I still remember the first pictures I saw of the original Honda Legend. It was big news on the UK motoring scene because it was the first genuine collaboration between Rover and Honda. Codenamed Type XX, Autocar splashed undisguised pictures of the soon-to-be released Honda flagship. My father had the present top-of-the-range Honda and I naturally expected him to trade up. I promptly arranged test drive and god it was good. The best car I had ever driven, I had a smirk on my face all week. I can still remember it today, so fast, so refined and that V6 sound! I went and reported my very positive findings to my largely unimpressed father. He was looking at the price, and how much more fuel its 2.5 litre V6 would used than his regular 2 litre Accord, and did he really need it?. That was my last experience of the Legend.

Honda replaced the 2.5 engine with a 2.7 after criticism of low end torque. Then in 1991 a totally new Legend arrived. To my eyes it had lost some of its appeal. A few years later Honda totally lost its way with a succession of ever larger , duller and totally uninspiring Legends. Each one a worse sales disaster than the last.

That first Legend (in 2.7 guise) still has a place in my heart. Over the years I have been tempted but never succumbed. Nagged by doubts, would it be able to live up to the expectations, now that I have experienced many more cars and the motoring world has moved forward? Then last week I bid £501 for one on eBay. Immediately after bidding I regretted it and when the car sold for £515, I really regretted not bidding higher. Now I am looking for another one, the excuse (for the wife) is that it’s for the upcoming article “Buying a banger”.

Lets welcome with a warm applause the new Legend

Enough of Legend history, the new Legend has been on sale in Japan and US for some months now. Honda has finally broken the sequence, the new Legend is smaller, sporty and innovative. Its party trick is its drivetrain; driving all wheels with torque transferred not only from front to rear but also uniquely, left to right. In practice this mean no understeer and handling which is better than all its competitors. This new Legend is a drivers car, par excellence. With a superb 3.5 litre V6, it’s a more than match for the 5 series and E class.

Hey, good looking.

The two flies in the ointment are its looks and likely depreciation based on poor heritage. Maybe Honda will try to limit supply to such an extent it holds its value. But then it’s hardly worth bringing it to the UK, rather just concentrate on its main markets US and Japan. The other thing, to my eyes, it just doesn’t look impressive. It looks too anonymous, especially from the front. Stand the Citroen C6 next to it and it will be completely invisible. Which brings me neatly to my dilemma. Since both C6 and Legend are likely to shed pounds faster than a dieting anorexic, they could both be within my grasp in about 4 years time. Which do I choose? Do I go for the one with fantastic looks, body to die for but is slightly shallow or the plane-Jane with greater depths than the Atlantic? I’ve never been too good at this question. Well, I’m a man so I guess, it will be the good looking model, the C6. Or maybe not. One thing is certain, I’ve got 4 years of agony.

the new Legend is smaller, sporty and innovative

Return to Amistad Home.

This article is sponsored by Proqul Ozone store who supply the Ozonology Sanitisation service.

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