Somewhere around twelve to fourteen years I figure tons of little
stuff is going to go continuously wrong from then on, and it's maybe
better to pass the old dog onto someone for a grand or two and let
them deal with it, while you can still get even that much in good
faith.

Sounds like you don't do a lot of miles, so yeah, a three year old
Civic coming off of lease, might be ideal for the next ten years or
so!  Or a low-mile older car in good shape, owned by grandma who was
also a good shadetree mechanic, ...

J.

I'd get that seeming transmission stutter checked out and
estimated, then report back. That might make this decision
easy.

Otherwise, the flooding seems to me to be such a big
question mark. It seems hard to say what other damage it
caused, or how it will accelerate body rust.

But for the flooding, which is potentially the other
dealbreaker, I think your estimate that around $1500 would
fix it up sounds right. The $1500 would be money well spent,
in the overall scheme of car costs, if the flooding could be
known to have done no other serious damage, and if the
trannie is okay. But for the flooding, and assuming the
trannnie is okay, you should easily get two more years out
of the car. A cost of around $750 a year to own a car (not
counting gas) is pretty cheap.

That clicking is likely the CV joint needing replacement.
Few hundred bucks to have it repaired by a shop, if memory
serves. Tegger's site has good discussion on it, IIRC.

Because of the shaking at higher speeds, get your suspension
inspected by someone who knows Hondas. They might find, say,
a lot of bad ball joints which might also make this decision
easy.

I bought it used and it now has 92,000 miles and it got somewha
flooded a few weeks back (about 3" of water in the driver side) fro
sitting in a flooded parking lot for a few hourse. I replaced th
computer and it is now fine but there are lots of nagging littl
problems. There is quite a bit of rust around the wheel wells;
haven't seen an Accord of this year without rust in the same places

The shift (automatic) is sometimes balky being pulled out of park bu
otherwise appears to be fine. I have no complaints about the engine
I've done pretty regular oil changes

The front end shakes at 55-60mph, which I guess means it needs to b
aligned. There is clicking during left turns, axle perhaps? The C
boots are ok. Those are the mechanical problems that I know of. An
it's due for a big Honda checkup, likely around $300 or so

Water leaks into the trunk when I open it up, flowing down from th
driver side taillight. The locks need to be re-keyed to fit th
ignition lock or someday the Viper clicky will die and I won't be abl
to get in (I have changed the battery). The radio is still a cassette
The antenna valiently tries to lower but no longer does so

I was thinking that perhaps $1000 - $1500 might fix all the problems
but I'd hate to do that and find out that there is something majo
coming up. Timing belt was done around 60,000 or so

Perhaps it's just time to sell it to my mechanic and get a Fit or use
Civic or something? It's been so reliable that I hate giving it up
considering the mileage and work needed if it were my vehicle i would
sell it and get what i can. and look at something newer just keep in min
that nothing lasts forever that saying not only applieys to Humans but cars
as well and sooner or later there will come a time when you need to get rid
of it. why not now

--
johnin

Yah you wouldent fit to well in there :lol

--
johnin