2001 Honda HR-V - Joy Machine

[mk1_4dr]

It's been about a decade since I had the opportunity to go car shopping, I've been lucky enough to have had a little selection of super cheap cars fall into my lap, a free Punto, a free MX5 that I got 2 summers out of and a P2 V70 that has had a slipping clutch and multitude other issues for the 3years I've had it. 

Sensing the imminent end of the V70 and the 940 being nowhere near ready to see the road again, I had been looking to a find myself a cheap, interesting, reliable daily.

First things first, see the Volvo off. It's been a decent car, easily the best £170 car I'll probably ever have. A bit thirsty, but very comfortable, I don't like scrapping cars if it can be helped and was sad to see it go but I'm not spuffing £1200 on a clutch. 

 

I wanted something I'd not had before, a 4wd, but I also wanted to save some fuel which narrowed down the options. After looking at some awful Freelanders, a couple of nice CVRs, I actually ended up going back to buy one of the first cars I looked at, a mk1 HR-V Joy Machine!

 

It's a low mile (57k) D16W1/manual, with the optional Type V Blue interior, that has obviously been looked after and used sparingly, there a couple of dings to take out, touching up of chips then a damn good clean and polish, but I'm fairly happy with it.

 

And now my driveway looks like this! Super stuff.

 

 

[loserone]

That's golden!

[Spottedlaurel]

Very nice. Great colour for it, looks really tidy.

Does it still have its original cat?

[bangernomics]

That's golden!

Surely bronze.

[mk1_4dr]

2 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Very nice. Great colour for it, looks really tidy.

Does it still have its original cat?

Cheers, it is pretty damn tidy. Yeah, still has it's OG cat, I'm going to see about getting it into an exhaust place to stick an Ebay special in and keep the factory cat safe. 

[mk1_4dr]

21 minutes ago, bangernomics said:

Surely bronze.

It says bronze on the logbook

 

[grogee]

9 minutes ago, mk1_4dr said:

Cheers, it is pretty damn tidy. Yeah, still has it's OG cat, I'm going to see about getting it into an exhaust place to stick an Ebay special in and keep the factory cat safe. 

Nicely purchased. 

I fitted a 'cat strap' to my Auntie's Prius, which is like a long Kevlar belt that goes around the cat to prevent it being nicked. Comes with a window sticker to put off the thieves too. 

I think she said she got it from USA. 

[Macscrooge]

Always liked the look of these, and yours look a particularly nice example. 

[S2000]

Bookmarked! My friend has one in the same spec we call ‘Nugget’, awesome little machine and his has clocked 137K!
Be interested to know if you can locate the fuel filter, it has proven to be somewhat elusive!,

[hairnet]

dave youve changed

little off the sides and leave the back ta

 

[wuvvum]

These are a fantastic little machine, as long as the rear arches / sills haven't crumbled to dust.  I loved the one I had.

[Datsuncog]

Ooh, that's the best colour for them, too. What a winnermobile.

Funny, I was looking at a 3dr HR-V only the other night on Gumtree, but it didn't seem anywhere near as well looked-after as your new arrival.

Scarce things now; but for me quite an evocative car from the whole Millennium era, when silver puffa jackets and mirrored Oakley sunglasses were all hell-bent on shouting "we're living in the future now!"

Best of luck!

[Bradders59]

Its in Larne. What do you expect ? ! 😂

[AnnoyingPentium]

I see a T-reg one up beside Glasgow University on a regular basis. Still think they look really cool.

[RichardK]

Oooh! I want a purple one of these.

[mk1_4dr]

3 hours ago, S2000 said:

Bookmarked! My friend has one in the same spec we call ‘Nugget’, awesome little machine and his has clocked 137K!
Be interested to know if you can locate the fuel filter, it has proven to be somewhat elusive!,

The fuel filter on this is underbonnet, in the middle of the firewall, not sure if your mates is different though.

[mk1_4dr]

2 hours ago, hairnet said:

dave youve changed

little off the sides and leave the back ta

 

I've not changed, I've always liked these and I've had a Honda before with my lil-fated BA3 Prelude.

Even after an MX5 and now this, there is no hairdressing going on here friend, my flowing locks are to my arse now anyway!!

[Datsuncog]

2 hours ago, Bradders59 said:

Its in Larne. What do you expect ? ! 😂

Well, going by the pics it's parked outside Ballyclare Auctions - so my expectations are even lower...

[mk1_4dr]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

These are a fantastic little machine, as long as the rear arches / sills haven't crumbled to dust.  I loved the one I had.

There is a hint of it starting to go on the drivers side rear sill end, I'll get it in a bodyshop for athat and the couple of dents sorting.

[Dick Longbridge]

14 hours ago, mk1_4dr said:

 

 

Is that the original interior? It's a world away from typical subdued Japanese style of the time. 

The back end of this era of HRV always makes me think of Volvo 940 rear end dropped onto a tall chassis with a deep rear bumper to hide the join. Is it just me?! 

[mk1_4dr]

40 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Is that the original interior? It's a world away from typical subdued Japanese style of the time. 

The back end of this era of HRV always makes me think of Volvo 940 rear end dropped onto a tall chassis with a deep rear bumper to hide the join. Is it just me?! 

It is the factory optional interior, the PDI sheet is in the bookpack, they called it the 'Type V Blue' interior.

 

It has all of the dealer (Chatsworth Honda) stickers and both plates too!! I'm half tempted to take the plates off to preserve them

 

As for the styling, I've heard  it said to look like a jacked up 3dr P80 V70, in that nice Saffron colour they came in. I can see it.  

[tooSavvy]

4 hours ago, RichardK said:

Oooh! I want a purple one of these.

Hmm.... nickname it 'The Throbber', eh?

Nice chariot 👍

[morrisoxide]

Nice always liked those.

I use to see one in the same colour bombing about. It was owned by a right old character, his hands where never on the wheel. I once saw him driving and peeling an orange whilst being distracted by the Labrador sat next to him. 

Was it local because that reg seems strangely familiar?

Sad to see the Volvo going but it has done you well.

 

[Dobloseven]

Now, then, am I dreaming it, or did those HRVs have a shower under the tailgate, perhaps as an option? Seem to recall Martin Clunes and Neil Morrisey, AKA  Men behaving badly, advertising it on TV. Trying to lure young women. Or am I going mad? There did seem to be a couple with one on a campsite last year doing something round the back. 

[S2000]

9 hours ago, mk1_4dr said:

The fuel filter on this is underbonnet, in the middle of the firewall, not sure if your mates is different though.

Wish it was…….. it would appear it maybe in tank as nothing on the firewall or under body unless it has been removed on his……  it’s a mystery like the Bermuda Triangle!

[twosmoke300]

10 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

Now, then, am I dreaming it, or did those HRVs have a shower under the tailgate, perhaps as an option? Seem to recall Martin Clunes and Neil Morrisey, AKA  Men behaving badly, advertising it on TV. Trying to lure young women. Or am I going mad? There did seem to be a couple with one on a campsite last year doing something round the back. 

The crv had a shower on its options list . 

[mk1_4dr]

12 hours ago, morrisoxide said:

Nice always liked those.

I use to see one in the same colour bombing about. It was owned by a right old character, his hands where never on the wheel. I once saw him driving and peeling an orange whilst being distracted by the Labrador sat next to him. 

Was it local because that reg seems strangely familiar?

Sad to see the Volvo going but it has done you well.

 

That old character sounds like a bit of a legend, or a danger to themselves and others, or both. 

I bought it from a chap in Manningham, but he'd only had it since 2020, it was supplied new by Chatsworth Honda, which I think were in Derby.

I'm sad to see it go too, 3years/30k you can really get to like a car, especially one so comfortable and inconspicuous. 

[mk1_4dr]

11 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

Now, then, am I dreaming it, or did those HRVs have a shower under the tailgate, perhaps as an option? Seem to recall Martin Clunes and Neil Morrisey, AKA  Men behaving badly, advertising it on TV. Trying to lure young women. Or am I going mad? There did seem to be a couple with one on a campsite last year doing something round the back. 

Now you mention it, I remember those adverts! And now I'm on the lookout for the shower accessory, they are NLA from Honda, unsurprisingly. 

[mk1_4dr]

10 hours ago, S2000 said:

Wish it was…….. it would appear it maybe in tank as nothing on the firewall or under body unless it has been removed on his……  it’s a mystery like the Bermuda Triangle!

That is strange, what year is your friends? Is it 4WD? I don't know if either of those things makes a difference, but something obviously is. 

[Dobloseven]

15 minutes ago, mk1_4dr said:

Now you mention it, I remember those adverts! And now I'm on the lookout for the shower accessory, they are NLA from Honda, unsurprisingly. 

Thank heaven it's not me imagining things! Hope you find one. Just think, with that colour, you could have a Golden Shower!