My '88 HB is the same vintage (225,000 kms),  when my
main relay failed, the car wouldn't start only when it was warm
(or hot of course).  In fact, it started to act up one fall and I drove
the entire winter without a problem, come the spring when things
warmed up, the car would crank forever without firing.  So I bought
a new relay.  So, when you say it won't start when it's cold,
I'm thinking it *might* not be the relay, if I'm wrong, I'm sure
someone will verify this.  In any event, let 'us' know the
outcome.

Mike / Toronto

Good post. It's particularly helpful as I contemplate my 14-year-old Civic
(bought new, like yours). Fortunately only about half its life has been
spent in really snowy long winters. It has 274k kilometers ( = ~ 170k miles)
on it. So using your numbers and Canadian locale, I figure she's good for at
least three more years. The only major repair/maintenance is the timing
belt, for which I happen to already have the new belt and tensioner. So I am
calculating whether to actually replace these when they're due in summer,
2007... Guess I'll see how everything else looks.

At least the Honda Fit/Jazz should be available by then!

I'm in a similar spot: I have a 1990 Accord LX with a host of
problems.  About 200,000 miles, though I don't know the exact
amount because the speed sensor (or its wiring) went out a few
months back, and I haven't had time to look at it yet.  (I only
recently reclaimed the car from my stepdaughter.)  Windshield's
cracked.  All four tires are shot.  Rust around rear wheels has
penetrated far enough that the trunk leaks.  There's some body
damage, including the front passenger light cluster.

And I suspect bad suspension wear (ball joints and/or tie rods); it
has a nasty shimmy at highway speeds.  Could just be the tires, but
I'm not optimistic.

However, I'd like to be able to trade this car in about six months
from now, and if I don't keep it running I won't be able to.  I have
to decide if it's worth doing the things that absolutely need to be
done now (windshield, tires, lights, speed sensor), with junkyard
parts where applicable, just to keep it on the road for a little
longer.

On the plus side, the engine still runs well (despite being overdue
for a tuneup, among other things) and the interior is in good shape.
It'd be a pretty nice car for running local errands if the most
urgent things were fixed.