#5660

The mid-90's saw the emergence of the Japanese wagon boom stoked by the population's need for a spacious family vehicle that could also be used for independent commercial use. Honda's "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" strategy was implemented once again with the 1997 Orthia, utilizing the 6th generation Civics platform with the proven reliability of the CR-V's B20B engine. This beautiful sport utility wagon is finished in a fresh coat one-off Renegade Red and set off by a pair of OEM fog lights, OEM rain visors, and a factory rear spoiler. The exterior panels are in great shape aside from a few minor dings and scuffs but we would like to note a right front fender replacement in Japan. Fresh off a recent service, this turn-key Honda is offered with only 95k verified and documented miles. If you're looking for a unique, spacious, and easily serviceable JDM platform, it is about as good as it gets, and definitely deserves the designation of a Japanese classic.

The cabin is spacious and was cared for in a prior life. This wagon has a surprising amount of nice equipment and modern accouterments onboard, including dual SRS airbags and automatic digital climate control. The heat and A/C work as they should, and this useful family hauler is primed for year-round use. The seats are in great shape as are the door cards. They lack any major rips, stains, or tears and are upholstered in a soft cloth accented with a fun blue and green tartan patterned material. The dash lacks any cracking and a centrally mounted OEM head unit supplies all the tunes, although radio frequencies are limited. Electric folding mirrors, power locks, and power windows make daily use enjoyable, and all work like a charm. The interior plastics are in above-average shape and aside from some minor sagging to the door card fabric inserts, it's hard to nitpick the interior as a whole. The headliner and carpets have resisted any major wear over the years and we even have the factory carpeted floor mats, original owners manual, and rear cargo security cover for the next owner to keep.

Powering this sporty wagon is the popular and reliable B20B. This four-banger is fresh off an oil and filter service and starts up promptly thanks to a new 12v battery. The engine idles with confidence and benefits from a new valve cover gasket, ensuring you won't lose a drop. This dual-cam 2.0L makes the Orthia a blast from light to light and it pulls hard to redline thanks to a new distributor cap, rotor button, and spark plugs. Highway driving is light work for the smooth shifting automatic gearbox and the factory suspension soaks up road imperfections at all speeds quite nicely thanks to the brand new trailing arm bushings. The brakes feel confident, courtesy of new front pads and rotors, and the power steering is light and on point. Lastly, new Falken all-season tires have been mounted and balanced on all four corners. The new rubber quiets down the road noise, but most importantly will last for tens of thousands of miles to come.

*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website