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I'm looking for an inexpensive used car to get me thru the next year until I can afford to buy something new. I drive maybe 8,000 miles per year--around town, short freeway trips, etc. Maybe a two hour trip to a nearby city every few months.
I've found a car--1 owner (older man), CA/west coast for all of its life (no rust), extremely clean (doubt there's a cleaner 1999 out there), always garaged, well taken care of, manual trans, and 209,000 miles.
My question is would you consider buying this car? Getting it checked out by a mechanic but just wondering what things tend to go on a civic after the 200,000 mark...
I know I can keep looking and very well might. I've seen a lot of bad things out there and lots of scammers so buying this from a normal guy with documentation is a draw despite the high miles.
if a Honda is well taken care of and has all it's oil changes and routine maintenance it should go another 100k miles if you continue to do those things. But if someone didn't take care of it then you may be on borrowed time.
Hondas are excellent cars. A well maintained Honda with 200,000 miles still has life left in it. The one thing that has always kept me from buying a Honda is their parts cost more than other Japanese cars. The standard transmission is a big plus!
I would have a mechanic look at it, and if he thinks it's good, and the price is right, I'd get it.
Hondas are excellent cars. A well maintained Honda with 200,000 miles still has life left in it. The one thing that has always kept me from buying a Honda is their parts cost more than other Japanese cars. The standard transmission is a big plus!
I would have a mechanic look at it, and if he thinks it's good, and the price is right, I'd get it.
So would a Corolla be a lot cheaper to maintain? Didn't realize that. I've been looking mainly at Civics and Corollas. Haven't seen a Corolla at the right price and condition yet.
ANY car with over 200K miles on it could just stop running around the corner. The fact that is clean and well maintained is a good sign. Does this car have a timing belt? If yes, make sure to know if it was changed on time and when is it due for the next change ($$). Have a mechanic check the car; brakes, clutch, engine compression/etc. Sadly, $2500 does not get you much nowadays. Up to ten years ago, I used to buy cars with 100K miles on them (Corolla/Camry etc) in good condition with less then that amount. Everybody thought that at 100K miles a nuclear bomb would go off in the car and it would self destruct.
So would a Corolla be a lot cheaper to maintain? Didn't realize that. I've been looking mainly at Civics and Corollas. Haven't seen a Corolla at the right price and condition yet.
I don't think you'd see a noticeable difference in maintenance costs between a Civic and Corolla. Those are probably the two most comparable (mainstream) cars from different manufacturers available.
I can spend up to 4000 I'm just not finding anything decent even going higher. Or if they are decent they seem to disappear within hours and since I need to arrange for a mechanic I lose out on the better deals. I plan to drive whatever I get until it dies and then buy something new. Just not in a position to buy new right now as I'm finishing up a last term of school and want to be in a job for 6-12 months before getting saddled with a monthly payment.
Is it an ex lx or dx That car is worth 2k At best..
If its an ex, 2k max
Lx 1500-1800
Dx 1200-1500. Never mind that. I wouldn't even buy it.
But at this price point. It's just another beater and for some people it doesn't matter the model. To me it does. I want the most for my money, it makes it easier to resell.
Don't just get any mechanic, you need someone who is familiar with Hondas.
By now the suspension,bushing, etc are worn and shot. If its been replaced, you re in luck..
You need to look for oil leak., valve cover gasket, distributor o ring. These are minor, can be a DIY.
Check at the bottom oil leak, If its on the driver side, the middle or the back of the engine. These are your big ticket item.. That only gets worse. Til you fix it.
Check clutch feel and play. Drive it, make sure it doesn't crunch when u shift into 2nd and 3r
Ask them, when the t belt /water pump been replaced, it needs replacement every 100k. At 200 it needs one. This is your big ticket item
If all the above has been done. Maybe 2k max.
Good luck
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