28th Oct 2001, 08:18
Honda Shuttle:
I have run a Shuttle 2.3i ES (the 6 seater one) for 3 years / 78,000 miles. It has been totally reliable, comfortable and practical - I agree that it provides perfect family transport. My local dealer, Johnsons of Wheatley (near Oxford) have been friendly and helpful. I wouldn't hesitate to have another one except Honda have stopped making it. The replacement Honda Stream drives beautifully, but simply isn't big enough for my growing family.
Colin Buggey.
28th Sep 2002, 16:38
Have just bought a 1997 2.2ES Shuttle with 73,000 miles on the clock.
First impressions are good; it handles and performs better than expected, in fact pulls well at all speeds up to 110mph. More comfortable and better ride than the 730i BMW it replaces, and just so much room, which is the reason for buying it. Compared with the opposition it is so cheap at just over £5K. Should be less thirsty than a Previa and more reliable than the Galaxy (especially the VR6 Sharan I had which ate auto gearboxes).
Will post a full report when it has done a few thousand and more is known.
Phil Griffith.
12th Jan 2003, 14:35
I have now owned two Honda Shuttles over a period of seven years. My daughter is still running the first with 100,000 miles on the clock. The second now has 60,000. Total repairs other than usual consumables is one ABS sensor. They are so versatile and the seats come out so easily unlike my earlier hernia inducing Chrysler Voyager. It's a shame it came on the market at too high a price, otherwise it would have been the market leader. A great second hand buy if you can find one. I'm hanging on to mine because the Stream just isn't big enough.
5th Aug 2005, 10:17
Driven many medium and prestige cars including the Jaguar and of course Mercedes, I had an obsession with these luxury cars, so when family became 6 I had no choice, but a 7 seater. Chrysler Voyager, which I drove was the one I had my eyes on obviously for the executive drive. But wait a minute when I recently bought a Honda Shuttle 2.3i ES,it was the answer to my passion. Drives like a German motor for those with a heavy feel taste. Yes I read one of the comments which was not surprising, the ABS sensor. They may be common faults. Keep you updated after a few 1000 miles. And yes I forgot, it is easy to deceive anyone by claiming the engine is not running, when it is. (figure that out)
23rd Apr 2006, 16:00
I bought my Honda Shuttle in 1998 with 6K on the clock, it was an import. The Shuttle has been brilliant, it now has 126K on it and has been all over Europe. I use it every day for my business. It has had a new Exhaust a Battery and a rear brake light bulb. I had the 120K service done at 123K, new Timing belt Etc. I hope I never have to change this car. It has never let me down never failed to start and has been a credit to Honda Engineering. I only wish Honda had continued to make it so I could treat myself to a new one. Even so I wouldn't part with this one.
5th Aug 2008, 06:36
Bought a 2.3i LS new in March 1998. Coming up on 97,000 miles.
This car has been excellent and has run the family around the UK and abroad for over 10 years.
Only one serious fault - the taper roller bearing in the final drive had to be replaced at about 60,000 miles (Honda contributed towards the cost!). The cat was replaced this year and a new battery a couple of years ago. Apart from that only routine service stuff.
The vehicle has never let us down. It always starts, runs like the day it was new, is very comfortable and spacious and we don't want to sell it despite its age.
This is why we buy Honda's - the quality of the engineering and the components means that they keep going when other manufacturer's vehicles are coming apart at the seams.
Think we will take this one round the clock again.
23rd Nov 2008, 15:31
We have a P reg Honda Shuttle 2.2 ES. Great car. The interior is in excellent shape for a 12 year old with 107,000 miles on the clock. Ditto the bodywork. Agree the air con is underpowered but that's it, everything else works well.
We have just spent on a new exhaust, timing belt and suspension arm, engine mount. Expect it to carry on great service.
6th Jan 2010, 02:21
Excuse me for my English, cause I'm French and my english is not so good, so I try to do my best.
I had bought a Shuttle 2.2 I ES, and think that it is still the best if you compare it with all its opponents, including the most recent ones.
Roomy, excellent engine, easy to park it, and good sensations on every type of road.
The only problem is the gasoline consumption.
But anyway I would not change my Shuttle for any other car, except if one day, Honda would restart building the same one for the European market.
You still have the Shuttle on the Japanese market, but by import and for a reasonable price.
All my best for all Shuttle owners.
20th Nov 2010, 05:14
Mine is a 1998 2.3 LS 7 seater. We have had the car for 5 years and it has done 84,000 miles. It has been incredibly reliable. I have the complete service history, and the only parts needed apart from consumables, have been a radiator and a battery; not bad in 12 years!
You can achieve 30 MPG if you are careful, and it has an enormous load carrying space. It feels very safe. Definitely the best people carrier past and present - only a shame they don't make it any more. We'll be changing it for a new car in March '11 - trebourc @ hotmail.com
28th Nov 2010, 11:28
We bout our 2.3 SE new in 1998 while we were living in Belgium. It has just passed 250,000 kms (156,000 miles). It has had a new catalytic converter, wiper blades, light bulbs, and a rear bumper due to the wife's reversing skills! It has never failed to start, and is still going strong.
The inside has held up very well, the only complaint is the lack of cup holders.
I think the auto box holds on a little longer than it used to before changing up, but it might be my imagination.
It is my wife's car and I tease her that it's a barge (I drive a Lotus), but in terms of a big, roomy, stylish, comfortable car that has carried the four of us from Cornwall to Prague, I have to admit it's been great.
Fuel consumption isn't so great, 25 MPG on a run if you push hard, a bit better if you stick to the limit, but we can live with that.
It has carried kids and clobber to and from university, beds and all, wardrobes, bikes. etc etc.
Yes, a good car. What a pity they didn't update it a bit and put their modern diesel engine in it!
1st Jul 2001, 14:41
I agree with all of you that this is a brilliant car!!! It was VERY spacious and comfortable. Had a racy engine and had many close races with the boy racers. Much better than all its competitors. Great effort by Honda!!!