RE: SOTW: Honda Accord Type R
Friday 22nd April 2011
'SOTW contender', says the rather cocky headline in the advert for this week's Shed. Ordinarily, this would mean we would dismiss the car on a point of principle - Shed's affection cannot be bought, it must be earned organically, as it were - but our vendor's right, but because this Honda accord Type R looks to be quite a find.
So how come this particular Accord R has ended up in Shed territory, when its brethren are largely lodged in the nation's classified ads at twice or three times the magic £1k? The answer seems to lie with the fact that it's done a chunky 40,000 miles in the past year...
SOTW contender? Bit baggy, but honest Type-R Accord (2000)
130,000 miles £1,000
So what do you get for a grand then? Well, here's a list of the bad bits and the reason it's not worth two or three times the asking:
- The engine management light has come on recently (3 weeks or so ago). Looking in the handbook, this refers to an issue with the emissions control equipment, so I'm guessing this might be an issue with the cats? Unfortunately I don't have the time or inclination to sort this out.
- Air con not functioning.
- Front bumper is VERY stonechipped, and has one small crack to bottom edge. Few stonechips to bonnet also.
- One front foglight lens cracked.
- Piece of the plastic undertray below front bumper fell off on our lane last week (it's in the boot!)
- Light behind digital clock kaput.
- Bolsters on drivers seat (Alcantara section) a bit worn/bobbly, although serviceable (and the seats are still the most comfortable I've ever known)
- Wheels scuffed with poor lacquer on most of them.
- Uses a fair bit of oil (which they all do, about a litre every 1000 miles).
- Electric aerial doesn't quite retract all the way in.
- Service history a bit patchy.
- Looks like it might have had a ding on offside rear quarter at some point (evidence: paint match not perfect, bumper alignment, boot shutlines) - although it is HPI clear.
- No VED (runs out end of April).
OK, so is there anything good about it that might appeal to the dedicated shed-hunter on PH? Of course there is!
- Engine and VTEC strong.
- Handling still great (EVO magazine still reckon it's the best front driver ever, and it hates understeer as much as I do!).
- Good tyres all round (Dunlop SP Sport Maxx).
- I've replaced the spark plugs (£48 a set - gulp!), starter motor, battery in the time I've had the car).
- Interior very good aside from slight wear to drivers seat.
- Recaro seats, Momo wheel, titanium gearknob - all top quality!
- MOT to October 2011 (no advisories last time round).
So, yes there are a few things that need looking at, but I reckon this has got to be worth a "bag o'sand".
At the end of the day, it's a Honda....a Type-R....with nearly 100bhp/litre....and a 9000rpm redline. Seriously, what's not to like? So come on Garlick...Riggers..., make me SOTW!!!
I live down in Devon, but work Tues-Thurs in Bristol so car can be viewed at either location.
Thanks for reading, if you have any more queries please give me a shout. No £600 silly offers please, I can go to Webuyanycash4cars for that kind of nonsense!
Cheers
Sean
SOTW: Honda Accord Type R
Shed discovers rev-tastic fun in saloon form
As a lover of Japanese cars in general, and of Hondas in particular, I am personally particularly susceptible to a Type R of any sort, but an Accord Type R will surely draw the eye of any Shed fan, regardless of their disposition towards Oriental metal.
Okay, so it's not the most beautiful of vehicles inside or out, but the 90s repmobiles never were the most stylish of things and besides, it's what's underneath that counts. In this case that's 2.2-litres and 209bhp of screaming VTEC loveliness, and a chassis that was, if not heaped with praise by the motoring press, then certainly admired.
Still, that, and a long list of well-used parts, isn't enough to put us off. As Mr Beemer so eloquently puts it: "At the end of the day, it's a Honda....a Type-R....with nearly 100bhp/litre....and a 9000rpm redline. Seriously, what's not to like? So come on Garlick...Riggers..., make me SOTW!!!"
Okay, we just have... but don't expect us to make a habit of it...
Advert is reproduced below
130,000 miles £1,000
Accord Type-R, Silver, 2000 (W), genuine UK car, completely standard. Why so much cheaper than others on here, you might ask?
Well, the old girl's been used for hacking up and down the motorway for the last year (40,000 miles) and it's starting to take it's toll! I paid £3K for her a year ago and think I've had my money's worth, but with fuel at £1.40+ a litre it's time for something a bit more economical (I get just under 30mpg).
These Type-R Accords were really special back in the late 90's when they came out (I had a new one as a company motor in 1999) - much lighter than standard Accords thanks to manual rear windows, no sunroof, basic trim in boot, no trim on doors, etc etc.I remember the handling on my new one as sublime, with the best turn in since my old 205 GTI! This car is not quite as keen as it would have been when new (probably needs a new set of bushes to sharpen it up), but still better than most if not all FWD saloons.
- The engine management light has come on recently (3 weeks or so ago). Looking in the handbook, this refers to an issue with the emissions control equipment, so I'm guessing this might be an issue with the cats? Unfortunately I don't have the time or inclination to sort this out.
- Air con not functioning.
- Front bumper is VERY stonechipped, and has one small crack to bottom edge. Few stonechips to bonnet also.
- One front foglight lens cracked.
- Piece of the plastic undertray below front bumper fell off on our lane last week (it's in the boot!)
- Bolsters on drivers seat (Alcantara section) a bit worn/bobbly, although serviceable (and the seats are still the most comfortable I've ever known)
- Wheels scuffed with poor lacquer on most of them.
- Uses a fair bit of oil (which they all do, about a litre every 1000 miles).
- Electric aerial doesn't quite retract all the way in.
- Service history a bit patchy.
- Looks like it might have had a ding on offside rear quarter at some point (evidence: paint match not perfect, bumper alignment, boot shutlines) - although it is HPI clear.
- No VED (runs out end of April).
OK, so is there anything good about it that might appeal to the dedicated shed-hunter on PH? Of course there is!
- Handling still great (EVO magazine still reckon it's the best front driver ever, and it hates understeer as much as I do!).
- Good tyres all round (Dunlop SP Sport Maxx).
- I've replaced the spark plugs (£48 a set - gulp!), starter motor, battery in the time I've had the car).
- Interior very good aside from slight wear to drivers seat.
- Recaro seats, Momo wheel, titanium gearknob - all top quality!
- MOT to October 2011 (no advisories last time round).
So, yes there are a few things that need looking at, but I reckon this has got to be worth a "bag o'sand".
I live down in Devon, but work Tues-Thurs in Bristol so car can be viewed at either location.
Thanks for reading, if you have any more queries please give me a shout. No £600 silly offers please, I can go to Webuyanycash4cars for that kind of nonsense!
Cheers
Sean
Discussion
Drove one these for a couple of days when my Civic VTi was broked (it spent a lot of time broked!!) and I loved it BUT it's not without it's downsides.
Upsides are that it's a lovely split-personality machine. You can drive it as an everyday saloon, pootling around or you can open-it-up and it does the whole 'Jekyll and Hyde' thing. The seats are fantastically comfy Recaros which keep you in the right place whilst you're doing either ( I agree with the seller, they're amongst the best seats ever!! )
Downsides - the gear ratios are just wrong, changing up will often drop you outside the VTEC band which is just daft - I've no idea what they were planning there but once you get used to the car, it really does feel like the wrong gearbox was installed - this tends to dampen the fun factor a bit...
Got to be an interesting punt for the cash tho - I doubt the mileage will have troubled it and I'd not expect any nasty rot but lack of maintenance and care might be a bit more of a problem and that engine light could be anything from a sensor to something dramatic so I might want to get that checked (get a fault code at least) before dropping the cash...
Upsides are that it's a lovely split-personality machine. You can drive it as an everyday saloon, pootling around or you can open-it-up and it does the whole 'Jekyll and Hyde' thing. The seats are fantastically comfy Recaros which keep you in the right place whilst you're doing either ( I agree with the seller, they're amongst the best seats ever!! )
Downsides - the gear ratios are just wrong, changing up will often drop you outside the VTEC band which is just daft - I've no idea what they were planning there but once you get used to the car, it really does feel like the wrong gearbox was installed - this tends to dampen the fun factor a bit...
Got to be an interesting punt for the cash tho - I doubt the mileage will have troubled it and I'd not expect any nasty rot but lack of maintenance and care might be a bit more of a problem and that engine light could be anything from a sensor to something dramatic so I might want to get that checked (get a fault code at least) before dropping the cash...
Edited by johnpeat on Friday 22 April 01:02
glazbagun said:
Lose the spoiler & R badges and you'd have a great Q car.
Yes, i was thinking exactly just that upon seeing the first photo!Cosmetic giggles wouldn't put me off at this price - car meant to be driven. Engine light would worry me big time, warranted or not...potentially a costly issue to put right? Having said that, ad seems honest and i like this motor!
soad said:
Yes, i was thinking exactly just that upon seeing the first photo!
Cosmetic giggles wouldn't put me off at this price - car meant to be driven. Engine light would worry me big time, warranted or not...potentially a costly issue to put right? Having said that, ad seems honest and i like this motor!
Engine management light might also be something about basically nothing, I had the one come on on my Hyundai Coupe and just thought `oh sh*t`, turned out the exhaust was blowing at the front and an exhaust sensor was sending a signal to the ecu.Cosmetic giggles wouldn't put me off at this price - car meant to be driven. Engine light would worry me big time, warranted or not...potentially a costly issue to put right? Having said that, ad seems honest and i like this motor!
This is well worth a punt for a grand, run for a year sell for same or for parts.
I'm constantly amazed by what can be had for a grand!
This seems sooo cheap, even with the faults listed - its HALF the price of the next cheapest type r in the classifieds, and looks to be in much the same condition.
If that management light turns out to be something relatively innocuous this surely has to be the best sotw all-rounder ever?
This seems sooo cheap, even with the faults listed - its HALF the price of the next cheapest type r in the classifieds, and looks to be in much the same condition.
If that management light turns out to be something relatively innocuous this surely has to be the best sotw all-rounder ever?
I have a mint 2000 pre-facelift ATR that I wouldn't sell for love nor money! I absolutely love it and for £3.5k I don't think that there are many better spirited FWD drivers to be had. The chassis is an absolute gem and as stiff as a skate board (with front Tein strut bar) yet the suspension supple enough to absorb the UK road's worse whilst somehow still managing to give excellent feedback. In both the wet and the dry, it inspires.
The engine's sweet too, being a 2.2 it's a tad more torquey that the K series blocks - although it definitely does not rev to 9k! More like 7,800 but I find shifting a little before is better. Stock blocks can be programmed to rev 800 rpm over if you going for broke! I agree about the gearing being a little odd, it does drop out of VTEC on the next gear, even when your red lining it, but it's only for a brief period, also it needs a 6th gear badly. MPG would be massively higher on long runs if it had a 6th.
Beware - power steering pumps fail (£580 OEM), water pumps need replacing, some pre face lift models suffered from a dodgy syncro in 5th & reverse - if they have been thrashed and crashed in a former life then this will be evident when driving - very hard to get 5th and reverse gear will not engage. If so - walk away. Well cared for versions will be fine, I have seen 250K miles on some with absolutely no issues. In short - if you can find a mint one that has good history & had regular engine and gearbox oil changes and has been well serviced and loved, it's definitely an awesome future classic!
I wouldn't touch that SOTW one though!
(actually that's a tad harsh - for 1K, it'd be great for a year, if it lasts then i'm sure if you broke it down you'd get a lot more than that. This would be a superb donor purchase, if I only had the room)
The engine's sweet too, being a 2.2 it's a tad more torquey that the K series blocks - although it definitely does not rev to 9k! More like 7,800 but I find shifting a little before is better. Stock blocks can be programmed to rev 800 rpm over if you going for broke! I agree about the gearing being a little odd, it does drop out of VTEC on the next gear, even when your red lining it, but it's only for a brief period, also it needs a 6th gear badly. MPG would be massively higher on long runs if it had a 6th.
Beware - power steering pumps fail (£580 OEM), water pumps need replacing, some pre face lift models suffered from a dodgy syncro in 5th & reverse - if they have been thrashed and crashed in a former life then this will be evident when driving - very hard to get 5th and reverse gear will not engage. If so - walk away. Well cared for versions will be fine, I have seen 250K miles on some with absolutely no issues. In short - if you can find a mint one that has good history & had regular engine and gearbox oil changes and has been well serviced and loved, it's definitely an awesome future classic!
I wouldn't touch that SOTW one though!
(actually that's a tad harsh - for 1K, it'd be great for a year, if it lasts then i'm sure if you broke it down you'd get a lot more than that. This would be a superb donor purchase, if I only had the room)Edited by carsnapper on Friday 22 April 08:21
From experience, the engine light will be nothing more than the primary O2 sensor. I can't remember if they're wideband on the CH1. If it is, fixing it should cost no more than £200 (and that's at/from Honda). If its narrowband, then it's a £100 fitted job.
If I had spare grand, I'd have snapped this up in an instant.
If I had spare grand, I'd have snapped this up in an instant.
John Galt said:
From experience, the engine light will be nothing more than the primary O2 sensor. I can't remember if they're wideband on the CH1. If it is, fixing it should cost no more than £200 (and that's at/from Honda). If its narrowband, then it's a £100 fitted job.
If I had spare grand, I'd have snapped this up in an instant.
+1 If the engine appears to be running normally, it's more often than not a lambda sensor fault of sorts...If I had spare grand, I'd have snapped this up in an instant.
Alex said:
Honda, why don't you sell a car like this now?
Indeed - it's been an absolute tragedy watching Honda slowly throw all that good work and good will out the window and revert back to being a old farts manufacturer. The stricter exhaust emission controls probably didn't help much with the Type R's - but still, I am still completely confused with the direction Honda has taken in the past 5 years. Ben3883 said:
SOTW my foot. I'm a Honda boy through and through and I wouldn't touch that moneypit with a bargepole. If you've more money and enthusiasm than sense you could restore it, but otherwise that's a very good way of blowing a grand on something that'll be in the scrappy soon.
I take it you have phoned the seller and offered £800 then! 
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