Honda Rafaga: the JDM Audi clone 

This shares the same bore spacing and rods pistons ect as the honda F series. Whitch means it wouldent be hard to do a twin cam vtec head for them whitch is exactly what was in the s2000 prototype. G20 with h22 based vtec head. Unfortunately they ditched that for the f series

Can I just say how much I appreciate the backstory from the owners that go along with these videos? The passion they have for their cars and the “time capsule” they share is to me more interesting than the car itself. It’s so damn cool

Reminds me of a Rover 600, and this was of the period where Honda & Rover shared platforms.

Haha my younger brother had one here in New Zealand, that thing sat on the limiter all day, sounded so sick 😂

Really loved this video Alexi, I love this car and appreciate the owner's passion very much.

I'd love more of these short, interesting videos about these obscure japanese cars.

Loved this kind of content! The old man talking about the honda he loves is adorable!!

Front end reminds me of a Chaser

This is a great car + story, very cool owner !

That was a very cool video. Short and sweet I can see these types of videos going far

I LLOOOOVED this episode and the story from the gentleman. Always loved Vigor and 5 cylinder. Had no idea they also made it in 2.0 liter variant!

Thank you. This is the kind of video I like to see from time to time. Thank you for appreciating this mans car and sharing it with us.

Very cool car, I owned it for 2 years in Russia, only good memories remained!

i own a honda ascot and seeing this in such condition makes me want to restore the paint and clean it up

I remember watching a video a few years ago that shaped my mind when it came to thinking of engine sounds, which is that an engine's cylinder count, and its divisible counterparts, occupy the same note range/octaves (6 and 12 cyl: 4 and 8 cyl: 5 and 10 cyl). All this to say I love 5/10 cylinder engines, they sound angry. Cool car, ive never seen it!

I never knew there was a Japanese 5-cylinder, that is so cool!

今年30周年を迎えることができました！より一層愛着が沸きます！一生大事に乗っていきます😀

The Ascot/Rafaga also had an optional GPS/TV display that would fold into the dash electrically. Decent tech

Very cool little car I also love how the owner is very well educated about his vehicle much respect

I used to see these in NZ all the time when i lived there briefly.

I started this video -_- but ended in a full grin. I love this and I feel the owners love for the car.

There was loads of these imported into NZ as grey imports. as Rafaga and Ascots, we also got the Ascot Innova, etc.

Thanks for showing this! I love how many different models the Japanese manufacturers made back in the 80's and 90's.

You can tell this was one of those bubble era cars, a whole different engine for a few different models. They'd never do stuff like this today.

It's always great when the owner is interested in showing more of their cars.

"Honda Rafaga" sounds like something you'd get in trouble for saying at school.

We have quite a lot jdm Ascots and Rafagas in Siberia

one of the few JDM cars that don't cost 100% more than their actual sale price

What a cool guy and a cool car. That Exa next it brings back memories.

What a car, what a story and what an owner! Also that green interior reminds me of my first car, which was a German 1980s sedan.

I would love this car. I am obsessed with rare Hondas and want to be an expert with a unique collection.

The mugen version is really beautiful !!

I love just how informative you're video's are, Thank you Alexi !

Quite common in New Zealand actually 👍

Wow, what a weird coincidence.. I just saw one of these a couple days ago in person over here in the US at the Tail of the Dragon. All I could see from where I was sitting was the side roof line so I thought it was just a regular 4dr Civic parked off to the side and thus I ignored it. And I was distracted by the Eunos Roadster. Wasn't til the guy drove off that I realized it was RHD. Snapped a pic and both my friend and I didn't know what it was and had to do some digging. And then you post this..

Love that your covering something like this , I have a 92 Honda ascot innova here in Canada (1 of 2 in North America I believe) have never seen someone cover one .

I've seen a few of 'em in NZ, they are getting rarer now. Thanks, it's cool to see coverage of some of the oddball things you find over there, much appreciated. Chur.

great stuff as alway 👍 it looks very similar to the UK's 1995-2000 Rover 400. Rover did use alot of Honda's designs and parts back in the day 😀

Haha if only I could find Mugen bodykit parts for my Ascot, so rare now

I love seeing old dudes who brought a car new and never let go of it after many years and their love for it is as strong as the day they got it.

Love these and thank you so much for spreading accurate information about them with the G20/G25, Mugen support and chassis facts. This owner was very passionate and I would love to be in contact with him, if by any chance.

Today I learned what a Honda Rafaga is, and it’s pretty cool for what it is!

This and the chaser are on the same league. This being an audi, and the chaser as the 5 series.

I LOVE this kind of content.

Thought we would see at least one skid... at least we can hear them happening somewhere 👍 Best days to you and yours Alexi !

We definetly need more of this type of content!

My friend had one in New Zealand Im going to pick one up this week for $1000nzd they go good and sound quite cool

Soo good to hear your voice again

走りの歓びと持つ誇りに拘った上質ドライバーズサルーン

Being a Honda fanboy, this was really interesting❤️

I absolutely LOVE the Rafaga and this video is great because of that. Also difficult to talk about with people because the moment you start talking about the car or the fact it has a 5 cylinder, everyone loses you in confusion. Not sure if they were ever imported to the UK but I’ll definitely be doing so at some point and going to town modifying one.

This video is masterpiece... Respect to both of you...

Thanks for posting this oddity. I had a 5 door UKDM Civic 1.8 VTI-S back in the day which had very similar lines, but B18C instead of the 5cyl

That green cloth Interior reminds me of some Individual-specced E36 and E39 BMWs, they had them too.

What a great story! Hopefully you will find more.

I like how the front end looks kind of like a 100 Cresta. Pretty cool car. Never knew about these.

I really like this mixed combined look of an audi and honda

Really interesting video, I'm waiting for more content like this!

This is the type of content that I need and love

You made that guys week

Owner seems like a really nice guy

haha they even copied the longitudinal front wheel drive layout of VW/Audi, hilarious. I wonder if those engines are any good for tuning up a bit, if it's worth swapping into something with the correct driven wheels. edit for those wondering, other FWD cars with a longitudinal engine layout (besides VW/Audi's) include many Subaru's, the Saab 99 and 900, a couple other Hondas like the Legend, Lancia Flavia and fulvia, Citroën 2c-v, a few Chryslers and Renault's, mk1 and 2 Toyota Tercel's, and the largest displacement FWD car ever, the 8.2l Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado.

I have one of these I imported to the US! It's manual and it's silver with BBS wheels.

Great video nice car thanks for the information

Wow. I never knew this Honda existed ! Super cool.

That Exa though!

I love these uploads, keep it up alexi

That's really cool. Love these type of videos

No sunroof in the manual, but then the car is AT あやああ

I remember the Ascot.

I wanted a Vigor back in the day. Didn't know that era had a 5-cyl! I must not have been paying attention, hah!

The CS grade rear looks like a UK Rover MG ZS. But seeing as they were made with Honda it makes sense

Love videos like this, thanks Alexi! I learned something new!

That car looks very much like the Rover 400 in the UK, I believe Rover and Honda partnered on the design and certain parts but the Rovers used 4 cylinder K-Series engines in a front wheel drive configuration (not the same as Honda’s K-Series.)The dashboard looks almost identical to the Rover 400.

Love seeing the obscure stuff! I mean my favourite jdm vehicle is Mitsubishi Forte so I guess that makes sense ^^;

These were commonly grey used imported in NZ and was the staple of many families in the mid 90s to early 00s. They were not valued very highly or looked after and often after handing it down a couple of generations were neglected servicing and snapped cam shafts which mechanically totalled them. The motors were very special and the Vigor achieved a long and low VIP look for very little money at the time. I think nostalgia was kind to this era of honda. But people always favoured the Civics and Integra of the era more. Leaving these to fall below the wayside. But those who owned one will always remember how special they were.

I’ve always liked the weird Honda’s sold in Japan. Doesn’t Honda make a modern K-car sports car for Japan 🇯🇵 only?

i always thought those 5-cylinder hondas were super neat, unfortunately the only one we got stateside was the Acura Vigor and those are rare in my area (especially in manual). also sick pulsar nx sportbak next to it, i love those obscure nissans from the 80s/90s.

Thats a weird looking Cresta

This car look's like: When i grow up I'll be EVO 6

Early 5 Cylinder Engines made me a petrol head. They sound great, no matter how much you rev it.

Yes more of this stuff plz

the second you said 5 cylinder i was taked back to audies group b days ahh the quattro....

This would sound sick with a cam headers and itbs

I don't know what else to say except that the owner is legendary.

I miss my Rafaga it went hard but mine had 300,000+ kilometres on there and it was a bit tired and rusty.

been watching your videos for years and just love when you take the time to shine light on these rare & unique corners of the car culture universe. plus, you showing interest in this man's car I'm sure made his day. he was so proud, amazing. thank you for what you do. all of us jdm fan boys here state side love your content.

love me some 5 bangers! never seen this car, thanks Alexi

it's like an EK Civic sedan and an Accord Euro R had a baby

In NZ we have all 3 models

I have a Mugen Rafaga rear wing over here in the US. ;)

that things sweet, had a g2 legend coupe for a while and started looking into other technical exercises by Honda, we got the vigor in the states too and the 5cyl quite intrigued me, owners seemed happy with them too, but seeing a rwd sedan version is too cool, only thing that might top it in that layout would be a wagon

Oh, it was only sold in Japan. No wonder I'm just hearing of it. _(3/19/2023)_

5 cylinder was also Volvos thing since the 850 and up until the current VEA engine ;)

I'm more impressed in the nissan exa with the hatch I have always wanted one

This car looks very superb looks very durable very cool I like

2:42 side view screams BMW e36 for me

I'd say there were quite a few to land in newzealand, somewhat of a car for the classic Karen. Like the bluebird to the primera this is the nugget of Honda at the time.

Such a shame Honda mainly makes (made? since im talking about all the cool 90s cars) front-drive cars

Kinda look like toyota headlights from the 90s