Interesting 540 Parallel With my Current Car

[Eric S.]

Just a little light-hearted rub-in for you guys. I just passed my 13th month with my 2006 V6 Accord EX-L obtained after I sold my '99 540/6 to M3UOND. In my 13 months, from 14K to 32K miles, the only thing that broke other than normal maintenance was a $6 plastic marker light lens on my driver's side door panel. And yes, it still scoots - not AS FAST as the 540, but within an acceptable percentage for me (maybe 90%).

But here's what I thought you'd find interesting - the cheap add-on sway bars from the Acura TL. Seems 2004+ TL sway bars are a good OEM upgrade to the stock 7th-gen Accord, much the same way M5 stabilizers can be retrofit to a 540! I like my AV6's damping, but was not fond of the body lean. So I upgraded with the new TL Type S rear bar, which provided an increase from 13mm to 20mm abaft, but up front went with the "normal" TL bar (hollow 27.2mm versus the Type S' solid 27.2mm, versus 25.4mm hollow stock). I wanted a bit less understeer than I'd read many experienced with the All TL-S setup.

Cost? This is the good part: BOTH F & R bars, brand new, with pivot bushings and brackets were - get this - $63 from Sunnyside Acura! Another $15 put them at my doorstep, for a grand total of $83.

Install was 540-easy on the rear, and the front was easier than with my 540's front bar. Yes, the subframe still had to be unbolted, but the engine didn't have to be unbolted or supported, nor did suspension arms need removal.

Handling admittedly hasn't yet been transformed into M3 territory, but it now corners with a flatness close to on par with my erstwhile 540. It hasn't the balance or the pure tire traction of the 540 (running 215/50-17 all-seasons), but it's much improved.

I'm not saying it's an equal driving experience to an E39 540 or even a 528/530, but still much better than many folks give it credit for, and the handling upgrade (available to those with I-4 Accord as well) was just too cheap to pass up! It's been fun spending the time with my kids this past year and not under the car! Yet I still try to keep tabs on the werkz forum from time to time!

[ldsbeaker]

Too bad I just traded in my Accord for an x3.. otherwise I would have definitely done this. I had the exact same feelings about the handling in the Accord. Too much lean. Too much understeer. Thanks for the info!

[Teh Prof]

Hmm...well I will list all the repairs and maintenance to the 540 over the last 40,000 miles that I've owned it, but I might cry. It's easily over $10,000. Then there's all the cash in upgrades, but I'm not exactly complaining about that.

Your car still puts a little boy smile on my face every time I get in it, and that makes it worth every last dime.

[crawlermonkey]

I find the fact that I had an 82 gmc, 72 nova, and a cbr 600rr and I got rid of these for the ///m.

Repair costs:
gmc: nothing(rummage through my Dad's yard)
CBR: no clue. had nothing break(that was until I totaled it)
Nova: well retoration project.. enough said there.

///M: so far $45+timex2

When I totalled the bike insurance gave me a check and I decide it was finally time to stop dreaming about a BMW and just go get one.

[Teh Prof]

I hope you didn't total yourself along with the bike...

[Eric S.]

Sorry Teh Prof - I hadn't noticed your new name when I mentioned M3UOND. On that note, did you read that the new M3 will soon be available in 4-door form for the first time since your now-deceased 1990's M3? I figured you might be interested.

[Teh Prof]

Originally Posted by Eric S.

Sorry Teh Prof - I hadn't noticed your new name when I mentioned M3UOND. On that note, did you read that the new M3 will soon be available in 4-door form for the first time since your now-deceased 1990's M3? I figured you might be interested.

I'm interested, but your car is now faster than the new M3, I have it all sorted out, and I would miss the gearshift knob with the bubble in it.

Thankfully, I still get to drive my old M3 whenever I'm in DC. Given that all my birthday/Christmas presents to my buddy Dave are upgrades for the M3, he doesn't mind overmuch.

I see you changed your avatar :-)

[crawlermonkey]

No I said F87k this thing when I realized nothing i could do would save her. Tori was a great bike. and I will have another. I tried to buy her back from the insurance company. I was outbid. Sucks. In the end is might have been better that way though. I now have my ///M. WHich I still dont have a name for.

[Eric S.]

Originally Posted by crawlermonkey

I now have my ///M. WHich I still dont have a name for.

How about "Hellga"? I thought it was an interesting American Gladiator name and works with the Tetonic angle and dark menacing awesomeness of your ///M.