##hondac.jpg --Right##THE last report on our Honda Accord listed our experiences with Honda's breakdown assistance service, administered by the AA. The car wouldn't start, but it was the time it took the AA - two and a half hours - to get to it that worried us. To cut a long story short, the car was checked and everything found to be satisfactory. So far the gremlins have not reappeared.

There's not much else to report. Fuel consumption continues to disappoint at about the 33mpg mark. This, coupled with a smallish fuel tank, makes trips to petrol stations seem all too frequent. And there are a couple of other gripes: the seat height and backrest adjusters are on the side of the seat next to the door pocket, making adjustment almost impossible if the door is closed. And there are rattles in the dashboard and doors, which come and go as they please.

The 1.8 VTEC engine is extremely quiet on tickover, but put your foot down and there's a sporty roar. Power comes in at relatively high revs, so you have to make frequent use of the gearbox, but that's no hardship as the change is light and precise. The car is due to be swapped soon for a new Civic, so it will be interesting to see how Honda's latest technology compares to the Accord's, which is now somewhat old compared to that offered by newcomers like the Ford Mondeo and VW Passat.

Richard Wayte