Honda S-MX Lowdown. Specifically the Lowdown model too rather than the standard one (how lucky are you) - this benefits from lower suspension, bodykit and interior orange accents.
1996 2.0 auto B20 engine which if you know Hondas, you'll know is found in many other models and as such, is very easy to get parts for
Column shift 4 speed auto
2 doors passenger side, 1 door driver side (the theory being that your rear passengers, often children, can exit onto the pavement rather than in the road)
Air Con
Electric windows (front)
Manual window (yes, 1) (rear)
Seats all fold flat to create a double bed - excellent as a small camper or just for sleeping in if you're dragged to some godawful family party/shopping trip
Rear seat slides backwards and forward to make boot larger or increase legroom as you prefer
Loads of storage - 2 glove boxes, double fold away cup holder in the front, rear cupboard, tray and drinks holders in the back
213,000km which converted is around 132,000 miles. But has recently had a full service, drives brilliantly and has no problems.
I got this a few months back - a itch I had to scratch that I'd had for years ever since seeing this exact same one that a friend owned at the time. I tried to buy it off him then but it wasn't for sale. A few years later I was looking for one again and his old car came up, so I got it. Great for me as I already knew some of the history of it and also know that the only reason he sold it was due to emigrating.
Since I've had it the following has been done at my local garage with no scrimping or driveway bodge jobs (my skills are weak)
Oil changed Filter changed
Plugs changed
New front pads
Rear brakes stripped and rebuilt
4 brand new tyres - Nankang NS2 Ultrasport.
Accord Type-R alloys in finished in white (few chips and marks but all straight and solid. If you spent a few hours with a rattle can they'd look good as new
Repair and re-wire headlights (previously full beam was just something you vaguely hoped for), now you can blind anyone you care to
Osram Nightbreaker bulbs
Air Con regassed
New front speakers (some real youth sounding brand that I can't remember). They're good though
Boring old wooden gearshifter replaced with huge pink crystal one that, if the mood takes you, lights up to bring you extra attention (plugs into 12v socket)
New wipers all round
Status Error air freshener (has now run out of smell)
Tulketh Street Car Park air freshener (some smell remains)
Rubber orange pervy steering wheel cover thing - you have to at least try to match the orange interior
Replaced rear drop links with brand new ones. Also comes with 2 more spare as I bought 4 instead of 2. Because I'm an idiot
Red Honda badges - handy to annoy genuine Type-R owners. They also look a lot better than the silver ones that were on there before
Full UK battery conversion with proper terminals, not fire risk self done job
It runs like a machine. Which of course it is.
I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere. Very good on the motorway actually - not noisy at all and happy to cruise well over legal limits on private roads.
In case you don't know, It's based on the CRV and has the same 2.0 engine so drives very much like one of those. I've never actually driven a CRV so that's a total lie - I have no idea what one drives like but they have to be slightly similar I'd guess. They're both cars. Whatever really, let's not get tied up in this any further. It drives nicely.
The interior is amazing considering age - no rips or tears or anything on the seats, which of course, all fold flat so that you can go camping or fishing or whatever it is you want to do in it.
Exterior is good. Paint it really clean considering its age. There's a bit of lacquer peel on one of the front wings but that's old cars for you. No rusty arches or any of that though, and the door shuts etc are the cleanest I've seen outside of a new car.
There aren't many around so you will get questions. Some people love it, some hate it. But if you buy cars to please other people then shame on you.
I've had my fun with it now and done what I usually do - get a car, spend money on it and then do the same again. I fancy another Civic, hopefully a Jordan or similar before all the good ones die. So I really think you should buy it off me.
There are probably others on ebay, maybe with lower miles but no doubt they have terrible body kits or haven't had all the maintenance done that this has had lately. So you should probably get this one.
Did I mention that it passed last MOT with no advisories? that's how solid it is. Current MOT runs to mid June 2014. Tax runs out end of this month but as long as some prospective buyer doesn't absolutely pull my pants down, I'll retax. It's currently on a private plate but will return to the P registration it was before. I'll get the tax sorted first before taking off though so there aren't any delays.
BAD POINTS:
You're not having my Alpine head unit you cheeky sod. You can have the Panasonic one that was in there that plays CDs etc. Or just get your own.
There's 2 switches in there - no idea what they do or turn on. Nice little mystery for you so maybe not even a bad point
Front fog lights - can't find out how to turn them on. You're thinking it'll be those 2 switches aren't you? good luck with that
Sometimes if it's a really warm day and you push the button to fold in the mirrors, the passenger side one just makes a strained noise and doesn't fold in, which means you have to scootch yourself over to the passenger side, wind down window and help it start to fold. On occasion, when you go to scootch back across to the otherside, the passenger seat belt receiver pokes in your bum. And it hurts. But is also slightly pleasurable. So again - perhaps not a bad point depending on your point of view.
GOOD POINTS: Comes with an unmade airfix style kit of a Honda S-MX Lowdown that I never made
It needs nothing done to it. It's a solid and dependable car and I use it every day and will continue to do so until such a time as it is sold or I swap it with something equally fun. Any questions please just ask.
1996 2.0 auto B20 engine which if you know Hondas, you'll know is found in many other models and as such, is very easy to get parts for
Column shift 4 speed auto
2 doors passenger side, 1 door driver side (the theory being that your rear passengers, often children, can exit onto the pavement rather than in the road)
Air Con
Electric windows (front)
Manual window (yes, 1) (rear)
Seats all fold flat to create a double bed - excellent as a small camper or just for sleeping in if you're dragged to some godawful family party/shopping trip
Rear seat slides backwards and forward to make boot larger or increase legroom as you prefer
Loads of storage - 2 glove boxes, double fold away cup holder in the front, rear cupboard, tray and drinks holders in the back
213,000km which converted is around 132,000 miles. But has recently had a full service, drives brilliantly and has no problems.
I got this a few months back - a itch I had to scratch that I'd had for years ever since seeing this exact same one that a friend owned at the time. I tried to buy it off him then but it wasn't for sale. A few years later I was looking for one again and his old car came up, so I got it. Great for me as I already knew some of the history of it and also know that the only reason he sold it was due to emigrating.
Since I've had it the following has been done at my local garage with no scrimping or driveway bodge jobs (my skills are weak)
Oil changed Filter changed
Plugs changed
New front pads
Rear brakes stripped and rebuilt
4 brand new tyres - Nankang NS2 Ultrasport.
Accord Type-R alloys in finished in white (few chips and marks but all straight and solid. If you spent a few hours with a rattle can they'd look good as new
Repair and re-wire headlights (previously full beam was just something you vaguely hoped for), now you can blind anyone you care to
Osram Nightbreaker bulbs
Air Con regassed
New front speakers (some real youth sounding brand that I can't remember). They're good though
Boring old wooden gearshifter replaced with huge pink crystal one that, if the mood takes you, lights up to bring you extra attention (plugs into 12v socket)
New wipers all round
Status Error air freshener (has now run out of smell)
Tulketh Street Car Park air freshener (some smell remains)
Rubber orange pervy steering wheel cover thing - you have to at least try to match the orange interior
Replaced rear drop links with brand new ones. Also comes with 2 more spare as I bought 4 instead of 2. Because I'm an idiot
Red Honda badges - handy to annoy genuine Type-R owners. They also look a lot better than the silver ones that were on there before
Full UK battery conversion with proper terminals, not fire risk self done job
It runs like a machine. Which of course it is.
I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere. Very good on the motorway actually - not noisy at all and happy to cruise well over legal limits on private roads.
In case you don't know, It's based on the CRV and has the same 2.0 engine so drives very much like one of those. I've never actually driven a CRV so that's a total lie - I have no idea what one drives like but they have to be slightly similar I'd guess. They're both cars. Whatever really, let's not get tied up in this any further. It drives nicely.
The interior is amazing considering age - no rips or tears or anything on the seats, which of course, all fold flat so that you can go camping or fishing or whatever it is you want to do in it.
Exterior is good. Paint it really clean considering its age. There's a bit of lacquer peel on one of the front wings but that's old cars for you. No rusty arches or any of that though, and the door shuts etc are the cleanest I've seen outside of a new car.
There aren't many around so you will get questions. Some people love it, some hate it. But if you buy cars to please other people then shame on you.
I've had my fun with it now and done what I usually do - get a car, spend money on it and then do the same again. I fancy another Civic, hopefully a Jordan or similar before all the good ones die. So I really think you should buy it off me.
There are probably others on ebay, maybe with lower miles but no doubt they have terrible body kits or haven't had all the maintenance done that this has had lately. So you should probably get this one.
Did I mention that it passed last MOT with no advisories? that's how solid it is. Current MOT runs to mid June 2014. Tax runs out end of this month but as long as some prospective buyer doesn't absolutely pull my pants down, I'll retax. It's currently on a private plate but will return to the P registration it was before. I'll get the tax sorted first before taking off though so there aren't any delays.
BAD POINTS:
You're not having my Alpine head unit you cheeky sod. You can have the Panasonic one that was in there that plays CDs etc. Or just get your own.
There's 2 switches in there - no idea what they do or turn on. Nice little mystery for you so maybe not even a bad point
Front fog lights - can't find out how to turn them on. You're thinking it'll be those 2 switches aren't you? good luck with that
Sometimes if it's a really warm day and you push the button to fold in the mirrors, the passenger side one just makes a strained noise and doesn't fold in, which means you have to scootch yourself over to the passenger side, wind down window and help it start to fold. On occasion, when you go to scootch back across to the otherside, the passenger seat belt receiver pokes in your bum. And it hurts. But is also slightly pleasurable. So again - perhaps not a bad point depending on your point of view.
GOOD POINTS: Comes with an unmade airfix style kit of a Honda S-MX Lowdown that I never made
It needs nothing done to it. It's a solid and dependable car and I use it every day and will continue to do so until such a time as it is sold or I swap it with something equally fun. Any questions please just ask.
