Edna the Accord - approaching quarter of a million miles

[ypsilandra]

Having lost the use of my company van to get to and from work, I've been forced to buy a cheap car. I've spent far longer than is healthy watching Xsaras, Xantias, Accents, Puntos, Bravas, even a 607. I nearly, very nearly bought an Alfa GTV. But today I finally succumbed to the Bay of E today and won myself a car.

 

I'm feeling something of a tease this evening, so here's a clue. Can anyone guess from this morsel of beigeness?

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

honda of some sort?

[rml2345]

I thought some sort of 90s Rover... But the Honda suggestion works too...

[HMC]

mid to late 80s shape honda accord (the 4 door)?

[Cavcraft]

Looks Nissan-ish to me. Micra, possibly Primera?

[purplebargeken]

Nah, deffo honda/rover. 420/45 maybe?

[stuboy]

rover 45?????????

[purplebargeken]

Revamped version of the 400 series.

[hairnet]

600 rover?

[wackywacerwill]

The door look button thing looks similar to a Pug 405 one I had earlier in the year, not sure about the rest though.

[Lord Sterling]

Late 80s Mazda of some sort?

[Pete-M]

Honda Legend? late '90s one?

[ProgRocker]

Toyota Carina II or Camry?

[HillmanImp]

Its a 1989 Muddy Fox mountain bike.

[Micrashed]

I cheated and looked at the Flikr album, but still cant work out what it is from the back seat what it is

[garycox]

I think it's one of these

 

[ypsilandra]

In the words of Young Mr Grace "You've all done very well". It is indeed a 1991 Honda Accord 2.0, officially silver but metallic beige in my eyes. Bought off eBay for £400 from a chap on the other side of the River Severn from me. The first owner, a doctor from Cleethorpes, bought it from a Honda dealer in Lincoln and the 2nd, who sold it to me, bought it from Westway Honda in Grimsby, 17 years ago. It's well used (see bottom picture) but has been looked after having had the important bits done over time and oil changed every 6000 miles. I took it out for its first trip today and I'm amazed. The previous owner had been cajoled by his daughter into buying a new Lexus for his 70th, but from the tears in his eyes as I reversed it out of his drive, I don't think he really wanted to part with the Honda. It's called Edna by the way.

 

Hello

 

Edna's rump

 

Rust where they usually rust, but not bad

 

Original Honda Radio Cassette

 

Almost run in

[ProgRocker]

Wow! Nice buy.

 

'Entry level' carburettor 2.0 I believe. Matt Black bumpers for that extra 'poverty spec' touch.

[trigger]

Evil Edna from Willo and the Wisp? That doesn't look bad, I do like the way these early 90's Honda drive, even with the over light power steering, that grey one that Gary's posted was on RR for a long while and look brilliant for the money.

[ypsilandra]

Well, I've driven Edna to and from work for the past fortnight and I'm still amazed at what £400 will get you. I've done a 54 mile round trip, 4 days a week and mpg's working out at 32, which I'm well happy with. Mileage has now broken through the 228,000 mark. so here's a few observations:

 

1 Honda Accord doors still shut with a reassuring thunk, even after 21 years

2 Accord's have 2 stage horns, 1st a polite beep, push harder and you get a blast that'd scare a Domino's oik off his C90

3 I'd forgotten how driving a car with a carb felt

4 The reversing lights don't work - I found this out trying to do a manoeuvre in a dark car park. I now know that reversing by fog light also works. I'm hoping it's just a question of replacing the bulbs or a fuse and not a well-hidden connection

5 Interior lights don't work - hoping it's just bulbs

6 Driver's door window doesn't close very "squarely", so there's a little gap at the top corner that causes bloody annoying wind roar. Think it might be the clip that sits in the runner, but the rubber door to window seals are also a bit frayed. It sounds like it's going to shatter the next time you close it - any tips welcomed!

7 It's sitting a bit higher (or lower) at one corner, which is balanced out when I add my bulk to the driver's seat but looks odd when parked

8 Finally, Audi drivers hate being stuck behind a 21 year old, beige, pov-spec Honda and will overtake at any opportunity, safe or not - it happens virtually every day and I don't drive at granny pace

 

I also now really want an Aerodeck