Advice on purchase (2004 Civic Hybrid 5sp 78K)

[379Kcivic]

Great site. I've been lurking awhile and even considered a couple projects that some have done (VX swap into sedan). I'm happy with my VX for now, which is a work in progress, but am now looking at an '04 Civic Hybrid 5sp for the wifey.

2004 Civic Hybrid 5sp 78K $9900. I'm hopeful that the original battery could take me to 125K or so at which point I might check out reinvolt.com or something. What do you guys think? KBB/Edmunds/NADA seem to show that is not an unreasonable price (dealer); wanted more input. Rust free, clean interior, but no records? My local Honda 'stealership' told me there is no way to diagnose a faulty IMA battery?!!! No check engine light or anything, but mileage approaching 100k on the original battery spooks me a little. Please move this if I have posted in an inappropriate spot. Thanks.

[mcrews]

welcome!
no worrys.....some one will chime in here in mere moments to answer your question!

Mean while.....dont forget to air up your tires to 40+psi!

[nbleak21]

I've seen them with slightly higher mileage for near half that price... See what kind of deal you can work out with the dealership, personally I wouldn't pay that much, especially with no warranty on the IMA, etc... See if you can get them down somewhere in the 7k range, that way if the battery goes capoot, you can repair/replace and still come out at, or better than the $9900.

No records can be hazardous, have you/they pulled a carfax? That will likely report dealer (and some service station) work that's been done (if any.) if there are no logs there, then be sure to thoroughly inspect it yourself, or have a trusted mechanic do it for you.

There are methods of testing/replacing/balance charging packs in the IMA, they are just a little more involved then plugging in your typical scan tool, though. There are several threads here, as well as a big crowd on insight central that can assist you with that.

Best of luck to you and your quest!

[MetroMPG]

Moved to the hybrid sub-forum. More eyeballs here for this question.

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If I were you, I'd be looking at this car working on the assumption that the battery will not last long before throwing codes.

Relatively low mileage doesn't guarantee a healthy battery. Its usage pattern and age are more important factors. And these batteries like to be worked regularly - a low miles car may not have had ideal usage.

[user removed]

For that price you could get this Fiesta, but it has a rebuilt VA title.

regards
Mech

[MetroMPG]

For that price, you could get all kinds of things. Like my entire fleet. At once. With money for gas & electricity left over. :P

[379Kcivic]

All good points. Thanks for your input. To clarify: this is the wife's car. She drives 60m round trip to work (very flat) each day & averages around 68-69 mph. And no, she won't drive slower (governor! Lol).

She wont drive a small hatch, small sedan is minimum. So...attempting to 'help' her get the max mpg given her daily driving patterns. I considered a tdi, Prius & the 5sp civic hybrid sedan. My thinking now, with some input, is to still try & find a manual civic hybrid sedan for CHEAP/5k or less & go straight to reinvolt.com & replace the battery for around 2500. Goal for her at that speed is 45mpg+! (Unrealistic?)

Suggestions? Thanks

[nbleak21]

45mpg seems totally possible with some "slight" attention to technique. Not sure where in KY you are, but if its not too much of a trip, check out nashville's craigslist, a simple search for "hybrid civic" will net you a couple results in the reinvolt budget range!