During Honda’s fourth generation of Accord, they finally released a wagon version. Built exclusively in Ohio and from there exported back to Japan as well as to Europe (along with the coupe), Honda built on the strengths of the Accord sedan and delivered a wagon that was simply superlative. Today we get to see one that is supposedly too worn out due to an unknown reason to continue on its way and thus ended up here.
But that doesn’t mean it’s obviously a total piece of crap. No, I defy you to definitively find the reason that it isn’t still on the road. There simply isn’t anything that looks completely worn out even though this has 26 years and a lot of miles on it along with some commensurate wear. Let’s dig a little deeper into this top of the line EX model.
The body itself isn’t anything particularly different than the sedan which was introduced a year before the wagon debuted as a 1991 model. If you asked someone to draw a picture of an Accord sedan and then re-draw it as a wagon, they’d basically only have to take the one angled line that defined the rear window and trunklid and invert it to continue the roof and then drop down after a D-pillar. Presented here in Cashmere Metallic, this color with a very pale gold hue to it was one of the more popular colors during the run, or at least it seemed that way to me as this generation Accord was all over the place upon my graduation from college in California during this model’s run.
There are a few little scuffs, a minor hint of rust (especially on the other front fender in the first picture where it is very slightly crumpled) and some sun-scorching of the paint on the hood. But overall the body has held up well, the black rubber bits still look black and rubbery, the headlights which I believe where the first clear-lens plastic lights still look quite clear and if you saw this in your nearest shopping center you wouldn’t give it a second glance.
Here’s the first shot of the inside and it’s clearly hallowed ground as I can see the Jesus-rays streaming from the heavens above through the front window. This interior still looks modern and fresh to me. The color of the upholstery is a burgundy and the softness of the velour must be felt to be believed. I generally try to avoid touching many of these cars but in this case I ran my hand over the material (just the bolster, I’m not insane!) and briefly thought that if it were socially acceptable I might want to drape myself in a swath of it, it’s just so rich and soft..
Note that there is no large center console between the seats but the driver’s seat does get a fold down armrest. My old Audi of the same era had one too, I didn’t really think about that these don’t really exist as often anymore in regular cars, most everything has the shared console bin lid now.
The driver’s door panel exhibits the most minor hints of wear. Lots more soft velour, some soft touch plastics, a window and mirror control panel that falls right to hand; by the 1990’s most manufacturers (but not all) had figured out basic ergonomics and further progress in that regard was increasingly more minute than before and sometimes backwards.
Someone took the radio, but this (to me) just looks so much better than what was available in the domestic competition of the time. Many of them have caught up by now but this aesthetically was top-notch at the time. A colored dashboard with matte black insert section, HVAC controls that fall right to hand with a couple of large knobs and a few self-explanatory buttons and a low cowl. The buttons and knobs had JUST the right amount of feel and resistance and the materials all matched and complemented each other superbly.
This generation was the first Accord to get a driver’s side airbag starting in 1992 for the sedans and coupes but the wagon got it from the beginning in 1991, replacing the dual motorized belts – once the driver got an airbag the passenger continued with a normal belt again until the next generation.
The shiftknob is somewhat worn, but no doubt the shift quality in the 5-speed remained as buttery as ever until the end. Really, as nice as the 4-speed automatic equipped ones are as well, the manual is really what separated this wagon (and the Accord in general) from everything else in the class, it wasn’t just a hauler, it was a driver’s hauler. Being a manual it’s doubtful this is what caused the final problem, at least mechanically speaking.
Lest I forget, here’s the back seat area. Plush is the word. To today’s eyes, this perhaps looks a little snug, but remember that this Accord isn’t larger than today’s Civic. But compared to a current Civic based CR-V it’s no surprise why CUV’s are so popular now, more legrom than this and more headroom to boot.
Honda’s instrument panels have generally been paragons of clarity and this one is no exception, everything is presented in a clear, easy to read font and layout with all of the most important information readily and clearly available. The angle of the shot isn’t great but we can finally tell that this car travelled a total of 246,896 miles, so a little under 10,000 per year overall.
Here’s the heart of our little friend, a 2.2l inline four. Honda didn’t go to a six until well into the next generation and really only to counter or win over some people that refused to consider a four, no matter how good that four really was. And this one was a gem. Super smooth, happy to rev or just loaf along, by 1993 in the EX trim level in the wagon this was producing 140hp and returning between 22 and 28 city/highway using the scale of the day.
The story this car is telling is that it was maintained and done so at a conscientious shop, I can’t recall the last time I saw a sticker under a hood detailing when a timing belt was replaced. In this case it was about three years and 25,000 miles ago so it does show that the car was used fairly regularly during its lifetime and likely fully expected to come back at just over 300k miles for the next belt. Judging by the sticker, the tech had it correct, the interval on this Honda would have been every 90,000 miles, but it looks like that was stretched to a bit longer than recommended at either this change or the prior one.
This is as American as anything on our roads and probably more than most. Nobody needs reminding that Accords have been built here for close to forty (!) years now.
A kittle more rust around the rear arch, a typical trouble spot. And someone took the power antenna. ABS also became standard on this generation Accord (but only the EX trim) for the 1992 model year.
The cargo area is roomy and designed with a low liftover height, in fact it goes out of its way to be as low as possible with the cut down into the bumper itself. Upholstered side panels and storage space below along with a standard retractable cargo cover helps to make it obvious as to why this was a popular car that brought dealers top dollar.
So what brought you here in the end, little wagon? The car looks like it’s trying to express itself but can’t find the words. It could always be emissions related, I suppose. Or perhaps the usual guess that nobody wanted an old car with a manual transmission anymore. Either way it’s a shame, as it looks to have plenty of life left besides some minor cosmetics.
Related Reading:
Paul found a more basic 1991 Wagon version for sale in Eugene
Brendan discusses a 1992 EX Sedan in the same color
Perry ponders the early years of this generation of Accord
Interesting that this wagon has a manual transmission. Australia received Accord sedans of this generation fully imported from Japan with a choice of manual and auto but the wagons were US sourced and automatic only. I assumed this was because that was all that was available. Typical Honda Australia conservatism.
Swath yourself in velour?
My man George! 🙂
With high cost of labor in USA,Needing a new clutch or A rear main seal can bring a 28 years old wagon to junkyard.A Tesla or Nissan leaf will never need neither of them.
I’ve done clutches and rear main seals on front engine/rear drive cars before. I know it’s a LOT more work on FWD vehicles, but if I knew I could get my time and effort back, I would do it.
I’ve also would have done the clutch if that was the issue. When I took my 91 Mazda in for a clutch estimate the owner said the car was too old to bother putting a new clutch in at 24 years. Si I did it myself.
Granted the cost would have been pretty much equal to the car but car value is based on how old a car is at this point. Does not take into account the car could be perfect otherwise and well worth the effort compared to spending thousands on a new car.
Yeah, that’s a little odd for the shop owner to say. What’d he suggest, that you find another for the same cost as replacing the clutch that could also then need one shortly thereafter? You’re trying to provide him business, one would think the correct answer to be “Of course, it’ll be ready on Friday, will that be cash or card?”
I was thinking the same thing that the price of a clutch could be what put it here. Finding someone who is familiar with clutch replacement is getting harder every day, and some shops just don’t want to do jobs they deem hard. Others don’t want to be married to the car, which is a distinct possibility when you charge the owner 75-100% of the repaired value of the car.
Back in the day I considered clutches great gravy jobs, easy to beat book, a nice chunk of profit from the parts and in general a straight forward job that has a very low problem rate.
A Tesla or a Nissan Leaf will never last 26 years and 246k+ miles. Cheap Agenda 2030 slavemobiles.
Besides the battery, which is recyclable, replaceable and cheaper to do so every year, what aspect of either of those vehicles will make it not last?
Folks said the same about the Prius.
Payam is absolutely correct about the RMS and clutch in both his examples though.
I always thought battery replacement was very expensive for EVs. They are getting cheaper?
In the case of Tesla, I cannot imagine the iPad center stack will age well. Even if it still “works” after 26 years, it may be functionally obsolete. You can put an aftermarket stereo with modern day functions to bring the Accord to close current standards at least.
The Leaf just seems disposable like any other econobox. What incentive is there to keep it when it’s battery degrades vs a Versa when it needs a transmission?
You can put the aftermarket stereo in the ‘93 Accord but no so easy in a 2019 Accord so not that different in that regard.
The Tesla iPad (of which I’m not a huge fan of) is merely a screen, the software behind can be adjusted, modified and updated as demanded. With voice functions proliferating and gesture controls coming in that’s far more likely to be the “future” than all knobs and buttons. Ideally a mixture of both, I think Chrysler is getting a decent balance figured out with many controls duplicated or even triplicated (word?).
The Leaf will be kept and repaired like any other car that people buy, form a bond with and keep and repair. After all, if someone spends $20-$30k on a car, I thought the whole ethos of CC was that in a decade or whatever when it may need a large repair it often makes sense to do that rather than run out and just buy another $20-$30k car. The fact that some people hate electric cars for whatever reason doesn’t change that calculus. If you took the whole current issue of potential battery degradation out of it I think you’ll find that the rest of the vehicle is “simpler” than the equivalent internal combustion vehicle with less mechanically to go wrong.
In the case of Tesla, I cannot imagine the iPad center stack will age well. Even if it still “works” after 26 years, it may be functionally obsolete.
Unlike all other cars, Teslas have a single unified software that encompasses all aspects of the vehicle. So a 26 year old Tesla, including its single main screen, should work just fine. It will be interesting to see what Tesla does about that in 25 years. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them supporting their old cars/software for quite some time. And the actual screen is of course easily replaced.
Tesla’s operating system is universally praised by those in the know (software engineers and competitors). It’s very efficient and elegant. And of course very adaptable to upgrades.
There’s folks still noodling around with their 26 year old (and older) PCs and other computers. I suspect rather strongly that even if Tesla doesn’t provide active support, there will be vintage Tesla geeks who will have no problem in continuing to use it.
It’s totally different than the dozens of discreet computers and their software that are in all other cars. The majority of these are actually created and built by the various suppliers, not the automakers themselves. Which means all other cars are a massive hodgepodge of devices and software. And will be a massive headache to keep running in the far future.
Tesla is in a totally different league, and the other carmakers are eager to imitate it. VW just announced a mammoth $9 billion long term plan to completely ditch that current system and create its own operating system (a la Tesla) and have just three computers per car. But it will take years to get there, as they need to hire hundreds/thousands of software engineers (and phase out IC engineers). Meanwhile Teslas have always had just one processor.
One could argue that actually Tesla’s biggest advantage and disruption is not in being an EV, but in its extremely unique all-encompassing software, the envy of every other carmaker.
And no, this is not me being a “Tesla lover”. If you read the industry trades, this is an acknowledged reality. And it’s one of the more tangible reasons for its high stock valuation. Tesla has truly reinvented the car beyond just being electric. It’s now an integrated software-hardware device with infinite upgradability. Tesla makes over the air upgrades almost weekly, or more. It affects all aspects of its operation, performance, safety and convenience/entertainment features.
In other words, if a Tesla is still “running” in 26 years, its “center stack” will most definitely also be functioning. They’re one and the same.
Maybe yours truly–who is a software engineer–should start applying at VW. That could be a cool job. And I did just buy a new VW (COAL soon).
I’m not a big Tesla fan, but Paul’s info on their approach to onboard computing is impressive.
Good points Paul, I knew about the software/computers of other brands(in fact it’s part of my personal dislike for modern cars), and probably should have looked more into how Tesla is. I’m less concerned about that stuff physically holding up, which I think haters and classic car fans overblown, but more the adaptability in the changes in technology after a quarter century. If Tesla and their interface supports upgradable hardware akin to DIN sized stereos in 89s-90s cars though, great!
@Jim, I’m saying overall, not the few stragglers still on the road, in which there will be just as many surging ICE examples. EVs take engine’s and transmissions out of the equation but a EV is still a car, and there are things that will take a car off the road beyond engine/transmission failures. Culminations of issues from worn out suspension, body damage, water leaks, non-working windows, yellowed headlamps, and of course rust – and not just body rust, I’m acutely aware that modern cars are lightyears better, however corroded bolts, captured nuts, rotten brackets and seized together bushing sleeves will discourage or make certain repairs very laborious, and downright impossible for the average DIYer trying to avoid shop bills and a new car payment.
I don’t feel a 2019 Leaf will represent a pinnacle in the Leaf lineage and EVs as a whole 25 years from now, and if it’s a burden to own, the higher likelihood is they get another one with less miles and wear like most used car shoppers do at a fraction of the price of a brand new car, while the old one spirals through craigslist for a year or two before being wrecked by a first time driver and it ends up in the junkyard.
The CC ethos is skewed by many cars that enjoyed relatively sheltered lives by long term owners and wound up curbside once it was time to sell it(or inherit it) to the new owner who now uses it regularly. Cars like these Accords and other Hondas, Toyota’s, some Mercedes and Volvo’s, A-body Cieras and Centrures are a lot of times the exceptions though, roaches that just keep going with little to no issues that occur. Based on my former Nissan family experiences, I don’t believe the Leaf will be any exception(none of our issues were engine/trans related) either. It has novelty factor as an EV in a still mostly ICE world, but once everyone else fields one it’ll just be another disposable Nissan like a Sentra or Versa.
@Matt – Perhaps but I was originally answering this comment: “A Tesla or a Nissan Leaf will never last 26 years and 246k+ miles. Cheap Agenda 2030 slavemobiles”
I didn’t and still can’t see exactly why a Leaf wouldn’t or better said, “couldn’t” last that long. I think you agree that it is certainly possible that we will see some still cruising around. Of course some or many or even most (like any other car no matter the expense or propulsion source) will fall to the ravages of time, weather, and the road.
I didn’t quite understand the last part of the comment I replied to, except maybe the commenter has some sort of agenda themselves?
Yes, I agree with you. Speaking in absolutes like wouldn’t or couldn’t I don’t agree with that comment either. For me I’m commenting strictly on the survival rate relative to this generation Accord, which I probably saw 10 of just this afternoon. I don’t expect people to hold onto Leafs in particular in the same way(Tesla maybe, as Paul may have convinced me), I expect to see a few survive of course, but only in the same way you see other 90s cars that are so uncommon now you thought they were extinct. Many of which didn’t even wind up scrapped en masse because of mechanical failures, but simply poor enough overall condition and value to be worth the hassle of selling privately or for a pittance at a used car dealer. I don’t believe being an EV will correlate to a low survival rate if that turns out to be the case for it.
I assume the second part is a political dogwhistle that suggests EVs are some deep state conspiracy to limit mobility and freedom. I’m not indulging that part.
These wagons were only sold with the automatic in California. I know this because a 1993 Accord wagon would be one of my COAL’s if we could have bought a manual here. Instead we got a ‘93 Corolla, leaving my ‘82 Civic as the only Honda (car) I’ve owned. The next gen Accord wagons were sold in CA with 5 speeds. Too late for us ….
In 1993 I was shopping for a new car, and the Accord wagon was on my short list. No local dealer had a 93, but one had two 1992s on the lot – one automatic and one manual. I test drove the manual and liked it a lot. The engine and transmission were very smooth and precise as one would expect from Honda. I was put off by the notion of huying a new car that had been sitting aground for a year, though. I ended up buying a 1993 Corolla wagon which I’m still driving, as it had almost as much cargo volume while being over a foot shorter. I imagine if I’d bought the Accord I’d still be driving that.
I have a 92 accord wagon still looks brand new and runs like a champ
Like ^
Another great find. I’m impressed at the volume of consistently excellent looking interiors in your ‘Junkyard Find’ series. Nice to see such care in ownership.
The Taurus remained the best looking mid-sized wagon during this era, with these as the runner up. Not nearly as class leading stylish, as the Ford wagon. Though the conservative styling has aged very well. With the Camry wagon a distant third in looks, mostly because of its unusual D pillar.
The timing belt label might be a sign of a intuitive garage knowing they have a conscientious repeat customer, that would appreciate such thoroughness. And meticulous car owners *love* this sort of attention to detail from garages.
One of my assigned tasks as a little kid was to observe the door jam oil change labels on my dad’s cars, and let him know when it was time for new oil. I miss seeing those labels. 🙂
An all time favorite car of mine, still haven’t owned one either for street or derby use. Legendary engine/trans combo and a great color scheme as well. Love these cars!
I wish the Accord Wagon had survived into the V6 Accord era, those would likely be highly sought.
Instead we got the Accord Crosstour, looking like a humpbacked abomination.
When I check the Crosstour, I wondered if Honda recycled some old blue prints of the Chevrolet Citation.
I’m surprised then Honda didn’t made an Accord convertible who could had been marketed as a “poor’s man BMW 3-series convertible”, what might have been….
They did overlap in the 5th Gen Accord; there were 1995-1997 Accord V6 sedans, and Accord wagons, just no V6 wagons.
Moreover, lots of us lament the fact that Acura didn’t do a V6 version of the TSX Sportwagon, although even the I4 is a sweetheart.
Anyone notice how small the Honda logo is, my how they grew
That reminds me of Superintendent Chalmers’ Accord in the Simpsons.
As I’ve said before, this is easily my favorite generation Accord. There’s something, well actually many things, about it that are “just right”. This wagon in particular is absolutely stunning, especially for one found in a salvage yard. The wagons were never very popular though.
I feel like they arrived a few years too late. By this point, minivans and SUVs were fast becoming the family vehicles of choice, and gas was cheap too so people often upsized when they didn’t necessarily need it. The lack of an available third row and smaller size in comparison to wagons like the Taurus and Camry also did these in.
Yeah, these were in a sort of awkward middle ground between the compact (Corolla, Escort) and large (Camry, Taurus, Roadmaster/Custom Cruiser) wagons of the day. But that made them just right for a lot of people.
Yes I had a new 1993 Accord Sedan, base DX model with dealer added air conditioning — manual windows, locks, and transmission. An excellent car. Sufficient power and great mpg. No back support for long drives. One of the last 93’s around when 1994’s were coming out.
$12,995 — after 4 years and 85,000 miles sold for $9,000 as trade-in just before the timing belt 90K mile service.
Everyone here knows that I love my Hondas, and one like this would be given a place of honor in the JPC driveway without hesitation. Burgundy velour, a wagon and a 5 speed – I would drive this one every day!
I am amazed by the number of old cars you find with three pedals out there. And this one makes you wonder if Grandpa stopped driving not long after the timing belt and someone else drove it until something went wrong. Because to me, once you have sucked up the price of a timing belt in the last 25k miles, why would you not keep it on the road even if it cost another grand?
When I think of all the ways modern automobiles have improved over the years, from safety to efficiency to power, what strikes me most from looking at this Accord is how far the interior quality has fallen.
We’re idiots for preferring leather and vinyl over this kind of high-quality fabric. I prefer the dark grey that came in this generation of Accord, that looked modern and sophisticated at the time, but no matter what color they dyed it, this stuff is *nice*. Today’s fabric is nasty to interact with on Day One and isn’t going to hold up like this after 20 years. We want big digital screens on every car, so we get lousy seating materials in order to pay for it.
I wouldn’t be perpetually annoyed at my ’07 Accord if it were designed, engineered, and built as well as this ’93.
The new ’90 Accord did boast the first mass-production headlamps with window-clear lenses and reflector optics, though the technology was devised and demonstrated in 1972 by GM’s Guide Light division. These have held up so well because the lenses are high-quality hard glass, not plastic or cheaper soft glass.
The body’s in better condition than my son’s Cashmere Metallic ’93 Accord SE sedan that he still drives daily. Over 225,000 on it.
This is the same interior color of my first car, the 1990 Honda Accord EX in my COAL, a sort of eggplant/plum color. However, it had a strange upholstery that was probably vinyl. It wasn’t leather, and it wasn’t cloth.
I’ve owned my 92 for over 13 years at this point and it’s easily the best car I’ve ever had. Cheap to own and insure, and with the 5speed its a ton of fun in the “ slow car fast “ kind of way. It also handles surprisingly well with four wheel independent suspension.
A couple of minor corrections:
ABS was not standard at least in 92 (mine doesn’t have it.)
Those headlights are actually glass assemblies hence they still look so clear.
You must have an LX wagon. The EX wagon (and sedan and coupe) did have ABS standard in 1992 per Honda’s sales brochure. I amended the text to clarify that, thanks!
There used to be a lot os these US Accords around but now I cant remember the last time I saw one or noticed one they are getting quite long in the tooth for a Honda, with six monthly inspections on pre 2000 cars they drop off the roads quite quickly when repairs exceed the cost of a more recent used import and they have zero value on the used market, fine while in good going order but once any problems surface why bother, repair shops here are thriving on used ex JDM cars with people trying to keep them on the road, its eaasy to give up and just replace them with another fresh off the boat.
We got these int he UK and I never realised they came from Ohio. CC – teaching your basic facts, every day!
And it does look to be in good shape for 250K and 25 years.
Warms my heart to see one of these make the cut! At 37 years old, I still remember crawling in and out of these at the Los Angeles auto show in the early 90s. Our first Honda was an 84 accord, ad we have easily had a half dozen since. I picked up one of these in June and I love it.
Warms your heart? It’s a car.
They’re rarely just cars my man!
“This is as American as anything on our roads and probably more than most.” There is nothing American about this car, regardless of where it was assembled.
I was going to say “There’s nothing American about your comment, regardless of where you were assembled” but… ew; I realized your comment and attitude is *distinctly* American so yeah, probably a good thing this Accord in your eyes isn’t level with you, how does it feel when you have to stand tiptoed to look up at it?
Hello everyone.
I am looking for a engine wire harness for a 92 wagon lx. I would lile to know what junkyard the wagon is at.
Thank you.
Alex