Honda S-MX - first trip and a closer inspection

Heading out for a Grand Tour in my new Honda S-MX, which now has a fixed gearbox after I fixed the engine, and improved bed arrangements.
Then, with no formal editing at all, I take you for a tour of it. Award winning camerawork as ever, and amazing special effects.

[@seancooke4127]

My friend you say that you like this lovely SMX but it doesn't sound like you love it too much with having so many issues needing sorted. I love it.

[@HubNut]

I kept it for 18 months, which is a long time for me!

[@joaofarinha7953]

Man so many quirks and features on this very cool car!

[@HowardLeVert]

That style of seating - where you can turn it into a bed - and the column gear change really does remind me of the Renault 16 I had as a first car. Oddly enough, I actually saw a silver S-MX today - with what looked like pink wheels...

[@ConwayT91]

great car! already a hubnut classic.. i wish i could find one here in the Netherlands!

[@donnageorge-henderson5419]

Very cool 😎

[@AndySnap]

What a fab' little car, why on earth didn't sell these S-MX officially in the UK? Thanks for bringing them to our attention (catching up on your channel, box set style, a couple of years after this vid was uploaded).

[@RichieRouge206]

Do really like the SMX

[@dlittlester]

Looks like a keeper, even if you have to put some money into it. I'm a big fan of "functional". What you call track rod ends, we call tie rod ends here in Canada.

[@twocvbloke]

Definitely an intriguing car, shame Honda never sold it over here officially, would have sold well probably, particularly with beachcomber types... Seats could do with a shampooing though... :P

[@jim.m75]

interesting vehicle, I've never noticed one before. wish I could combine the smx rear seat with a Volvo wagon, that would be one handy car!

[@akr01364]

Ah, yes, an ultra roomy Honda with flat folding seats for a bed. Or, what we here in the US call a Japanese love shed. ;)

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

After watching the Fox Videos and it's tiny damper with the elton john reference I noticed the title in the thumbnail on this one as Tiny Camper.....

[@timelwell7002]

That's my kind of car! No issues with claustrophobia on this one...

[@andrewrobinson3030]

I drive a Honda Civic, love them , would like to know what size engine , power , cylinders your Honda has

[@HubNut]

B20 2-litre, 140bhp, four cylinder.

[@lucdh1734]

Nice car. Never seen one here in Belgium. Has it ever been sold in european countries? If not, i wonder why. It is indeed a japanese renault kangoo, which i drive myself. But it can never give the pleasure of driving an old citroen i imagine. Yes, totally different of course. I ride a 2cv6 too and now working on a ami 6 break from 1966. Like your videos a lot. And in juin was on a holiday at the southcoast and also, yes, in cornwall. And we did not have good weather. But nature was beautiful. keep posting the videos!

[@HubNut]

It was never sold in Europe, and as far as I know, was never built in left-hand drive. As you say, rather a shame.

[@philpaxton2078]

Epic storage in the cabin. something my ForFour lacks. I would certainly consider this as vehicle ideally suited to camping trips. Does the rear seat split-fold? I couldn't quite tell.

[@HubNut]

The rear seat does not split. There are four and five seat versions, but mine is a four.

[@callumk5]

What a genuinely interesting car. Why don't all cars have flat floors and bench seats?! Oddly, those wide, flat seats remind me of the seats fitted to AmTrack superliners in the states. Vastly different vehicles, yet I suspect, similarly comfortable long distance.

[@jaggass]

You might getter better mpg now since lock up works.

[@samuelfain9147]

Just became the owner of one of these. The steering is extremely cumbersome, if not an automotive arm wrestle. Suggestions?

[@HubNut]

Steering should be super light. I'd try fresh fluid and bleed the PAS system first but it may be the pump or rack is bad.

[@eyeballseesaws]

Do they still sell AutoTrader magazines in Britain?

[@HubNut]

I believe not.

[@jaggass]

So the thermo also cools the gearbox fluid as well?

[@HubNut]

No. If the engine ECU detects that the engine is not up to operating temperature, it prevents the gearbox from locking the torque converter clutch.

[@jaggass]

HubNut Interesting have you worked out the current mpg since a new thermo was fitted?

[@neodonkey]

Makes sense, I'm surprised at how many people lug engines that are cold thinking they are doing them a favour by keeping the revs down, in my opinion its better to strike a happy medium. But then i'm like that, I had an Alfa 156 from new (Company Car) and was really gentle on it the first 1000 miles despite the only breakin procedure mentioned in the manual was "Don''t operate the car at it's maximum speed for long periods during the first 1000 miles" given the car's top speed was 131mph that wasn't really an issue! :D

[@darrenwilson8042]

Interesting car despite being a bit of a money pit at the moment. I have to say whenever I have slept in a car not specifically designed for it the biggest issue is no curtains/blinds. Early sunshine and a raucous dawn chorus can make for a short nights sleep and a grumpy Darren in the morning. p.s. If you want boot space and knee room in recent times i have had a Nissan Pulsar and a Skoda Superb on hire. Both designed to carry people on stilts on the back seat and all their luggage !

[@HubNut]

I seriously need to work on blinds/curtains. Cardboard is surprisingly good. If you can get it to stay in place...

[@darrenwilson8042]

Thing is no matter how good you are the lack of insulation doesn't drown out those damn birds Lol - I suppose as a one night stand as it were it can be done though - depends how tired you are. Best sleep I have had in a non-caravan vehicle was in a Citroen C15 van - accommodating enough to stretch out on a lilo and dark enough to sleep. It was in the lakes though so bloody cold !!

[@dcformee123]

you said you're still having problems with the transmission not shifting quite right? did you use Honda oil in the transmission? Because Honda's you have to use only Honda oils in them they're really weird so even like power steering fluid you can only use Honda power steering fluid I don't know if you know that if you do then sorry I bugged you if you don't something to no change it with Honda only fluids!

[@HubNut]

spackmaster Chavez I believe Honda fluid was used. I'm sure the transmission has suffered from a lack of previous changes. it is now better.

[@dcformee123]

Well that's great a lot of people don't know to use only Honda oil in Hondas for some reason you have to do that seems like a waste of good money but you have to!

[@rimmersbryggeri]

Was that rain damage on the roof?

[@HubNut]

More sun damage I think.

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@HubNut In the UK? LOL

[@Rottensteam]

Orange air vents? What is this? Pimp my ride? Haha

[@yorkshirepud3030]

The bird shit could be a Wagtail, they like admiring themselves in mirrors and tend to leave calling cards behind.

[@HubNut]

It was definitely a robin. He was spotted on several occasions, absolutely losing his shit. Literally.

[@MajorKlanga]

Re the bird suit problem; I suffered the same thing on my last car which was black. I can only conclude that birds hate black cars.

[@MajorKlanga]

Bird shit not suit.

[@Rottensteam]

Orange air vents? What is this? Pimp my ride? Haha