Honda LEGEND (1986 - TO DATE)
MODELS COVERED: First generation Legend - 1986-1991 2.5 V6 four-door saloon, coupe arrived in 1987 along with 2.7-litre enginesSecond generation Legend 1991-1996 3.2 V6 four-door saloon and coupeThird generation Legend 1996-to date 3.
5 V6 four-door saloon and coupe
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BY CLAIRE EVANS
You dont see many
Honda Legends on the road, but that doesnt make them a bad secondhand buy. On the contrary, Hondas flagship saloon is an unusual and highly capable machine, which provides a more affordable alternative to its German and English counterparts. Its sleek body is intended to evoke thoughts of a far more expensive
Lexus LS400. Certainly, theres all the equipment and the refinement of larger, more prestigious rivals, even though in this case there's a V6, rather than a V8 engine under the bonnet.
On the outside, alloy wheels give every Legend an imposing stance. Some would say that the interior of the latest version looks even smarter than the bodywork. Polished wood veneer has been tastefully applied around the cabin and the fixtures and fittings are just what youd expect from a true luxury car. We wont run through it all here; suffice it to say that everything you can think of is included.
This car was one of the first to introduce air bag technology to the UK and, as youd expect, every conceivable safety feature has also been built in. At the wheel, the Legend is an ergonomic masterpiece. Everything falls to hand perfectlyand works with a quality 'click'. Particularly praiseworthy are the controls for the stereo system on the latest cars. The system itself is impressively able and operating it is simplicity itself.
Early models are cheap and reliable but they are showing their age and you should really price them on an individual basis. There are huge savings to be had on the Legend, which never really caught on as a £30,000 new car. The last of the 3.2-litre models will be on an N plate and priced around £6,200 compare that to the £33,445 new price.
The 3.5-litre cars arrived in 1997 and £8,000 should secure you one of those. The latest Legends still look good value but theyre depreciating fast so be warned. A 52-plate model is worth £19,000, well short of the £31,815 new price.
Check for corrosion around the boot on pre-1991 cars. On later versions the only problem areas are warped disc brakes (youll feel a shimmy through the pedal), occasional electrical faults and oil leaks. The main thing to remember with this usually reliable and hard wearing executive express is that a full service history is all-important; if its not in evidence, dont buy. Maintenance is more expensive than more mainstream machinery, so its worth getting one thats just had a major service.
Parts prices are rather higher than they would be for a more mainstream make. That said, the Legend, like all other Honda cars, is virtually bullet-proof when it comes to reliability and practicality. So, although its likely to be costly to have major repairs undertaken, they wont need to be done very often, and once renewed the parts should last longer than normal. Shock absorbers will set you back £160 for the front and £120 for the rear; brake pads will cost £63 and £60 for the front and rear respectively: a tail lamp will cost £92 to replace and headlamp £186, and should the alternator need renewing it will cost £375. All these prices are excluding VAT.
Performance from the 3.2-litre model should be more than adequate for most, but if youre after sheer brute-force acceleration, wed recommend the latest 202bhp 3.5-litre version. At the pumps however, given a fair amount of motorway work, even the largest engine should manage to record between 22 and 24mpg on a regular basis.
The latest Legends four-speed automatic gearbox, besides being silky smooth, responds quickly to the driver's input. Rest to sixty takes just over eight seconds on the way to 135mph. Having said that, like most of its executive competitors, this car is most at home on the motorway. Whatever your speed, there's always an impressive sense of equilibrium which even the strongest undulations or the gustiest crosswinds can't upset. Inside, the atmosphere is almost perfect.
The Legend is one of those extremely competent, but almost forgotten cars which is a superb buy in the secondhand market for those in the know.
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