Looking for advice on buying an older civic
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Looking for advice on buying an older civic
Mods, feel free to move to the right forum as I am new here.
I posted this in a different forum, lets try here:
Hello all, I am doing some searching to buy an older model civic as a beater. With all due respect to Hondas I am not coming here to rag on them by any means. My wife actualy drives one and I had a CRX when I was back in college. Anyways, I got about $1500 to spare.
I am not planning to modify as I have an M3 to play with on the weekends. Preferebly a civic in good condition of course 5spd and all. Here are my questions:
What years to avoid?
What to look for when inspecting the car?
What breaks down with high milage and what model civic should I look for(engine wise)?
Of course I wouldn't even ask about reliability
If someone have a good link or can give me the right info I would appreciate it.
Thanks
mtriple
I posted this in a different forum, lets try here:
Hello all, I am doing some searching to buy an older model civic as a beater. With all due respect to Hondas I am not coming here to rag on them by any means. My wife actualy drives one and I had a CRX when I was back in college. Anyways, I got about $1500 to spare.
I am not planning to modify as I have an M3 to play with on the weekends. Preferebly a civic in good condition of course 5spd and all. Here are my questions:
What years to avoid?
What to look for when inspecting the car?
What breaks down with high milage and what model civic should I look for(engine wise)?
Of course I wouldn't even ask about reliability
If someone have a good link or can give me the right info I would appreciate it.
Thanks
mtriple
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,262
Likes: 2
From: long island, ny, usa
Re: Looking for advice on buying an older civic (mtriple)
88-91 civics are good cars for daily drivers.
older then that, it depends on where you live weather or not they will be rusted out. but if your using it to get too and from work, and you dont care about such things, then its not even an issue.
what to look for:
burning oil.
excessive leaking oil.
does it idle ok?
when the person lets you drive it, does it accelerate smoothly.
how many miles?
what goes on these cars a lot are alternators, and distributors. if its over the 100k mark id do a timimg belt, plugs, wires, oil change, tranny oil change, flush coolant system, then get it inspected.
provided it passes that, you shoud have yourself a nice car to get to work with.
88-91 models: crx, hatchaback or sedan.
sedan and hatch are cheaper on insurance due to back seat and less likley to be stolen.
also, these cars are very addictive, theres something in the interior plastic like morphine that gives them all that same smell.
be prepared to modify it even though you say now you wont
older then that, it depends on where you live weather or not they will be rusted out. but if your using it to get too and from work, and you dont care about such things, then its not even an issue.
what to look for:
burning oil.
excessive leaking oil.
does it idle ok?
when the person lets you drive it, does it accelerate smoothly.
how many miles?
what goes on these cars a lot are alternators, and distributors. if its over the 100k mark id do a timimg belt, plugs, wires, oil change, tranny oil change, flush coolant system, then get it inspected.
provided it passes that, you shoud have yourself a nice car to get to work with.
88-91 models: crx, hatchaback or sedan.
sedan and hatch are cheaper on insurance due to back seat and less likley to be stolen.
also, these cars are very addictive, theres something in the interior plastic like morphine that gives them all that same smell.
be prepared to modify it even though you say now you wont
Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 1
From: West Chester, PA, USA
Re: Looking for advice on buying an older civic (mtriple)
Also check for rust. The 88-91 civic/crx are notorious for rusting out around the rear quarter panels and wheel wells.
Also look for any oil leaking or burning
Make sure it starts nicely and idles nicely
I would personally avoid any of the pre 88 models that are carbed but that is my personal opinion and maybe you might want to work with a carbed civic.
Also look for any oil leaking or burning
Make sure it starts nicely and idles nicely
I would personally avoid any of the pre 88 models that are carbed but that is my personal opinion and maybe you might want to work with a carbed civic.
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