Might go look at this Legend. Any tips or advice?

So I am looking for a basic A to B car that can sit in traffic and I can put my daughter in. Been looking at Acuras and Hondas lately and found this:

Seller said: Acura Legend 1992 good condition. 224,000 miles runs good 678-858-0757

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3173697243.html

Any typical problems or anything I need to look at when I go take a look at this?

Thanks guys

The headgaskets seem to be a weak point. That's about all I know. My brother bought a new 91 legend coupe, that was a great looking car, and served him well for 150k miles.

Make sure the AC/heater fan works. Its located in the geometric center of the dash...

Headgaskets from high mileage and in general parts are high priced... And didn't all Legends have leather interiors?

One of these Legends would be more fun.

Good cars, eat headgaskets, EGR clogs requiring the intake to come apart to clean, parts are expensive, diff seals and rear mains leak and are a MOTHER to change, blower motor's are gettign old and require the entire dash structure to come out (8hours of book time for a blower motor), typical Honda weak main relay, and the VSS will need to be rebuilt about every 100-150k when the speedo freaks and the D4 light flashes.

That just about covers them. Replace the head gaskets and leaky seals, change the oil and they will last forever. Great cars, terrible fuel economy, great ride/feel.

In reply to DukeOfUndersteer:

I owned one for several years just like that except it has a manual trans. That's not a typo. Nice car to drive, a nightmare to maintain. Electrical problems right up there with the best of the Germans. Head gasket/over heating issues continued from the day I bought it to the day I sold it and sighed in relief. Oh, and changing the gaskets? Ever do a clutch on a 944? It's a lot worse than that. Not your typical head gasket job.

You guys are scaring me

Just thought it was a clean looking car. Haven't heard back from him, and still have my eye on 2.2 CL's, so it won't be a heartbreak if I don't see it.

I still love the styling of the Legends, but you're better off with the 2.2 CL. Much easier to maintain/live with.

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: You guys are scaring me Just thought it was a clean looking car. Haven't heard back from him, and still have my eye on 2.2 CL's, so it won't be a heartbreak if I don't see it.

Do this instead... (2.2 CL) Looks Acura, has Honda maintenance...

I was a Honda tech at both a dealer and Honda only independent for ten years. I always advise people against Legends mainly because of the head gaskets. We sent several to the junkyard because the customers bailed when they got the quote. Even if you do all the work yourself they are not worth the headache. Avoid Vigors too! Pretty much any other Honda/Acura is a much better choice than those two.

Loved my '92 5 speed coupe. Had the head cleaned by a guy who knew Legends. It really made a difference. Wish I had the before and after dyno sheets but that motor was sweet. Flat torque line at about 170 , I believe.

I think the gasket kit was around four or five hundred dollars.

world's longest fwd transmission in a family car? ROFL

Legend was my first car, a 1995 L, I never had any headgasket issues although I know many other people have! Mine was low mileage too, had it from about 40k to 85k and I am still in love with those cars. I'd love an MT coupe with the type II engine(230hp IIRC). Mine was smooth, fit and finish was good, had ample power and was an all around pleasent car to own! If I was looking at a 4 door though id get an early LS400 way before a legend...

yamaha wrote: world's longest fwd transmission in a family car? ROFL

This is what annoyed me about the Legend. They were 30" and a rear diff away from having a RWD car. Yet, they run the driveshaft all the way back up front, stick a diff on the side of the engine block, poke a hole in the oil pan to run the driver's side driveshaft through and a couple more seals.

They went to so much work to make that car FWD....more work than if they'd just put a berkeleying diff in the back and callled it a day.

In reply to Bobzilla:

Didn't they do this to try and achieve equal length driveshafts to eliminate torque steer? I could be way off, but thats what I thought the purpose was...

If it was, it didn't work. haha

that was before my time. I've only been here since 2004. Great car, just wierd. They were >< close to having a great rwd touring sedan with NO torque steer. Instead... we got this. Oy... another of Honda's great mysteries.

In reply to CLNSC3:

It did have equal length half shafts, and even with a manual trans, it had very little torque steer.

Now, a factory RWD Legend would have been one hell of a car. Especially since they offered them with manuals. THAT is something that would be in my driveway, headgasket pains or not.

In reply to bravenrace:

Thanks for confirming that. IIRC I can remember my Legend exhibiting torque steer in one situation, already being at speed and then flooring it, the tranny would downshift and if it went into a low enough gear would show mad torque steer.

From a stop though I never noticed a hint of torque steer in mine.

Not the cleanest one in the world, but this is the legend I would go far if I were ever going to purchase another one:

Type II Coupe with 6MT

http://moseslake.craigslist.org/cto/3092789301.html

In reply to CLNSC3:

Well you know that there could have been something wrong with the car that made it do that. I had a manual trans, so it would be a little different, but mine didn't do what you are describing at all.

And if we are doing show and tell, here's a couple pics of mine:

And after my wife drove it a while:

[This is what annoyed me about the Legend. They were 30" and a rear diff away from having a RWD car. Yet, they run the driveshaft all the way back up front, stick a diff on the side of the engine block, poke a hole in the oil pan to run the driver's side driveshaft through and a couple more seals. /]

Buddy of mine had one for a while. Headlamp gasket failed, lens fogged all the time. Dealer wold have been happy to fix. Part was quoted at something like $900. You should have seen his expression when they gave him a quote on a new pan gasket. He sold it over parts and maintenance costs like those.

In reply to conesare2seconds:

Luckily my headlamps made it through the war unscathed. Like I said before, mine was an electrical nightmare, and every part on it cost a fortune. I absolutely loved this car when nothing was wrong with it, but it was designed unlike any other Honda I've worked on, and that is many.