To buy or not to buy hch1 (06 Civic Hybrid) 220k $1000?

[prelude91sir]

so my friends has a 2003 hch1 hes trying to sell me. it does have the check engine and ima light. he said it still runs great. he said it came on after the update and been driving with it on a couple years with no problems. he said honda dealer said all was well with batterys ect. it has 220k miles on it. its the cvt/automatic one. I took it for a lil spend around the block and felt good. on dash it says its getting 43.1 mpg but recently read mpg in dash isnt accurate he also said he gets over 500miles on a tank of gas.
so should i buy it for $1000 compared to what im spending now on gas it would pay for itself within 5 months or so. it seems like a no brainer? other then check and ima light nothing is wrong with it. my friends he feels comfortable driving it anywhere! he bought it with 130k in 2011 and hasnt had one problem with it!

[Xist]

How good is this friend? In this "USA" where you live, do you need to do emissions testing? You cannot pass if you have a check engine light and that may be trying to tell you about another problem that could prevent you from registering this car.

Plenty of people register cars at their parents' house, if the parents live somewhere that does not require emissions testing, but I was ticketed for registering my car in a county in which I did not live.

Honestly, the price is a bit of a red flag, it suggests he is trying to get rid of a problem. KBB puts a fair trade-in at $982 and NADA gives a rough trade-in a value of $1150.
NADA: Clean trade-in: $2,425
KBB: Excellent trade-in $1,841

I only list trade-in values because NADA does not show private-party prices. KBB says $2,271 for a private-party sale in fair condition, with a car in excellent condition being worth $3,097. The mileage reduces each NADA estimate by $600.

On-board MPG gauges are usually about 5% overly optimistic, which would suggest he gets around 41 MPG. Fuel Economy of the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid rates it at 39/43, 40 combined, and the average user reports 41.3 MPG, so if something is wrong, it is not necessarily affecting mileage.

I recommend taking it to a reputable mechanic for an inspection, but as long as you can register it and take care of whatever it needs, I would say that it sounds like a good deal. If you cannot repair it, you could sell it for parts.

2003 Honda Civic Sedan 4D Hybrid Prices, Values & Civic Sedan 4D Hybrid Price Specs | NADAguides
Kelley Blue Book

[Daox]

I'd definitely drive it. That gen Civic has suspension issues that need addressing after that many miles (I know, I'm fixing one up with 188k on it). I'd also figure out what the engine light is on for. As for the battery, its probably gone. I'd also be weary of the CVT trans as they aren't known to last for forever.... I guess what I'm saying is probably "no".

[MetroMPG]

For $1500, you could easily find another car that'll save you a pile of money on fuel. It may not pay itself off in 5 months if it's not quite as sippy as a questionable Civic hybrid, but maybe in 8 or 10. Still worth pursuing.

EG: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...0-a-29156.html

[prelude91sir]

Originally Posted by Xist

How good is this friend? In this "USA" where you live, do you need to do emissions testing? You cannot pass if you have a check engine light and that may be trying to tell you about another problem that could prevent you from registering this car.

He is a great friend thats why the price is pretty cheap! I can work around emissions testing part.

Im worried about the cvt as well after reading some reports. I know for sure he wouldnt sell me a car that he felt like was going to give me problems. Hes confident in being able to get into the car and driving it anywhere. he drives about 50-60 miles to and from work a few days out of the week. We both use to be tuners(honda specifically) we are not mechanics but both know how to work on cars. He selling cause he wants to get a newer car. He was going to sell me his 03 g35 85k miles rebuilt title but was great condition for $5k and i was going to buy that at first and he sold it cause he thought i was bs'ing. but hes a great friend that ive known over 15 years!

the car is in great condition inside and out! just has the the dreaded ima and checkengine light. i figure maybe a grid charger would take care of that problem as often as needed. also would like to buy a imac&c.

[user removed]

Any major component failure makes you an unintentional salvage yard operator.

regards
mech

[prelude91sir]

a 2003 220k civic running fine and in great shape seems like it would be worth the $1500 in itself minus hybrid/not working. but i would assume based off the mpg the ima still is working

[Daox]

Nah, I highly doubt the IMA is working. With the little 1.3L they have in them, they still get decent highway mileage. The city mileage tanks a hit though without regen and assist. Since your friend drives mostly highway, it doesn't effect him much.

[user removed]

take the car give him a c-note a month with something down (big variable there!). if it does not blow up pay him the full amount and consider yourself lucky or him lucky. At least you did not let a freaking car cost you a friendship. If it does break catastrpohically consider the payments made a lease and part the rest out.

best compromise I could come up with both parties should be happy.

regards
mech

[Xist]

I have had seven cars and never saw one that I liked for less than $2,500, but members on here find them regularly, and plenty get 40 MPG in a wide variety of vehicles.

Have you ever asked Old Mech how he feels about Echos and their timing chains (or did I completely confuse that matter? If so, I apologize!)?