Need some expert opinions, could really use your experience on a Civic purchase.

[iregret]

Hi guys. I'm new to Hondas. I want to buy a daily driver. I need it to last me around 5 years. I'm mechanically inclined and have no issues swapping engines and whatnot.

I've narrowed it down to two choices.

First,

92 Honda Civic Hatchback

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/4021724854.html

I've talked to the lady. It's a one owner car. A senior citizen owns it. I don't think she's going to come down much on the price though. She said she took the car camping mostly. It's spend a lot if time on gravel roads.

Secondly,

1992 Honda Civic Hatchback Si Engine $3950

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/4015645062.html

I've spoken with this guy as well. Everything appears to be done correctly. It does not have AC, but he's including most of the parts needed for the swap. He had a wrecked si that he swapped the parts from.

I'm kind of at a crossroad. My game plan was to buy the first one and paint it myself, run it until failure and then swap something in.

On the other hand, the second one pretty much has everything done to it that I would do.

I'll be quitting my full time job in about a year to go back to school full time. I need to set myself up with a reliable daily driver that'll last 5 years or so.

I figure the gap between the cars is about 500-750.00.

What would you guys recommend and why? Grandma driven single owner civic with 175k miles and working AC? Or, Si engine swapped, lowered, non-AC civic put together by an Eastern European dude that's heading home next month?

 

[OGstackadolla]

Lol at his swap. Looks clean, but it's tough to see on a computer. Granny needs to come down on her price, but I would pursue that one.
That guy called his lil baby d**k swap powerful, probably makes a little more than 100whp

 

[EJackBauer8]

Lol at his swap. Looks clean, but it's tough to see on a computer. Granny needs to come down on her price, but I would pursue that one.
That guy called his lil baby d**k swap powerful, probably makes a little more than 100whp

Exactly! The granny is the one I would pursue, but you gotta get it lower.

 

[iregret]

Thanks guys. I don't need anything with crazy power, just reliable. I need reliability and gas mileage.

 

[Billy.]

If you can keep your needs before your wants, you'll end up with the granny-mobile

 

[iregret]

If its been taken care of like she says it has, it should last another year or two, right?

 

[iregret]

Here's how the email went with the granny mobile.

I asked:

"Why are you selling your civic? What kind of records do you have? How long have you had it?"

She replied:

"I am selling my Civic because as a senior citizen I am told that I shouldn't take it off-road and into areas where there is no ready help should I get stuck. I have owned the car since it was new- I have always kept it up well- as the new tires show. I bought them a while back because the tread was wearing and I expected to have the car forever.

Recently someone I respect sat me down and got me to understand that if I wanted to camp, etc. out nowhere, I needed a new car.

PLease let me know what time you will come on Wednesday. We can discuss all matters then.

Leslie"

I asked:

"Blue book on your civic is $1500.00. Is there anyway you can come closer to that price?

I'm concerned it may be a little bit beat up with your offroading. LOL. It doesn't have to be cosmetically perfect by any means as long as its been maintained.

Thank you"

She replied:

"Do not jump to conclusions. I have been very careful and protective of my car. Come see for yourself that it is not beatup, etc. If I don't hear from you today as to what time on Wed. you are coming to see it, I cannot guarantee being here."

I asked:

"You take the civic off road? What does that mean? You take it to camp grounds or something? Is that something I should be concerned with?"

She replied:

"yes, for me off road means going to camp grounds located on dirt roads."

I asked:

"I'll talk to my wife and see what her schedule is on Wednesday. I work a graveyard shift that night, so we could probably meet with you around noon.

How flexible are you on price? Do you feel confident that your civic would last us for a while? Like I said, I'm not worried about scratches, dings or dents. I just need a car that gets good mileage for my 80 mile daily commute. My carpool buddies will complain if I don't have AC. That's why I was asking about it.

Thank you."

She replied:

"This car is in better shape than any others of its vintage. You insult me by trying to bargain o n the price before you've even seen the goods. Shall I see you about noon on Wednesday?"

I replied:

"I'm not trying to insult you, I was just asking. My wife and I work all the time. We hardly have time off, let alone time off together. I'd rather not waste it driving 200 miles to Portland and back before I get to stay up all night working in a hot mill.

Your car may be nicer than most, but it still has 175,000 miles on it and is 21 years old. Have you looked up Kelly blue book value? It's $1050.00, you're asking 3 times that.

I have cash and I don't want to waste your time. There are other civics in the $3000.00 range with new engines in them. I'm more comfortable in the $2000.00 range. If you can't do that, I completely understand.

Thank you for your time"

She replied:

"yes- I know the blue book value- and I know what these cars are going for in the Portland area.

I need to know TODAY if you are coming on Wednesday or not!"

I'm wondering if granny is kind of a weirdo. Or maybe just attached to the Civic?

 

[Failsafe88]

If you are emailing this lady back and forth and she is going camping I don't see her as being that old. I would bargain with her more in person. She seems very strong willed and semi reluctant to get rid of the car lol. It's sort of like sending your kid off for school I suppose and she wants the best for it. I don't blame her for her reaction

 

[OGstackadolla]

Idk the market. But if its clean and well maintained, 2100-2500

 

[iregret]

I'm kinda thinking that too. I think she's attached to the civic. Rightfully so, she's owned it for 21. Her baby civic is legal drinking age. LOL.

In your opinion, what's a fair offer? I was thinking like $2000.00. I don't want to piss her off, but don't want to waste her time either. I just don't know how to read into the emails.

Senior citizen could mean she's 56 years old. My father in law is 66 years old and he goes camping alone all the time.

 

[OGstackadolla]

And you need better negotiating tactics. Don't say 'lol'. That's rule number one. Haha

 

[iregret]

She's either going to take my offer, or she's not. There's hundreds of civics on Craigslist.

 

[lethal6]

For one thing, stop using KBB for cars older than 5-8 years. It is the biggest low balling joke in the industry. If you take a look at a site like nada that dealerships and insurance companies actually use you would see that the value of her vehicle in fair condition is around $2300.

I will tell you this, my car was valued on KBB at $1050 and my insurance company gave me $2400 when it was totaled in an accident. Knowing damn well that insurance companies are prone to hit you with the lowest price they can find wouldn't you think they would use KBB? They won't because it is a joke, especially for cars older that 5-8 years.

You don't judge a cars value on a site like KBB. You judge it based on what compatible models in the area are going for and the condition it is in.

 

[SpeedTechnik]

and you need better negotiating tactics. don't say 'lol'. that's rule number one. Haha

x2

for one thing, stop using kbb for cars older than 5-8 years. It is the biggest low balling joke in the industry. If you take a look at a site like nada that dealerships and insurance companies actually use you would see that the value of her vehicle in fair condition is around $2300.

I will tell you this, my car was valued on kbb at $1050 and my insurance company gave me $2400 when it was totaled in an accident. Knowing damn well that insurance companies are prone to hit you with the lowest price they can find wouldn't you think they would use kbb? They won't because it is a joke, especially for cars older that 5-8 years.

You don't judge a cars value on a site like kbb. You judge it based on what compatible models in the area are going for and the condition it is in.

x2

 

[iregret]

Anything I should look for? I've read rust in the rear quarters and leaking windshield. At 175k the timing belt and water pump has to have been replaced right?

I wrote lol at her offroading her civic. I never even offered her a price on her car. I think 3k is too much. Like I said in the email, I'm more comfortable being in the 2k range. 22-2400 or so. I'm going to use kbb, because that's what everyone uses. We're not dealing with insurance companies and were not at a car dealer. If I can show her the kbb value it might drive her asking price down. We're talking about a 21 year old car and 2-3k dollars. It's not a rediculous loss even if I paid asking price.

This isn't the first used car I've ever bought. You guys are coming down on me for writing lol, but earlier some guy said he lol'd at his baby d**k engine swap. Wtf?

Im going to look at it tomorrow. Ill look at the usual used car stuff. Thanks for your opinions everyone.

 

[EJackBauer8]

This isn't the first used car I've ever bought. You guys are coming down on me for writing lol, but earlier some guy said he lol'd at his baby d**k engine swap. Wtf?

He was laughing at the way the guy was treating that pathetic swap between us, a public forum, but you typed out "LOL" in a conversation with a seller. 1. That makes you seem not serious at all. 2. You never do that when you're trying to be serious.

 

[OGstackadolla]

It is a really funny swap to call fast. I'm still kinda giggling

 

[iregret]

He was laughing at the way the guy was treating that pathetic swap between us, a public forum, but you typed out "LOL" in a conversation with a seller. 1. That makes you seem not serious at all. 2. You never do that when you're trying to be serious.

Alright, well I'm seriously going to look at it tomorrow so I guess we'll see if it works out.

 

[Billy.]

The way I read her emails is that she explained everything that needed to be explained by her 2nd email, and asked three or four times if you're going to meet her on Wednesday. Sounds to me like she is drawing the conclusion that you are a tire kicker wasting her time, especially after trying to lower the price before even seeing the car.

As for KBB, I definitely agree that you cannot use their numbers for a vehicle over 5-6 years. They don't take market value into consideration whatsoever. The KBB on my 2000 civic was about 2500, but I sold it to the first buyer at 5500 (asking price) and had several other buyer offers for full asking price lined up.

Hope it all works out. Point out any oil leaks (guaranteed on a car that old) and maybe you'll get her down to 2500 or less...

 

[Failsafe88]

It is a really funny swap to call fast. I'm still kinda giggling

Haha it would be different if it was a d16z6 with turbo but it's not.