The Gen7 has been criticized so much for the last 5 years that I almost wet myself in laughter when I see 8Genners get all "oh no you didn't!!" on their precious rides. I really think these people who tell those who don't care for their car's styling to just "shut up", or "go away", or "oh yeah?!... yours is uglier!! Ha!" are suffering from low self esteem. Maybe they think their Accord is fooling people into believing they now drive a BMW (maybe blind folks) and that it really says something great about them. Uh... Hyundais and Kias emulate Lexus and Jaguar daily and I don't think they're foolin' anyone with a brain. Ditto the Accord.
I think a car can surely grow on you. My Accord looked a little strange back in 2003 because of it's pointy front end, no hood contour lines, and small grille opening. But as time has passed, I can appreciate those elements and see what they were going for. The new CRV looked weird at first, but now it looks fine to me.
For me, it's not that the 2008Accord is so ugly, as much as it's just trying so hard to hit people over the head with it's detailing. A dashboard with about 100 separate pieces and part-lines, those headlights bulging out, the plain trunk panel, the overdone slash on the side, the very squared front clip, the overly thick and uneven window chrome surround, the Ridgeline-like grille, the huge "Accord" on the rear, all combine to look forced to me. To others it looks great. My Accord is subtle in it's detailing compared to the 2008 (case in point: the side accent on my car is a subtle crease that changes the pattern of reflected light to create interest (see photo in sig). The 2008 just has a deep gash (strangely executed) to call attention. Hyundai does that with the Accent... real classy.
Before the 2008 was officially shown to the public back in summer, everyone expected the Accord to head in the direction of the TL style-wise (Sport4 Concept?) and in execution. I never heard anyone clamor for a Land Cruiser sized Accord with Avalon stretch-out room. It's obvious more current Accord owners are disappointed with the Accord's new direction than pleased. Whether or not the Accord grows on them or sends them to look elsewhere will be borne out in the next year or two. Maybe conquest sales from Toyota and the domestics will offset disgruntled prior Accord owners, who knows.
It's a known fact the "millenial" generation (you know, the ones brought up being told 3+3=7 as a good answer, getting first place ribbons when they come in last, and how good and smart they are no matter how bad and stupid they are) needs their egos stroked constantly, otherwise they will begin to cry "unfair!" and tell you to go away. Humor them. Tell them their car is the greatest and that they are just so smart. This helps them avoid the Ritalin.
Listen, your 2008Accord is sooooo pretty. You are wonderful, but not as wonderful as your Accord. Feel better? Good. Now go back to watching Power Rangers.
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. Feel better? Good. Now go back to watching Power Rangers.
