Comments by "Perhaps" (@NoEgg4u) on "Driving Sports TV"
channel.
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@10:00
"0 MPH to 60 MPH test"
-- Traction Control should have been turned off (it is on by default).
-- The camera should have been on the road for that acceleration test -- not on your face.
@10:44
"All Sport mode really does is it re-maps the throttle and also tightens up those adaptive shocks."
Sport mode holds lower gears longer, to make the throttle more responsive.
Sport mode increases the turbo boost, for better acceleration.
"It doesn't give you more horsepower."
That is true, but needs clarification.
Sport mode allows the car to use 100% of its power (without getting into aftermarket HonData modifications). It allows the car to use 100% of the power that the car comes with from the factory.
The other modes reduce performance, in favor of better fuel economy (and softer ride).
So although Sport mode does not give you more power (than what the car comes with), it does give you more power than the other two modes, because the other two mode reduce power (both via turbo boost and transmission shift points).
If you drive the car in either Econ or the default mode for a while, and then shift to Sport mode, you will feel the car wake up.
Perhaps more noticeable is if you drive in Sport mode for a while, and then switch to one of the other modes, you will feel the car ease up.
"...not much of a difference between Econ and Sport, in terms of 0 MPH to 60 MPH times"
Sport mode holds lower gears longer, and increases the turbo boost.
@12:35
"This one has Lane Detection"
It works only when driving between 45 MPH and 90 MPH.
It will make only minor adjustments. If you start to cross the line on a turn, you are going to cross the line. The Lane Detection system will not make more than minor adjustments.
Note mentioned in this review is that those 19" wheels, with their low profile tires (meaning less sidewall), in combination with the way Honda tuned the suspension, results in a sedan that really grips the road during hard turns. Those tires will stay planted much better than most people think, and will hold sharp turns at speeds most people would never try. It is not like a mid-engine Corvette. But it is very, very good (but do not drive like a nut -- even a million dollar Ferrari will lose control if pushed too hard).
Lastly, the brakes are very, very good.
They are silky smooth, and slow the car down with ease. They will probably save many people from accidents, when they had to stop short.
The Accord (Sport and Touring) is a great car. It is a blast to drive, and it is comfortable. The stereo, however, is so-so.
The other Accord styles are probably also very good. I have not driven them. For performance, the 19" wheels (available only on the Sport and Touring) is a must.
Cheers!
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@3:29
"...and a Bose sound system..."
Although the stereo is not the main reason to buy a car, touting a Bose sound system is a way of breaking a tie with some other car.
Bose is the McDonalds of the audio world. A lot of people like the Big Mac. But it is nothing you would ever want to brag about to your friends.
Bose can be okay. But when stereo shopping, Bose should never be on your list (unless you have no time to do your homework). There are better stereos available, in terms of both sound quality and build quality. Unfortunately, neither the Camry nor the Accord offer anything better (although not identical, their stereos are similar in sound quality). It is like Nissan, Toyota, and Honda all had a secret meeting where they all agreed to cut corners on their stereos.
@6:02
"...all wheel drive"
Note that the "all wheel drive" is 100% controlled by the car. The driver has zero say in when it engages (well, the driver could, for example, intentionally drive into mud and the car will engage the rear wheels).
But if you want to press a button or flip a switch to turn on or off the all wheel drive, then forget it. No such button or switch exists.
Also note that if one of your tires gets a blowout, and it cannot be patched or plugged or repaired, then you will have to buy 4 new tires. The only exception is if your tires happened to already be new when you got the blowout. But as soon as you have signs of tire wear, then 1 blown tire equals replacing all 4 tires. Although most people will not have such a problem, it is still something that happens to some people, so you should ask yourself if all wheel drive is something that you really need.
Not mentioned in this video is that the Altima is a pig off of the line.
If, for example, you are in the left lane at a light, and you realize that you need to make a right turn at the next light, then you can forget about getting ahead of the car to your right. Unless that driver is sleeping, there is no way the Altima will accelerate ahead of the car next to you, from a stop. No matter how hard you stomp on the gas, the Altima just takes its time to get going.
Was this done for safety? Or fuel economy? Who knows?
Once the Altima gets going (maybe 20 MPH), then it has good power. But from a stop? Nissan really messed up.
Also not mention is that the SR and Platinum styles of the Alitma come with 19" wheels, and are accompanied by suspensions that make the car handle (take hard turns) really, really good (especially the SR style). The car will take stay planted around turns much better than most folks would every try. I am not encouraging anyone to drive like a nut (even a million dollar Ferrari will lose control when pushed too hard). But you should know that part of what you are paying for is the design and build of the handling portion of the car.
If not for the abysmal power from a stop, I would have purchased the Altima. But that was just too much of a red flag to ignore. No car will have everything that you want. There is always some degree of buyer's remorse. But not being able to get even reasonable acceleration from a stop is just unacceptable for me.
Cheers!
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