2007 Honda Legend Review
April 5, 2007 by Paul Maric
Honda’s at it again. The latest iteration of the Legend features Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) – Honda’s words, not mine – active noise cancellation and the most powerful engine ever offered in a Honda.
The opulent interior offers lashings of wood and acres of leather. The centre console is populated with buttons and an i-Drive style rotary knob that controls the vehicle’s auxiliary controls.
Honda built the Legend with the latest levels of technology in mind. One such example is the two microphones located on the interior that actively cancel out road noise using the vehicles ten speakers. One other example is the active bi-xenon headlights that actually adjust their angle to light up the road through the corner, varying upon driver steering input.
The sound system is a Bose, 260-watt unit with 10-speakers that pumps out a pretty mean tune. The 6-disc CD-changer is located in-dash and is operated via the radio fascia. Driver and front passenger receive electric seats – with eight-way adjustment for the driver – along with an electronic tilt/telescopic steering wheel adjustment.
If you’re after a smooth – and silent – operator, the Legend’s 217kW V6 is sure to please. It barely makes a noise whilst idling and has tremendous reserves of torque high up in the rev range (351Nm at 5000RPM to be precise). This power is sent through a smooth-shifting 5-speed automatic.
Rear seat passengers enjoy masses of leg room and extremely comfortable seats. An electric rear sunblind is also available as standard equipment to quell direct sunlight on harsh Aussie days.
Honda’s SH-AWD does an impressive job of keeping this heavy luxury saloon in check on twisty roads. The advanced system can vary the amount of power directed to each section of the car. The system can even provide the majority of power to a single wheel, aiding tremendously with cornering and driving in wet conditions.
At $74,500 the Legend is loaded with features, such as: Auto dimming rear vision mirror; leather seats; electric rear sunblind; power windows; cruise control; sunroof; central locking; power seats; heated front seats; 6-stack CD player with 10 speakers; trip computer; active bi-xenon headlights; auto dimming exterior mirrors; 17” alloy wheels; fog lights; auto headlights and reversing camera.
Safety features include: ABS brakes; vehicle stability assist; dual front SRS airbags; side SRS airbags; curtain SRS airbags; security alarm; active head restraints and pedestrian impact safety system.
With a price tag of $74,500, the new Honda Legend considerably undercuts its German competition. On test, the Legend’s V6 engine returned a fuel efficiency of around 11.9-litres/100km; it’s not a bad figure considering the car’s weight and engine power output.
There was something about the Honda Legend that appealed to the senses. It’s one of those cars that is interesting to drive day in and day out. It won’t set the pulse racing, but it will facilitate for the odd weekend away down the coast.
With that said, the new Honda Legend provides luxury touring with many standard features to boot. Honda’s reliability track record suggests this car will still be running without a hitch years down the track. Quite simply put, the new Honda legend is truly legendary.
CarAdvice rating (out of 5): 
- Paul Maric
Tags: Honda Legend, Honda Reviews
Gee, this looks like quite a well equipped package indeed. Funny enough, just yesterday, I was arguing that Honda suck now because they are focusing too much on the development of the “ashimo” robot. Whether or not that is true, an AWD, 217kw V-tec engined, well engineered luxury saloon, tells a very different story. Reverse camera, bi-xenon headlights, bose audio system, at this price it sounds like a well equipped package for 74k.
Its quite a nice car for its price, but for me some issues include:
* Lights that look around corners is hardly a talking point, cheaper cars have them for around $50k… nice, but not $70k nice.
* The speakers which actively cancel out road noise… they aernt going to actively cancel out the noise of a siren are they? That wouldnt be great
* The engine doesnt have great amounts of power (Direct injected Lexus of same size has 230kw)
* Biggest downer is it only comes with a 5 speed transmission (although Im sure its decent but still…. $70k!)
* I read in a review that they didnt rate the AWD system… one complaint was that is prity much despite being AWD acted exacty like a RWD as alot of power was placed to the back (like they always have a bias to back, but this one had more to give it a RWD feel or something along those lines)
Thanks for the comments Paul.
Just out of interest, which vehicles priced $50,000 have adaptive bi-xenon headlights? I’m not aware of any.
The equivalent Lexus is the GS300, which has around 180kW and costs $95,200.
Yes, the 5-speed tranny was a bit of a downer, but it does a decent enough job of handling the power.
Having testing the Legend through our regular sports car test route, it actually handled itself with dignity and substance. Although there was a slight amount of body roll, the SH-AWD kept everything in check, proportioning adequate amounts of power to each side of the vehicle.
^
I didnt say bi-xenon, just lights which can look around corners, the one I know of is the Toyota Aurion Presara for $49,990:
Headlamps – Active (Cornering/steering)
Headlamps – Electric Level Adjustment
Headlamps – Xenon (Low beam only)
http://www.redbookasiapacific......y=TOYO06KQ
They are not bi-xenon…. but as if you need xenons for your high beam (lol low beam xenons blind oncoming traffic alittle bit even with projectors and so does normal high beam, high beam with xenon will seriously blind oncoming traffic… Im not sure if thats a great feature in that regard!). And there are a number of other features the Presara has in common with the Legend, such as a reversing camera, both passenger and driver electric seats and all the other features you expect these days in luxury cars like lights which turn on automatically in the dark or wipers which go on autoamtically in the rain etc.
Not saying the Presara is 100% comparable to the Legend, but for $50k IMO it would offer better value for money as it has an extensive features list.
I think the Legend is a great car, it may be missing a few options of a car that is cheaper, but as Paul M. has said its closest rivals cost $90k+.
I’m pretty sure if it was badged as an Acura in Oz, it could cost even more and not better equiped.
Honda have managed to create a well priced vehicle, with an engine that has more power than the discontinued NSX and it has the quality and refinement that is expected from Honda.
Ummm was my comment deleted… I already replied but it has disappeared (And I didnt have anything offensive in it… perhaps it was the external link?)
Anyway ‘Paul Mariac’ the Toyota Aurion Presara for $49,990 has Xenons (not bi-xenons… but I didnt say they did and as if you need hi-beams to be super bright, in standard form xenons are blinding enough to oncoming traffic with high beam they must be dangerous!) which look around corners, in more detail its headlight package:
* Headlamp Washers
* Headlamps – Active (Cornering/steering)
* Headlamps – Electric Level Adjustment
* Headlamps – Xenon (Low beam only)
* Headlamps Automatic (light sensitive)
Also of note, I wont provide a link because I dont want this post deleted again… but when I compared the two cars side by side at the same site, the Presaras features list is LONGER (It as the Legend comes for example with power drivers and passenger seats, reversing camera etc)!!! It also has arguably a better engine (DOCH with VVT & Lift vs OHC with VVT), is more fuel efficient (due to weight differences and engine config – 90 degrees vs 60degrees) and has 1 more gear. For $50k my money goes to the Presara…. the ONLY thing I can see that it lacks is AWD.
And I dont want to take the piss, but it is stated in the article:
“tremendous reserves of torque high up in the rev range (351Nm at 5000RPM to be precise).”
I have heard countless people say something like the Aurion lacks torque down low and lacks torque in general, now I obviously disagree…. but with the Legend it weighs a good 300kg more then the Aurion with only 20Nm of torque more which is also produced 300RPM higher!!! Hardly tremendous? I think this is where it is found wanting compared to the offerings by BMW and Mercedes etc… I would be interest in a 0-100km/h figure as well (not that luxury cars are all about this), I would expect mid 8s considering its power/torque to weight.
^
Ok now my previous post appears… STRANGE… eitherway you get the idea x2
With all due respect, it’s a Toyota Aurion.
It’s got a Lexus engine, uses Lexus components (such as the adaptive Xenon headlights), uses a Camry interior and is powered through the front wheels.
The drive isn’t anywhere near as inspiring as the Legend.
You’re not looking deep enough when it comes to features either. The Legend uses GPS to determine the position of the sun to alter the temperature of the air coming out of the vents. It also uses the active noise cancellation and has a far better sound system.
The Aurion also doesn’t have heated driver and passenger seats, electric rear sunblind, auto dipping exterior mirrors, electric steering wheel adjustment and AWD.
Not to mention the Legend looks a whole heap better than the Aurion.
At the end of the day, people who buy the Legend won’t consider buying the Aurion. They will on the other hand look at 5-series and E-class mercedes.
^
Yes I didnt initially intend to compare them…. but I am just making the point that the Legend isnt all that great as portrayed considering a lesser car like the Presara has many things in common! And imo its engine is a major let down, forget this ‘most powerful honda’ engine or whatever… on paper (as I admittably havent driven it) it lacks torque for a 1800kg beast and its power is nothing to write home about.
How do you know the engine is a let down if you haven’t driven the Legend? :)
Well Im just saying its a let down in performance (Im sure its a nice engine, smooth revving etc)…. with 220kw and 350Nm of torque that isnt much for a car that weighs 1850kg (same as V8s which have 550Nm produced down low and 270kw at the very least) and its also delivered through only a 5 speed transmission (which I find disappointing when cars half the price these days are getting 6 speeds). And it really does lack torque, this has been mentioned by other reviews:
“this engine lacks the low-rev torque that most will identify with luxury motoring and below 4000rpm there’s a decided absence of punch. It can feel sluggish off the mark, overtaking requires a run-up and along tight and twisty roads, it’s hard to keep the engine on the boil… A wide spread of ratios in the five-speed automatic, with a big gap between third and fourth, doesn’t help”
I come to the conclusion it will lack perfromance based on the figures give and from what I know about other cars:
- The Aurion does the 100 in 7.4secs with 200kw, 330Nm of torque and 1550kg of weight. So the Legend with only 20Nm of torque more (also produced even higher up) and 20kw more is defintely going to do it slower then this car
- VT SS had 220kw (same power), 450Nm of torque (110Nm more produced across the rpm range) and weighed 200kg less then the Legend. It did the 100 in 6.5seconds.
The only real benefit I can see is having AWD will mean the car has traction off the line… but this wont add heaps. So judging from these… you can assume the Legend does the 100 in 8s which I personally would be disappointed with when most family cars half the price are quicker – also here is a link which I just found proving my point (8.4secs to 100):
http://www.racq.com.au/cps/rde.....A_HTML.htm
And in relation to features, interestinly the Legend doesnt even come with Sat Nav, so theres one thing the Presara has over it lol
I think the amount of kW and Nm it produces from a 3.5 litre engine is quite good. From my memory only the 350Z surpasses it in kW and Nm, that has the same displacement.
There are many other luxury cars that carry around 1800kg, from a similar engine and cost a crap load more.
I agree that a five-speed automatic is a ridiculous offer in this car, it needs at least a six-speed.
Most manufacturers that offer five-speed in high priced cars do it mainly because the amount of power of the car will destroy any 6-seed, but this is a hardly a Mercedes Benz V12 Twin Turbo :D
QUOTE = I think the amount of kW and Nm it produces from a 3.5 litre engine is quite good. From my memory only the 350Z surpasses it in kW and Nm, that has the same displacement.
There are many other luxury cars that carry around 1800kg, from a similar engine and cost a crap load more.
Yeah Im not really denying for the engine thats great… but for the car it is underpowered. It weighs 1850kg yet produces torque high up and not heaps, cars like the Aurion get away with it because they have 6 speed transmissions to cover it up and weigh less, but the Legend as many reviews have stated would be lethargic off the line because it lacks torque. And with luxury cars, the last thing owners want to have to do is rev the crap out of the car to get underway, Honda should have invested in a V8 to make this car credible. To ME its just an expensive family car packed with some extra features (maybe they should have put the same engine in their Accord, then it would get some genuine interest in the large car market)
Problem with the Aurion is that it corners like a barge. The Legend has the ability to stick it through corners without any worries.
I’d take a legend over a Camry…err I mean Aurion any day of the week.
^
Hahaha And you’ve driven an Aurion to make this conclusion? Ive driven the Sportivo and its certainly no performance car but its respectable, on par with its competition in terms of handling and exceeding them in power.
Im sure the Legend handles great, but it really does lack power… you know you have problems when a $70k luxury car can get beaten by a $35k family car Aurion comfortably, not to mention the Legend is going to take some power to get going, 1800kg isnt a light weight car and with torque produce up high, its going to be noticable.
Personally Im interseted in the TRD Aurion, if they put some features of the Presara into a more performance related Aurion at around $55k now there is an option!! Im not really someone who values luxury significantly over performance.
Ya, I’ve driven both Aurion and test drove Legend over the weekend.
The aurion is a barge in comparison. Too much body roll, average gearbox and best of all…front wheel drive.
I’d spend the extra cash to buy the Legend considering all the extra features, handling and power.
And at the end of the day, only grandpas drive aurions.
lol
Extra Features? Has a few extra then a $50k car, also lacks a few essentials, sat nav and I believe front parking sensors…. oh but it has heated seats lol! Hardly convincing in this regard.
Handling? AWD is better but as if the grandpas who buys a Legend (yes thats the target market for this type of car) would test it out. Lol they couldnt even tell you if its FWD, RWD or AWD most of the time!
Power? Its one thing to have a powerful engine, but Ive already shown with 1800kgs having to be lugged around this car is quite slow (this may not matter to the person trying to buy this) and it wouldnt have the effortless pull most people expect in a luxury car for the price tag (this would matter).
And avg gearbox of Aurion… come on mate, its a very smooth unit, and its 6 gears unlike the Legend.
Paul said:
“And avg gearbox of Aurion… come on mate, its a very smooth unit, and its 6 gears unlike the Legend.”
Seriously buddy, even though there may be an extra gear on the box of the Aurion there is still more to consider. There is the gear ratios as well as the fact that the gear changes may not be all that fast. I may be incorrect but people have said with the tiptronic six speeder it isn’t even worth using tiptronic mode. These may be unreliable sources and neither the AUrion or Legend have the best or worst gear boxes but I know what does. That of course is the previous 4 speeder in the commodore. Back to the topic. I am just saying that the Aurion gearbox may not be all that good even though it is 6 speed. Take the 6 speed out of the VE commodore, it manages to get worse fuel economy than the crappy 4 speed on the Berlina or Omega.
Just to name some decent gearboxes for the fun of it, the ZF 6 speeder from the current BF falcon. Or my preference, the 5 speeder which was used in the AWD magna, which had been sourced from an Evo 7 GT-A. These two gear boxes beat whatever is being used in the Legend or UAiron full stop. Dam, I feel so immature.
Damo I can see where your coming from, but the Aurions 6 speeder is a decent unit, remember it was orginally offered along with the engine on Lexuses with similar price tags as the Legend, and I believe the same transmission would be mated with the direct injection version of the Aurions engine, which continues to be used by Lexus.
As for the suggestion that triptronic is pointless to use, I have also read this, and it has nothing to do with the transmission being crap etc rather how GOOD it is. They have artifical intelligent shift control which essentially learns from your driving style (ie when your aggressive, when your just crusing etc) and adapts to it, so going into triptronic wont really benefit you because the car adapts for you!
Anyway we can dispute all day about this, but fact is, its far from an ‘avg gearbox’ – every review doesnt support such a claim and anyone who has actually driven the Aurion will back this up.
Okay Paul, I sort of thought that was the case, seeing how I am quite aware with how the invecs 2 gearbox performs on my parents car. I am starting to warm to the Aurion because it seems to be fairly refined, modern, with some previous model lexus components. That is the reason I think FWD is suited to family cars. It is meant for fuel economy, reliability, and interior space. At least the toyota isn’t trying to be something it isn’t like the rwd holdens and fords. They are all just family cars and not performance cars. I know a few cab drivers who describe their 380’s and Aurions as like a “second home” because they have already done over 150,000km in them and not had a single reliability issue.
Benj: “With all due respect, it’s a Toyota Aurion. It’s got a Lexus engine, uses Lexus components (such as the adaptive Xenon headlights), uses a Camry interior and is powered through the front wheels.”
The Honda Legend is AWD, not FWD.
Too many here are picking one component on the Legend and saying that it isn’t worth the $70,000. But you need to consider everything as a whole.
I red this article twice and I was looking for the driving experience unfortunately I can get most of this detail from the Honda PR department.. Are you able to add more in line with say the Commodore SS review… now that told me a lot about the car and drive experience…
Bob
I have owned a Legend for 3 months and it is a glorious car. The arguments about needing a 6th gear disappear when you actually drive it. The drivetrain is as good as it gets.
Thanks for sharing will
how does the AWD system feel? Have you driven another AWD sedan before to compare?
Im sure the drivetrain is good…. but its underpowered for a 1800kg car. Many a review has reflected this, it doesnt have effortless get up and go as you would expect and when you put the pedal to the metal you are going to be disappointed, its slower then most family cars now. But Im sure the demographic intereted in this car wouldnt care nor would they ever test its great handling AWD system.
Sure you can get more powerful cars, but the power-to- weight ratio for the Legend seem better than those for the V6 Calais, Statesman or Caprice and are almost identical to the Merc E350 – and this is a considerably more expensive car. I suppose my point is that if you buy a Legend or indeed any luxury sedan in this price bracket or above, are you really going to be trying to floor it off every set of traffic lights you come to? Probably not. It is too restrictive to judge whether the Legend is a good car merely on the power-to-weight ratio. What I would say is that it is a very appealing balance between good performance, fuel consumption and handling with great reliability.
Yes the power to weight ratio isnt the best… but torque does matter. And at 1800kg of car Id want more torque then 351Nm or AT LEAST have it produced down low. I would be interested in its torque curve, perhaps it still does have significant torque across the range, but from the reviews Ive read the concensus is it is rather sluggish off the line.
I suspect that some of the comments about the Legend’s supposed lack of power stem from the car being so incredibly quiet. When idling you can hardly hear the engine and when accelerating hard it sounds like the engine is in the car next to you – the noise insulation coupled with the active noise cancellation is that good. The comments may also stem from the accelerator pedal being fully ‘drive by wire’. This gives an incredibly smooth accelerator feel but one where the sensitivity changes on the circumstance – that is the car senses what sort of driving you are doing and adjusts the sensitivity accordingly. The Legend was not designed for 1/4 mile drag racing, but for what it was designed for – and this really is the key point – it does incredibly well.
“The Aurion also doesn’t have heated driver and passenger seats, electric rear sunblind, auto dipping exterior mirrors, electric steering wheel adjustment and AWD.”
Benj said
April 6 2007 @ 8:32 pm
Not quite, Benj. The Presara does have an electric rear sunblind, and auto dipping exterior mirrors. It also has front and rear parking sensors (Legend doesn’t) and keyless start (Legend doesn’t). But it’s sound system is crap.
I am an Audi lover and am about to buy a new car.
I drove the Legend and found it not only full of luxury car features but it drove beautifully. I then went straight around to the Audi dealer and drove the latest A6 (which I love). Believe me Honda have a great package in the Legend. Relatively I found the A6 very austere in design, had a much harder ride and was not as comfortable or easy to drive. So, disbelieving what I had just experienced, I went straight back to the Honda dealer and confirmed my worst fears. The Legend was superior in all aspects, will cost me over $50k less than a comparably outfitted A6 and the NCAP safety test is equal to the A6. In fact I believe I would have to buy an S6 to beat the Legend. The S6 costs $200K! Guess which car I will buy? The Legend with a tear in my eye because I have deserted Audi but with a smile on my face because I have a luxury car, with 5 Star NCAP rating and at least $50k more left in my bank account.
wtf! keyless start on the aurion, what a pathetic feature, as if using a key is so frustrating and difficult, the legend shits on the aurion
i agree with grahame blacklock. i recently sat in a honda legend and i have to concede that its on par with my friends fathers A6. i didnt go for a drive but luckily i didnt, my love for audi may have been lost forever. just sitting in it alone though i could tell the build quality and interior refinements can match some of germanys best
id still buy an audi though…
An A6 really isnt in the same league as the Legend… tbh Im not sure which Audi would be, an S4 is getting closer though.
Eitherway the Legend offers good value for money… my main gripes are its powerhouse, although I have been told by friends who have test driven it that its ‘adequate’ and doesnt feel sluggish and that it doesnt have a great presense on the road, someone sees an Audi their mouth drops you see a Legend and it looks like every other car on the road, plain. At the end of the day the Audi etc equivalents provide a blend of luxury and plenty of power. Worth the extra $50k+? Not really.
at the end of the day what has the better resale though?
Hey all, my parent’s have just purchased a Legend, and i agree with the rest of these guys when they say this it is a great drive, with wicked luxury features. When we drove it home, it was about 3 degrees outside, we didnt have the heater on yet felt comfortable, it had sensed the temperature outside and adjusted the temperature inside to be comfortable! Little things like this (and the other’s mentioned before me) are what makes you smile when your driving it.
What was dissapointing is that there is no software for the GPS available yet that contains maps for our area (Adelaide), so all we have is a compass (who uses a bloody compass?) until the new software is written.
I have one question though, the dealer showed us a DVD ROM drive in the boot and explained that when software is available for the GPS, we load it into that drive, not the normal audio disc drive. I can’t find any infomation about this DVD-ROM drive in the car’s manual. My ears pricked up at the possibility of maybe watching DVD’s via this DVD ROM drive?
For 75k the Honda Legend is reasonably priced when comparing to the medium sized European rivals. It offers good build quality inside and out and is packed with features except keyless start and radar-guided cruise control which are features I would hardly use when I’m driving.
But how about the cheaper models like the Toyota Aurion Presara it has alot of features like the Legend and has a powerful and reliable engine teamed with a six speed auto, all this giving a better power to weight ratio than the Legend. Now you would think all these similarities would make the price close to the legend…No. It is over 15K less, priced at $49,990. What a bargain!
Why would you pay 15K more for the legend or even a European brand? I would…strangely. Maybe because I’m paying for the better finished interior rather than having a plastic dashboard, or maybe having the windscreen wipers pivots hidden under the bonnet to improve visibility ahead and aerodynamics, or the maybe having the world first flush glass side windows so there is no gap between the b-pilers and the window reducing wind noise, or having illuminated door handles or having a BOSE stereo system, or having Ambient lighting, or having drive by wire throttle link, or having 5 star safety rating rather than 4. This is why I would have the legend. Does the Toyota Aurion have all this Paul Maric?
I have owned a new Legend since January and I am very happy with the acquistion. The only disappointment is the delay with the Sat Nav Software and maps for Aust. I have been advised by Honda that they are on track to provide this by October, 12 months after the car was released here, not good
I bought a 3.2 Legend in 1991 and after 16 years of fautless performance and enjoyment I today committed to a 3.5 albeit delivery 3 months down the track. The sensation I experienced 16 years ago that this is a good machine came back today on my test drive. Great machine. Look after it and it will give back in kind.
Good review, and thanks for reviewing all cars in a class, not just the usual suspects like the 5 series and E-Class. This new Legend is finally the car that its previous incarnations promised to be. Just about the first large saloon Honda that handles as well as it’s smaller siblings, and brings to the party some of the electronic and engineering flair that Honda is capable of. The interior is by far Honda’s best effort ever, and arguably more interesting and cohesive than the lacklustre and rather cheap slabs you’ll find in the current 5 series and E-Class. I especially love the woodwork. The only bugbear I have with this new Legend is the exterior styling. While it’s certainly leaps and bounds ahead of the previous Legend, it’s just a bit too bland, and doesn’t stand out from the crowd like an Audi A6, BMW 5 or even the Volvo S80 does. And these are it’s direct competitors.
Beautiful car,unbelievable what Honda have their fingers in. They would have to be the most versatile manufacturer in the world….
Would consider anything they make,great quality,great designs and pedigree to boot! Top of the Japanese food chain for value !
Details of the Legends Torque and Power curves can vbe found here:
http://www.honda-taiwan.com.tw.....end/a.html
Personally would anybody consider buying a Honda Legend or HSV Senator?
For me HSV Senator is the one!
im sure your just some person that prefers raw perfoermnce over luxery buy a A6 and you get a little 6 cylinder engine but its the desig that matters
What is the advantage of the Legend over the Accord Luxury that is worth $30 000? Is the .5, leather, audi, nav worth that much? Does the Legend travel better and have better economy given it has almost identical specs? $30 000 is a hell of lot of petrol.
O.K. here I’m – owner of new Legend ! After 3.5 month wait (3 weeks as sales person promised) I can comment as the user !
(checked all your comments BEFORE placing an order ! and grateful to all of You)
After 3 weeks … here my opinion:
1.Good Car (not great but good)
2.Looks inside-oout – very good
3.It is NOT luxury car but step down “prestige”
4.All talk about SH-AWD just pointless ..gota have real trip
down to VIC via country road to get opinion on this
5.BUT what really pisses me off is installed options
Here is a Legend’s manual and … surprise ! NEARLY all
options NOT included ! (Electrical Boot – Korean model .
Smart Line Tracer – Not included ..etc)
O.K. I can leave without it (but why ?!)
However Hands Free Phone – NOT installed !! Why ?
Today – 75K car without Bluetooth ?!
One gets feeling that Legend is YESTERDAY Car !
Honda Australia just opted lowest spec for us bumpkins !
Not recommended !
Lexus,GM(Capr,Sen) even Hounda..If is it gotta be Honda -
stay with Accord
And I had Hondas for last 20 years. Now I’m just stack with it !
I have owned a Legend since April 2007. Prior to that I had a an Accord I bought new in 1994 and during that time it had absolutely zero faults. That was a factor in buying the Legend.
Reasons for buying were to get a car that is different. It’s good to have a car that is a bit different to the Mercs and Audis of this world. If you are a noter buy the Audi. Disappointments are the lack of bluetooth and the $4,000 price tag for the Sat Nav. I got the larger wheels and parking sensors that work brilliantly. Larger wheels add to road noise though but improve handling.
I think there is little point in trying to compare with vehicles such as Aurion. The Legend is a true luxury vehicle and much of the extra cost over the Accord V6 goes into the AWD. This is very sophisticated and as the PR blurb says the only other car in the world that has a similar system is Ferrari.
The lack of a 6 speeder hardly ever surfaces. The car is very torquey and because of the low noise threshold you hardly notice it change gear. The tiptronic style changer is pretty irrelevant as well.
The AWD really comes into its own in the wet. you can corner at seriously scary speeds and it never feels as if it is going to lose it.
Having had it for a year I have no complaints at all. By the way my other car is a 2006 Aston DB9 that is fun for the weekend. During the week the Legend is perfect for work and I must admit I tend to drive it more and more at the weekend as well !
Hmm a DB9 owner that buys a honda legend for a daily…riiiiigghhtt. Dream on dude. By the way I happen to drive an F430 and an S65 AMG. Oh and for fun on the weekends I have a bugatti.
I can appreciate the scepticism of why I should buy a Legend for daily use and have a DB9 for weekends.
I was founder of a software house that had the good fortune to sell out for a substantial amount last year. I continue in the business on a day to day basis and find the Legend is perfectly suited for this. I had enough trouble with our clients after they saw the press release about our sale without making them even more jealous ! I must admit I would like, and could afford a Bugatti but there is a limit !
For your interest the original Press Release about us is below.
>>>>>>
thats, f*%#in hawt!
Dear Paul,
It appears your comparison of the Legend and ‘Presara’, is academic, at best. What I mean is simply to put aside a feature like AWD as not being value of money – is quite laudable at best. Thats the whole point of having different classes of vehicles! I’m sure you’d agree that the Rolls Royce or Maybach isn’t value for money, but to let you in on a surprise, for every person who owns one of these, it is value for money. Its a marketing thing. This applies for everything in life. If you buy something, you will always find it value for money. It is upto the marketer to convince you of the same (prior to sale and often even afterwards).
If you compare the same vehicle, ‘Presara’ to a Merc E class or a BMW series 5, you’d find a lot of similarities in the feature list, even the lower end models of the German brands might have a ’smaller’ features list. Does that make it comparable? I wouldn’t say so. I hope you’ve got the point.
Last of all, if you’ve had a bad experience with Honda, sorry about that. But I’ve personally had a great experience with Honda and a less than great experience with Toyota, but having that prejudice for some model of Toyota, isn’t being fair to Toyota, similarly, I hope you wouldn’t be prejudiced, by past experinces (good or bad), the best would be to go and check out the car yourself. Personally I would like to own one, though still I’m only considering it and not finalized yet (the Legend). But this forum has greatly helped me, especially by those who own it. I don’t expect it to be perfect in all features, but I expect it to do it pretty well and last a lot longer than most of its competitors.
GOD Bless!
PS: No offence inteded Paul, I hope you take it all in the right spirit!
Hi, my name is Pauline. My husband purchased a late model Honda Euro in 2007 (about July), brand new. On Friday he was on the M5 and whilst driving heard a loud BANG and the car just stopped! He’s a motor mechanic by trade, he’s spend all today pulling it the engine apart, and to my amazement, the whole engine is a DISASTER ZONE. Has 3 large holes in it, and schrapnel EVERYWHERE. My brother bought to my attention, that late 2000s Honda’s had faults with the engine. Does anyone know about this? Thank you.
I can be contacted at redpolly66@gmail.com
I have tried and bought a Holden Commodore, Mazda 626, Toyota Aurion 2008, Nissan Maxima 2000 and a Honda Accord. Of all the cars I have ever bought or test drived in my life, I have always loved the Hondas the best. I still have a Honda Accord 1996 model and it’s still going strong. I wish I had the money to buy a new Honda Legend. These truly are dream cars.