1990 Acura Legend L Sedan review from North America

I have not owned this car for a long period of time, so this review is primarily about the first impressions of this Acura. However, I will list the faults with the vehicle as of my purchase from the previous owner.

The car seems to have a minor lifter ticking noise at idle. This doesn't seem to hamper the running shape of the car at all, and all in all the engine runs extremely smoothly.

The car had been in Minnesota for the first decade of its existence. As such, the typical problems with Hondas/Acuras rusting at the rear fender wells is particularly bad with this car. There is one fairly large rust hole on the driver's side, bad rust on the passenger side, and the passenger side rear door has rusted a bit as well. Since I live (and purchased the car) in a dry climate, the previous owner stated this rust problem has not grown worse since he moved it here. This problem in particular would take a major amount of work to repair myself, and if it could be accomplished properly by a body shop, would be expected to run well into the thousands of dollars to repair. Since I purchased this car for less than $500, I'm not going to worry about it.

The exhaust system had been ripped off the car in a collision with a snowbank last winter. I have been quoted $300 to replace the exhaust system with a custom-fabricated performance exhaust system. Even though the car is missing half its exhaust system, it isn't nearly as loud as I would have expected, and sounds less obnoxious than poorly modified mufflers on 'tuner' type cars.

The sunroof gasket has started leaking, and had been covered up by electrical tape. I have not yet repaired this, yet it seems to be an easy job for someone of even minor mechanical inclination. Total price on parts is between $30 and $50.

The switch which tells the electrical system the driver's door is open is damaged. Among other things, this disables the warning chime for the headlights being on, which could cause battery discharge. This is an extremely easy fix, and the switch can be either purchased at the dealer for a small sum, or found at a junkyard for nearly nothing.

The emergency brake does not work. I have not figured out the cause just yet, but have been told it is a common problem on these cars. At the most, the emergency brake cables might need to be replaced, which would be a do it yourself job if you have a decent toolkit and mechanical skills.

This review is on the 1990 Acura Legend L model. The car in question is a sedan model, and is equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. The manual sedans are somewhat rare to come by, which is why I picked up this vehicle in said shape.

With that out of the way, this Acura is a Honda at heart. Those familiar with the third-generation Accord (1986-1989) will notice the Legend looks extremely similar to the Accord. The interior layout is very similar, but much more upscale, with convenience options not available on the Accord (such as variable intermittent wiper speed). Leather seats were a common option, and the driver's seat is a ten-way power adjustable model with manual lumbar support. The seating both front and rear is very comfortable, as you would expect in a luxury car. The Legend also has a longer wheelbase than the Accord, and rear seat legroom and overall cabin spaciousness is larger. The Accord had a few useful storage compartments, as well; the Legend takes that and triples the storage capacity with a small compartment in the middle dash (behind the clock), a usable center console storage compartment, and covered compartments in the front doors which are similarly deep and spacious. There is enough space for easy access to maps, CDs, wallets (I usually take my wallet out of my pocket when I drive; the center dash compartment is perfect for this), and other items you might need on a long road trip. However, there are no cupholders in the car, and several other Legend owners have had a hard time trying to find a decent place for one in the car. Options include a DIN radio fitment model from a Ford Taurus (if you have an aftermarket single DIN fitment stereo system in the car), or using the center console to hold drinks. Other than the cupholder issue, the Legend's interior is comfortable and well laid out, if not dated-looking. As a note, Honda/Acura leather interiors of this era are known to crack and eventually split very badly. My particular car's leather is in excellent shape for the age, but this is the exception rather than the norm. If the leather in the Legend you are considering is decent, do yourself a favor and take care of it. Keep it conditioned with a leather conditioner to avoid the interior from falling apart.

The Legend is powered by the Honda C27A1 powerplant, which is a 2.7-liter, transversely mounted V6 engine. This engine was later used in the 1995-1996 Honda Accord V6 models, and puts out 161HP. Due to the exhaust problem, I have been hesitant to stretch the car's legs, but test-driving previous Legends has proven this car is pretty quick when you lay your foot down, especially if you are used to less refined economy cars. The Legend is no sports car by any means, but you will find little problems in keeping up with traffic or passing on the highway. Gas mileage hovers around the 20-23MPG mark combined, but remember that this is a six-cylinder with some heart to it, and I find the gas mileage to be decent for what the car is. Automatics take a little hit in performance as well as gas mileage, but since all my acceleration tests have been done in automatic Legends, the car still performs acceptably otherwise.

The C27A1 engines are robust units if taken care of properly. The Legends need a little more care and feeding than your typical Honda. These cars are still not as finicky as most other luxury cars, but probably will not take the thrashing that A Civic could take and still keep on ticking. My particular car has 162K and seems to be running almost perfectly. A family member had one which overheated to the point of killing the engine at 240K. I have heard of Legends going over 300K, and have heard rumors of one or two nearing 400K. Diligent maintenance is key with these cars, but you will usually not be going to the shop as often as you would with most other high-end cars, nor will you be spending as much money. Even if you experience engine or transmission failure, replacements will not cost an arm and a leg. I have heard hit or miss stories on the transmissions as well, both automatic and manual. The same rules apply as with the engines; maintain your vehicle and it'll take care of you.

Handling performance is acceptable; the Legend is fairly nimble and solid at the same time. The suspension and handling ability do not lend themselves the same refinement as, say, a BMW or Benz, but for what it is the Legends handle decently for being a front-engine, FWD layout. Aftermarket suspension modifications are scarce for the Legends specifically, but parts from some other Hondas cross over. Aftermarket strut tower braces for a '92-'95 Civic will fit with some modification, and coilover spring/strut kits from the '95-'96 Accord V6 models will supposedly fit. On the latter, since the Accord is fairly different than the Legend, spring rates and the like will not be optimal. However, with some research and a coilover company who is willing to make a set with custom spring rates I believe this can be taken care of.

Braking ability is decent, but not stunning. The Legend is a fairly heavy car, weighing nearly 3,200 pounds, and requires a relatively hefty brake system. Standard ABS on the 1990 L and LS models helps. I haven't personally had the ABS kick in on me, but from previous experience ABS does help a bit on snowy/icy roads. On that subject, the Legend is reported to be pretty decent in bad weather, and should be a good winter car.

As a final word, the first-generation Acura Legends seem to be decent cars. They are a little bit maintenance intensive, but otherwise reliable, strong cars. For the time, they were loaded with luxury features, most of which you'll never be able to find in entry-level cars today. The V6 engines are strong powerplants which give the car a little performance, but not too much. Handling and braking abilities are decent, but not stellar. Interior comfort is excellent, and ergonomics are very good as well. A Legend in decent shape should provide years of reliability, driving pleasure and enjoyment if taken care of properly. I don't regret picking mine up. Also, first-generation Legends seem to be relatively inexpensive, barring pristine low-mileage examples, which make them a good choice for someone wanting a commuter with a bit more comfort and punch and is willing to sacrifice a bit of gas mileage to do it. If you're thinking of a Legend and can get your hands on one in good shape, do it. You will probably not be sorry you did.