Civic HX, what are the best years?

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by figit090

Thanks for the tips! and the price info, it's hard to believe these cars are so inexpensive, but they are old and after all just a civic. Still though, I'm happy not to need a $6k budget.

I have a guy responding to my HX want ad, but sadly his has 250k miles on it, it's been lowered, and he didn't seem to know if it had any basic things done, like timing belt, clutch...etc. I was shocked but he said since 2007 and the last 100k or so...it hasn't needed major work.
I will look at it tomorrow but I'm also going to tell him his $3k asking price is way high for that mileage without major parts being replaced
Perhaps I could offer $500-$1000 for it? I have yet to see it, but at least I'll get to see a HX for a few minutes, which is my main incentive at this point.

He said he'd probably take an offer if I made one but I dunno what he exects and then I'd have to go about getting the...

cosmetic issues worked out (crack in bumper...etc)
correct enkei rims in good shape found, and new tires to fit
new clutch
possible engine rebuild (i mean it's 250k miles...holy crap)
wheel bearings
new sensors
new front seat (minor tears so I'd want something fresh eventually)
full tuneup including timing belt, dizzy/rotor, plugs, wires, EGR cleaning
tranny rebuild??

I don't want to do a rebuild myself, the rest I'm game. It's just a bummer when I wanted to just get a $3000-$3500 nice car and be done with it. I will pass I think but I'm still going to look at it. Who knows maybe he'll take $500? lol.

3k is way to much. I would offer 1,500,as that would be reasonable. I doubt it needs a motor rebuild, Honda engines last forever. As for the rest, I would immediately change timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, spark plug wires, dizzy O'ring, v-tech solenoid gasket, oil, tranny oil, brakes, and clean the engine compartment. It's a big gamble buying it from someone who knows nothing about cars, I got lucky with this civic it wasn't something major leaking oil, or I could have been in big trouble.

[California98Civic]

Car Gurus lists a 1999 HX sold by a dealer in RI and seemingly stock with 207,000 miles at nearly $3000. But cargurus calls that price $500 too high. So they seem to think 2500 would be a "fair price" for one with 43K fewer miles than the one you're looking at, and theirs already has the stock wheels. Just more evidence for the "that price is too high" claim.

[figit090]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Car Gurus lists a 1999 HX sold by a dealer in RI and seemingly stock with 207,000 miles at nearly $3000. But cargurus calls that price $500 too high. So they seem to think 2500 would be a "fair price" for one with 43K fewer miles than the one you're looking at, and theirs already has the stock wheels. Just more evidence for the "that price is too high" claim.

Haha yeah I was already pretty convinced 3k was way too much. I was seeing about on par with what "car gurus" says, after looking at about 30 ads over the last few months.

[DOFZO]

Originally Posted by figit090

Yeah I wish so many eco cars weren't fugly. That's another reason I feel like the HX is PERFECT, because tasteful mods can make them look pretty good, and that's not to say it's not good looking as-is. I like the stock enkei rims, too. The TCH and FFH don't look bad, you're right. If I had that budget though I wouldn't give a crap about fuel expense, I'd be in a mkIV supra, or something else comfortable, powerful, clean, and fun.

Oh and yeah, I hate priuses more because of that accident. I already didn't like them but now they make me cringe (or scream if they're in the way). I had to fight over a year, eventually winning a lawsuit, because a careless woman backed into the street and smaked our car, tweaking my neck; and they (the insurance of the car owner, not the driver) didn't want to cover basic treatment. Don't support Farmers, they can burn in hell. Also, don't stand near hybrids or drive by without observing their occupancy, they're silent killers.



Thanks for the tips! and the price info, it's hard to believe these cars are so inexpensive, but they are old and after all just a civic. Still though, I'm happy not to need a $6k budget.

I have a guy responding to my HX want ad, but sadly his has 250k miles on it, it's been lowered, and he didn't seem to know if it had any basic things done, like timing belt, clutch...etc. I was shocked but he said since 2007 and the last 100k or so...it hasn't needed major work.
I will look at it tomorrow but I'm also going to tell him his $3k asking price is way high for that mileage without major parts being replaced
Perhaps I could offer $500-$1000 for it? I have yet to see it, but at least I'll get to see a HX for a few minutes, which is my main incentive at this point.

He said he'd probably take an offer if I made one but I dunno what he exects and then I'd have to go about getting the...

cosmetic issues worked out (crack in bumper...etc)
correct enkei rims in good shape found, and new tires to fit
new clutch
possible engine rebuild (i mean it's 250k miles...holy crap)
wheel bearings
new sensors
new front seat (minor tears so I'd want something fresh eventually)
full tuneup including timing belt, dizzy/rotor, plugs, wires, EGR cleaning
tranny rebuild??

I don't want to do a rebuild myself, the rest I'm game. It's just a bummer when I wanted to just get a $3000-$3500 nice car and be done with it. I will pass I think but I'm still going to look at it. Who knows maybe he'll take $500? lol.

Pay for and run a carfax! It's the best recommendation I can give anyone. I know they seem expensive, but they save you a headache and much more money down the road. Plus you can tell when an owner is lying to you once you have the history of the car.

When I went on the hunt for a VX, I spent almost $200 for carfaxes, I bought 5 at a time, and ran every car I had interest in. I now own a minty VX!! Well worth every dime I paid carfax.


My $.02 anyway. Good luck!





ZO.

[figit090]

Originally Posted by DOFZO

Pay for and run a carfax! It's the best recommendation I can give anyone. I know they seem expensive, but they save you a headache and much more money down the road. Plus you can tell when an owner is lying to you once you have the history of the car.

When I went on the hunt for a VX, I spent almost $200 for carfaxes, I bought 5 at a time, and ran every car I had interest in. I now own a minty VX!! Well worth every dime I paid carfax.


My $.02 anyway. Good luck!





ZO.

Thanks! I will probably do that, and whatever other auto registry there is (autocheck and someother one). I always forget that.

I can however say with certainty that carfax will not reveal all, but it does help. My car has a clean title and I know for a fact it's been a horrible accident, so lesson learned there would be to check under carpets when allowed, and look for asymmetrical steel. Mine has folds under the rear seat but the chassis looked ok on a lift. go figure.
It was my first car and will be retired to a racecar/track car in the future.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by DOFZO

Pay for and run a carfax! It's the best recommendation I can give anyone. I know they seem expensive, but they save you a headache and much more money down the road. Plus you can tell when an owner is lying to you once you have the history of the car.

When I went on the hunt for a VX, I spent almost $200 for carfaxes, I bought 5 at a time, and ran every car I had interest in. I now own a minty VX!! Well worth every dime I paid carfax.


My $.02 anyway. Good luck!


ZO.

You know unlimited carfaxes is only 50$ a month right?

[firehawk618]

Originally Posted by Baltothewolf

You know unlimited carfaxes is only 50$ a month right?

They did away with that long ago.

FWIW Carfax can be easily fooled and the good scammers know this. The reports are virtually worthless imo.

I owned a used car lot for years.

[figit090]

Originally Posted by firehawk618

They did away with that long ago.

FWIW Carfax can be easily fooled and the good scammers know this. The reports are virtually worthless imo.

I owned a used car lot for years.

DITTO!

You can easily have a car repaired without reporting it, and my current vehicle has evidence it's been in a MAJOR accident. There are literally straightened FOLDS under the rear seats from when the sheet metal was crunched, then straightened. There's also broken and shoddily repaired rear subframe damage. Clean california title, and no california smog equipment either (no second cat).

All-in-all I consider vehicle checks as a good record of lien sales, # of owners, and a location history for the car. It's like a supplement to what the owner tells you, trained eyes, carpet pulling, and a mechanic are the best bet.

I'm not sure how to ask an owner about pulling up carpet though, lol.


SOO I have a line on a 2000 HX with a 5spd and ~130k miles! He was asking $3500 but i'm going to offer $2700, and probably stop at $3000 because it does not have A/C, and the timing belt and water pump have never been changed.

[Xist]

Never changed?! Wow!

Well, I sure hope that mine was changed at sixty and a hundred and twenty thousand miles, but it made it to 180k, when I had it changed.

AC can be useful. My HX is black and I live in Arizona.

[figit090]

Originally Posted by Xist

Never changed?! Wow!

Well, I sure hope that mine was changed at sixty and a hundred and twenty thousand miles, but it made it to 180k, when I had it changed.

AC can be useful. My HX is black and I live in Arizona.

I've talked to several owners who took theirs to 160k or so, or perhaps never knew of a timing belt change.

I'll be using it to talk him down probably. we'll see.