1981 Honda Accord review from Australia and New Zealand

Structural rust has basically killed it.

Camshaft had to be re-ground.

Muffler.

Absolutely nothing else.

The car was bought as a replacement for our English import Vanden Plas (very similar to Austin Allegro), which was starting to cause many expensive problems.

The Honda was a very smooth car to drive, mainly due to the "Hondamatic" variable auto transmission. When the old leaded fuel was still available, after a long trip the tailpipe would be white, that's how clean it would run.

Rust started to appear quite early, as what happens with most Hondas. Being white didn't help as white cars reflect heat and therefore don't dry as quickly. Rust in the sills was worst as when the car was up on the hoist the doors seized shut, it basically bended. It therefore failed it's safety check. We had the rust repaired, but kept coming back, like cancer for cars. It is now de-registered and sitting in my dad's barn. It hasn't been started for nearly 5 years, but ran beautifully the day I drove it in there. He doesn't want to part with it, and can't give it away although it's complete. You can't really see the rust to you look closely at it.

The only other problem was the camshaft was damaged due to it running low on oil once, was very noisy till it was fixed.

It'll probably sit there for another few years yet, maybe once they've nearly all disappeared will it be sought after.

This car was extremely reliable mechanically wise and it saddens me to see it now.