Friday 16th December 2011

SOTW: Honda Legend

Actually, make that two Honda Legends...

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Normally Shed uses near-enough every penny of its hypothetical £1k budget. But today's SOTW is different, because even if you shell out the full asking price you'll still be left with £605 in change.

That's right, we've picked out what appears to be a perfectly serviceable couple of tons of Japanese barge goodness - a £395 Honda Legend. For the price of a moderately specced PS3 and a couple of games.

That gets you a 1994 L-plate example, with 132k miles on the clock, although the MOT is quite short - you'll need to renew the ticket next March.

In all honesty, we could probably have found slightly smarter Legends within the bounds of £1000, but the proud proclamation of the dealer (Dock View Trade Cars in Barry, Wales) that there's "No bulls***...just cheap cars!!!!" - tickled us so much that, well, we simply had to include it.

So what do you get for your £395? Well, this is the second-generation Honda Legend, meaning an updated platform that was not shared with the Rover 800 and a decent 235hp from its 3.2-litre V6. It's perhaps not the most exciting of luxury vehicles, and it probably will be mistaken for an Accord minicab on more than one occasion, but provided you don't end up with a back seat full of kebab-wielding drunkards you'll find that it's a bit more subtle a steer than a tatty Bee-Em or Merc.

And if the 1994 Legend is a bit too old for you, there's always a newer Mk3 Legend to ponder, and this one looks particularly tidy for just £595. In fact, if you can't decide you could always get both within Shed's budget and, with a bit of haggling, have enough left over for a slap-up meal to celebrate...

So what'll it be? This?

Or this? How about both?

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Honda Legend 3.2 V6
1994 L £395
4 Doors, Automatic, Saloon, Petrol, 132,000 miles, Metallic Green, MOT-03-2012. PAS, ABS, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Cruise control, Driver airbag, Electric windows, Leather seats, Radio, Remote locking. Insurance Group:15, Drives Very Well, South Wales Area, £395

[smellypoo]

That cheaper one doesn't look too bad... I wonder what horrors lurk beneath, they're not common so are servicing parts pricey?

[thewheelman]

There are plenty of Hondas around for that kind of money, many that are newer & lower mileage. It's quite surprising what quality you can get for such a low outlay.

[lionrampant]

That second one is temptingly smart for the money!

[stedale]

Quite like that

[Trusty Steed]

Can I take the PS3 and games please?

[Agoogy]

beautifully stubby front overhang.... like them alot...
If not this I'd have to save for the last generation Legend.

[angusc43]

Agoogy said:

beautifully stubby front overhang.... like them alot...
If not this I'd have to save for the last generation Legend.

Yeah they do look well proportioned, don't they?

I have real soft spot for Hondas of that generation. I wonder if they had wishbones all round like the Accords at that time.

To my eyes they have aged really well.

£400 seems insanely cheap.

[S8QUATTRO]

nice, always liked these

[J4CKO]

Nice left field shed(s), good call, could get them even cheaper than that as not exactly the car of the moment, but both and run the best one and keep the other for bits.

[SD1992]

I do like these, hardly seen any in the flesh though. They do seem incredible value, if I was in the market for a new car I would certainly take a closer look - just how badly wrong can you go for under £400?

[Agoogy]

of course for £400 you could always build yourself a mini Jeep/Hummer...

[steveb8189]

Struggling to think of anything else that will give more HP per £...

[anonymous-user]

I went in one of these the other day. It was a taxi, completely immaculate condition, quiet, nice ride, good smooth engine and not bad transmission from what I could tell.

280,000kms on the clock.

Quite astonishing that one can be had for 400 quid!

(not that I would buy one)

[BrettMRC]

The coupes are quite nice looking too... I keep thinking of buying one for a laugh...

[SuperHangOn]

£400 quid, wow!

And a Honda so it'll probably work too.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Agoogy said:

beautifully stubby front overhang.... like them alot...
If not this I'd have to save for the last generation Legend.

I think the latest one is a good looking car. And apparently, the stereo plays sort of road noise anti-sound to try cancel out tyre and road noise. Basically like how noise reduction ear phones work! Nice pub fact thats sure to have everyone leave you.

[Riggers]

Otispunkmeyer said:

I think the latest one is a good looking car. And apparently, the stereo plays sort of road noise anti-sound to try cancel out tyre and road noise. Basically like how noise reduction ear phones work! Nice pub fact thats sure to have everyone leave you.

Good-looking? Really? Not in my head, but there you go...

Quite a lot of car makers are jumping on that noise-cancellation bandwagon these days, and quite a lot are using the same sort of tech to mitigate the effects of cylinder deactivation on V8s (thinking Audi and Merc here).

As usual, Honda ahead of the curve on tech but not shouting about it enough...

[Agoogy]

Legends have always been clasy understated..no shouting....
I'd call them handsome, not beautiful.
Thats the trick with this kind of car....understated style is where it's at (A8 (not current)is perfect example)... and which is why the current S class with it's wheel arch extensions jarres somewhat IMO.

[anonymous-user]

Super smooth engines and built like tanks. Another Honda that nobody really cares much about unfortunately. Much bigger reputation in the US.

[Lippy Kid]

BrettMRC said:

The coupes are quite nice looking too... I keep thinking of buying one for a laugh...

I really like the coupes too. Don't see them these days though.