I know of at least one person who lent their car for TV work, they vowed never again. It came back with a misfire, dented panels and doors that wouldn't close properly. They suspected it had been thrashed to within an inch of its life and had the doors slammed so hard they all needed adjusting. No-one knows where the dents came from.

I recall a D (?) type being lent to Top Gear that was written off by a certain presenter who now earns a living trying to flog breakdown insurance.

I bought it Aug 2020 from a private owner in Bracknell. I'm only the third actual owner, for a car with a build date of May 2003. First owner was Honda, who brought it to the UK from the USA factory for the Top Gear show (hence the EVSA testing) and then moved it to the Honda museum in Motegi, Japan.

I have the US customs export certificate, which is pretty cool. The second (first) actual owner was British, a person who got wind of Honda selling it in 2007 and imported it to North East England. He had it until 2013, selling it to the chap in Bracknell, a retired chemist.

After 17 months of ownership, I'll start with the downsides - there's 2 of them

1. It's comparatively thirsty. 26-28mpg. It's a 4-spd auto (with overdrive setting) with the Honda 2.4 petrol. It weighs just over 2000kg. It's not slow, but it's not fast either. However, it's a social and leisure car, I dont commute with it. Mileage is 4-6K a year.

2. No cruise control. It's well equipped, but for some reason it's an auto-Honda without cruise control. I'd have liked that.

Upsides.

1. Build quality - impeccable, and I've owned an S124 Mercedes E280 estate. This could be better than that. It's 17 years old but has the wear and tear of something 5 years old. The previous owner really looked after it. It has zero rust. Honda Reading had a look at it shortly after I bought it and declared the condition 'superb'. I've since had it Dinitrol rust-proofed. I intend to keep it forever

2. Practicality - incredible. It's a family car, or a van, or a small camper, whatever you want it to be. There's a big mod-scene in the US doing all kinds of clever things with Elements.

3. Easy and simple to drive. Very Honda. Cushioned ride. Not that much lean either.

4. Easy and simple to maintain. It's a mix of Accord and CR-V underneath. The Honda parts centre in Belgium has everything for it. Being an American Honda, the parts supply will not dry up anytime soon. The previous owner had the exhaust and CAT changed 6 months before I bought it.

There's lots of other emotional things I love about it, but as a car, it's ace. I will be keeping it forever. I think Honda were right not to release it here in 2003, no one wouldve understood it. Now thought, post-Qashqai world, it could be a hit. There's 12 in the UK apparently. I know three other owners through social media. There's a stonking one down in Dorset, with brilliant modifications. I'm planning on modding mine, a bit. Not too much.