Max Wilson wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm just finishing up college and starting to get used to the idea of
> not being poor, and am trying to buy a used car. I understand that
> Hondas are an excellent choice for good mileage/low maintenance, and
> I'd like to get a car that I can keep for at least 5-10 years. Looking
> around in the newspapers, it looks like the Hondas available for $3000
> or less (my budget) are usually ~1990 Civics and Accords, usually
> around 160k, but occasionally I'll spot e.g. a 1994 Civic with 70k for
> $2500.

I can pretty much guarantee that any car you buy today for around $3K
won't be the car you are driving 10 years from now. Plan on no more
than a few years. Those 1990 Accords crush like tin cans in crashes.

Deals that look too good usually are. Often those less expensive cars
are salvage title cars that someone has repaired. Sometimes the repairs
are OK and the car will last. But more often the repairs are only so-so
and things start to go wrong.

Since you guys are the Honda enthusiasts, I thought I should
> probably ask: is there anything I should be especially aware of when
> buying a used Honda? What about those especially low-mileage deals--is
> that the reward for patience or is there likely to be something wrong
> with the car? Is it reasonable to expect a Honda to still be reliable
> at 160k? How much is it reasonable for a '90-ish Honda owner to expect
> to spend on maintenance? Any recommendations for where to find a good
> mechanic for a pre-buy check?

For any car in your price range, regardless of make, the thing you are
trying to find is a well maintained car, preferably a one-owner car.
Good luck with that.

A well maintained Honda or Toyota should be good for at least 200K
miles. You are correct that you will need the help of a qualified
mechanic to figure out whether or not you have found a well maintained
car. Generally, if you can find a used car, with complete service
records, being sold by an individual who bought it new, it should be a
good one. But these cream puffs usually stay within the owner's family.
There's always someone needing a good, cheap used car.

Maintenance costs? At least $500/year. Repair costs? Add another $500
to $1000. Expect to pay thru the nose for the first year or two in
order to bring the car up to snuff. Then annual ownership costs should
decrease a bit.
>
> (If it makes any difference, the car I buy will be a manual
> transmission.)

Yeah, it makes a difference. Plan to pay for a new clutch within a
year.

Look for Toyota Corollas and Nissan Altimas. These cars are less
desirable because of boring exterior styling and they're not much fun
to drive. However, they should deliver good service for a few years.
You will pay a premium for older Civics because they have a sporty
feel. Older Accords and Camrys simply hold their value because they
last so long.

FYI: my mother just got rid of her 1996 Buick LeSabre. Had around 50K
miles on it. Worth around $3K according to Edmunds.com. This car will
probably last another 100K miles with routine maintenance. Old lady
cars are still the best used cars.

>
> Thanks!
> Max Wilson

Good luck.