Hello all,

Online I go by "nanxun." I live in the greater DC metro area.

I've owned a 3rd gen (2007, UA7) Acura TL (3.2L V6, 5AT, non-nav) for seven years now and love it.

My main reason for being here is that I'm considering buying a 1988 Honda Civic DX sedan (ED3, 1.5L DB15b2, 4AT) with 79k miles on the clock and am seeking any and all advice before doing so.

Here's a picture of the car:





The asking price for this example is $5,995, which seems a tad high to me (but what do I know?). Anyway, I'm completely new to the "EF" Hondas and would both welcome and appreciate any advice forum members might care to offer.

My main concerns are:

1. What's a reasonable price for an ED3 which only has 79k miles on the odo and seems (from pictures) to be in fairly good nick?
2. What are the known issues with these cars? And what should one look for if/when inspecting the car in-person and taking it for a test drive?
3. How easy is it to run and maintain a 37 year old car? Are parts relatively available? Or more difficult to come by? (I did some poking around online and see that key components like struts/springs, etc. have been discontinued by Honda.)

The plan is for me to use the ED3 Civic to drive to work (6 miles, one-way) and to putt around town (groceries, etc.), while the UA7 Acura TL will be used mainly as a highway cruiser.

My dad owned one of these in the exact same color (Grayish [B-35M] or Superior [B-47M] Blue Metallic?) back in 1989-1995, and I loved driving it in my late teens and early 20s. Such great visibility and nimble chassis dynamics!
So, for me this is a bit of nostalgia-chasing on a budget!

TIA,
nanxun

 

Under carriage rust is of utmost concern since you live in a snow-belt. With proper maintenance, the power train should provide you with reliable transportation for thousands of miles to come. A timing belt, front seals, and a water pump should be changed out at about 90K if they haven't already been done. Electrical ignition switch failures, as well as a brittle climate control face plate are common interior problems.

Assuming there is little to no rust underneath and the interior is flawless... and the test drive detects no faults/issues... I would say the price is fair.

 

Thx for sharing your thoughts! Much appreciated.

Btw, both my parents are graduates of 'Bama, back in the early 1960s, just a few years after Bear Bryant returned to Tuscaloosa.

 

RROOOOOLLLLLLL TIDE !!!