Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post

Xist · 05-26-2018, 08:26 PM

I am still trying to figure out what to do with my Civic, but until I have the money to do anything, all that I can do is plan. I finally started work today! I have seven clients here in town and one in the next town, which is great. Another ten or twenty clients and I can buy stuff!

I ended up watching a ChrisFix video. I am not sure that it was relevant, just entertaining and educational. One day he drove past a 2003 Jaguar X-Type with 130,000 miles for sale for $3,000.

Used Jaguars go for Accord prices?

Chris found fifteen problems with it, but all were cosmetic. Both bumpers were somewhat damaged. One of the side skirts had a hole in it. Worse, they covered it with duct tape! I don't want duct tape on my old Hondas, but a Jaguar?!

Also, the fender had three small dents, and it looks like the metal is actually pushed out in the middle. I thought a hammer and dolly would make short work of that.

He said his goal was to purchase the car for $2,000, but talked the guy down to $1,900. He then used Dashub to find a parts car. Strangely, it was physically a 9.9, the only blemish was the fender he wanted was repainted--the color was a slight mismatch. He removed the parts he wanted, someone hauled off the rest and paid him $190, and he said he sold the remaining parts for $1,500 more than he paid.

That means he bought his Dad a beautiful Jaguar for $400 and a couple days of his time.

Well, I own old Hondas, and the parts that interest me most are an HX engine and an Accord catalytic converter.

Yeah...

Dashub does not show submodels. I could look at the 100 - 200 1996 - 2000 Civics and try to match up VINs (when shared), but I just looked at rims. According to the VINs (and a sunroof) one LX and one EX had HX rims. I have seen many HXes with steel or aftermarket rims, but why make the exercise in futility even more wasteful?

I found some decent-looking cars, but not all of them run and drive, and each of the 5 HXes that I found had autocraptastic transmissions. I consider those to be parts cars regardless of condition.

Here are EX, HX, and LX engine compartments side-by-side, in that order. The EX has a different exhaust manifold. The LX has a different intake.

CX VINs start with 2HGEJ6.
HX starts with 1HGEJ7.
GX starts with 1HGEN1.
DX and LX can start with 1HG, 2HG, or JHM, but the next 3 are EJ6.
EX start with xxxEJ8.
1HG means a Honda built and assembled in the U.S.
2HG is a Honda built and assembled in Canada.
JHM is a Honda build and assembled in Japan.

California98Civic gave me some information on the differences between submodels on the rest of the car. The DX did not have pinstriping, alloy wheels, a center console, or power windows. The LX had power windows, but was only available as a sedan. Thanks California98Civic!

I did not look at too many Accords. I am not driving one from another state, nor paying to have one transported. There is one in Phoenix, and if nothing else, it has a bad battery. Starting bid is $50 and there are $488 in fees. Yeah, no.

All of the Insights that I found were also autocraptastic. Well, he bought a 2003 Jaguar X-Type. Maybe someone--not me, but someone--could purchase one of those and sell it for parts. There is one for Phoenix! It goes up for auction in nine days. Starting bid is $1,150, with $712 in fees, $28 less than ChrisFix paid for a car that ran well. This one is unknown condition.

There were only five other 2003s across the country. There are thirteen 2004s. Here is one with 170,000 miles, a $50 starting bid, $488 in fees, and looks decent, but is in unknown running condition. Damage is listed as vandalism, so I guess it was stolen, insurance paid, and then it was recovered: https://dashub.com/car-auction/2003-...type/lt8832070

ChrisFix said that the parts were interchangeable up to 2008. I found fifteen cars 2004 - 2008. One was in Phoenix, but totaled, and does not run or drive, so I do not know how many usable parts it might have.

Here is a 2008 with 134,000 miles nowhere near me: https://dashub.com/car-auction/2008-...type/lt9009811

I do not know why they have it, it runs and drives, and has a clear title.

Here is a 2004 Prius in Phoenix with 216,000 miles, runs and drives, and has a clear title. It goes up for auction in a few days, starting bid will be $120, and there are $498 in fees. Listed damage is "mechanical." Would a CEL or error code show up here? It says it is a charity donation.

The front bumper cover needs to be replaced. The back should be fixable, but it could have a bad engine, transmission, and\or battery pack. If you can pick it up for $620 I am sure you could part it out and make a profit, but I am not picking up a third project car!

In another video, ChrisFix said to look for cars that need head gaskets, those are cheap and easy to fix, and then you have a good car for cheap. He bought a Del Sol for $300. I looked on Craigslist and all of the cars that I found that had bad head gaskets were priced higher than they should have been with a drivetrain functioning within specified parameters!

Thanks for making it this far! His mom's dream car was a Thunderbird. He fixed the fake chrome on her door handle:

05-26-2018, 08:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
Xist Not Doug Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Show Low, AZ Posts: 12,186 Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D 90 day: 35.35 mpg (US) Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX 90 day: 34.2 mpg (US) Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE 90 day: 35.39 mpg (US) Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE 90 day: 29.44 mpg (US) Thanks: 7,225 Thanked 2,217 Times in 1,708 Posts	Have any of you bought a parts car? I am still trying to figure out what to do with my Civic, but until I have the money to do anything, all that I can do is plan. I finally started work today! I have seven clients here in town and one in the next town, which is great. Another ten or twenty clients and I can buy stuff! I ended up watching a ChrisFix video. I am not sure that it was relevant, just entertaining and educational. One day he drove past a 2003 Jaguar X-Type with 130,000 miles for sale for $3,000. Used Jaguars go for Accord prices? Chris found fifteen problems with it, but all were cosmetic. Both bumpers were somewhat damaged. One of the side skirts had a hole in it. Worse, they covered it with duct tape! I don't want duct tape on my old Hondas, but a Jaguar?! Also, the fender had three small dents, and it looks like the metal is actually pushed out in the middle. I thought a hammer and dolly would make short work of that. He said his goal was to purchase the car for $2,000, but talked the guy down to $1,900. He then used Dashub to find a parts car. Strangely, it was physically a 9.9, the only blemish was the fender he wanted was repainted--the color was a slight mismatch. He removed the parts he wanted, someone hauled off the rest and paid him $190, and he said he sold the remaining parts for $1,500 more than he paid. That means he bought his Dad a beautiful Jaguar for $400 and a couple days of his time. Well, I own old Hondas, and the parts that interest me most are an HX engine and an Accord catalytic converter. Yeah... Dashub does not show submodels. I could look at the 100 - 200 1996 - 2000 Civics and try to match up VINs (when shared), but I just looked at rims. According to the VINs (and a sunroof) one LX and one EX had HX rims. I have seen many HXes with steel or aftermarket rims, but why make the exercise in futility even more wasteful? I found some decent-looking cars, but not all of them run and drive, and each of the 5 HXes that I found had autocraptastic transmissions. I consider those to be parts cars regardless of condition. Here are EX, HX, and LX engine compartments side-by-side, in that order. The EX has a different exhaust manifold. The LX has a different intake. CX VINs start with 2HGEJ6. HX starts with 1HGEJ7. GX starts with 1HGEN1. DX and LX can start with 1HG, 2HG, or JHM, but the next 3 are EJ6. EX start with xxxEJ8. 1HG means a Honda built and assembled in the U.S. 2HG is a Honda built and assembled in Canada. JHM is a Honda build and assembled in Japan. California98Civic gave me some information on the differences between submodels on the rest of the car. The DX did not have pinstriping, alloy wheels, a center console, or power windows. The LX had power windows, but was only available as a sedan. Thanks California98Civic! I did not look at too many Accords. I am not driving one from another state, nor paying to have one transported. There is one in Phoenix, and if nothing else, it has a bad battery. Starting bid is $50 and there are $488 in fees. Yeah, no. All of the Insights that I found were also autocraptastic. Well, he bought a 2003 Jaguar X-Type. Maybe someone--not me, but someone--could purchase one of those and sell it for parts. There is one for Phoenix! It goes up for auction in nine days. Starting bid is $1,150, with $712 in fees, $28 less than ChrisFix paid for a car that ran well. This one is unknown condition. There were only five other 2003s across the country. There are thirteen 2004s. Here is one with 170,000 miles, a $50 starting bid, $488 in fees, and looks decent, but is in unknown running condition. Damage is listed as vandalism, so I guess it was stolen, insurance paid, and then it was recovered: https://dashub.com/car-auction/2003-...type/lt8832070 ChrisFix said that the parts were interchangeable up to 2008. I found fifteen cars 2004 - 2008. One was in Phoenix, but totaled, and does not run or drive, so I do not know how many usable parts it might have. Here is a 2008 with 134,000 miles nowhere near me: https://dashub.com/car-auction/2008-...type/lt9009811 I do not know why they have it, it runs and drives, and has a clear title. Here is a 2004 Prius in Phoenix with 216,000 miles, runs and drives, and has a clear title. It goes up for auction in a few days, starting bid will be $120, and there are $498 in fees. Listed damage is "mechanical." Would a CEL or error code show up here? It says it is a charity donation. The front bumper cover needs to be replaced. The back should be fixable, but it could have a bad engine, transmission, and\or battery pack. If you can pick it up for $620 I am sure you could part it out and make a profit, but I am not picking up a third project car! In another video, ChrisFix said to look for cars that need head gaskets, those are cheap and easy to fix, and then you have a good car for cheap. He bought a Del Sol for $300. I looked on Craigslist and all of the cars that I found that had bad head gaskets were priced higher than they should have been with a drivetrain functioning within specified parameters! Thanks for making it this far! His mom's dream car was a Thunderbird. He fixed the fake chrome on her door handle: Last edited by Xist; 06-14-2018 at 12:52 PM.. Reason: Added GX vin, then a descent into madness.