4cruizn

Here's an update on the half-million mile Legend for those who have been wondering where it is today.

Up until June of this year when I got a 2013 ILX 6-speed, this 1994 Legend was my daily driver for over 9 years. I bought it with 95,000 miles on the odometer from its original owner who provided all service records since new. Since then, I’ve continued meticulously maintaining the car and it has paid for itself over and over again. I’ve visited nearly 40 US states including Alaska and 3 Canadian provinces. I’ve driven it into Mexico twice. In November 2011, I turned over 500,000 miles at Acura headquarters in Torrance, California. Here's a video that was put together at that time:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lwi1ut_PZ4s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Legend was on display at Acura of Tempe, Arizona this past week, so my friend John (mugen_kid on here) took some quality picture of it inside the dealership showroom at 515,193 miles.

I picked up the car this afternoon after it sat there for 10 days. It started up on the first try and hadn’t leaked a single drop of any fluid on the dealership’s polished tile floor. It was great to be reunited with my baby. Drove home as smoothly as the day I bought it nearly 10 years ago. No warning lights, no odd sounds, just solid Acura performance. The A/C still blows ice cold.

Here are the pics.





















































Thanks John for the great pics! John's website is: http://www.johnbazay.com.



I thought this would be a fitting time to highlight some of the fun facts that can be extracted from a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet that I’ve kept on everything ever done to the car.

My maintenance receipts on this car fill up two binders.



Still original to the car’s October 1993 build date:

• Engine. No leaks, no oil burning, no coolant use, no smoke. Original injectors that have never been serviced.
• Transmission. No grinding. I maintain the 6-speed gearbox periodically using Honda OEM manual transmission fluid.
• Clutch. It takes a strong left leg to operate but still doesn’t slip.
• Drive axles. I had the CV boots replaced at 215,804 miles.
• Starter. It’s never failed me! The only time the car ever didn’t start it was due to a faulty main relay (and a fuel pump, which I'll get to later).
• Struts. They creak and groan when they’re cold in the morning, but they still perform fine.
• Climate control unit and A/C components. The only thing I’ve changed in the HVAC system is the blower motor (noted below).
• Brake calipers and rotors. The original rotors were resurfaced at 37,409 miles; 89,784 miles, and 495,693 miles.
• Door lock actuators. The passenger side is now loud but still works.
• All electrical accessories – window motors, sunroof motor, mirrors, even the famous “Active Door Strikers” – a feature only found on the 1991-1995 Legend coupe that grabs the door and seals it shut once you close it most of the way.

Changed only once:

• Brake master cylinder at 80,000
• A/C system recharge at 203,677
• Vehicle speed sensor at 319,842
• Differential fluid at 345,522
• Fuel pump at 399,745 (this was the only time the car’s ever been towed)
• Oxygen sensors at 434,740
• Blower motor at 479,319

Other items (these figures DO count the originals to the car):

• 159 oil changes
• 7 air filters
• 7 timing belts & water pumps
• 6 batteries
• 5 windshields
• 5 fuel filters
• 4 sets of spark plugs
• 3 radiators
• 3 rear transmission mounts
• 3 EGR valves
• 3 alternators
• Oddest items I’ve had to replace: Type II emblem from the engine (was missing when I bought the car), and a horn button from the steering wheel when the original popped out at 196,000 miles.

Other good stuff:

• Average oil change interval: 3,229 miles, always with conventional 5W30 oil
• Average miles per year during the car’s overall lifetime: 27,750 miles
• Average miles per year during my 9 years & 5 months of ownership: 47,126 miles
• Maintenance cost per mile driven: 6.7 cents
• Number of gallons of fuel burned — this assumes 100% highway at the EPA rating of 26 mpg: 19,748
• Best MPG achieved: 32 mpg, routinely when babying the car at moderate highway speeds in 6th gear
• Most miles achieved per tank: 500.6, in November 2006 at 258,000 miles

Complete maintenance records here:










And lastly, the Legend with my new car, taken this afternoon.

I already have about 13,500 miles on the 2013 ILX 6-speed. It had 16 miles on it when I took delivery on June 12th, 2012. The new ride is equipped with the 2.4 liter engine, sport underbody kit, accessory wheels, lip spoiler, and illuminated door sills. It's a lot of fun.



I've been sharing my adventures with the new AND old cars on my blog, Drive to Five, at http://drivetofive.wordpress.com.

Thanks for viewing!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Wow, incredible thread/posting....congrats.

It's Clutch

iTrader: (6)

Nice!

I am so curious, how in the world did you manage to keep your Legend in such pristine condition?

Mind sharing some of those secrets?

ttribe

Absolutely awesome! Well done.

StreetKA

iTrader: (8)

name speak for itself... It is a LEGEND

oo7spy

The most amazing to me is the struts. Mine were gone at 150k, and they could have easily been replaced at 120k.

Also surprising:
7 timing belts
5 windshields


Not surprising:
3 EGR valves
1 starter relay

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

There's no way that you have gone half a million miles on the original brake rotors. If they are actually still on your car they have to be drastically beyond their minimum service thickness.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Holy moly, what a story.

Let me know if you ever find yourself here in NC

youmadeyou

That is amazing .. that is a very happy car.

Ken1997TL

Very nice. I never had any doubt my '97 TL and '02 RL would be able to do that many miles but I decided to move on to newer vehicles.

Well done!

4cruizn

• Always 91+ octane fuel
• 3,000 mile oil changes on the dot
• Preventative maintenance! I change things BEFORE they go wrong. I've changed the radiator twice when it wasn't even leaking.
• Conservative driving habits. Minimal high revving, especially when the car's not up to temperature.
• Only OEM replacement parts. I learned my lesson the hard way when I used some Autozone rear upper control arms once.

It hasn't always been "babied," though. I've autocrossed this car, road raced it at 110+ mph twice in in the 100-mile Bonneville 100 open-road race, off roaded it, and hit a couple of deer. It's been around the block a time or two. I just make sure to take care of it mechanically.

See my YouTube channel for some of the adventures I've had with the car.

Dyno test at 414,000 miles:
Open road race in 2008:
Off roading in Monument Valley:
Autocross run at 376,000 miles:

Cosmetically:

• Front end has been repainted twice (from the mirrors forward). See above comment - two deer collisions.
• Roof has been repainted. Was vandalized by a rock.
• Trunk lid has been repainted. Clear coat was fading.
• Rear bumper was repainted. I backed into a truck in a parking lot once.
• So essentially the only paint that's original is on the sides.
• Leather seats were redone in 2004 with a Katzkin kit.
• Wheels were refinished several years ago by Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists locally here in Phoenix and have a fresh lifetime-warranty powdercoat finish.

Thanks
Truth!
The 7 timing belts include the original that the car came with from the factory. So yeah, it's been changed 6 times. Next due at 602,019 miles since I'm going every 90,000 miles now.
I've never changed them since I bought the car in 2003, and there's no paperwork to support that they were changed prior to that. I'm not going to lie, they NEED to be changed. My wheel shakes upon heavy braking. But they still work and the pads are decently fresh at this time.
You got it! Been there but would go back!


More state line pics:
http://drivetofive.wordpress.com/201...8/state-lines/

Thanks. Yeah I think the car's pretty content!
Thanks, Ken. Didn't know you'd moved on from the 97 and the 02! I definitely enjoy the technology of my 2013 model but there's something about these old 1990's Acuras that I love.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Very nice!

I wanted to keep my Accord that long, however, due to my stupid error, it was totaled.

Now I get to do the same thing with my TL-S.

Ken1997TL

Yeah I'll always have a soft spot for the Legends. I got a TSX wagon and an S2000 for fun. The TL, I sold to a friend who is taking great car of it

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

WOW. that is friggin' awesome. my TL will be like this in another 10 yrs...except i'll be in the low mileage club. at 7 yrs i'm at 57k mi.

the legend is still a beauty after all these yrs!

vas25tl

Amazing story.

dallison

That car is a classic, congrats on keeping it looking better than new.

nj2pa2nc

Very well taken care of car. Two months ago I would write that my car would hopefully look as good. Now I wish I was not so obsessed. What I would give to have my husband scuff up the door with his shoes.

4cruizn

Do it! These cars are built to last.
Wow, nice fleet you've got there! Love the S2K, and the wagon is a fun ride too. Glad you at least stayed in the Honda family!
Yeah it's aged well for being a 21 year old design (G2 Legend came out in 1991).
Thanks
Thank you!
It definitely takes a lot of upkeep to keep it at this level. I'm afraid to drive it in the rain and get it dirty now.

Here are a couple more pics that aren't as professional looking.

mrstak

iTrader: (1)

i love reading about your legend and your adventures. your attention to detail is awesome. that spreadsheet is w'omg. love it. your car still looks amazing. do you still take it out sometimes or does it sit in your garage at home now? i know you have your new ILX but...don't neglect your legend!

chill_dog

Awesome update! Sadly, for Acura, your 18 year old car was the best looking car on their lot.

terdonal

The pics were great, looks like it belongs on the new car showroom floor. Love how you have maintained all of your records and the great job of keeping on top of everything, it shows.. Very nice Tyson.

ps
for those who may have not checked out his blog you should it is good reading and Tyson sure likes to drive

RPhilMan1

Wow, just wow. Simply amazing.

Who signed your dash?

And that ILX looks great with the underbody kit and wheels!

M.I.N.O.

iTrader: (1)

Never get tired of checking out this gorgeous Legend. Keep it clean!

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Just wow...

coykiam

awesome!

wow...need to keep a log like that for my 3G!

The Dougler

iTrader: (1)

I'd like to see what a run out indicator reads on those rotors as well as the thickness.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

your spreadsheet for maintenance is similar to mine except i didn't include the expenses...might have to go back and include that. my car only goes to one dealer, so i dont' have that in mine.

cmschmie

Wow, awesome story and the Legend still does look good.

A little over 1k away from 100k miles on my '06 TSX.


Question, though it may have been asked in other threads:
What the heck do you do to get 47k/year miles on a car AND 13k on a car in two months?!

damaged442

Thanks for giving us an update. Makes me feel like I made the right decision purchasing my car. I'm definitely looking to see how far I can take my 09. Very cool indeed!

Catfisha

What a gorgeous car....

Black Tire

If Acura would bring that styling back. They would be back in the game.

ttribe

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

such an awesome story and very impressive spreadsheet you worked up there. nice to see it all down on paper.

pmptx

Uehara san

As an S2k owner, he is a true Legend also

Ruby

This guy makes me never want to replace my car, ever. I like how he maintained every single part of the car. He never let something that broke stay broke. Everything works. Awesome.

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

Thats nuts

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

I wonder how many people tried to buy your Legend over the 4G TL

LawnPro

Awesome thread and pics of your now- 515,000 mile LEGEND!!
Your still on the original clutch.....wow!

Aretardedorange

iTrader: (2)

Great story. Always liked the Legend, another old Acura I love is the Vigor. Your ILX looks very clean, anymore pics of that?

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

awesome