The Wikipedia Honda Today entry says Honda built the kei car from 1985 to 1998, first as the JW1 three-door hatch and later with JA chassis codes after the March 1990 660 cc rules. Confirm the offered Honda Today matches its paperwork, then book an inspection that covers its construction and fitted equipment.
I used the Wikipedia Honda Today entry when preparing this November 6, 2026 guide. Its specifications describe the model, not every surviving chassis. So, the checks below turn that background into questions for a seller and a workshop; they do not assign a failure rate or current market value.
Confirm the JW or JA chassis and commercial or passenger trim
The Wikipedia Honda Today entry says Honda built the kei car from 1985 to 1998, first as the JW1 three-door hatch and later with JA chassis codes after the March 1990 660 cc rules. Ask which chassis code and commercial or passenger trim this car carries, and get the build and ownership papers. Compare the chassis identifier with the title.
Match the engine and drive layout to the paperwork
The entry says the 1990 update brought a 656 cc engine with carburetted or fuel-injected versions, and that April 1990 added a permanent four-wheel-drive option with an independent rear axle. Ask which engine and drive layout are fitted and whether they match the papers. Request service and rebuild invoices and have a specialist check them.
Inspect floors, arches and the torsion-beam rear
The entry describes a coil-sprung torsion-beam rear axle and front struts on the first generation. Ask the inspector to check floors, sills, arches, strut mounts and the rear beam for rust, cracks and old repairs. Lift the carpets and note any water marks.
Plan import, registration and parts supply
Many Todays outside Japan arrive as imports. Ask how this car is registered, whether it was imported and which roads your area allows it to use. Ask who can supply engine and body parts before a deposit, and keep the sale conditional on a specialist report.
Put the identity and import file beside the inspection
The physical chassis identifier must agree with the sale documents before a report is ordered. Use our VIN identity checks to organise that comparison and our imported-car report guide to understand why foreign history may be thin. Ask for original registration, import and ownership papers as applicable. NMVTIS offers a U.S. title-history route with defined coverage; it does not certify a bespoke build or replace foreign records. A fake PDF can disguise an ownership gap, so verify evidence through the issuing source rather than accepting a seller screenshot.
Agree the specialist work before leaving a deposit
Tell the shop which version and components it will see, then agree lift access, a controlled road test and a written description of limitations. Our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps frame the appointment, while NYC used-car guidance recommends an independent mechanic. Ask the specialist to separate immediate safety work from cosmetic preferences and optional upgrades. Look, a repair estimate is useful only if a supplier will actually provide the required part. Have the shop obtain a response for any known missing item.
Keep the offer conditional on the findings you care about. Put any seller repair promise in the purchase agreement. If the workshop cannot establish structural condition or a route to a needed safety part, defer the deal rather than inventing a discount. The final decision should reflect the documented car and your intended use, not a figure copied from a launch story.
Write down what the viewing showed
Keep a dated note of what you saw on the Honda Today: chassis identifiers, warning lights, fluid leaks under the car, tyre dates, panel gaps and any part the seller could not show. Photograph each item. Send that list to the specialist before the appointment so the inspection starts from facts, not from the advert. If the seller will not allow photographs or lift access, ask why before you go further. A rare car rewards slow, written checks more than a quick decision made because another buyer might appear. If the seller pushes for a quick deposit, offer a refundable one tied to the inspection date, and put that condition in writing before any money moves.
Bring a friend to the viewing if you can. A second pair of eyes catches things you miss while talking to the seller, and they can take photos while you ask questions. Write the answers down on the spot and read them back to the seller before you leave.
We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Wholesale reports cost a few dollars; confirm current coverage and the total at checkout. A quiet report can miss unreported repairs. Keep the independent inspection even if the seller sends an impressive PDF.
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