Following suit, the Accord has a huge greenhouse for maximum viability in and out and lean sheet metal for a low, sleek shape. Note the rear window kink a la BMW.

The interior is possibly the best part. The dashboard is extremely clear, bare, and highly useable. This is an EX-trim car, so it has leather seating. Note how the dashboard is entirely in black plastic - dark colors don't distract the driver and absorb dirt, wear and tear better. I do see some wear on the driver's seat which is odd for a 41k-mile car, as well as an unsightly stain on the rear passenger seat belt, but both can be remedied with some work.

1992 saw a facelift, and this Accord wears the modified taillights that came with other slight changes.

The seller says this is a one-owner vehicle and the mileage is accurate. Most Accord were bought by people who drove a lot, and wanted spacious, affordable but frugal transportation, so finding one in overall good shape with this low miles is rare. This isn't a desirable model unfortunately, with an automatic and only four cylinders. But if you want some basic transportation the way they don't make it anymore, check out this car.

Find it here on ebay in Philadelphia, PA with 15 bids at $3,300.