Used Car Advice

[nofx]

So soon I am going to be in the market for a used car, I am currently thinking about purchasing a Honda Civic. I have done a little research as in what to look for when inspecting used cars how to check the oil and ect. Is the Civic a solid car and about what kind of miles should I be looking for ie isn't there a point where these cars kind of go poop? And do miles even matter, if the engine has been kept in good condition?
Are there any other good used cars I should be looking for, I want a car that has reliable gas kind of fast, sporty and sleek. Nothing really old I want something modern. Imho, the civic has all of old these, sadly I have yet to test drive one so who knows this could all be wrong.

 

[Kamikazie]

My brother got a 1996 Pontiac Firebird for $5000, so you can get a great car for a low price. When I was looking for a car for myself I found some great deals in Jacksonville but I live in Tampa so I wasn't driving for three hours to look at a car. I have to say that KBB is your friend when looking at prices for used cars. The Civics are decent cars but I know that you can get a great deal and an even better car if you look hard enough.

Miles do matter even if the engine is kept in decent condition, try to stay away from cars that have over 100,000 miles on them.

 

[Dan]

My '91 civic is at 150 000 some miiles and purrs like a kitten.

 

[Kamikazie]

But you don't want to buy a car that has 150,000. My dad's truck has 155,000, it still isn't a truck that he will be able keep for 5 years or even 2 years at that. You want to get a car that has decent miles for the year it is. The way that I was taught to gauge is to put 15,000 miles per year.

Example: 96 car with 60,000 miles is a great deal, so on and so forth.

 

[nofx]

Thanks for all the advice! Jacksonville is becoming lame with all the murders and all, I plan to do probably a lot of driving in the civic because I will be going to uni in a couple of years which will probably be around 2.5 hrs away from home so I kind of want someting that will last. I am thinkin about ging to a dealer maybe or using craigslist.

 

[Jammydodger]

Yeah you cant go wrong with an old Honda, I bought a 93 plate Honda prelude 2.2 VTEC last year and its awesome.



Make sure you have a good look through all the service history and have a look under the bonnet, if you dont know much about cars take a friend who does.

 

[ailevation]

Honda's are pretty reliable... can't go wrong.

 

[The DemonWithin]

But you don't want to buy a car that has 150,000. My dad's truck has 155,000, it still isn't a truck that he will be able keep for 5 years or even 2 years at that. You want to get a car that has decent miles for the year it is. The way that I was taught to gauge is to put 15,000 miles per year.

Example: 96 car with 60,000 miles is a great deal, so on and so forth.

Hah, I'm currently driving a 95 pontiac sunfire with just under 300k on it, still works great and I havent had any problems with it in the 5+ years we've had it.

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

Careful about used Hondas.
Numbnuts rice boys will beat them to death and sell them when they realize they aren't fast.

Some warnings signs: huge exhaust pipe, leaking exhaust, cone filter, carbon buildup around the exhaust outlet, mismatched rims, hood covered in rock chips or painted black, large spoiler, badge removal, extra fog lights, fake hyperwhite bulbs, stickers or any kind, tacky personal touch ups to the interior, uneven wear on the tires, creaking suspension, so on.
Also check for signs of pointless weight removal ie A/C delete, missing sound barriers, "racing" seats, missing trunk items such as spare tire and OEM tools.

To answer one of your questions, miles do not matter if the vehicle has been meticulously cared for. Try to buy a car off a well-dressed old person. They don't usually need the money and they don't mess with stuff too much and they generally have it serviced at the dealer.

See if you can aquire service records from potential sellers.

 

[Saketi]

Volkswagon Golf's are very solid cars, good for economical, its a diesal, so insurance should be cheaper, has more Torque than a petrol, has a good background for producing excellence in their design/value.

When buying a used car, forget about the body for now, check the engine, make sure there is no corrosion on the battery, wiring, check the oil levels, water levels. Check the brake pads & disks, check under near the wheel arches, tug on the suspension of the wheels make sure there still in good use (springy) but not too loose. Check the tires for Wear & Tear, ie cracks on the outer part (near the writing on the wheel) Startup the car, see how it sounds, give it a few little revs. Take it for a drive, see if it drives nice or not.

Also u know if ur buying a decent car if the owner/dealer can supply u with all if not half of the history of the car, eg records of servicing, tax, MOT, etc

These are the key factors in looking at.

 

[Dalamari]

Buy asian or German

 

[nofx]

Thanks for all the advice. I found this really nice website:

http://www.samarins.com/check/simplecheck.html which i advise for anyone it really helped me figure out what to look for when trying to spot a lemon and so did you guys
the vw golf doesnt look too bad but I am not a fan of hatchbacks they all seem too girly, yes I know there are civic hatchbacks :x i am beginning to feel more confident about when i purchase the next car also I have some books about lemons and general auto at the library on hold

and what does a carbon buildup look like?
and how can i tell if something has been painted over, other than the shine?

thanks

 

[Dalamari]

www.carsoup.com

That's all you need to find a used car

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

and what does a carbon buildup look like?
and how can i tell if something has been painted over, other than the shine?

thanks

Basically it looks like a very dark dirt that has accumulated into aconcentrated area. It is difficult to remove but even worse is a sign of tampering with fuel ratios and exhaust components. True ricers like to richen fuel to air and gut their catalytic converters. Evidence while driving presents itself in the form of smoke coming from the exhaust. Smoke coming from a car is essentially carbon ie burning oil or unburnt fuel.

Look closely at the paint. See if there are any imperfections. Also look for minute cracks. A poor paintjob will oxidize quickly.

 

[xcellerate]

Generally speaking, vw's are not reliable cars. I love them to death, i even own two (soon 3), but i'll be the first to admit to their weaknesses; i have nothing to hide.

And yes miles matter, oil isn't the only thing that wears out in a car. There's countless bushings, hundreds of bearings, a ton of seals, all of which crack and break and need replacing.