92 Civic LX - Is $1500 fair?

[crypticlineage]

Hello folks,

I am new to these forums. Currently I am in market to buy a used Honda Civic from 90s. This week I found one locally, a Civic LX 1992. The car has had 2 owners, first one was a old lady who drove it for 90K, the second owner drove it another 33K, so it's currently at $123K.

The car looks to be in almost pristine condition. No dents dings on exterior, paint very good, interior is pristine. The owner says oil was changed every 3000 miles. He said he had trouble starting after some rain last week, but now it's doing fine. I think it's probably the distributor cap, wires and plugs which need to be replaced. So a general tune up item.

I am doing a test drive tomorrow. If I am happy with the driving condition and if things seem fine under the hood, I plan to take it to a mechanic on Monday. But should I offer to buy the vehicle before I have it inspected? Can I conditionally offer to buy it if everything cheks out okay at the mechanic?

Is the $1500 price tag sound okay for a car like this? The bluebook says $1600 for fair condition.

I haven't bought a car in a long time and I am just now sure how to negotiate. Any advise will be fantastic. Thanks guys.

 

[Mysteryemotionz]

I paid $1200 for my Dx in fair condition

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[Mr.Baker]

$1500 sounds fair based on your description of it and the mileage.

 

[vtac_ej6]

Try to talk him down a but since youll need to do a tube up. Distributer cap plugs wire timing belt. Check the tires if they need replaced soon id point that out and try to get it for 1100-1200

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[crypticlineage]

photos attached

Thank you all for chiming in. Yeah, if I could get it for around $1200, that would be sweet.

In his description he said the tires have about 90% tread left, so they're practically new. No leeway there to negotiate. I think my best bet is going to be the tune up (distributor cap, wires and plugs). How much would all of that cost for a 92 civic? I have been a corolla owner for years, so I know nothing about part prices for Honda.

My biggest concern is how do you hold off making an offer until you get it inspected. Do you put down some money and say if everything checks out fine in mechanical inspection than we have a deal. Or else, I take my money back. Or is that money gone if I don't take it.

Here are a few pics he sent me. I drove by this morning to check out the car from outside. It looks really nice. Waiting for drive test this afternoon.

Edit: I had pictures here, but I removed them to save bandwidth. The pictures are no more relevant to this thread. Thanks.

 

[young_]

Looks to be in great condition. Very low mileage. If its mechanically sound I'd say 1500 is a good price.


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[emerican]

^ agree

 

[mymmeryloss]

 

[crypticlineage]

Just got back from the test drive. The car drives just fine. Nice acceleration, good brakes etc.

Things look good under the hood except for one thing:

Oil leak from somewhere. It's not the valve-cover, for which the owner replaced the gasket recently. So the source is unknown. He has good records of all the maintenance, including the last oil change 500 miles ago. The oil already looks dark brown and he is using 10W30. Also, according to the owner, there is no oil loss between changes (which may be true but no way to verify unless driven for extended periods of time).

I told him, I was interested in the car, but I wish to take it for mechanical inspection. He says, he will let me if it doesn't sell until next weekend. So I signed off. If he's not going to let me do inspection, I am not going to buy it. I don't think anyone should.

If I hadn't seen that oil leak, I would have been more inclined to offer him a price. But I really do want to know where the oil is coming from. If it is rear main seal, or head gasket, that could be an expensive repair.

What do you guys think?

 

[Avant Uprising]

Good job walking away he got scared from hiding somethin from u.

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[young_]

Good job walking away he got scared from hiding somethin from u.

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[crypticlineage]

Thanks Bullgod and young_. I have been screwed over really bad when I bought a car last time, so I am extremely cautious now. I will keep looking. I really want to get a standard transmission, but if I had gotten this one, I would have tried to do the swap which seems to be very popular in Honda civics.

 

[young_]

Thanks Bullgod and young_. I have been screwed over really bad when I bought a car last time, so I am extremely cautious now. I will keep looking. I really want to get a standard transmission, but if I had gotten this one, I would have tried to do the swap which seems to be very popular in Honda civics.

Yeah just hold out for what you really want and you'll be happy.
And are you referring to an auto to manual swap? It's a lot of work and if you're already in the market to buy I would just go ahead and buy a manual.

 

[Avant Uprising]

Cop pulls guy over and asked do u know why I pulled u over. Guy says no. cop says I need you to step out of the vehicle so I can search it. Guy says not today pull me over tomorrow and u can. Moral of the story if the cop searched him he wouldnt be happy with what he finds same with if u took it to a mechanic thats why he told you he wants to see if anyone else would buy it first lol

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[crypticlineage]

young_: Yes, I was referring to transmission swap. You're right, why waste time and money doing something like that when you can just buy a manual. Although would be a nice project. I was only tempted by this car because it was local and good cars are very rare to come by in this town. Everything is an hour and half away in Houston.

What I want is a mid to late 90s standard civic, either sedan or hatch; although I am more inclined towards sedan due to trunk space. I need the car this summer, so I have about 3 months to look for one.

My biggest problem in finding standards is I don't know how to drive one yet. So if I want to go test drive a vehicle in Houston, I must pester a friend to help me out. And no one wants to teach you standard if you don't have your own car. So a chicken and egg game really.

Since I don't know much at all about civics, I would appreciate getting some feedback on the years I am targeting and any further advice about prices and things to look for etc.

Once again, thank you all for your replies.

 

[Avant Uprising]

Good clean hondas are hard to find everywhere have a friend teach you then go test drive it youself haha

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[young_]

Coupes have good trunk space as well.
I bought my car with a minimal understanding of driving stick. I had driven friends up the road before but never daily driven in traffic and all that. Well I drove 2 and a half hours away, bought a 5-speed, and then drove around an empty parking lot for about 20 minutes before heading home. Drove 2 and a half hours back and only stalled once. But that's like throwing a kid in a pool to learn how to swim. Not necessarily the best way. Could have went worse. (rolled back into a car, stalled out in an intersection and been t-boned, etc.) What I would do in your position, since you have 3 months to get a car, is have a friend teach you in their car. Study up on driving stick and get a good understanding of how everything works, and when you feel confident go try to learn in a friends car. Just try and pick a patient friend.

 

[Avant Uprising]

Word with a coupe u will really just lose 2 extra doors and a little leg room in the rear

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[crypticlineage]

Bulldog: Great analogy on cop and the liar.

young_: Great advice. I dont' have any friends who drive a stick, but I will post on CL to see if I can find some paid help.

 

[Avant Uprising]

Bulldog: Great analogy on cop and the liar.

young_: Great advice. I dont' have any friends who drive a stick, but I will post on CL to see if I can find some paid help.

Thats my story for the day lol. Could go to a dealership and test drive the piss out of manuals then tell them ur not interested

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