xeroid

I'm looking at buying a 98 Civic just because of it's reputation. I'm in Canada and it's a 1998 LS model, automatic trans, basic Civic 4 door model with 175000 km on it. Not Miles!

What would be the proper price to pay for such an older car. And with this many Km on it already, how long can I expect it to last? It's passed a safety and E-Test, and is ready to go. From the outside, very little rust just start at a seem on the back fender. No rust at the bottom of the doors I can see.

Is it possible to get 3 more years out of it, driving 20,000 km a year?

What would you pay for it?

Thanks

Stock 99

Car value depends on so many things,where you live is a big one If you live in Eastern Canada there is probably lots of rust you're not seeing unless you've had it up on a hoist. Always a good idea to have a mechanic that you trust look at it before you buy.

I live in Western Canada and bought my '99 DX coupe 5 years ago with 165 000 km on it and now it has 222 000 km with no more than regular maintenance and still does not burn or leak a drop of oil between 6000 km changes...it has never thrown a CEL in those 5 years and it still regularly gets 40+ mpg. I have seen many 6th gen Civics with high 300 000 km odometers that still look and run really good...I expect mine to last that long as well...how many years will that be....I'm not sure but I'm thinking another 10.

A 2000 Civic SE coupe with 165 000 km went up for sale ($3000) close to me last summer and there was a constant stream of people looking to buy it. I looked at it and it needed $1000 worth of work to get it to where I would be comfortable using it as a daily driver...I offered $2500 and didn't get the car.

xeroid

Yes in Eastern Ontario where cars can rust. I thought because it had it's safety certificate done, that this would mean there isn't any serious rust, or else it would have never passed?

The only unfortunate things is my insurance will automatically go up $25 a month, $300 a year which is almost half what I pay now, because the Civic is the most stolen car on the road according to the insurance company!

So your advice is to carefully look under the car for RUST .... make sure it's minimal.

What are some of the known problems that can occur and cost alot to repair. I've read that the Civics have wiring issues, and transmission issues. What normally might go wrong with the transmission, and what is the usual cost of repair?

Stock 99

#1 timimg belt find out when it was changed before you buy. It about a $500 job if a mechanic does it and it needs to be done every 7 years or 160 000 km. If the belt snaps then it turns into a much more costly job. If that belt has never been changed then it 10+ years overdue. I don't have much (any) experience with automatics but the 6th gens were considered to be pretty good cars...it's the 7th gens that had more issues.

Most of the rust on my car is on the front sub frame (behind the engine underneath) and I just saw an eastern 6th gen on here and wow rust bucket...I wouldn't have bought it.

The common issues I know about are windshield wiper motor and ignition switch (recall). 6th gen Civics are commonly stolen because they have no immobilizer system and are really easy to steal. Jiggle keys are a common method if you have concerns about that then a kill switch is a cheap way to combat the issue. You insurance compnay is imbelishing a bit because the 99 and 00 Si Civic are most stolen perhaps get another quote.