Honda Accord Type R | Used Car Buying Guide

And while practical types purr over the Accord’s saloon body, those with an eye on torsional rigidity know that such a structure spells good news in the handling department. Furthermore, it was beefed up with a strengthened rear bulkhead (the rear seats don’t fold as a consequence). Add a kerb weight of a little over 1300kg, multi-link double-wishbone suspension and a rapid rack and pinion steering set-up and you’ve a family car that runs rings around its contemporary front-drive rivals.

Being a Type R, it has other desirable stuff. Outside: a bodykit, chrome tailpipes, a rear spoiler (it could be deleted from the spec if the owner desired) and 17in alloy wheels. Inside: Recaro seats, a Momo leather steering wheel and titanium alloy gearknob, and carbonfibre trim with white dials.

The model was facelifted in 2001. You can tell the later cars by the slatted grille in place of the old mesh one, a red ‘H’ badge and black tailpipes. Meanwhile, 0-62mph was a few tenths quicker (6.7sec) and the gearbox synchros were strengthened (so said Honda at the time).

The engine’s a thoroughbred that thrives on TLC: cambelt changes, fresh oil, the occasional EGR spring clean plus a good hot run to keep the VTEC system beating. Expect suspension components (bushes, drop links) to be tired by now but replacement is relatively straightforward (and a good excuse to fit stronger polyurethane parts).

Rust is your number one enemy. It lurks unseen around the bulkhead and even owners aren’t aware of it. For this reason, make sure the car has a fresh MOT. Assuming the body’s sound and the engine’s strong, buy an Accord Type R with confidence – and don’t store it. Instead, put it on the road, where it belongs. 

An expert’s view...

MIKE CLARK, R MOTION

“For the Accord Type R, we can source most major components, such as engines. They’re used, of course. If you need minor bits, Honda itself is your best bet. The engine is strong but, not surprisingly, requires regular oil changes. Bizarrely, the balancer shaft can vibrate, damaging the oil pump, so make sure you replace the pump if it seems suspect.

“The cylinders have fibre-reinforced metal (FRM) liners. They can wear over time, causing the oil consumption to increase. You can’t bore out the cylinder — you have to get a specialist to fit new liners.

“Rust is a big problem. The inner panels go first, so get the car checked out thoroughly because it’s expensive to put right. However, the gearbox problems [see right] are overblown in my opinion. In short, the Accord Type R is a great car — and so cheap.”

Honda Accord Type R issues

ENGINE

A healthy engine will use about one litre of oil per 1000 miles. The engine will sound tappety from cold so let it warm through until smooth, listening for bottom-end noises (possibly worn con-rod shells or a wobbly bottom crank pulley). A diesel-like rattle at 2000rpm suggests the cambelt tensioner is about to fail. Check for weeping crankshaft oil seals, and failing camshaft oil seals at the distributor and on the front of the head by the exhaust manifold. The EGR system will probably need cleaning, which is a half-hour job.

GEARBOX

Pre-facelift cars can suffer weak fifth and reverse synchros. (There was an official fix but not all cars were seen.) Feel for crunching and budget for up to £800 to put right. Expect up to 100,000 miles from the clutch. If it feels heavy, budget for a new one and have a lightened flywheel fitted.

BRAKES

Watch for rotten brake pipes and fuel lines where they run behind a plastic tray under the car. A garage will do the fuel lines for about £100, but if you’ve got around £50 and 10 hours, you can do the brake lines yourself, although it’s a nasty job. Check the pads and discs (ventilated at the front).

STEERING AND SUSPENSION

Most suspension parts will be worn. For example, a knocking or rubbing noise could indicate the anti-roll bar drop links are broken. New ones are inexpensive and easy to fit.

BODY

Check for rust on the wheel arches, behind door seals and under the bonnet but especially on the bulkhead. Look behind the clutch fluid reservoir, under the seal above the wing mirrors, the footwells, above the accelerator pedal and behind the wheel arch liners. Meanwhile, check that the automatic headlight levelling system works and that the rear door handles work.

Also worth knowing...

The owners’ club (accordr.org) is a great source of advice and information on the increasingly rare Accord Type R. Forum topics such as ‘bulkhead rot’ (see above) and ‘timing belt kit’ should be music to any prospective owner, while the ‘need help and advice with valuation’ section, which lists a raft of expertly chosen upgrades, promises hours of enjoyable bedtime reading.

Honda Accord Type R prices:

£1200-1900