'06 Accord EX vs '07 Camry LE: Power, Safety & Price

Because of my recent enhanced upderstanding of the safety features
listed below, and how my '05 Accord LX doesn't have them ...

Traction Control
Stability Control
Emergency Braking Assistance
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution

(newer Honda LXs have ...)
Rear disks
DRL

I decided to take a hard look at the Camry LE, versus what I'd have to
buy from Honda to get the features above. I already knew I couldn't get
the features in any LX / Special Edition / Special Value models with a
stick, and because I like a manual transmission, I'd have to go up to
the the EX with V6 and 6M.

Aside from power and handling, the Accord EX and Camry LE are very
different in character because of differences between the two in
handling, economy, convenience, and comfort, but controlling for as many
factors as possible, the Camry i4/5M LE looks like a heck of a value.

Beginning in 2007, Toyota includes so many of these features standard
for the Camry that the single "VS" (vehicle stability / traction) option
for $650 gets you all the safety features above.

That means if you can live with an i4/5M versus a V6/6M,
your MSRP savings for this level of safety is:

$27,850 V6/6M Honda EX
-20,680 i4/5M Camry (with VS option)
------
$ 7,170 or, 34.7 percent less for the Camry LE.

And if you really have to have the extra power of the V6/6A, the Camry
still wins as the 3.5L produces HP/Torque comparisons of:

268HP/248FT-LB, versus
244HP/211FT-LB for the Accord EX V6/6M

And better fuel economy, and at MSRP of $24,270 with
the VS option group included, is still $3,580 less than
the EX Accord.

But this is a digression, since you can't get the V6 Camry with a stick,
(which I want), and don't want the extra horses if it means giving up up
the stick. (If you like automatics, this could an even sweeter deal for
you ...)

Focusing on our original comparison, and limiting ourselves to how the
cars are different ...

Honda EX V6/6M

More power, sportier handling
Alloys
Sunroof
Remote anti-theft
Leather seats & trim for doors, shifter, steering
Heated seats & mirrors
Folding rear bench w/ pass-thru
Remote window operation
Universal remote transmitter (garage/alarm)
Dual climate control
Illuminated vanity mirrors
Floor mats

EPA Mileage / Range, City/Hwy w/17.1 gallon tank
21 / 30 -- 359/513

and on the other side ....

Camrey i4/5M LE

Better fuel economy
Smoother ride
Quieter cabin
3.5 foot smaller turning circle
Rear seatbelt pretensioners
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Split folding rear bench
Rear center armrest storage
Speed sensitive volume
Aux mp3 audio input
15 vs 14 cu/ft luggage
Dusk sensing headlamps

EPA Mileage / Range, City/Hwy
24 / 34 EPA
444/629 Range with 18.5 gallon tank
Average of 100 miles greater range!

------------

So the Accord is your pick if money doesn't matter, and luxury, sporty
handling an power are tops, and,

If $7,170 is a chunk of change for you, and,
A smoother, quieter ride is important, and,
Fuel economy and range matter, and,
You can live with a butt-ugly grille,

The Camry LE looks like a winner.
+-----------------------------------------+
| Charles Lasitter | Mailing/Shipping |
| 401/728-1987 | 14 Cooke St |
| cl+at+ncdm+dot+com | Pawtucket RI 02860 |
+-----------------------------------------+

Charles Lasitter wrote:
> snip
>
> Camrey i4/5M LE
>
> Better fuel economy
> Smoother ride
> Quieter cabin
> 3.5 foot smaller turning circle
> Rear seatbelt pretensioners
> Tire Pressure Monitoring
> Split folding rear bench
> Rear center armrest storage
> Speed sensitive volume
> Aux mp3 audio input
> 15 vs 14 cu/ft luggage
> Dusk sensing headlamps
>
> EPA Mileage / Range, City/Hwy
> 24 / 34 EPA
> 444/629 Range with 18.5 gallon tank
> Average of 100 miles greater range!
>
> ------------
>
> So the Accord is your pick if money doesn't matter, and luxury, sporty
> handling an power are tops, and,
>
> If $7,170 is a chunk of change for you, and,
> A smoother, quieter ride is important, and,
> Fuel economy and range matter, and,
> You can live with a butt-ugly grille,
>
> The Camry LE looks like a winner.
>

For about $2K more than an I4 Camry you can get the Camry Hybrid that
should average something like 35 mpg. It has a much smaller trunk but
more HP than the I4 Camry. I'm pretty sure the Camry Hybrid stacks up
well in your comparison.

We have one vehicle that is now used almost exclusively for short trips
in town. A Toyota Hybrid could be a practical choice if we wanted that
size car. But we're also looking at the new Civic. Not that much
smaller, great mpg but perhaps $10K less expensive than the Camry
Hybrid in another year or so. However, I worry about the short trips in
town and what that might do to a new engine, especially in winter.