Honda Accord Coupe. Wear and Tear. The Management Fleet

The heat has started to take effect on our long term Honda Accord, just as the digital crew has started to take its toll on the fuel gauge.

Tradition normally dictates that when a new model arrives on crankandpiston’s long term fleet, the keys are very quickly pinched by the team’s digital crew for one photoshoot or another. The same was true recently for our new Honda Accord Coupe, which quickly proved itself very practical by swallowing a large collection of cameras, tripods, sliders and various other bits of photogenic equipment. There was even room to spare, so any Honda executives reading this can breathe a sigh of relief.

As is also tradition, when finished with its photoshoot responsibilities, the car was returned to crankandpiston’s editorial team with an impressively low amount of fuel left in the tank: with almost inch perfect precision, our boys behind the camera lens usually manage to leave just enough fuel to make it to the nearest petrol station without the need for one of us to get out and push. Here the Honda’s Econ button – which configures the 3.5-litre Earth Dreams V6 and the six-speed automatic transmission to run more fuel efficiently – proved more than useful.

The Accord is also proving to be a neat little handler. There is still a trace of understeer when corners are attacked with vim, but plenty of feel for the front tyres and solid heft throughout the steering means this is easily manageable. There’s a good centre of gravity too and good balance, allowing us to throw the Honda into corners without rising panic setting in. Add to that the nippy V6 and solid gear changes, and the commute home – in spite of the traffic – is proving quite enjoyable. Even if the front passenger has to ratchet his leather-lined (and very comfortable) seat into position, bereft as he is of the driver’s electronic controls.

The rising heat though has already taken its toll on the Honda. The glue that holds the rubber plate in place on the driver’s footrest has started to give. It’s hardly a major issue, but since the Accord is due a service soon – following the thousands of journalistic kilometres the coupe has already undergone – we’ll be sure to have that checked out.

We’ve also found that, owing to its lightweight build, not a single one of us can close the boot ‘gently’. Said task is normally accompanied with a solid THWACK from the boot clasp clicking into place and a rather sheepish expression from the closer. Give us a couple of weeks and we’ll start putting in some practice.