Sold Dollywobbler's Honda S-MX - Provisionally sold

[dollywobbler]

I'll start a new thread for this one. As you may have seen, the Rover proved a bit failsome, so I decided it was time to get myself a Lexus LS400. However, something went a bit wrong and what I've actually ended up with is a Japanese Renault Scenic with not quite enough doors. This one.

 

Of course, it isn't a prime example, because it's the first one I was able to get my hands on. So, it's the wrong colour, has crap paint and MOT advisories that make it sound like the rear tyres are knackered, and the alignment out of kilter. Even the Ebay ad reckons the previous owner just fixed it when things broke. Honest seller?

 

I am preparing to hand over the sum of £750 for this car, which shares its underpinnings with the CR-V. You can get a four-wheel drive version, but this is the Lowdown, which features blingy three-spoke alloys, lowered suspension and a bodykit. Ideal for Wales...

 

The engine is the same twin-cam, 2-litre four-pot that you'll find in a C-RV, which is really a twin-cam version of the engine under the bonnet of the Prelude I owned earlier in the year. It has a similar four-speed automatic with torque converter lock-up. There was not a manual option from the factory.

 

The footprint of the car is remarkably similar to a 2008 Fiesta, though two-inches narrower. Despite this, the seats can make a bed. Which is good. Because I've decided to try and sleep in it tomorrow night after I've picked it up. I should imagine it's quite sprightly. Power output is 128bhp JIS, which I think is slightly higher than DIN. The internet suggests anything from 128 to 140. In something the size of a Fiesta. 

 

Apparently, the ride is quite refined, which is good. The ride in the Prelude was definitely not refined. Nor was the Honda-based Rover. Or the Civic I had some years ago. Fingers crossed.

 

To add an extra element to this caper, I'm off to see Twosmoke300 on Monday, where he will be changing the timing belt for me and giving me a chance to have a proper gander at the underside. There is some slight concern about whether there are actually any sills under the bodykit, and Honda rear arch syndrome is almost sure to have gained a foothold.

 

After that, priorities will include trying to find wiper blades of the correct size and type, and sorting out the faded headlamps. I may have to do something bodgey with the crap paint on the roof too. Maybe I'll matt black it. That's what the cool kids would do.

 

The collection caper will get underway at about 10:45 tomorrow, with the trusty Nippa for the first leg, then a www.splitticketing.co.uk special to Plymouth - £60 instead of £129. I can't promise live reporting on here, because it's a serious faff on my phone. The Blog (www.hubnut.org) should get some live updates though, and then I'll go all old-school with post-even collection capers when I'm back home. Whenever that might be. I'm really looking forward to this one!

[Jim Bell]

I didnt realise till just now that this is a 3 door?!

[dollywobbler]

It isn't. It's a four door. Two doors on the nearside.

[RayMK]

Good luck with the trip.  I'm not a fan of people carriers, but an unusual and automatic one for £750 sounds like fun.  I owned a Mitsubishi i 650cc Turbo automatic from 2007-2014, bought as a sub 1000 miles ex-demonstrator from a main dealer.  It was incredibly practical for its size and perfectly capable of long motorway trips without stress, but take it on B roads and the short travel supple suspension kept hitting the bump stops - bloody irritating. Despite its practicality and novelty, I never did really bond with it.  When it ingested a turbo blade and also wrecked its waste gate at 82,000 miles (religiously serviced at Mitsubishi main dealers every 6,000 miles!), I told the garage to get rid of it.  No love lost, just a fair bit of money.  I am curious to see how you take to your Honda thingy.  I've seen weird Diahatsus , Nissan Cubes and dinky Subarus but had never heard of the Honda.

[Station]

I've driven one, it's like a van, it felt like a large Nippa!

[dollywobbler]

I've driven one, it's like a van, it felt like a large Nippa!

 

Excellent! Hopefully with slightly less bounce. At least the column gearshift means I won't have the lever jabbing into my leg when I'm in top.

[Jim Bell]

It isn't. It's a four door. Two doors on the nearside.

Thats even more omg.

[Cavcraft]

That's going to be an ace laugh to drive I reckon. Well puchased, chief! 

[DeeJay]

The wind deflector makes it look like it has coach mirrors.

Nice looking thing though. Well bought.

[purplebargeken]

LFWITTCT

[The Moog]

I reckon it looks lovely. I'd lick it

 

 

Only challenge I found with the space runner is that when you want to put some shopping in the back the lack of back door is the pain in the arse.

[Bucketeer]

So you're gonna spend the night cuddling up to the previous owner's body detritus. Sweet.

All the best. Possibly the most motoring fun I've ever had was spending a day trying to roll a Grand Move. Which is a bit similar.

[purplebargeken]

Put the shopping in the boot! That's what it is there for

 

Shopping doesn't need a seat

[richardmorris]

It isn't. It's a four door. Two doors on the nearside.

That'll confuse drunk passengers!

[Ghosty]

Something something Bini Clubman...

[barefoot]

That looks fucking dire.

You are possibly a winnah, or possibly not!

[richardmorris]

I've seen worse. In fact I followed worse back from 'T field of dreams today. A slammed now 5series with bling blog banded wheels in convoy with a similarly ruined e class merc. Doing about 20mph as they kept grinding the bottoms of their stupid cars on the road's bumps. Not speed humps mind, just the normal surface.

[Junkman]

Usually hearses get painted like clowns' cars in later life, this thing is exactly the opposite.

If it is the answer to a question, the latter was a stupid one.

It looks hilariously useless. I really, really like it. Well done!

[richardmorris]

Actually I can see it being useful. But I also see it being awful to drive.

[purplebargeken]

I think it'll be a hoot.

 

There is ALWAYS roffle.

[dollywobbler]

Actually I can see it being useful. But I also see it being awful to drive.

 

I'm hardly expecting Prelude-like nimbleness, but I can't see it being awful at all. Anyway, I need to get to bed because one sleep is all that stands before me and a really crap night of barely any sleep at all in a car that really is not a house with a bed in it.

[vulgalour]

By your own confession you really don't like Honda suspension.  This is definitely the logical solution to that.  I like how this thing looks, it should be bland and boring but instead I think it looks smart and well finished, it's very Japanese to look at.  I look forward to reading how you get on with your Japanese Maxi.

[Timewaster]

I can't seem to gauge how big this is, never having seen one in the wild.

From the pictures they look like they could be kei car tiny but CRV underpinnings suggest something more Espace like.

[dollywobbler]

By your own confession you really don't like Honda suspension. This is definitely the logical solution to that. I like how this thing looks, it should be bland and boring but instead I think it looks smart and well finished, it's very Japanese to look at. I look forward to reading how you get on with your Japanese Maxi.

I'm absolutely with you on the looks. It should be hideously bland, but somehow isn't. I do wish it was orange though.

[stripped fred]

I can't seem to gauge how big this is, never having seen one in the wild.

From the pictures they look like they could be kei car tiny but CRV underpinnings suggest something more Espace like.

I'm finding it difficult to guage its size too. Would be useful to see it against other cars. I think it will provide interesting, fun transport. Hopefully it will also have some character and be pretty nippy.

[billyboy406v6]

As for size, It looks 200mm shorter than a sleeping dollywobbler ?

[drum]

This is great. Well jel. Fiesta sized and crv sized doesn't compute, so add me to the confused rank.

Looks like a cool doblo, not a well worn phrase.

[dollywobbler]

Today is the day! Though many hours of train travel await. I land in Plymouth at quarter to six.

[purplebargeken]

Much excite!!!!!

 

Orange would have been cool!

[rantingYoof]

Today is the day! Though many hours of train travel await. I land in Plymouth at quarter to six.

Good luck!

 

If I win the diesel Polo then, for what it's worth, as I'm not a fan of flying, my self inflicted collection will be even more travel intensive and at in absolutely no circumstances can a gawky moron like me with stupidly long limbs fall asleep in a Polo...

 

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