I bought a '98 Civic EX Coupe and brought it into the Honda dealership for a used car inspection, and the mechanic said there was a laundry list of fixes and that he wouldn't have bought the car. This was very off-putting as I've been driving a '93 POS Civic DX Sedan for the last three years that was a great commuter car but that has stuttering with the air cooling on, a front end that knocks when I turn and brake (just recently though), an interior and exterior that is damaged and falling apart, various fluid leaks etc. I'm sure if I gave him that car he'd give me a longer laundry list and tell me to leave it at the junkyard.

How seriously should I take him on this? I haven't seen the list yet but I'm sure I could fix a few things and it will drive great for the next three years. I only plan on driving it for the next year until I can get a proper car loan (though I feel like I'll waste more money there).

 

Maybe you should post up the "laundry list" for starters. No one can tell you anything without it. As it stands now, you have no issues.

 

I'm looking for an opinion on experiences with Honda inspections on used cars... I could post up the list (which I'm sure is too long to keep most people's attention), but then that's useless based on what you're saying without another laundry list of my current car considering I only gave you a few examples.

So, opinions? Experiences? Anybody with useful info please?

 

No need to get all up in arms. You asked if you should take him seriously. I'm saying wait until you get the list from him and see what they find. It's an inspection. Have you never gotten one of these before? From any auto repair shop? I get them all the time. It's up to you what you want to fix on your own and what you want them to. Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

If your only going to keep the car 1 yr. Don't fix anything unless it prevents you from going from A to B. If a/c is a must fix it. Thats what i tell everyone...

If the goal is 3 yrs, then that changes things. Look for when the timing belt was changed and go from there. After the T-belt is addressed everything else is moot. Honestly a used car is a throw away item. There is one on every corner and you can get another one like a new microwave from the store. If your like me, you fix 99% of the items on your treasured ride. New dealer parts / used parts no questions asked.

Of course his list will have some legitimacy. The car is old. But it likes how Clark Howard puts it - drive it till the wheels fall off and don't put money into any repair if it exceeds 50% of the value of the car.
GL

 

Shops, their techs, and their sales people exist for one reason: to make the company richer. They're going to recommend every minor and major thing your car could possibly need, call them all major, and tell you they should fix all of those problems for you. It's your job as a car owner to look at what they give you, sort through the money grabbing, and figure out what you actually need.

Is the CEL on? Are there any wobbles, vibrations, shakes, or shimmies? Do all of your pedals feel good? Have all of the key maintenance points been kept up on? If everything is working correctly, and all maintenance has been kept up on, I wouldn't worry about their "laundry list".

 

List the "laundry list" of issues.

 

No, I haven't gotten one of these before. They cost $129 and I only got it because I noticed a few things I didn't like (most people don't notice things like this) like the engine being a little louder/shakier (meaning unsmooth) than others and an obvious oil leak. I've typically driven cars for 3-5 years and my guess is 3 times out of 4 there'd be a laundry list for an older car like this so I don't splurge on inspections like I can do them all the time. My guess is this is in much better condition than my current car just based on how it drives and looks.

Have you never gotten an inspection from a dealership? If you have, please post your experience here, especially if it's for an older car (like, beyond Certified Used old).

 

When you buy somoenes used car who isnt' an enthusiest there are always things to repair/replace. Im going to assume most of the body bushings, trailing arm, control arm, tie rods, and CV boots all need to be replaced. It probably has various oil leaks/seepage. Complete tune up and so on.

But, as stated above we have no clue the extent of the list without you posting it. Most likely 90% of the stuff should be taken care of.

 

The person that purchased my 03 TL-S took it to an Acura dealer, They had the car for 2hrs. $150 later they told him it will need wiper inserts soon, and two plastic (push) clips were broken in one of the fender wells. They said it was the first car they ever performed an insepction for that needed nothing. Then told me I shouldn't sell it, and that if I do, he should def buy it. lol They usually go over everything really well.

 

The CEL was never on; just an engine vibration I've noticed on a few older cars (I've seen cars with this kind of vibration drive just fine for years). It could mean nothing, but it isn't smooth like my current POS, so I wanted it inspected. I have a mechanic I trust but he has a usual 4-day wait so I tried the dealer this time. I think their concern was not money this time because they told me not to buy the car before they knew I had, and the mechanic requested to speak to me in person about it at the shop, but he probably would have said worse about my current car. To me it seems like they are over-inflating its seriousness because they're used to getting newer cars in better condition.

 

So I take it you aren't going to post the laundry list of things, are you?

 

This is a technical forum. What's the point of this thread if you don't post what the mechanic said? Why the mystery?

 

Never have, never will. Dealerships are a waste of money!!! The techs job is to provide revenue for the stealership and that is what he is doing by pointing out every little thing. Like mentioned before give us some examples of what he told you needed fixing.

 

Why are you asking us if what the mechanic said is truthful or not? Nobody here knows the guy that looked at your car, or the shop he works for. Some mechanics are very honest and fair, some are liars.

Why would you do this AFTER you purchased the car? You're supposed to do it before.

 

Agreed

 

Seriously post the list otherwise this thread is pointless

 

sounds like you don't do any work to your car unless you absoultly half to. so why bother with an inspection ? hmmm my cars unfit for the road ok i'll just drive it till it falls apart.

 

So basically you had it inspected after you bought it?

The mechanic said there are issues with it, why would he be biased now, he said you should not of bought it, he was being honest, must need a lot of work, just hope nothing serious like a head gasket, valve work, ring work etc.

What is the mileage?

 

I'm trying to get past that you took it to someplace to get it inspected (after the fact) BUT you don't trust the person you took it to? Can't explain that in any case.

 

dhinged

Seems like your reason for the inspection was you noticed vibration and loud noise, and not how it drives or whatever. Take into account of the list the mech gave you, what's on that list that will more likely fix the noise and vibration. Would you be willing to spend that amount of money needed for that specific fix knowing you only intend to drive it for a year?

One thing at least I'll be more concerned about is that if something fails while I'm driving the car, is that when if fails, it wouldn't be something that would cause an accident. I would look close the suspension linkages and the brakes. If engine fails you could at least pull to the side of the road.

Now, for the dealership "laundry list", he probably looked for everything he cn find in your car, besides the more you have them fix the more they make money. But I doubt they're any better than the mech at the shop next door. It's more a lifestyle having it done at the dealership. You pay to play.

Now I'm curious about the list..

 

I don't think some people are getting it. An inspection doesn't mean anyone is trying to do any work. It's just an inspection. It gives you an idea of the extent of issues with your vehicle. The OP paid for an inspection. When he gets the list of deficient items he can choose to work on anything that he is capable of.

 

Surely if you post the list up, forum members can recommend which items should be fixed for you to drive safely for the next 1yr vs. 3yrs. Then you can judge how seriously you should take the mechanic on his recommendations. Remember that it's a bit of a shakedown at the dealer - they'll try to scare you out of your money - so there are potentially things you can take with a grain of salt.

 

not for nothing but, I got a car off a kid because he went to Honda to get something fixed and they came out and did the courtesy, to have your car running right your going to need 3k worth of work, however they could put him in a new honda fit today for 800 down.

Well he got the fit, and I got his integra. I put $150 bucks into the car to change an axle and a few gaskets/minor tuneup etc and sold the car a month later for 2500 more then I paid for it.

Mechanics make money SELLING you work. Maybe you found a mechanic that doesn't need your business and is being honest that you got a clunker. OR--- Maybe you got a mechanic that is looking out for himself and is going to sell you 2k worth of work on your old civic.

 

OP never returned to post his list. Thread is pretty much useless at this point.