Was driving home, and had been told of a car on the way. Stopped and checked it out, is a '92 Accord EX. I was excited. Early 90's Honda ftw. Couldn't see the miles because it was still dark out, but trying to get a hold of the guy today, actually staying up late so I can call him when he gets back from lunch.
Only thing I know so far is that he's asking $1600, which would leave me with about a grand to fix anything that needs to be done. I'm pretty geeked atm, will post when I find out miles (bit short of 200k I'd guess)and any problems he's honest enough to tell me about, if I'm lucky I can get a ride out to test drive it tomorrow.
More to come!
Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Was driving home, and had been told of a car on the way. Stopped and checked it out, is a '92 Accord EX. I was excited. Early 90's Honda ftw. Couldn't see the miles because it was still dark out, but trying to get a hold of the guy today, actually staying up late so I can call him when he gets back from lunch.
Only thing I know so far is that he's asking $1600, which would leave me with about a grand to fix anything that needs to be done. I'm pretty geeked atm, will post when I find out miles (bit short of 200k I'd guess)and any problems he's honest enough to tell me about, if I'm lucky I can get a ride out to test drive it tomorrow.
More to come!
$1600 on a tired (200k) engine.... offer him $1000. Haggle son, haggle. I haven't ever paid the asking price on any vehicle I have bought.
Only thing I know so far is that he's asking $1600, which would leave me with about a grand to fix anything that needs to be done. I'm pretty geeked atm, will post when I find out miles (bit short of 200k I'd guess)and any problems he's honest enough to tell me about, if I'm lucky I can get a ride out to test drive it tomorrow.
More to come!
$1600 on a tired (200k) engine.... offer him $1000. Haggle son, haggle. I haven't ever paid the asking price on any vehicle I have bought.
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Just got off the phone with the guy, seems like an intelligent man who knows about as much as I do about cars, so it was a fun conversation. :)
As stated before, '92 Accord EX...he bought it in '96, so has had it 10+ years.
162k miles, about 130k of those from him.
As far as options, everything but the cassette player works.
Mechanically, needs a few things. His mechanic told him:
Machine front and rear rotors.
New rear pads.
Valve cover and oil pan gasket leak, both need to be replaced.
Quoted $600 for the work.
KBB shows the car in "poor" condition (which it has one ding in bumper and a bit of "honda rot") being worth $2200, so he took $600 off that and is asking $1600. I know I can likely get my friends to help me with most, if not all, of the brake work, so as long as it's just those two gaskets (and none of the major ones), it seems like a good deal and I'm leaning towards taking it.
Want to get the ball rolling tomorrow if I can, so would like to know any feedback/opinions on it, and thanks in advance. Will read it all before I go to work.
As stated before, '92 Accord EX...he bought it in '96, so has had it 10+ years.
162k miles, about 130k of those from him.
As far as options, everything but the cassette player works.
Mechanically, needs a few things. His mechanic told him:
Machine front and rear rotors.
New rear pads.
Valve cover and oil pan gasket leak, both need to be replaced.
Quoted $600 for the work.
KBB shows the car in "poor" condition (which it has one ding in bumper and a bit of "honda rot") being worth $2200, so he took $600 off that and is asking $1600. I know I can likely get my friends to help me with most, if not all, of the brake work, so as long as it's just those two gaskets (and none of the major ones), it seems like a good deal and I'm leaning towards taking it.
Want to get the ball rolling tomorrow if I can, so would like to know any feedback/opinions on it, and thanks in advance. Will read it all before I go to work.
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
I'd at least jew him down a few hundred. Offer him $1200, maybe go up to $1400 - 162k miles is leaning towards tranny and engine problems.
I'm looking at a 92 Saturn this weekend. No body damage, new rims/tires and sound system. $1,200, and I'll probably talk him down to $1,000.
I'm looking at a 92 Saturn this weekend. No body damage, new rims/tires and sound system. $1,200, and I'll probably talk him down to $1,000.
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
I'd at least jew him down a few hundred. Offer him $1200, maybe go up to $1400 - 162k miles is leaning towards tranny and engine problems.
I'm looking at a 92 Saturn this weekend. No body damage, new rims/tires and sound system. $1,200, and I'll probably talk him down to $1,000.
Also seals are gonna start leaking real soon, lifters are probably making noise. How bad is the "honda rot", get it lifted at see if there is much rot on the underside. are the rotors machinable or are they at the point of replace em. What is the tire wear like? inside edge on the front means the alignment, toe in, ball joints. (jack the front and see how bad she wiggles side to side & up/down.), jack the rear and check the wheel bearings, grab the drive shafts and check for any play (shouldn't be any). What color/smell is the oil/transmission oil. Oil (if it is dark and smells burnt) RUN. Dont look back, just RUN. (if it is dark, and gritty) then filter is old, take a magnet and see if the grit sticks to the magnet, if it does RUN LIKE HELL, if it doens't then it needs an oil change.
Transmission fluid, should be a light red/purple color. Smell it, if it smells burnt, that usually means the tranny is on its way out, if it is dark red, but not burnt, fluid & filter need to be replaced.
Pull the fuel filter, check for rust.
I'm looking at a 92 Saturn this weekend. No body damage, new rims/tires and sound system. $1,200, and I'll probably talk him down to $1,000.
Also seals are gonna start leaking real soon, lifters are probably making noise. How bad is the "honda rot", get it lifted at see if there is much rot on the underside. are the rotors machinable or are they at the point of replace em. What is the tire wear like? inside edge on the front means the alignment, toe in, ball joints. (jack the front and see how bad she wiggles side to side & up/down.), jack the rear and check the wheel bearings, grab the drive shafts and check for any play (shouldn't be any). What color/smell is the oil/transmission oil. Oil (if it is dark and smells burnt) RUN. Dont look back, just RUN. (if it is dark, and gritty) then filter is old, take a magnet and see if the grit sticks to the magnet, if it does RUN LIKE HELL, if it doens't then it needs an oil change.
Transmission fluid, should be a light red/purple color. Smell it, if it smells burnt, that usually means the tranny is on its way out, if it is dark red, but not burnt, fluid & filter need to be replaced.
Pull the fuel filter, check for rust.
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Hmm, thought I'd posted a response already, strange...well, anywho, didn't get a chance to drive it yet (setup a time for tomorrow), but brought a friend down there and he crawled around, checked everything he could from the outside. Even looked at the oil, because there were a few spots on the ground (from the aforementioned gasket). He gave me a thumbs up, said it seemed like a pretty good deal, and also said he could do most if not all of the work for me, only questionable part being the rotors. He said he's had problems with honda rotors in the past, but he was working on a '97, so maybe different style.
Shrug, regardless, I'm sold on this car, and as long as the transmission sounds alright when I drive it around tomorrow, I'm goin' to make the guy an offer. Woot.
Shrug, regardless, I'm sold on this car, and as long as the transmission sounds alright when I drive it around tomorrow, I'm goin' to make the guy an offer. Woot.
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exmonkeypunk
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Take a look around the heads and make sure there's not a head leak...if it's really just valve cover and oil pan leaks, then it might be worth the time and money. The test drive will tell you about the trans and suspension. The exhaust will prolly be a little loud, but that's a cheap fix. Be weary of half rotten cars though. Make sure to check out "all" underhood fluids and examine the condition for metal shavings and burned up fluid. If the car's been beaten on, the fluids will show damage with particles from the crappy old parts.
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Bought it, it's legal and on the road. Have the money available now, but going to wait 'til next payday before getting the brakes done, may see if I can get a friend to help me do the oil pan gasket on my days off, and if cash allows next week I'll order the valve cover. If anyone knows of an online place to get awesome rates on NEW parts, holla. Else I'll just get a hold of autozone.
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Nice, congrats Ari. I have hookups for parts at cost out here in Cali, but that's no help to you. Even buying them for you here and shipping would inflate the price to Autozone costs.
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exmonkeypunk
Re: Lead on a local car. [Archive] - ForumsHQ
Bought it, it's legal and on the road. Have the money available now, but going to wait 'til next payday before getting the brakes done, may see if I can get a friend to help me do the oil pan gasket on my days off, and if cash allows next week I'll order the valve cover. If anyone knows of an online place to get awesome rates on NEW parts, holla. Else I'll just get a hold of autozone.
I always buy my parts from advance auto parts. I have a grudge against autozone mainly because the workers are morons, but secondly because they use alot of cheap brand parts. Advance uses better quality parts and they seem to have more stock. The valve cover gasket should only be like 10 bucks...same with the oil pan gasket..Gaskets are cheaaappp...that's why i laugh at how much shops charge people for work such as gaskets. Sounds like you found yourself a pretty decent car...post some pics if you can, that'd be sweet.
I always buy my parts from advance auto parts. I have a grudge against autozone mainly because the workers are morons, but secondly because they use alot of cheap brand parts. Advance uses better quality parts and they seem to have more stock. The valve cover gasket should only be like 10 bucks...same with the oil pan gasket..Gaskets are cheaaappp...that's why i laugh at how much shops charge people for work such as gaskets. Sounds like you found yourself a pretty decent car...post some pics if you can, that'd be sweet.