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 were 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.
Note: a rerun of an older post.
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Paul found a more basic 1991 Wagon version for sale in Eugene
I’m always amazed at how many good vehicles are scrapped in California just because they’re old or have sunburn like this one .
To me this is a good hauler ready for many more years of good service .
-Nate
What says California as previous posts are of cars in Colorado where Jim lives? As to why it is there I’d be curious too? I’m not so sure the family inherited a car only to dispose of it. In California one could Craigslist it for 1K and it would sell. Usually if an accident doesn’t due to car in it would then be transmission or engine. Being a manual takes the transmission out of the equation leaving engine.
Agreed. Heck, even the mechanic expected to see it back in another 65K or so.
Looks in good shape. Even if it was catastrophic engine failure, a lot of backyard mechanics would have thrown in a new (used) engine. I’m guessing it had a bunch of small things, then a big engine fail. (maybe I’m just hoping that’s why, because otherwise I’d be annoyed).
Something killed it, There arent many Accords that age left both versions of Honda Accord wagon were on the roads here not that long ago but are now rare.
Thinking it may have been in the estate of a deceased person, and next of kin may have just wanted to quickly liquidate, and had it towed.
Bingo! It’s old and it has three pedals. Despite all of the love professed for manual transmissions, most people today can’t drive them and those who can don’t want to. This car would be a very tough sell. That’s why it’s here. Easy come. Easy go.
Nah, at the right price I’d buy it in an instant.
That would take some effort to market it to you. As I said, “Easy come, easy go.”
Had a burgundy ‘91 wagon (EX-R, the top trim level in Canada). Finally sold it with 365,000km on the clock and folks were crawling over each other wanting to buy it. Engine and transmission were still in great working order. But … the heater didn’t blow as hot as it once did; the a/c didn’t blow cold at all; rust was creeping into the rear wheel arches; and, little electrical gremlins started to appear more frequently.
Replaced it with a 2003 Accord EX-R Sedan (sadly, the wagon was no longer being sold in Canada).
My friend’s 2013 Ford Fiesta has a Gates sticker just like that from around 4 years ago. This summer I replaced the engine after it warped the block and head. The sticker is from when a shop replaced the engine for the same reason, and she’s still paying on that one. Guess I should update the sticker, wishful thinking the engine will make it to the next interval.
This was my favorite styling of Accord, and I remember seeing the wagon in ads when I was in high school. The wagon body looked indeed simply added on. I remember taking the ad to my shop teacher with my thumb over the wagon part and describing this very thing. There weren’t many import brands around here at the time. 5 speed wagon, love! Love those seats too, visually appealing and look comfortable too. Modern cars you’re sitting on plastic most of the time.
I wonder why it’s there, but then again I’ve spent my life in the rural rust belt. It’s a different level of of what it takes to discard a car, and something like that Accord looks really worth something. When you live somewhere where they don’t regularly rot out from salt, I guess you gotta draw the line somewhere else. If I lived in a place that was kind to cars, I’d probably still be driving my first car.
Lovely, you never see these in the salt belt anymore but my sister had the sedan version in the same color and it was a great driving car. Nice big windows and low beltline so visibility was outstanding.
It was killed by an oil change mishap, so she gave it to a co-worker of mine who put in another engine and got it over half a million km.
That velour was indeed sumptuous. Peak Honda, they sure don’t make them like that anymore.
These came to Australia as an automatic only, where as the Japanese built sedans were also offered as a manual.
I assumed they were only made available as an automatic in the US.
The wagon body does look tacked on, so I’m not a fan. But it was the only Accord wagon our market ever received.
Man, this almost prompts me to start searching for a similar manual wagon with low miles (unicorn, of course)… always liked this gen Honda Accord, and the wagon especially.
When the pic of the dash scrolled up, I did a momentary double-take, as my brain expected to see a big ol’ computer screen where the vents are.
My favorite generation and trim level of Accord ever.
Since my xB is currently laid up awaiting the completion of its clutch job (and other bits), I’ve had the pleasure to drive Stephanie’s TSX wagon on two longer drives in the past few days. What a joy! Not a manual, but the 5-speed automatic is so intuitive, unlike the brain-dead 6 speed in my Promaster van. And the 201 hp 2.4 K-series four is a gem; more than enough power to pull off some brisk passing on hwy 58 in the mountains and delivering an indicated 34 mpg on a crusie-controlled 74 mph roll to Portland and back.
Now if only it weren’t such a pain to get in and out of it…
These are the best-looking Accords. This ticks all the boxes for me: Honda, wagon, manual. This style came out right as I graduated college, so there was never any hope for me to buy one new, but I always lusted after them.
The 4-Gen Accords are a wonder, and this wagon looks like it could’ve gone a bit longer. I just sold my 1992 Accord LX to the first person who looked at it (after fielding many many inquiries). I’m going to miss it, but there are bills to pay.
Almost 250K? I’m not used to cloth interiors lasting that long.
I don’t know where it’s at, Colorado is suggested, but here in California smog is what kills these cars. This fine golden state I live in has ratcheted emissions standards ever tighter as cars age. Unreasonable IMO, but I’m used to not getting my way. I’ve heard Colorado has fairly strict standards also, though I’m not sure of the details. Another possible killer, again, a Calif thing, is they have at times offered a buyout of a thou or so if they fail smog, so if the expected sales value is close to that it can make sense to just take the money and run if it fails the tailpipe test.
It’s a shame regardless, I mean a 3 pedal wagon? How many were made? Not more than a handful I’m sure. And how many are left??? Count your fingers? Not my favorite car, but it’s an interesting, unusual car, and I like those. So much better than a sea of pickups, pseudo utility vehicles and Corollas. But most don’t, until it’s too late, and even then only at a car show.
There is one of these sitting g on the street in front of a house in my home town. I noticed it 20 years ago when we moved here. It still gets daily use as I notice it moves regularly.
I have never been a minivan fan and would never own one but a midsized wagon from honda? That I would own and proudly drive. Too bad that the station wagon ship has sailed!