So this is basically a thread that I'm using to share my feelings of my 1996 Accord, it's a rather long post, so buckle up or hop out!
It all started back in late 1995. I remember is distinctly. I was then, just a small child, watching my favorite show. The Simpsons. A commercial had come on with a Flamenco Black (I think!) 1996 HondaAccord EX-L Sedan describing how luxurious it was, and how fun it was to drive, but more importantly how 'Smart' it was to buy the Accord. It was clearly an attempt to revive sales with the MMC Accord.
Anyways, I remember calling my mother into the room when I saw it and just looking at how 'cool' I thought it was. (What made me think it was cool? I'm not sure... ) I said "Can we get one of those?" (is what she tells me anyways) she laughed and responded "Maybe.". The simpsons came back on after that, and I don't remember much else about it to be honest.
So 2 months later, on December 5th, 1995, Mom, Dad and I gave our best to the 1984 Grey HondaAccord Hatch that we all loved very much, for a shiney new 1996 HondaAccord LX Sedan in Eucalyptus Green Pearl, w/Jade Cloth Interior.
Initially, I was a bit heartbroken that getting a new car meant getting rid of another. At the time, I didn't fully understand that logic, and I remember writing a story in 3rd Grade called "The Day we Left You". It was a story about the old Grey Honda, and my godparents 1990 Civic Wagovan. They were traded into the same dealer, and I essentially gave the cars emotions and they were sad about their families leaving them out in the cold dark night, on a lot at First Texas Honda. What an imagination eh?
About 2 hours after we picked up our new car that morning, I was over the recent loss, and loving that car. I knew one day, I would be the driver of it.
That night, I snuck out into our garage and sat in the drivers seat with the owners manual. I read every page. I was playing with the CD player, and seeing what the keyless remote did, touching all the buttons, basically doing what every 5-6yr old kid does. Mess with everything.
I knew that car up and down, left and right as far as features went.
Fast forward 9 years or so. I had grown into a Honda fanatic, an Accord lover (by this point, we had 4 of them) and a car cleaning guru! I was so close to getting my official drivers lisence, I just couldn't wait any longer!
Mom got her TSX, and the Accord kinda sat around in the garage for a year ~sadly~. We took it out every now and then, but it saw at the most, 2,000 miles that year. My 16th birthday came, and I was offically, an Accord driver!
I was ecstatic. Completely happy to be a driver, and almost more importantly (almost ) to bring the Accord back from the dead! This car had become a friend of sorts. I truly loved it!
I began my journey with 90k miles, and 23k miles later, I'm just as happy with it as I was when I first started driving it. We've had our ups and downs; as friends do! I've called it a lemon, I've said I wanted to sell it. But all in all, whatever problem I was having with it, was something minor or expected with age.
So it was today, on my 17mile commute to Metarie LA, and back, that I turned off the radio and listened. I listened to what Honda refers to as "The Power of Dreams", I listened to pure engineering excellence, I listened to the sound of an almost 12 year old car with 113k miles doing what I've always loved Honda for. Performing like it was new. I just can't get over how a car that would be considered 'old' by the masses could still get away from its driver as it gracefully accelerated toward 80 mph (and beyond... ), how it could still absorb road imperfections so well, and just how quiet it was in general. The silky smoothness of the power plant alone just leaves me in awe.
So 12 years, 113k, no roadside breakdowns (tires are another story), no highly unexpected or abnormal repairs (although I've had quite a few non mait. items...), only TWO tow trucks (both related to brakes... and neither were the cars fault) and tons of smiles later, I'm still happy, and I'm still in love.
I love Honda, and I can't wait to finish school and buy a brand new one.
), how it could still absorb road imperfections so well, and just how quiet it was in general. The silky smoothness of the power plant alone just leaves me in awe.
