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Hi I just got a 2018 Civic LX from my aunt who can’t drive anymore. It has 20k miles on it. She has done oil changes and tire rotations. It’s white which I’m not a fan of but starting to like it.

I would like to keep the Civic for as long as I can like 10 -15 years.

This is my first car and I’m 21 years old. But I would like to start establishing a monthly car budget for maintenance and preventative maintenance and for more expensive repairs down the road.

How much money per month would you put in a car maintenance budget monthly to pay for future routine and preventative maintenance and possible costly repairs? Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 126

So you're not 54. Noted.

As a fellow 21-year old, I don't really budget for repairs, if I'm being completely honest. I just repair when I need to, which with my car, has been seldom. In the 1.5-ish years I've owned my TSX, besides oil changes and aftermarket modifications which are irrelevant to the maintenance of the car, I've put maybe $400 into it, which included a full brake job, valve adjustment, valve cover, and spark plugs. With a car that has only 20k miles, those shouldn't need to be addressed for probably another 100k miles. For me, I guess it breaks down to about $20 per month.

As far as setting up a maintenance schedule, you'll need to do oil changes every X amount of miles (I do 3-5000 but some people choose to do more), transmission fluid changes every 30k miles, pads/rotors every X amount of miles (depending on driving habits, I'd budget fluid into that as well), and maybe a coolant flush, but that again depends on the condition.

 
Rep Power: 244

Luckily your aunt had a Honda and not a VW so you won’t have many issues (if any). I keep about 2k-3k for “emergency” car and house repairs. This is based off of me DIYing most stuff so I’d save more if you have someone else do the work. Since it’s just car and the car has so little miles 1k would do you good I think.

You also have to consider towing and other emergency services. Depending on how many miles you drive you could go thru brakes and tires a lot. I go 8-10k between oil changes.

 
Rep Power: 126

I guess I should mention - not sure if Honda "fixed" their systems, but my TSX wayyyyyyy overestimates oil quality to the point where it tells me to change my oil after almost 20k miles. If your car is doing the same thing, do not listen to it.

 
Rep Power: 368

engine/trans failures could happen (when it gets older) so 5k reserve is better

 
Rep Power: 512

mine has been ballpark 7000-8000 miles between oil changes, doing them anywhere from 10-20% oil life remaining.

Back @ OP, just keep up with regular maintenance that have been mentioned above. CVT fluid change (I'm naturally assuming it's a CVT), I think, is supposed to be like.. 30k miles I think? I did mine at about 40k

Use good fuel, good oil.

Just out of curiosity, because this could change some things... Is it a hatch or coupe/sedan? Only reason I ask is because the coupe/sedan LX came with the 2.0L non-turbo, and the non-Type R hatches came exclusively in the 1.5L turbo.

 
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Hi it’s a sedan 2.0 non turbo. It also has extended Honda Care warranty. I think it’s the bare bones model but I’m ok with it. I’m just looking for reliability and want to maintain it to last me. I would like to put a certain amount into a maintenance fund each pay but not sure how much.

It currently has 20k miles. Aunt had condenser replaced under warranty last year.

I’m not handy. What stuff would you let dealer do and what stuff would you let local mechanic do? Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 223

Just take it to the dealer, that way they know the history of the car