Is This The Rustiest Car We've Ever Owned?

Summary

The script describes an old and very rusty Honda SMX that was bought as a Christmas gift. It is brought to an auto shop where the mechanics inspect it, pointing out many issues like missing badges, rust holes, broken clips, worn brakes, exhaust leaks, and more. They determine it needs about £500 of mechanical work but extensive welding and fabrication that will cost much more to restore. The recipient acts ungrateful, saying this is the worst car he's received. They agree to fix the major mechanical issues first before considering bodywork repairs to get the rare Honda back on the road.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ethan received a rare and old Honda SMX as a Christmas gift from his parents
• 😟 The car is very worn down and in poor condition externally
• 🤔 The Honda SMX was made for sleeping/camping in Japan apparently
• 😨 The interior is dirty but actually in decent shape compared to the exterior
• 😱 The underside of the car is badly rusted with holes in many places
• 😥 Parts for the Honda SMX are hard to find and expensive
• 😀 Mechanically the car is not too bad and mainly needs gaskets, seals etc replaced
• 👷‍♂️ Extensive fabrication work is needed to repair the bodywork rust and corrosion
• 💸 Total repair costs will likely exceed what the car is worth
• 😅 Despite its incredibly rough condition, the car has lasting appeal

Q & A

What model and year Honda did they buy for Ethan?

They bought Ethan a Honda SMX, likely from around the 1990s based on the references in the transcript.

What was the condition of the SMX when they first saw it?

The SMX was in very poor condition. It had a lot of rust, flat tires, missing parts, and many mechanical issues.

How rare are Honda SMX cars in the UK?

According to Lee, there are less than 30 Honda SMX cars total on UK roads.

What is the main challenge in repairing and restoring the SMX?

The main challenge is finding replacement parts. Many parts like seals are discontinued by Honda and would need custom fabrication.

What is the expected cost range for mechanical repairs?

Lee estimates the mechanical repairs to cost around £500.

What additional repairs might be needed beyond mechanical work?

The car needs extensive rust repair and welding work which does not yet have a cost estimate. It may also need new wheels, windshield, spoiler etc.

What is the history and background of the SMX model?

There are urban myths about the SMX being designed for sleeping, but the real details are unclear. Honda enthusiasts in Japan may know more about the intended purpose.

What condition was the interior of the SMX in?

The interior was given a score of 7-8/10 by Lee. Overall intact but with some wear and missing pieces.

Did the SMX have any valuable or rare parts?

No, overall it was very run down and neglected without any highly desirable components.

What ideas did they suggest for restoring the SMX?

They suggested the first priority should be to make the body solid and rust-free. Beyond that, no definite plans were made.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introducing Ethan's Rough Honda SMX

The first paragraph introduces Ethan's Honda SMX which was bought for him as a Christmas gift. It seems to be in poor, rough condition. To assess how bad it really is, they visit Lee at Auto Matrix.

05:02

👀 Inspecting the Rare and Unique SMX

The second paragraph describes inspecting the rare Honda SMX. There are very few on UK roads. It has some unique features like the sleep configuration and curtains. The interior is actually in decent condition despite stains.

10:03

😩 Assessing the Severe Rust and Damage

The third paragraph involves putting the SMX on a lift and assessing the underside. There is extensive rust and damage throughout. Mechanically it needs about £500 of repairs but the bodywork needs extensive fabrication and welding.

Keywords

💡Honda SMX

The Honda SMX is the specific car model that was purchased for Ethan in the video. It is a rare 1990s hatchback that was only sold in the UK. The presenters examine this used SMX to see how much of a 'lemon' it really is.

💡mechanical

The presenters inspect the Honda SMX for mechanical issues. This refers to problems with the engine, transmission, steering, suspension, etc. They determine that mechanically it is decent, unlike the extensive rust problems.

💡rust

Rust or corrosion is a major issue with the Honda SMX. The presenters find rust throughout the chassis, wheel arches, seals, subframe etc. This extensive rust damage will require a lot of welding and custom fabrication to fix.

💡interior

The interior of the Honda SMX is examined and given a decent rating, unlike the mechanical and exterior. This refers to the dashboard, seats, carpets and other components inside the cabin.

💡rare

The Honda SMX is repeatedly described as very rare. Only about 30 are estimated to still exist in the UK. This makes finding replacement parts difficult.

💡custom fabrication

Because the SMX is so rare, many parts are discontinued or hard to find. This will require fabricating custom repair sections by hand rather than finding replacement parts.

💡wheel bearings

The wheel bearings on the Honda SMX are worn and will need replacement. Wheel bearings allow the wheels to spin smoothly on the axle shafts.

💡exhaust

The exhaust system on the SMX has an audible leak. The presenters recommend replacing sections of the exhaust to stop the noise.

💡oil leak

An oil leak is found coming from the top of the engine. This will need new gaskets and seals to prevent oil dripping out.

💡steering rack

The SMX's steering rack mount is rusty with holes and will probably need replacing. This controls the steering linkage.

Highlights

The car is a rare Honda SMX

The car is very rusty and neglected

Spare parts are difficult to find

The windshield will be nearly impossible to replace

The interior is in decent shape

The car likely has water damage

The engine seems okay mechanically

The transmission may be slipping

Brakes need work but can be adapted from a CRV

Bodywork needs extensive fabrication and welding

Mechanically it needs about £500 in repairs

Rust repair costs are unknown but likely high

The car was overpaid for compared to its condition

The car could be restored but it will take a lot of work

The car is in very poor overall condition despite okay mechanicals

Transcripts

we bought Ethan this Honda SMX for

Christmas now we know it's a little bit

rough but today we're going to find out

just how rough it is oh wow

what no please please please please you

got to laugh as you going to cry so to

find out just how bad Ethan's SMX really

is we've come down to see Lee at Auto

Matrix thank you for having us no

problem what's your first impressions I

see worse I'll take that that's like a

glimmer of optimism for us we're

definitely in the right place because I

had never seen an SMX on the road and

we've come here you got a few here how

rare are these I've UK roads about less

than 30 and one less after today if we

look around it should we start we'll

start with the

[Music]

outside no spoiler are they easy to find

uh no okay perfect at least they have

tried to fill these yeah tried they took

their time with these ones then that one

they just thought screw this I'm not

this one's literally got to screw it

that's the first thing and we're off to

a brilliant start good start our tips

looking a bit crusty that's not a good

site for the rest of the car no badge no

badge you can put any Honda badge on

there3 off eBay okay excellent this side

don't look too bad if you looked at this

side I'd say it looks all right I'd say

that looks mint The Arches don't look

too bad well they always rust is that

rare to have semi- decent archers uh

yeah if you look at any other SMX

they're nearly all vot flat tires flat

tires yeah that one refuses to hold a so

does that one yeah look look how quickly

we're get around it it's just perfect

well that's just that's the best side of

it that's that's the good side this side

uhoh yeah this side's worse like good

worse yeah good worse you can see the r

there that's where the skirts attach on

and there's a hole for the clip and they

rust around the clips and then the seals

go that's like the the tip of the

iceberg underneath if you can see it

doing that it's worth behind it I have

just noticed the wheel AR Lin is missing

are they easy to get uh I've got some so

not too difficult to get I think that's

going to be the least of your issues

though I think so typical Bonnet lacer

pill the you men mentioned an

interesting point about the wind screen

almost impossible to get probably get

them from Japan still bit about ,000

probably likely to write them off for in

this country so if this wind screen goes

that's that's it unless you can find

someone breaking one it's got a nasty

little chip there looks like it might

have had a repair but we need to keep an

eye on that because if this goes it's no

good don't drive it when he's windy

don't drive when the grit in the roads

okay so never in England best off just

not driving it okay perf yeah thanks for

the present

man you corrected us earlier was it it's

a b b20b almost the same as a B20 Z

slightly different compression and we

also said that the front end of these is

a Civic but that's not true is it unique

fit unique fit unique I say unique it's

the same as a Mark 1 Step wagon but

looking in here is this generally

everything there should be in there it's

got the original airbox which most of

them have got a stupid cone stuck on the

end of them difficulty is most places

won't carry the air filter for it even

air filters yeah we do sell them but

most motor factors don't stop

them

is this how one should normally

sound I think the manifold is blowing a

bit on that it's got a bit of an a leak

what what sort of power do these make

standard about 130 135 engines are

normally really good gearboxes tend to

slip I don't know much youve driven this

did you Noti 50 to 100 yards maybe yeah

they generally slip sort of third to

fourth gear you'll find out when when

it's driven obviously we can check that

later if if it's

driven okay so in here not too concerned

blow we reckon is coming off of um

probably the downpipe sort of good news

s of good news s bad news s much like

the rest of this car so just looking at

how well cared for this car is W

ball nothing in it nothing it nothing in

it at all it's just a sign of like how

it's been looked after a oil caps lovely

they always are look at that no milk in

there you love that as well don't you

like so I think this might be one of the

better bits of the car the interior it

seems all intact and all together it's

mostly there

um you're missing the rear headrest on

the back they're an option so most of

them don't have it anyway your sun roof

covers gone they're quite thin Plastics

they break quite easy it has a certain

Aroma in there they suffer from a bit of

water Ingress so the carpet's probably

been wet well ingeniously I think the

last owner instead of fixing it just put

two massive air yeah so that's more or

less solve the issue Edwin was saying

you could in that cover you can get a TV

in there they do different

configurations of this so this is the

single d one they do a double D most of

the time that's broken or the catch is

broken yours is actually working yeah so

nice another little win it's still in K

an hour cuz that's a true kilometers

reading on there yeah 179 is 79 which is

all right fog light switch there for the

old mot yeah cuz I don't come with one

someone's been in the diagnostic P down

the bottom there cuz that's hanging down

trying to figure out why it smells so

bad it's just an honest motor isn't it

bit super glue holding the dash together

there by the look of it pretend I didn't

hear that the orange of thec which is

great but the stains are let it down a

little bit they do stain quite easy were

these built cuz obviously it's the SMX

the the m on its side is on side there

is a whole website about it actually if

you Google it really is it a myth is it

an urban myth oh well I'm unsure ask

Japanese

people uh you can sleep in it so yeah

yeah sleep yeah yeah do lots of sleep

and they do a they do a curtain option

for it as well Which slot in all the

little bits of plastic trim okay and

they got SMX written on them so yeah

they do a curtain so that makes me that

does make me think more you know what

people paper in or whatever is you're

getting up to in one of these they the

see your steamy Windows that's probably

why people go on the step wagon a bit

bigger yeah that's it you got more room

you know different combinations or

positions or whatever of sleeping

obviously what would you give us out of

10 score interior wise I'd say it's

probably about seven or eight out of 10

yeah the underneath where your problems

always are yeah I'm going to guess with

two can I not be part of this next bit

what yeah yeah put up on the list and

have a look okay sweet let's do

[Music]

it you got a bit of a leak on the

steering wack drop link totally missing

oh wow and totally missing there so

that's amazing yeah amazing it's not

amazing it is amazing it's awful well

there's your oil leak that's running

down the front and under the engine

let's call it our from the top no let's

call it your when you say your it fills

me with Dread it's got a new alternator

on it though out of 10 yeah for the

aor no I don't like this game oh there

we go it's bit falling down that's good

uh is that just mud you might find it

just needs new gaskets on

there that b is okay please this is the

good side what the the other side was

potentially

worse yeah so the needs a seal

definitely does now didn't before I put

four holes in my car I won bashes too

much get the fuel pipe but they do

suffer from very corroded fuel pipe

anyway it was great to meet you I we got

way more prod this is good fun

oh wait a minute where'd it

go yeah sorry if I'm treading in your

car this is funny to you you got to

laugh I you going cry like at the risk

of sounding a bit ungrateful because you

bought me this what kind of gift is this

that's very ungrateful look that's not

in the spirit of Christmas is

it

no please please please please please Le

please for him to go on the inside seal

that's normally quite bad normally it's

the outer one only it goes the clips

even Ved out on that one

perfect leave please leave please please

please yes have some sympathy on me from

now on when you talk about a future car

and you say I've seen worse the worst

you're talking about is this that's a

legacy that you're leaving behind you

though yeah you should have seen this

one car that car all brought

it I think tracking out as well that is

lovely as smooth this is the worst game

ever I like this game when it's not my

car let's get your sa in here no no no

it's fine this car this car the uh front

subframe this side has got a nice hole

up there is that good um I don't think

that's very good now U what's the other

side like the other side is solid solid

solid seen eight out of 10 just noticed

that as well that's because the exhaust

part's been been changed about yeah

should be hang they just cut through

that it's just EAS I don't need that no

I don't need that that's good should we

get a closeup of this hole here yeah

yeah I'd love to jack could we get a

closeup of that deck love to show that

to everyone now we've had a good poke

around quite literally down here we have

another score out of 10 yeah it's a

little bit worse than I expected because

the inner SE was gone this side I knew

the back bits would be gone straight

away they always are every single one of

them out of 10 two or

three after seeing this car all the way

around how much would you have paid for

it um we would have probably bought as a

breaker at

250300 okay at best okay okay okay so we

paid a little bit more than that only

over three times that yeah yeah I feel

like you're being a bit un growthful no

actually to be fair how many cars have

people bought you in the past can you

call this a

car call it a

Civ oh yeah oh sounds like a

thunderstorm like 20 M

away it's a bit noisy that whe of

Fortune Wheel of unfortune Wheel of

Despair that's inside the tire that's

inside the tire I like that there's a

mystery item in our tire if someone's

lost their marbles they

probably yeah can I have them

[Laughter]

back while Lee worked out everything

wrong with the car I spent some time

sweeping my SMX off his Workshop floor

just sweeping your car up quick

mate you missed a bit I here and down

the front

and a lot

everywhere dust panful of Ethan chassis

in the nearest bin we regrouped with Lee

to find out the total damage the

mechanical stuff on this isn't too bad

right no no Hondas are really good

mechanical wise it doesn't need a lot it

needs couple of drop links which are not

a lot of money will bearings a little

bit difficult but like I said we've got

a breaker coming up so we should have a

wheel bearing for it it needed a bit of

exhaust work just needs fitting better

oil leak again gaskets a bit sealant

that sort that out steering rack we've

probably got a used one we can put on

there if not we have a place that

refurbishes them so brakes they have got

a unique breake disc on them of course

they it's available for Honda only and

and it's about £ 150 for a pair we do a

fitting kit which allows you to fit your

usual CRV brakes on oh excellent okay

mechanically wise it's going to be

within 500 pound what I thought oh wow

however yeah yeah there's a lot of

welding it needs and until you start

ripping it back there all customers off

you cannot buy the seals you cannot buy

any of the repair panels for the back

it's all discontinued from Honda proper

fabrication proper fabrication a lot of

people with the seals they'll use a Ford

seal transit or a fiesto on one day

because they a similar profile this also

doesn't include probably a new set of

wheels maybe a wind screen that coulden

needed a spoiler spoiler really

mechanically pretty good not too bad and

then the welding we can't yet put a

figure on that can't put a price on

happiness but it is

steep but once it's done it'll last for

another 20 years yeah well that's good

maybe we can bring this back and do

something with it yeah we'll get the

tank done on if you want yeah scrap it

I'll send you pictures when it goes off

the the question what is a cube so there

we have it I think that's answer the

question of how ropey is mechanically

okay okay all right not the worst car

we've ever that's true when it comes to

rust though quite possibly the worst not

in the sense that it's like bad in one

bit it's just spread quite evenly

throughout the whole car really good

there bit there bit wherever you like it

yeah yeah let us know in the comments

what we should do with it don't you

think they're actually making it so it's

solid is number one maybe we'll do that

first you're getting way ahead of

yourself click here to subscribe more

videos down

there good luck cheers ma'am