1989 Honda Aerodeck EXi review from UK and Ireland

Distributor cap caused a misfire at low revs; cured with a replacement.

Purchased the Aerodeck on eBay for £75.00. Trailered it home and set about curing the faults.

Rust in the rear sills, (rockers), cut a section out and let in some new steel, as good as new.

Disks were rusty, cleaned them up and renewed the pads front and rear.

Renewed the back box (exhaust).

Renewed the break pipes, front and rear.

Renewed 2 tyres (rear).

Removed the sump plate. Grass had held water against the bottom of the engine (the car had been stood on a lawn for 9 months), causing the sump to rust through. The sump was cleaned and a patch was brazed over the rusty hole, and then repainted.

Renewed the timing belt and power steering belt.

Immediately converted the car to run on LPG.

Drove the car to a garage for the U.K. MOT (inspection) and it flew through.

Driving impression. Very happy with it so far. The engine seems quite powerful (this is the injection model); it pulls well without having to rev. it too hard. The seats are comfortable and firm, offering a good driving position. The pedals are easy to find, and the clutch is the lightest of any I have used in the past.

I would say the ride is a bit hard for my liking, with UK roads full of pot holes I feel every one of them.

Running on LPG. With the cost of unleaded in the UK at £1.05 (8.11.07) per litre, things look dire for petrol users. Converting to LPG made sense. Performance on LPG is the same as petrol (I cannot tell the difference) with LPG at 1/2 the price.

I am impressed with the quality of construction of this 3rd gen Honda; a lot of effort went in to making it a car built to last, and this has proved to be the case. Even things like wiring connectors have been designed to be waterproof and double insulated.

The quality of metallic paint is first class, as is the under-seal applied to wings and body cavities. I looked at a Mercedes 200 4 years younger than the Honda, and it was rusting under the paint. I think there is something special about the 3rd gens, they really are a quality car, and I am happy to have acquired one.