CharlesM Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Hi - just introducing myself, I'm a bit of a car nut with numerous old cars floating around, but running a modern Volvo XC60 as my main car. As all my other cars are classics that I don't like to drive frequently, I'm looking at a nice cruiser for when I don't need the Volvo (it's leased and I'm always up to the mileage limit). I've had numerous BMWs (Alpinas B10s mostly) and Mercedes W124s, plus some older Citroens (never again!) I'm keen to move in to a larger engine Honda as another of the great engineering led firms with superb engines. I'm off tomorrow to look at this V6 coupe near me, I'll have a good look at levels, bodywork and history and see how I get on. If anyone knows of a well maintained one let me know! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators hughezee Posted March 9, 2016 Administrators Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Welcome to the club, I hope the coupe meets your expectations tomorrow and they are getting rare these days so good ones are harder to find unless your prepared to pay a premium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 The good ones are harder to find certainly applies to many older cars alas. I'm not greatly bothered by miles (in fact low milers always make me think carefully) but informed owners who do regular maintenance and spend on important things really do matter. Anyway I'll see how I get on! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve in Ireland Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Looks nice and sounds like a good deal at that price. Check that it changes gear smoothly, particularly from first to second and check that the gearbox oil has been changed in the service history. That seems to be the only real weak point on these cars. If the gear change is snatchy or hard or feels like it slips between changes the gearbox could be on the way out. Around 100k does seem to be the mileage that the gearbox can die if oil changes have been neglected. However, if it has been maintained well it should have plenty of life left in it. I recently bought one with 114k on it and it does appear that it has a worn gearbox sadly. If you google these cars and transmission problems you will find lots of sad stories from the US of transmission failures. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators hughezee Posted March 9, 2016 Administrators Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 Very good point Steve, hopefully the transmission has been well maintained on this occasion with a Honda specialist mentioned in regards to servicing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 What are the correct service intervals for the auto, I've noted the correct oil specs from the technical section. A recent Mercedes W124 auto has given me endless grief so I feel your pain Steve. Edit - found the sticky, every 30,000 miles. Is auto fluid change a recognised part of the Honda service schedule? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve in Ireland Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 I believe that Honda recommend replacing the fluid every 60,000 under normal conditions or 30,000 under "severe" conditions so the dealer should have replaced the ATF at 60k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Good news, plentiful service history, transmission fluid has been done three times, last time about 18 months ago. The box was smooth as silk on all changes, with kickdown being the only time the change was perceptible. Nice car, fully mechanically maintained (all Honda or Honda specialist) with enthusiast owner (he used to work for Honda UK in Chiswick and has run 2 NSXs). Recent work includes front bushes as well as exhaust and brake master cylinder and pipes. Lots and lots of services in his and the previous owner's time (very rare now to see a V5C with only 1 former owner on a 15 year old car). Very good Continental tyres. Wheels as I'd expect in London had some kerbing and there was a small bubbling in the n/s wheel arch. All the electrical stuff worked ok, A/C freezing. Ride good and drives very sweetly. Perfect for what I was after and has a full years MOT with no advisories, so bought it. I collect on Sunday. Frankly for the price it is pretty much spot on, had the cosmetics been perfect (which I don't really care that much about as I can get most things looking a lot better for not a lot) it would have been a decent amount more. So, just turned from a potential V6 owner to V6 owner awaiting collection! Thanks for the help to date. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators hughezee Posted March 10, 2016 Administrators Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Congratulations on the new purchase and when the motor is safely in your possession don't forget to put some pictures up in the gallery 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founding Member AhsyV6 Posted March 10, 2016 Founding Member Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Welcome Charles, lovely purchase! I posted that car on the forum the other day as its nice to see the occasional gems that turn up now and then. You will definitely enjoy the drive and the driving position ......absolutely brilliant and so much car for the money! Enjoy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve in Ireland Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Sounds like you got a great deal. Congratulations! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Thanks all. Photos to follow when I collect, then I'll be getting out the detailing equipment to start getting the looks to match the mechanicals. Some of the paint has been exposed to what looks like car wash brushes so that might be a bit too much of a trial to sort properly, but very few cars can't be made to look a wee bit better. The internal wood trim is also calling out for a cut and polish. First of all though, some driving! My aim is to avoid money being spent on cosmetics, that is what elbow grease is for! I'm aiming to get as close in finish as this W124 estate being sold by a friend, we spent about 40 hours on the flat non metallic paint and the interior to get it spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founding Member AhsyV6 Posted March 10, 2016 Founding Member Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 4 hours ago, CharlesM said: Thanks all. Photos to follow when I collect, then I'll be getting out the detailing equipment to start getting the looks to match the mechanicals. Some of the paint has been exposed to what looks like car wash brushes so that might be a bit too much of a trial to sort properly, but very few cars can't be made to look a wee bit better. The internal wood trim is also calling out for a cut and polish. First of all though, some driving! My aim is to avoid money being spent on cosmetics, that is what elbow grease is for! I'm aiming to get as close in finish as this W124 estate being sold by a friend, we spent about 40 hours on the flat non metallic paint and the interior to get it spot on. All I can say is what a coincidence......I have a friend who has a few cars of which one is a W124 estate. We have gone halves on a rotary polisher/kit and he's on my case to detail it "with" him....more like me to do it all!!!! No doubt you are aware but just go easy on the paint starting off with a light polish and pad as Japanese paints tend to be much softer than the German stuff. That purple with pop like mad when you've finished! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thanks for the reminder about the paint - this purple will have a fair old cobalt content which is also very soft - the only time I've ever done any damage while machine polishing was on the bonnet of my Alpina which was a purple blue - through to black primer in a matter of moments. I am very happy (in fact certain it's the only way to get a Mercedes done) to use quite an aggressive cutting pad with Menzerna 400 fast gloss on a W124, but this I think will be more of a trial. If nothing else, modern glazes get you a long way further than they used to! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founding Member AhsyV6 Posted March 11, 2016 Founding Member Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Based on your experience I can't wait to see the results. Please take some good pics and put together a post. I bought 3 stage Menzerna polishes too and the brief trial I did they were very impressive......looking forward to the summer to have a proper go. Good luck 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BN Coupe Posted March 11, 2016 Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Hi Charles and congratulations on your new acquisition. If you like it as much as I like mine you'll be very happy. Mine was intended to be a cheap run-around for the winter but now I intend to keep it running for as long as possible, and even to spend some time/money on the bodywork. Sounds like yours has the all-important maintenance history, and that you've got a good 'un! Anyway, welcome to the Forum. Stu (hughezee) and Dave (Lairdscooby) know all there is to know about these cars - which is just as well, as I barely know one end of a dipstick from the other. PS I saw another one in Hove yesterday (I think a 3-litre) - the first one in MONTHS. They're so rare now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 How funny you should be in Brighton. My principal reason for buying an auto like this is because I help a friend based there with his W124 estate business, so I'm up and down every week. I used to take the Alpina but got stuck in traffic for 3 hours on the M25 with the heavy clutch pedal wreaking havoc with my knee. If you see me honk! I must say how impressed I am with this forum - the information available is beautifully set out and very clear. Since working a lot on the old Mercedes I'm restoring I've become a bit more confident mechanically (competence is another matter) so I would hope to do some work myself. Thanks to all for the welcome, I recognise a lot of kindred spirits. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators hughezee Posted March 11, 2016 Administrators Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Thank you for your kind words I still have lots more info and D.I.Y posts to share and I must crack on with our on-line parts store (currently hidden). Also talking of kindred spirits I am a big fan of the older German cars, especially the W124 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Founding Member Mazda Man Posted March 11, 2016 Founding Member Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Hi Charles and welcome to the wonderful world of the USA built Honda Accord V6 Coupe, mines purple too: You're in the best place for all things Accord Coupe, have a good look around the forum as there's lots of useful information from people who own and run both the 2.0 ES and the V6. We're a friendly like-minded bunch and it would be great to see you at Honda 6 Meet in the summer, the last one was great, over 10 coupes all in one place. As mentioned Stu is the Coupe Guru (I'm seeing him tomorrow) and Dave is the font of all things Honda/Rover/Jeep. Anyway, get some pics up Charles so we can all admire your coupe. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BN Coupe Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Charles, if I see a purple one I'll flash/honk. I'll assume it's you, not GeoffPurpleHaze. Mine's dark green. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 The purple is very pleasing as a colour - dark and distinguished but different from the black cars about (nowt wrong with black, but a bit too ubiquitous for me). If the date works (not sure I can see one yet) I'll be there at any meet, great fan of saying hello in person! Tantalisingly close to the car today with a friend for lunch but tomorrow 11am is the collection time. Really can't wait, now just need to get my niece to offer her services for a taxi run to the station. I wonder if all the times I've been Mr Minicab will be remembered (I better not say it's an old car though, she is a lovely girl but horrifically neo-phile when it comes to cars.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BN Coupe Posted March 12, 2016 Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 What will you use to polish the wood trim inside? Mine needs a bit of a refurb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 With the Mercedes veneer (basically a lot of lacquer on top of micron thick veneer) I take the piece out, flat it with wet 1200 and then wet 2000, until scratching has gone then machine polish it with 400 Menzerna then 2600 (if I have the time). I'm not sure about the composition of this stuff so I'll only do a tiny bit first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators hughezee Posted March 12, 2016 Administrators Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 The Honda trims are pure genuine plastic throughout not even tiny bit of impurity of wood so sanding with 2500 is only for the very brave Hi gloss interior/ dash cleaner works well for me 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesM Posted March 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2016 Ha - well that rules out that approach! Shame, I've got quite decent at it - the centre console of this W124 was scratched to matt and done by me. Oh well, time to try something different...I have used Farecla G3 on hard cut machine pad to good effect on hard plastic trims before so it may well be worth a try. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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