I'd have to say the stock tires on my 2007Accord are the worst performing tires I've ever experienced in snow driving conditions. My car was 2 months old (read, brand new tires) when I took a trip into snow conditions this past Winter, and the service provided by the stock tires was flat contemptible. Frankly, it was embarrassing-- Here I had this brand new car, and getting up a modest grade from a stop was quite difficult-- Snow traction was horrific; the worst I'd ever noted. And I say this having years of Winter/mountain driving experience with front wheel drive cars. My Geo Prizm equipped with the least expensive all-season Les Schwab tires available still handles snow conditions far superior to that my Accord delivered. For twenty five THOUSAND dollars I expected better from my Honda.
But aside from snow conditions, I've found the stock tires reasonable. Road noise is offensive in the 7th Gen Accords, but it remains to be seen whether the stock tires are the biggest reason for this problem. I believe it's more likely lack adequate sound control measure on Honda's part than the tires themselves.
As for the stereo system, in my opinion the actual sound is decent. But what's NOT acceptable is Honda/Alpine's wanton lack of CD-RW disc support in the stock stereo unit. CD-RW discs were common fare in 2003 when the 7th Generation Accord was released, but Honda/Alpine decided their customers weren't good enough for them to bother with including a CD deck that can handle these types of discs. You know, those same customers paying TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS for an EX-L model in, you know, the year 2007. 2007: And a car that won't play CD-RW discs.
Lack of mp3 and Bluetooth support in a car company's flagship model in the year 2007 is a whole other ****tard issue, but that's one I can kind of let slide-- Using the argument that the model was released in 2003 barely holds water.
But lack of CD-RW support in 2003 doesn't hold... It doesn't hold a word that starts with "S" and ends with "T" (I'm being family friendly, here!). The Accord's stock stereo deck should have supported CD-RW capability out the door, period. PERIOD. I will eternally be scathingly angry at the dolts at Honda AND Alpine who decided CD-RW capability wasn't worth the extra $10 per unit it would have cost to include that ability (and probably less then that, in truth). Driving off the lot in my brand new Accord; the car I had just custom burned a standard audio CD-RW disc mix for so I could enjoy my drive back home-- That wouldn't play the disc-- I was furious.
I consider my Accord a very good car otherwise, and I've been quite pleased with it so far, in honest truth. This is the best car I've yet owned. And I can live with poor Winter tire performance. But I will NEVER forgive Honda and Alpine for cheaping out and shoving a 1992 technology CD deck into a car that cost me 25 thousand dollars. In the year 2007. NEVER. NEVER, I SAY!! And I'm friggin' serious!
Supportive notes: Fleet rental vehicles from the likes of Hyundai and Ford commonly have stereo decks that can handle CD-RW discs... AND mp3 discs. I'm talking about rental cars-- The cheapest, lowest quality vehicles available.
