##hondacc.jpg --Right##HONDA is already creating a name for itself among fleets for the reliability and build quality of its cars, and justifiably so, but what has impressed me most from my month behind the wheel of the Accord is the customer service element. During the last month a hectic schedule of meetings and interviews have seen me travelling the length and breadth of the country behind the wheel of the extremely capable Accord.

But as the 9,000-mile service interval approached I feared the response when attempting to book the vehicle in. Would it take two or three weeks to match our diaries up? How wrong could I be? Not only did Marshall Honda in Peterborough say the car could be serviced the next day, but when I dropped it off they gave me a lift back to work and delivered the car in the evening.

If that wasn't enough, when I climbed into the vehicle it was like new. The entire interior had been cleaned, old tickets and rubbish removed, mats washed and carpets vacuumed. I was a little surprised the cassettes hadn't been arranged into alphabetical order! And since the service, now more than 4,000 miles ago, the car has suffered no problems and despite having covered more than 13,000 miles has developed no rattles.

It may not have too many fancy frills in its looks, but the Accord is a competent car with a great engine, although you do tend to have to rev it rather hard to get maximum performance, so the economy can suffer.

As we have already mentioned in previous long term tests in Fleet NewsNet, the addition of cruise control is great for those motorway journeys. And aside from some niggling interior details, such as the thin and obviously plastic stalks on the steering column, and a rather large and plastic steering wheel, the car presents fleets with a great option, offering value for money - particularly with a residual value at 38% for three years/60,000 miles - excellent handling and effortless cruising.

John Linstead