Honda Car Forum

I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother in
law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is some
paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body is in
great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior). I test
drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride. I am going
back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However, nothing on the
exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an LX, DX or EX and the
registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I identify this? The vehicle
has a sunroof and one web site indicated that only EX models have sunroofs.
Can I identify the model from the VIN? Any help would be appreciated.

James Watson wrote:
>
> I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother in
> law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is some
> paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body is in
> great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior). I test
> drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride. I am going
> back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However, nothing on the
> exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an LX, DX or EX and the
> registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I identify this? The vehicle
> has a sunroof and one web site indicated that only EX models have sunroofs.
> Can I identify the model from the VIN? Any help would be appreciated.

It can be deciphered from the VIN. Several web sites (like
http://members.lycos.nl/hendrik/honda/vin.htm) has listing of the
meaning of the different letters and numbers in the VIN.

James Watson wrote:
> I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother in
> law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is some
> paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body is in
> great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior). I test
> drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride. I am going
> back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However, nothing on the
> exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an LX, DX or EX and the
> registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I identify this? The vehicle
> has a sunroof and one web site indicated that only EX models have sunroofs.
> Can I identify the model from the VIN? Any help would be appreciated.
>
>
not to sound silly, but the brother in law doesnt know? yes, the VIN
should be able to tell you.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Sp...IP&tab=2&sub=0


"James Watson" <deadewok@cox.net> wrote in message
news:BxrAd.26804$up.18306@lakeread08...
>
> I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother in
> law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is
> some paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body
> is in great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior).
> I test drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride. I
> am going back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However,
> nothing on the exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an LX,
> DX or EX and the registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I identify
> this? The vehicle has a sunroof and one web site indicated that only EX
> models have sunroofs. Can I identify the model from the VIN? Any help
> would be appreciated.
>

"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:02sAd.249636$5K2.246650@attbi_s03...
> James Watson wrote:
>> I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother
>> in law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is
>> some paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body
>> is in great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior).
>> I test drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride.
>> I am going back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However,
>> nothing on the exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an
>> LX, DX or EX and the registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I
>> identify this? The vehicle has a sunroof and one web site indicated
>> that only EX models have sunroofs. Can I identify the model from the VIN?
>> Any help would be appreciated.
> not to sound silly, but the brother in law doesnt know? yes, the VIN
> should be able to tell you

I haven't had a chance to ask him yet. The car is his wife's car that her
parents bought her when she graduated from high school, so I am not sure if
he knows the type. I will not get a chance to talk to him until later
tonight, but I want to do some research on the car today.

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 09:46:59 -0600, "James Watson" <deadewok@cox.net>
wrote:

>
>"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:02sAd.249636$5K2.246650@attbi_s03...
>> James Watson wrote:
>>> I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother
>>> in law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is
>>> some paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body
>>> is in great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior).
>>> I test drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride.
>>> I am going back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However,
>>> nothing on the exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an
>>> LX, DX or EX and the registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I
>>> identify this? The vehicle has a sunroof and one web site indicated
>>> that only EX models have sunroofs. Can I identify the model from the VIN?
>>> Any help would be appreciated.
>> not to sound silly, but the brother in law doesnt know? yes, the VIN
>> should be able to tell you
>
>I haven't had a chance to ask him yet. The car is his wife's car that her
>parents bought her when she graduated from high school, so I am not sure if
>he knows the type. I will not get a chance to talk to him until later
>tonight, but I want to do some research on the car today.
>

It's definitely not a DX. Leather seats were an option on the LX and
SE, but I'm fairly certain the Moonroof was only available on the EX.
Looking through my brochures for cars before and after the 1997 model
year (I don't have the '97), all showed the Moonroof standard on the
EX, and not optional on anything.

Dick

"SoCalMike" wrote

> not to sound silly, but the brother in law doesnt know? yes, the VIN
> should be able to tell you.

It would seem a silly question for us who have brains, but apparently Nissan
lacks them. My girlfriend has a Maxima, I think a 2000, and there is
NOWHERE on that car that I can find which trim line it is - not even in the
manual. I had to deduce it from its existing tire size, then go to a tire
website to find out which of the three trim lines uses that size tire.

"James Watson" <deadewok@cox.net> wrote in message
news:BxrAd.26804$up.18306@lakeread08...
>
> I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother in
> law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is
> some paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body
> is in great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior).
> I test drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride. I
> am going back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However,
> nothing on the exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an LX,
> DX or EX and the registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I identify
> this? The vehicle has a sunroof and one web site indicated that only EX
> models have sunroofs. Can I identify the model from the VIN? Any help
> would be appreciated.
>


Other indications, but not guarantees, are the engine and transmission
combination and the factory radio if that is still in it.

The car should say what trim level it is... DX, 25th Aniv, LX, Special
Edition, EX, V6. If not it's probably been hit or painted for some other
reason.

1997 Accord DX has manual antenna mast, black mirrors and door handles,
manual windows and door locks.

25th Anniversary I think is a DX with A/C and a radio.

LX has antenna in rear glass, body colored mirrors and door handles, power
windows and locks.

LX-V6 has a 2.7L V6 engine.

SE (special edition) is a 4 cylinder LX with a sunroof, cd player and allow
wheels. No leather unless the dealer added it aftermarket.

EX has a sunroof, ABS, 4 wheel disc, and a VTEC engine.

EX-L has leather too.

EX-V6 has a V6 engine (and all the EX-L stuff)

Some of these standard features are options on the lower models. The LX
could have ABS, and would be considered and LX-A

"James Watson" <deadewok@cox.net> wrote in message
news:BxrAd.26804$up.18306@lakeread08...
>
> I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1997 Honda Accord from my brother in
> law. He is asking $5K and the car is really good condition. There is
> some paint wear on the roof that will probably be corrected, but the body
> is in great condition. Some wear on the drivers seat (leather interior).
> I test drove the car and I was very satisfied with the quality of ride. I
> am going back tomorrow to get a better look during the day. However,
> nothing on the exterior of the car indicates whether the vehicle is an LX,
> DX or EX and the registration only indicates 4 Door. How do I identify
> this? The vehicle has a sunroof and one web site indicated that only EX
> models have sunroofs. Can I identify the model from the VIN? Any help
> would be appreciated.
>