Rep Power: 0

I Found a 1998 Honda Civic Lx for $4500 with 141K Miles on it.

It is in great condition, other then I'm not sure if it's gotten the 105K timing belt done yet, which would be pushing it a lot, but if I get it before it snaps, there won't be any damage.

New Tires, Just got detailed, clean title and seams to be in great working order. No clinking noise, great breaks, no odd noises at all. Single owner, owned by a grandma.

Great gas Milage perfect car for me (16 Year old High School Student)

My only issue (besides the timing belt) is the 141,000 Miles on it, It sounds like a lot, i know hondas are made really well, but no matter what that is a bunch of miles. My Question is should I buy it or pass and keep looking, I have been looking for about 3 months, and this was the best Ive found so far (in mill valley, CA bay area) How many miles will It go before it has major issues? Can I please have some advice, this is my first car and I need it for about 5-6 years to last me through collage.

Thank you guys so much!

 
Rep Power: 0

offer 4k.

the miles are nothing.

as long as she changed the oil regularly.

ask to see receipts for oil changes, belt changes, coolant flushes, and all the other things.

take it for a ride.

 
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He won't come down at all, there are other buyer's I'm the first to respond, The thing is this guy is selling it for his mom who just died or something so he does not really have the record's because he can't find them or anything, thats why im just a little hesitent to buy it. Ive had to call around to places he has got it repaired and ask them to look up the service record. Is there anyway physically to see if the belt/water pump has been changed?

 
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no, not really, unless YOU knew where to look...

id pass. for sure. u can find others that will let the price wiggle and will show u loads of receipts.


go get some free car magazines and call around.

crap, u can go to a dealership and use that 3 or 4k as a down payment on a certified used car and KNOW its all good and get a warranty.

 
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I really want a honda civic, and this is seriously the only good one, non salvage, for under $6000 close by, in my little town by san francisco everyone wants one of these. I think im going to continue to persuit this car, I'm going to see if the timing belt was changed and stuff like that, it does run/sound really great. Just wondering how long do you think this car would go though, my grandpa yelled at me for looking at a car over 100K and I said it would eaisly go 200K, prolly make 250K, is that sorta an accurate statement? what problems usually occur later in the civic's life?

 
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Also there is a local tow/junk yard that has many car's.

Should I concider brining a mechanic there and trying to fix of one of these:

http://terralindatow.com/

Could be a good idea, im in Auto Shop at my local school so I can already so some car work.

 
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ya, over 100,000 isnt HORRIBLE, but its not the best idea when u want it to last for 5 or 6 years...

i saved up my money and bought my 03 EX for like 10k 2 years ago... 36,000 miles and its the best things ive ever done... all my other cars have been old beaters that break down before i even go 5,000 miles on... but they were cheap!!! lol

 
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Nicee, I wish i had 10K, haha.

Well I have $4000 and my dad is throwing down $2000, so I have a total of $6000, and Ive just been looking all over for the past 3 months, ive been interested in toyota corolla/camry, honda civic/Accord, nissan sentra/altima (not so much nissan's) And Those car's are in such demand right now because of the good gas mpg's and reliability, This is literely the first car ive even concidered to buy that ive found. I will basicly go back and forth to school, and some weekend trips with friends, I Would probably like it to last through collage (im a jr. in HS) If it could go from 140K-180K Without have to put to much into it I would be happy.

Car shopping is so hard. (especially cuz my dad does not like car's, and my mom is not that excited about me getting a car)

 
Rep Power: 290

http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/Pric...itions=#survey

He is asking too much for it. KBB says 4255 and he is asking 4500 even without any service history. At the least take it to a mechanic you trust and let them check it out.

 
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You looked up a 1997 Civic, this one is a 1998 check it out:
http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/Pric...252008%7Cfalse

Yah, i was not going to take it to a mechanic because i brought my friend who worked in the auto industry for 30 years and said from looking under the hood and testing it, its good, but he could not do a big inspection.

There is a honda dealer right across the street for $130 they will do a 1/2 day full inspection. Its probably worth doing that.

 
Rep Power: 290

I stand corrected.

My only concern left is if they haven't done the timing belt yet then what else have the skimped on? Take it to the dealer and get it checked out. Honestly: you've found used car heaven (minus the timing belt) if it is true granny drove it since new.

 
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Yah, I think I will bring it into the dealer to get it checked out, rather spend $130 right now instead of $4500 for a potential lemon.

If it is only the timing belt that needs to be replaced, i think I am still going to buy the car as long as everything else is great. I'll put down the $4500+$500/$600 for the timing belt. There could be a chance that I can change it in my autoshop class though. She said towards the end of the year we could do it, but we could make it a special colabritive project for the whole class. That would be cool.

 
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Well I agree with everyone if you want that civic i would bring a mechanic with you and check it out I bought my 05civic new with 77 miles on it and now it has 100,000 and I havent kept all of my recipts from everything I have done but I think its would be kinda hard to produce documents for all the maintance especially if she bought it new

 
Rep Power: 388

A timing belt shouldnt cost you 600 bucks. If the interior is spotless It wouldnt be a bad idea. Those motors are cheap anyways- if it does end up throwing a rod or whatever down the line you can pick one up for less than 500 bucks.

 
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Sounds Decent for the Price. i just got my 1998 honda civic DX for 4400 with exhaust and new paint job due to sun damage( we live in the desert) i think the car should be dropped to at least $4000. if you need help i am good at finding deals on cars. hit me up or email me. dannielrodarte@gmail.com