That’s not a typo within the identify of immediately’s Good Value or No Cube Stepwgn; that’s truly how Honda named it. Let’s see if the worth of this privately-imported mini-camper additionally seems to be like a mistake.
Many feedback on yesterday’s 2000 Ford F-150 Stake Mattress famous its utility and money-making means. The draw back of getting such a useful truck isn’t having a free weekend at month’s finish, as pals are all begging for assist transferring heavy stuff. Nonetheless, that’s not too large a worth to pay. Neither too was the $4,700 requested to purchase the truck, as evidenced by the huge 88 p.c Good Value win it obtained.
Immediately’s 1998 Honda Stepwgn Area Deck can be much less helpful for renter relocation, however on the plus aspect, it provides sleeping quarters, making a trip dwelling pointless.
Honda launched the Stepwgn in Japan for the 1996 mannequin 12 months. Based mostly on the up to date Civic platform, it stuffed the area of interest of the normal minivan with a single sliding rear door on the curb (on this case, proper) aspect and as much as eight seats. This was at a time when Honda’s better-known minivan, the Odyssey, featured 4 swinging doorways and solely as much as seven seats.
In 1998, Honda took a web page from the VW playbook and launched the Weekender-like Area Deck as a Stepwgn choice. Adjustments to the usual van included a fold-out desk within the rear of the cabin and a pop-up high with a roof-mounted mattress. The Area Deck version ended with the Stepwgn’s redesign in 2001, however Honda nonetheless sells a model of the usual mannequin to this very day.
All of these first-generation Stepwgns have been FWD, that includes a 2.0-liter, 123 horsepower B20B 4, and a four-speed automated. Honda by no means deemed the mannequin worthy of federalizing for the U.S. market, however due to the 25-year rule, a quantity can now be discovered on provide from non-public importers.
That’s simply how this one discovered its approach right here, provided by an organization referred to as Bike Warehouse, Inc., which focuses on bringing older JDM automobiles and vans to the U.S. On account of its RHD format, the Portland, Oregon-based reseller humorously claims that the Stepwgn can be appropriate for postal supply. It makes you surprise if the USPS ever even thought of outdated Japanese vans and vans as a alternative for its growing old fleet of mail carriers. The vendor doesn’t recommend what a postal provider would possibly do with the Area Deck’s sleeping preparations, and actually, so long as I get my mail on time, I don’t need to know.
For the remainder of us, the van is claimed to be in good situation and to have 131,000 miles on the books. Based mostly on the plethora of stickers and decals festooning the home windows and passenger door, it should have led an thrilling life whereas accumulating these miles.
Aesthetically, the appliance-white paint and black-painted metal wheels make the van look a bit boring and institutional, so the stickers do add some aptitude. The Volvo-esque crazy-tall hind lights assist as effectively.
Within the cabin, issues are tidy and clear if backward for our driving surroundings. The automated helps as neophyte right-handers received’t must create a novel muscle reminiscence for left-hand handbook shifting. A brand new Kenwood iPad-like stereo head unit befouls the sprint, however there are drawable curtains throughout in order that disgrace could be hidden from view when the van is parked.
The title is clear, and apart from locations like California, the place the State’s smog guidelines prohibit registration with out costly mods, it could possibly doubtless be pushed and loved wherever one needs. The asking worth for that enjoyment is $9,950.
What do you consider this oddball weekender van and that worth? Does that appear honest, given its uniqueness and flexibility? Or, for asking that a lot, can this JDM van GTFO?
You determine!
Seattle, Washington, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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