I found a 98 civic EX coupe for sale (check it out on binghamton NY area craigslist). I'm pretty sure I'm going to get it - I drove it, and it seems fine. AC doesn't work (don't care) and it has 176k. It costs $2500 and I'm going to make sure the heater works tonight. Should I buy it? My 93 Corolla works like a champ and burns a little oil - has 140k, but I really want a honda and a little more stock MPG capability... OBDII would be nice too. What do you guys think?
http://binghamton.craigslist.org/car/768780201.html
Edit: it's a 98. I carfaxed it and it looks like the first owner was very nice to it for about the first 80-100k/ 7.5 years. The second owner had it for a year, not much info about that one. The most recent owner is in Turkey, and had studied here at the university, but decided not to come back, and needed to sell the car. He didn't seem to do too well with oil changes. I looked at the dipstick and it wasn't pitch black, but it was pretty dark. The heater DOES work, and when I press the a/c button, the compressor does seem to make an "engage" sound and the tach doesn't drop (which leads me to believe that the compressor isn't broken, or else the rpms would drop visibly when engaging the a/c... right?), but it doesn't cool. I think maybe it just needs to be recharged.
I watched for smoke out of the tailpipe when the engine started - nothing.
I told the seller that I would buy it on monday for 2300. I'm thinking it's a worthwhile calculated risk... any input appreciated. Still slightly nervous.