Description
After a happy year of ownership, I'm selling my 1997 Honda S-MX as I need to focus on some other automotive projects.
Since I bought the car, I have steadily improved it, starting with a full timing belt kit including water pump and tensioner in September 2016. It also had a new thermostat fitted. In Spring 2017, it had all-new rear bushes, so it doesn't clonk like some can. It also had a gearbox flush, though it can still be a bit slow on changes before the fluid has warmed through.
It has covered almost 10, 000 trouble-free miles since then, taking me all over the country. The seats, formed of two benches, can be folded to make a double bed of reasonable comfort, and I have slept in it several times. The rear seat can move back and forth, to increase luggage space as required. There is only a rear door on the passenger side.
The engine is Honda's B20 unit, so 2-litres, around 140bhp, so a fair bit quicker than most of these Japanese minivans. The gearbox is a 4-speed automatic with torque converter lock-up to boost efficiency. I have managed as high as 36mpg, but 32 is a general rule, and it would be lower around town. Insurance is no more than any other car, and there's a good club and at least one very good specialist to help with parts.
Bodily, it is very good with only some minor surface corrosion on the rear arches. The sills seem very solid and you can inspect them beneath the factory bodykit. This is the Lowdown model, which came from the factory with slightly lower suspension and a full bodykit. It also has accessory deep-pile carpets front and rear.
It passed the MOT with no advisories in June, but was declared SORN at the end of July as I needed to insure another of my cars.
The wheels have been powder coated bright orange, which is far hardier than the factory diamond cut. They are standard Lowdown wheels, fitted with Nokian all-weather tyres with plenty of tread.
The odometer shows 192, 000, which is made up of miles and kilometres - it was converted at point of import in 2008, at which time it had covered 102, 000 kms, which is around 62, 000 miles. So, in total, 150, 000 miles or so.
It's a very easy car to drive, thanks to the automatic gearbox and really light power steering. If I didn't have too many vehicles, I could quite easily keep it.
I live near Aberystwyth and can collect you from the train station (or Caersws if you prefer).
