Nearing retirement age, I wanted a reliable new car that would last me the rest of my life. My criteria for a new car was sporty, not too flashy, fast, manual transmission, low or average insurance rates, reliable, two doors, V-6 or V-8, decent gas mileage, and something that could be driven year round.
After first getting hooked on the looks of the Ford Mustang GT with the V-8 430 HP engine, I decided it was too flashy and perhaps the quality could be better. Then started watching driver report videos of the 2017 Honda Accord V-6 coupe with 278 HP, available with 6-speed manual transmission with specs of 0 - 60 in 6 seconds, coupled with gas mileage of 18 city and 28 highway. Every report was favorable on the Honda. The 2017 Honda Accord is the 9th generation, from the years 2012 through 2017. Then there were the rumors that Honda was quitting the Accord Coupe and the V-6, both which proved true. Consumer Report has the Accord Coupe with top marks for being trouble free in all areas. After checking on Cargurus, there were only 10 red 2017 Accord Coupes with manual transmission in the entire nation, and none in the state I lived. Checked prices with the Honda dealers in Town, but got the best deal and ordered from a dealer 125 miles away.
Picked up the Honda Accord in February of 2017. Amazingly fast, yet gets 23 MPG around town and over 30 MPG on the highway. Has gadgets I have not learned yet. Has 18,000 miles on the odometer and will not be used in the winters.
Things I have changed are a better shaped gear shift knob (the one on the right in the picture) from the Honda Accord Sport, magnetic oil drain plug, easier to shift Redline manual transmission fluid, and Honda molded front and rear splash guards (not installed yet). I applied several coats of Wolfgang paint sealant. The 1999 Ford Crown Victoria tows the boat.