SECOND-HAND SENSE: We have noted in this column how volume manufacturers generally fail when it comes to selling bigger executive models.
Ford, Opel, Fiat and all of the big Japanese makers sell millions of smaller cars but their efforts to get some of the cachet of the likes of Mercedes and BMW to rub off on some of their bigger car projects have gone nowhere.
The reason, of course, is that luxury cars need a specific identity, an image to be aspired to and a road presence that gets them noticed. Toyota was the first volume maker to realise this and to take the appropriate action. No one, after all, was going to spend the best part of €100,000 on a car called Toyota but by creating the Lexus brand and marketing it in an exclusive manner Toyota was able to cross the divide between the two ends of the market.
Spotting a rather pristine Honda Legend the other day was a reminder of the branding phenomenon that dictates success, or otherwise. Honda has a fantastic reputation for build quality and reliability and most people could identify a Civic or a CRV - but not a Legend. Because it is a big car with a big engine and was originally designed with the American market in mind, the Legend is a pretty rare sight on Irish, and even European roads. But big cars can often make a good buy for someone willing to bear the relatively high running costs.
The Legend was originally a joint venture between Honda and Rover, back in the days when one needed the other to bridge the gap between an established name with a fading reputation and a renowned Japanese company trying to break into Europe. Honda later got sense and extricated itself from the arrangement. The Legend, however, continued and improved as Honda regained control.
The Legend is a fairly anonymous saloon car but a very big one. Engineered more with the American market in mind it has a soft ride but pretty much every luxury on board. One 1997 model on sale here has the following as standard: alloy wheels, metallic paint, central locking, alarm, immobiliser, multiple airbags, sports suspension, traction control, head rests, satellite navigation, CD player, leather upholstery, climate control, electric front seats and heated seats all round. The car has a 3.5 V6 engine and 100,000 kilometres on the clock (not a lot for a quality car) and is for sale at €8,995. "Absolute luxury for the price of a Micra", observes the sales pitch from the Drogheda Motor Centre.
Apart from a very soft ride the Legend is a big car that you sit back and enjoy. There is plenty of space and it's extremely comfortable. Its virtues are all on the inside. Dawdling along is a pleasure, but there is plenty of power if you feel you need it.
Reliability is very good. There have been problems with premature wear of steering lower ball-joints, some cars have had problems with a gearbox bolt and a few have been recalled for a brake light switch problem, but there have been no major faults. The Legend has not been part of the EuroNCAP crash tests. And if you do have a crash, body panels are reported to be hard to source.
Apart from the model mentioned above there are a few other Legends on the second-hand market. A 2003 model with a 3.5 engine, automatic transmission and only 7,000 kilometres on the clock has an asking price of € 47,950, which is very steep indeed. - DONAL BYRNE
FOR: Lots of standard equipment and cheaper than equivalent Mercedes or BMWs
AGAINST: Anonymous styling, big engines, costly to run