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Car Forum / Honda Cars / April 2006Cheap, reliable used Civic? Finding cheap/reliable Civic to last 3 years?
Hi, I'm going to be moving to Texas for work and will be buying my first car there. I plan to stay there for about 3 years. The company is supplying a rental car for the first month, during which time i will have to find my own car. I'm looking for a cheap used car. I've been checking out Honda Civic's and Toyota Camrys on Yahoo autos and houstoncarfinder.com, and the cheapest prices i've been able to find come in at about $7000. My question: I would like to get a car for $2000-$4000, that will last me 2-3 years of driving in the city, and one which I won't have to fix often. Is it totally impossible to get a car in this price range at all? Why can't I find any cars in this price range on the internet? Will it be easier to find a car in this price range by looking through the local papers when i get there? Is it unreasonable to expect not to have to repair it often if i want it for only a few years and how much would repairs typically run? If I want a car for only a few years, and want to pay as little for it as possible, yet want it to be reliable what's the best way to go? Thank you. > My question: I would like to get a car for $2000-$4000, that will last > me 2-3 years of driving in the city, and one which I won't have to fix > often. I have one of those for sale, but it's not in Texas. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Thank you. Interesting question. You're stuck with the cheap vs. reliable tradeoff however. If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not in your price range. If you *must* purchase a car, first of all it's good that you're in Texas and not in the rust belt. Secondly, you'd be looking at a 100k + mile car from the early/mid-90's, that would need at least some fix'n, whether it's Honda or Toyota. Really, that's the tradeoff- cost/reliability. Have you looked at some lease options? I know. Gasp. I hate the idea of renting and eating the depreciation of the first few years, but if you choose just about any Asian econocar, you might be making VERY small monthly payments and have the entire car covered by warrantee. Just about exactly a year ago, I was looking for the exact same thing you are. I bought a 92 Civic EX loaded with 126k for $2600. but knew there were some repairs to make. Engine, trans, AC, and body were all decent, but I spent over $1k in the past year on suspension, brakes, tires, etc. You usually get what you pay for. Good luck. >> Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > choose just about any Asian econocar, you might be making VERY small > monthly payments and have the entire car covered by warrantee. yup- if the OP KNOWS they wont need it more than 3 years, a lease on something like that would be a good idea. > Just about exactly a year ago, I was looking for the exact same thing > you are. I bought a 92 Civic EX loaded with 126k for $2600. but knew [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Good luck. > If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not > in your price range. Not true. I have a 94 Civic DX 4 door automatic w/air and 58K miles that we're selling for $3K. >> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not >> in your price range. >Not true. >I have a 94 Civic DX 4 door automatic w/air and 58K miles that we're >selling for $3K. A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. > >I have a 94 Civic DX 4 door automatic w/air and 58K miles that we're > >selling for $3K. > A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. I don't think 5K miles per year is that extraordinary. Perhaps it is a second vehicle that isn't driven much. Or perhaps they live close to most of their destinations. I barely put over 5K miles per year on my s2000. I commute to work by bike most of the time, and quite a few things are close to my house (grocery stores, restaraunts, theaters, gym, shopping, etc). I really only put on miles on roadtrips and weekend pleasure drives in the mountains. J > A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. Nope. One owner--my mother. > > A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. > > Nope. One owner--my mother. That'd be the used-car buyer's dream car. Kinda like a "barn-find". You'd get a lot more for that up here in Chicago. > > > A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. > > > > Nope. One owner--my mother. > > That'd be the used-car buyer's dream car. Kinda like a "barn-find". > You'd get a lot more for that up here in Chicago. Or on ebay... JT >>> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not >>> in your price range. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. ive got a 98 civic hatch with 52k miles. i rarely drive it aside from rainy days, vacation trips or big shopping trips. my commuter is a 2-wheeler. >>>> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not >>>> in your price range. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> >> A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. >ive got a 98 civic hatch with 52k miles. i rarely drive it aside from >rainy days, vacation trips or big shopping trips. my commuter is a >2-wheeler. 52K != 58K; 8 years != 12 years. Do you expect to do less than 6K miles over the next four years? Do you also spam this newsgroup when you want to sell a car? >>>>> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not >>>>> in your price range. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Do you expect to do less than 6K miles over the next four years? yes. > Do you also spam this newsgroup when you want to sell a car? who's spamming, jerky? > >>> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not > >>> in your price range. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > rainy days, vacation trips or big shopping trips. my commuter is a > 2-wheeler. What do you ride? I did the ninja/interceptor thing back in the 80's. Next week I'm taking the MSF course as a refresher and I'll start looking for probably an Ironhead sporty this fall. >>>>> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not >>>>> in your price range. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > What do you ride? I did the ninja/interceptor thing back in the 80's. for 15 years, i had this: http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_9408_shift/ since 9/03, this has been all ive needed. it does it all: http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/2005_Bikes/suzuki_an400.html > Next week I'm taking the MSF course as a refresher and I'll start > looking for probably an Ironhead sporty this fall. >>> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not >>> in your price range. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >A 12 year old car w/ 58K miles? Sounds like it got an odometer replacement. I expect to have a 16 year old Civic with 29K for sale soon. It is my mother's car and she is giving up driving. The odometer has not been replaced or tampered, etc. Any idea what this might be worth? > I expect to have a 16 year old Civic with 29K for sale soon. It is my > mother's car and she is giving up driving. The odometer has not been > replaced or tampered, etc. > > Any idea what this might be worth? a 1990? what body style and trim level? garaged? paint still shiny, etc? if it happpened to be an Si hatch, id give ya $5000 for it :) >> I expect to have a 16 year old Civic with 29K for sale soon. It is my >> mother's car and she is giving up driving. The odometer has not been [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >if it happpened to be an Si hatch, id give ya $5000 for it :) No such luck. It is a hatchback, outside all its life. I am going to pick it up next weekend to give it a good inspection but I think the body is in pretty good shape considering the age. Depending on condition and options, I'd guess 2-3k from a smart buyer. I'd guess more than that. A 29K miles car is virtually new except it sure would be time to replace all the hoses if not aready done. JT > Depending on condition and options, I'd guess 2-3k from a smart buyer. > A 29K miles car is virtually new except it > sure would be time to replace all the hoses if not aready done. A couple of years ago, my aunt stopped driving. She had an 87 Civic DX w/auto and air and a radio, and it had--no fooling--8000 miles on the clock. My sister in law got it for $2000 or $2500 or something. It now has 14K on the clock. The muffler had rotted out, and I told her to get new timing belt and drive belts and hoses, and I suggested tires as well. Not sure what all she ended up doing with it, but I think she spent another $600 to $1000 in all. My wife wants us to buy my mother's car. I was mistaken; it's 54,871 miles. (sigh) I don't know... > > A 29K miles car is virtually new except it > > sure would be time to replace all the hoses if not aready done. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > (sigh) I don't know... Two years ago, I bought to Honda Civics (1982 and 1983) both of which had just over 100K for $200. The 1982 was wrecked in the front but still had a functioning drive line and the '83 had the head off (rebuilt but never installed) but the body was virtually perfect and was the FE model. I test ran the engine (which started right up with a small portable gas tank hooked to the carb and it sounded great. I pulled the engine/tranny out of the '82 and stripped it down to a bare block. The clutch/pressure plate were like new so I left that alone. Pulled the '83 engine/tranny then married the good '82 block with the '83 tranny and retained all of the '83 accessories. It is nearing completion and I look to actually have it running within the next months. Also, I installed a new fuel tank/pump/filters. Before I installed the engine, I changed out the timing belt and waterpump. I figure that I'll have about $800 total in this car when it's ready for the road and judging from what these units bring on eBay, I can't really go wrong. If it gives me any grief, to market it will go and I'll just rely on my old trusty (and simple) 1955 Studebaker President. JT > I'd guess more than that. A 29K miles car is virtually new except it > sure would be time to replace all the hoses if not aready done. surprisingly (or not!), japanese hoses can last a long, long time. ive had a couple vehicles that were 15+ years old, with the original hoses. still supple, and not rotting/bulging from the inside either due to regular coolant changes. > > I'd guess more than that. A 29K miles car is virtually new except it > > sure would be time to replace all the hoses if not aready done. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > still supple, and not rotting/bulging from the inside either due to > regular coolant changes. See my other post this date. In it I mention a 1983 Civic FE that had its head off due to a blown head gasket. I will agree that OEM hoses are pretty good but it's not worth the risk to be penny-wise but dollar foolish when considering the consequences of any coolant failure. Every coolant hose has been replaced regarding my FE project. JT >>> I'd guess more than that. A 29K miles car is virtually new except it >>> sure would be time to replace all the hoses if not aready done. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > JT sure- all depends on climate and what aftermarket manufacturer you go with. id be more likely to catch a hose leaking than a belt breaking, especially a timing belt. the TB is crucial, but hoses can be important too. > >>> I'd guess more than that. A 29K miles car is virtually new except it > >>> sure would be time to replace all the hoses if not aready done. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > with. id be more likely to catch a hose leaking than a belt breaking, > especially a timing belt. the TB is crucial, but hoses can be important too. Most premature ending of Honda(s) are maintenance related. Failure to replace timing belts along with a failure to monitor the temperature gauge. Both can ruin your day in a hurry... JT >> If it's reliable and not going to need any repairs, it's not >> in your price range. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I have a 94 Civic DX 4 door automatic w/air and 58K miles that we're > selling for $3K. if its clean, its going to sell immediately. might wanna ask a lil bit more? > > I have a 94 Civic DX 4 door automatic w/air and 58K miles that we're > > selling for $3K. > > if its clean, its going to sell immediately. might wanna ask a lil bit more? Maybe. I'll give it a try. So far, it's available to family members. This weekend I'll take pictures and put it on craigslist. I'll probably ask $3500 initially, and take $3K. We do want to move it, though. I guess the $3500 is legitimate because last March we did $1200 worth of maintenance on it--timing belt et al., brakes, and a couple of other things. Tires are good, too--so it's ready to roll for someone for at least 3 years. > > > I have a 94 Civic DX 4 door automatic w/air and 58K miles that we're > > > selling for $3K. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > things. Tires are good, too--so it's ready to roll for someone for at > least 3 years. How 'bout offering to the OP? ;-) Your car is *exactly* what I was looking for a year ago. Sounds like a gem. Can't keep it? > Your car is *exactly* what I was > looking for a year ago. Sounds like a gem. Can't keep it? eh, could keep it, and some aspects of the whole situation make it make sense, but....geez, if only it were....an Accord. I'd happily replace my 94 ES300 w/160K on the clock with something like this, but I want the size of a Camry/Accord. I don't want to go back to a Civic. > > > I have a 94 Civic DX 4 door automatic w/air and 58K miles that we're > > > selling for $3K. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > things. Tires are good, too--so it's ready to roll for someone for at > least 3 years. One consideration is where the car resides... Rust belt, southwest US, etc. A '94 Civic from New England would be worth considerably less than one from Arizona for the same mileage car. JT >Just about exactly a year ago, I was looking for the exact same thing >you are. I bought a 92 Civic EX loaded with 126k for $2600. but knew >there were some repairs to make. Engine, trans, AC, and body were all >decent, but I spent over $1k in the past year on suspension, brakes, >tires, etc. You usually get what you pay for. Which in your case is not too bad. A new Civic would have cost you $1000 in interest alone. Depreciation and higher insurance would be at least $2000 more. Total out of pocket expenses might have been $4,600 plus insurance plus your down payment. And, except for the down payment, you can pretty well count on getting the same thing next year. About the time you get it paid off (or maybe before), you can expect to buy... brakes and tires. Your used Civic cost less than $100 in interest (money you could have earned on the cash I assume you paid for the car.) You saved on insurance and your car may be now worth more than you paid for it because it has new tires and brakes. Your out of pocket expenses were $1100 plus (lower) insurance and your initial $2600. Next year you could easily get away for a couple hundred dollars or it could cost you a couple thousand. It can't get close to that $4,600 you would have paid if you had bought new. Even if the car burns to the ground tomorrow, it won't have cost you as much as a new car would have. Both cars incur fuel and maintenance expenses which are about the same over the long haul. So will repairs if you keep the new car long enough. One will give you the joys of new car ownership. The other is likely to be vexing at times but can still be a joy to own. If you drive both cars into the ground, cost, joy and vexation will tend to equalize. Some people are so prissy or status conscious or whatever that they have to buy a new car every two or three years. I don't know if you get what you pay for, but I do know you pay a lot for that. > >Just about exactly a year ago, I was looking for the exact same thing > >you are. I bought a 92 Civic EX loaded with 126k for $2600. but knew [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > have to buy a new car every two or three years. I don't know if you > get what you pay for, but I do know you pay a lot for that. True. Lots of sound thoughts there Gordon. Owning a car is gonna cost ya whether it's in payments, interest, depreciation, or repairs. Not to mention insurance. One way or another, you're gonna pay. I haven't been blessed (?) with the joy of new car ownership for about 20 years, and lately I'm feeling good driving an oldy-but-goody. There's some kind of feeling about pulling into my work parking lot with my shiny '92 (yep- paid cash), and all the others with their leased Benz suv's. Suckers. I guess if I sold the house, wife, and kids, I could afford to blow a lot on a status symbol. Priorities, I guess. Check out on the local newspaper, where you relocated yourself for your job. Good luck >Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > >Thank you. I nice site to go to would be www.autotrader.com > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Thank you. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Is it totally impossible to get a car in this price range at all? if i was to sell my 98 civic hatch with 52k miles, id likely ask more than $4000. closer to $6k. try a newer used kia or hyundai. civics and corollas hold their value too well. then theres always the echo! > I'm looking for a cheap used car. I've been checking out > Honda Civic's [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Is it totally impossible to get a car in this price range > at all? Use www.edmunds.com 's used car appraiser to perform some iterations based on mileage, age, and condition to get an idea of what you can reasonably get. > Hi, > > I'm going to be moving to Texas for work and will be buying my first > car there. I plan to stay there for about 3 years. The company is > supplying a rental car for the first month, during which time i will > have to find my own car. I had pretty good luck with the following when buying used cars for my kids. I made repeated visits to new car dealerships and got to know the used car sales managers. I kept going back (weekly), asking about cars traded-in since my last visit. I was able to find high mile trade-ins, single owner vehicles at low prices. Most dealers do not sell these cars to individuals, instead they get rid of them via wholesalers. You have to beat the wholesaler to the dealership (pretty easy since the wholesaler generally visits the dealerships on a fixed schedule). But I'll admit this took more than one month. I was able to buy two Accords at prices close to the trade-in values listed at Edmunds. Don't neglect to negotiate any required service work at the time of purchase. Or, as suggested, lease. For example about $3K down and $219/month puts you into an Acura RSX. If you arrange for a lease like this before you arrive in Texas your employer may be willing to give you the cash equivalent of a month's rental car. >> Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >arrive in Texas your employer may be willing to give you the cash >equivalent of a month's rental car. Personally, I would pick the new Civic Si over the RSX (and I have been driving Integras for 20 years now). In fact, this is the first new Honda that would tempt me to trade in my '94 GS-R. Maybe in a couple years. I think the OP is a young person just starting out his(?) first real job. Understandably, he doesn't have a lot of savings and he may very likely have a lot of school debt. I think he is wisely buying less car than he could conceivably afford. He also I think he could very easily find a car in the $3 - 5K range that would serve him well for three years. If he sets aside $100 a month for repairs, I would bet he would actually have a small nest egg by the time he sells the car for $2 - 3K. So what kind of engineer are you, shiftcontrol8? > Personally, I would pick the new Civic Si over the RSX So would I except for the Honda-sponsored lease deal. > I think he could very easily find a car in the $3 - 5K range that > would serve him well for three years. No car in the $3-5K range will have the safety features of a new RSX; and drivers with the least experience are better served by safer cars. Obviously, the RSX will not require any costly repairs whereas any cheap used car might. My local CarMax dealership is now selling new Nissan Sentras for under $11,800. The Sentra may not be exciting but it should be reliable for 3 years. Well as the saying goes, "Save some GAS ride a MOTORCYCLE!" For $5,999 you can buy a brand new Yamaha Cruiser VROD. You won't have to worry about costly repairs or rising gas prices. Texas has ideal weather for motorcycles. What part of Texas are you going to? San Antonio and Houston Weather are perfect 90% of the time for riding a motorcycle. The only time I wouldn't ride is during the 2 bad weeks out of the winter time when it's sleeting outside with frosties. Texas major cities have such a good mass trasit system anyway that if you only had a motorcycle, you can easily ride METRO at a nominal price on thse few days out of the year when it's icy outside. East- > Well as the saying goes, "Save some GAS ride a MOTORCYCLE!" For $5,999 > you can buy a brand new Yamaha Cruiser VROD. You won't have to worry A VROD is a helluva lot more than $6k, and it ain't made by Yamaha. Did you mean a V-Star Classic? > > Well as the saying goes, "Save some GAS ride a MOTORCYCLE!" For $5,999 > > you can buy a brand new Yamaha Cruiser VROD. You won't have to worry > > A VROD is a helluva lot more than $6k, and it ain't made by Yamaha. > > Did you mean a V-Star Classic? Oh yes, my error. I did mean to say V-Star Classic. I love that bike and I would love to purchase one when I'm ready. I want the one that's metallic read and silver. The only fault I find with it is the rear brake drum. As an option can I get a rear disc installed? East- >> > Well as the saying goes, "Save some GAS ride a MOTORCYCLE!" For $5,999 >> > you can buy a brand new Yamaha Cruiser VROD. You won't have to worry [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > The only fault I find with it is the rear brake drum. As an option can > I get a rear disc installed? Don't know much about it. I'm a Beemer guy myself. K1200RSA. > Don't know much about it. I'm a Beemer guy myself. K1200RSA. Seth, what is the new R Bike going to be like? Will it still utilize an air cooled horizontally opposed boxer type engine in some trim levels? I'm the type that would like a bike for different occasions. In my Bike collection I want a BMW, Yamaha, Honda and possibly a Harley. I say possibly because I'm not so thrilled about the high maintainance costs, high initial costs, and the high theft rate of the Harleys. Worse than the rest of the Brands. The Yamaha will be a cruiser. The Honda a Sport or a Standard. The BMW a Sport Touring. The Harley, a Cruiser or a Roadster. The problem with Honda is the only Standard they offer happens to have a drum brake front and back. A front disc brake would have to be swapped off of a Rebel. It is an interchangeable part. East- >> Don't know much about it. I'm a Beemer guy myself. K1200RSA. > > Seth, what is the new R Bike going to be like? Will it still utilize > an air cooled horizontally opposed boxer type engine in some trim > levels? Which "R" bike? They have many. I may eventuallt get an R1200R, but more likely a K1200S or K1200R first. > I'm the type that would like a bike for different occasions. In my > Bike collection I want a BMW, Yamaha, Honda and possibly a Harley. I > say possibly because I'm not so thrilled about the high maintainance > costs, high initial costs, and the high theft rate of the Harleys. > Worse than the rest of the Brands. Well, no cruiser in my immediate future. I find that riding position to be uncomfortable and bad for my back. > The Yamaha will be a cruiser. The Honda a Sport or a Standard. The > BMW a Sport Touring. The Harley, a Cruiser or a Roadster. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > East- > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Thank you. Buy a 100k mile warrantied $9K (Some dealers offer free gas for the first year) Kia and enjoy your stay in Texas. BTW, what part of Texas will you be in? JT |
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