Rise Of The KB1 (To rip off Erik's KA3 thread title...)

[lanzarlaluna]

Well, my long search for a proper KB1 has finally ended. In some ways I owe this journey to a forum member who was recently selling a KA4. I did not end up buying the vehicle, but it got me thinking that, with our first child on the way, having another suitable car to transport a child was in order (a standard cab Dodge truck is not so appropriate for a newborn). After picking the brains of everyone here and on the Facebook page, I decided that a KB1 would be the safest option. So, I scoured Craigslist, carsforsale, autotrader, cars.com obsessively for the last few months, never quite finding the right one. However, my patience was rewarded.

My wife and I just got home from Memphis (3 hour drive) with the newest member of our family, a 2006 Nighthawk Black Pearl Acura RL with advance package and black interior. This lovely machine has 92K miles on the odometer and has been religiously serviced at the dealer, for about 8 months in Florida as a fleet car, and then by one owner in Memphis ever since.

It was traded in at Acura of Memphis about one week ago. Prior to listing the car, the dealer changed the timing belt, water pump, drive belts, engine mounts, and front struts, which is some major maintenance to have already been done. It has a few nice options installed, including the wood steering wheel, trunk lid spoiler, and rear camera. Being the advance package, it has nice perks such as adaptive cruise control (which I used the whole way home and is awesome) and assisted braking.

The car is certainly not perfect. There are some cosmetic issues to be addressed. The driver's seat has a decent tear in the bottom and back cushion. The center console pleather is ripped. The right front fog light glass is broken. It also has the common issue of glove box bubbling thanks to having been in a hot climate. There are also a few light scratches that could be removed with proper buffing. Flaking chrome happens to every KB1 eventually, and I will likely just have those pieces painted solid body color (I'm looking at you, Evan). PDR could be done in a few spots, too (Evan?). Lastly, the headlight clear coat needs a proper restoration.

Lastly lastly, it has not been de-PAXed, so that's something I have budgeted for. May the search for 18" A-Spec wheels begin.

Below are some random photos I took hastily when I got home today, but I'll be posting more as I fix some of these cosmetic issues (not sure if it's worthy of a build thread...).

My wife next to her new baby, while still growing another baby:


At the dealer. New siblings meeting for the first time:


Rear shot. I had about 4 different salesmen comment on how they liked my Legend. There were also milling about staring at it while we were signing paperwork inside:


My view of the KA7's butt the whole way home. It made for a pretty drive:


Back home:






Clear coat failure on the driver's headlamp:


Passenger side isn't so bad:


Broken fog lamp glass:


Flaking chrome trim, an inevitable problem with the KB1:


Large seat tear. There's one on the back support too. Need to find a good upholstery shop:


I'll have the shop convert this pleather garbage to leather:


Another common KB1 problem:


Glove box cancer, common in a KB1 that gets baked in the sun:

[AGYMAH]

Sweet! I bought one on the 1st of October. I absolutely love it. Pics Upcoming.

[scyberboy]

Nice car It's absolute fun to drive it !
I own Honda Legend(all the same) since June 2014