I have started searching for my next car.

[trickedaccord92]

Why not just buy an accord. CB7 or Cd5. Buy one for $2,000 tops, drop $1,000 in parts right away to get it running right and feeling good, and then spend the rest on a vacation for the wife and kids?


My thoughts.


$4,000 is a bad number for me with buying used cars. That is either an expensive POS car, or, a cheap ass run down car that seems like a good deal. 4K is just a weird dollar amount for a used car, and everytime I have bought something for that kind of money it was either a nice car for the money-with problems lurking around the corner-or a POS that was "fixed up" and eventually I regretted that as well.

So, now, I spend $2500 tops for used cars unless I am going to spend atleast 10 grand. Anything in between just seems to = headaches for me throughout my life. Granted, theres always exceptions but I'd rather spend a couple thousand on a decent car and have a grand or so to get it right and be happy with that. Nothing worse than spending all your money on a "decent" car and then having something like the tranny go out on it.

Because honestly with my back and wrist messed up (couldn't break a stuck bolt loose if I wanted) I don't want to buy a car to fix. I want a clean yet reliable honda. The only Accord I would consider is a CB9 or 5th gen wagon but it would have to be super clean and tastefully modded for that kind of money or super clean with low mileage.

If I am being completely honest I really don't want another accord. Over the past 11 years I have owned: 89 SE-i, 92 sedan with f22b dohc swapped by me, 94 coupe on air ride, 92 coupe with h22 that blew then I swapped in a fresh h22 with all bolt ons, chipped ecu street tuned by Jose AKA D112crzy, clean 91 coupe with just wheels and a drop, and finally a 92 wagon but the body was just too rough I never wanted to do anything with it.

The problem around here is most accords have been run into the ground and need a lot of work. I am seriously considering a trip back to Florida for a week to find me something clean for a descent price.

[AAPOQ]

I'll give you my 2cents on the 5th gen Prelude. They are a great car! Really fun to drive! It's not super fast but quick for daily, Handles like a beast (mines an SH tho).

What I don't like about it is the trunk space/back seat, really really small. Maybe even too small for children. And the cup holder sucks.

I would NOT recommend an automatic lude, very problematic in the 5th gens...

[Accrdwgnguy]

Because honestly with my back and wrist messed up (couldn't break a stuck bolt loose if I wanted) I don't want to buy a car to fix.

Then why are you considering anything older than 5 years? Any one of those cars you're interested in is going to need work, you're gonna spend a couple grand to buy it and then have to mortgage the house to pay the mechanic to fix it for you.

I know I said my $2000 Oldsmobile is a great car so far, but I also know that at anytime something is going to break and then I'll be spinning wrenches, not paying someone to do that shit for me.

[Ralphie]

Then why are you considering anything older than 5 years? Any one of those cars you're interested in is going to need work, you're gonna spend a couple grand to buy it and then have to mortgage the house to pay the mechanic to fix it for you.

I know I said my $2000 Oldsmobile is a great car so far, but I also know that at anytime something is going to break and then I'll be spinning wrenches, not paying someone to do that shit for me.

LOL.

I read that and was like "Dude can't wrench but want's a Beetle?"

If you can't do ANYTHING SERIOUS, not little bs, but serious wrenching, then I would avoid anything older then 5 years like posted above.

I do realize that 2014 might need major work, but they will be under warranty and won't need you to use your wrists.

I think maybe for 4k, you might want to save it and sock some money away and then use it for a down payment on something that will give you a warranty like a CPO.

[trickedaccord92]

Then why are you considering anything older than 5 years? Any one of those cars you're interested in is going to need work, you're gonna spend a couple grand to buy it and then have to mortgage the house to pay the mechanic to fix it for you.

I know I said my $2000 Oldsmobile is a great car so far, but I also know that at anytime something is going to break and then I'll be spinning wrenches, not paying someone to do that shit for me.

LOL.

I read that and was like "Dude can't wrench but want's a Beetle?"

If you can't do ANYTHING SERIOUS, not little bs, but serious wrenching, then I would avoid anything older then 5 years like posted above.

I do realize that 2014 might need major work, but they will be under warranty and won't need you to use your wrists.

I think maybe for 4k, you might want to save it and sock some money away and then use it for a down payment on something that will give you a warranty like a CPO.

Already have a car payment on my wife's car so I can't do another car payment until it is paid off in another 4 years. I have been without a car for 6 months and yeah I was thinking a beetle but now I am leaning more towards a clean civic hatch. Saying any car over 5 years old will need a tone of work is BS. I drove my last accord with just maintenance for 2 years and it was a beater that cost me $900. The EK is down to $4200 so if my tax money hits the bank before it is sold I will buy it.

Just because I can't wrench like I used to doesn't mean I can't enjoy a nice car from the 90s. It just means I have to be picky and find one that hasn't been beaten to death. Whatever I get will be babied. I am not looking for a track car or to street race like I used to. Just something I enjoy.

[toycar]

That Civic falls into the expensive "fixed up" pos category I was talking about.


Sure it's pretty clean. Swapped, sorta tucked, custom shit everywhere - huge potential for headaches.

Plus, it's among the most likely cars to be stolen.

B16 swap? Right, and it hasn't been beaten on at all.

Do what you want, but, history has shown me cars like these are usually a problem more than a pleasure.

Civic is worth like $3,000 tops-since it's so clean. In average condition, I bet that's a 1500-1800 dollar car.

[deevergote]

I fully agree with toycar's take on a $4000 car. That's rather expensive for a car that is clearly going to be very old, or very heavily used. A good "used" car these days is going to be a certified preowned vehicle from a dealership. Something $10,000+ (and by $10,000, I'm talking the cheapies... the Honda Fits, the Nissan Versas, etc... my Grand Prix GTP was $11,000, and it was a piece of crap... also not CPO.)

Honestly, a used car is best purchased for a VERY small amount ($2000 or less), and fixed up to be reliable (ultimately making it a $5000 car, but one that has had all major components overhauled... engine, transmission, suspension, brakes.)

My advice is not to buy ANYTHING that has been modified. If you want a modified car, YOU modify it. At least then you'll know what was done to it, and you'll have a better chance of sorting out the inevitable problems that will arise due to the modifications. If you were buying a toy, fine... but if you're planning on this being a daily driver, that's a whole different thing entirely. Reliability and practicality should be #1... all other wants should come second to that.

If you only have $4000 to spend, and no more, get yourself a $1500 beater, and dump $2500 into restoring the important parts. You know Hondas pretty well just by being involved with the Accord crowd, so that's probably your best bet. However, if all the local Accords are run into the ground, I doubt you'll find a Civic that hasn't been... as they're even more popular with tuners, and seeing as they're cheaper cars overall, they've likely been abused by careless kids (even in stock form) longer than the Accords.

The CRV suggestion might be one of the best suggestions here. It's not a terribly interesting vehicle, but they're reliable, affordable, common, and it
s highly unlikely that one has been terribly beaten on... at least in terms of modifications and racing (neglect, on the other hand... that's possible.)


Just keep in mind, a $4000 car is most likely going to see you as the 3rd or 4th owner. The original owner may have taken care of it, but subsequent owners likely didn't show it the same degree of care. $4000 is a beater price, or someone's beloved pet project price. Either way, you don't want to blow your whole wad on that.

[h22sparkle]

I'll give you my 2cents on the 5th gen Prelude. They are a great car! Really fun to drive! It's not super fast but quick for daily, Handles like a beast (mines an SH tho).

What I don't like about it is the trunk space/back seat, really really small. Maybe even too small for children. And the cup holder sucks.

I would NOT recommend an automatic lude, very problematic in the 5th gens...

Hmm

[h22sparkle]

Most crv's are driven by adults that have no intentions of moding that car very rarely you'll see one tuner involved.

[deevergote]

Indeed. And any tuner CR-V is usually a head turner, because it's such a rare thing to see.

Personally, I hate CR-Vs. I think they're hideous. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to trust one in terms of reliability.

[Ralphie]

Already have a car payment on my wife's car so I can't do another car payment until it is paid off in another 4 years. I have been without a car for 6 months and yeah I was thinking a beetle but now I am leaning more towards a clean civic hatch. Saying any car over 5 years old will need a tone of work is BS. I drove my last accord with just maintenance for 2 years and it was a beater that cost me $900. The EK is down to $4200 so if my tax money hits the bank before it is sold I will buy it.

Just because I can't wrench like I used to doesn't mean I can't enjoy a nice car from the 90s. It just means I have to be picky and find one that hasn't been beaten to death. Whatever I get will be babied. I am not looking for a track car or to street race like I used to. Just something I enjoy.

You can be as picky as you want, but a high mileage car, no matter how well maintained, is still going to need TLC as it ages, so the chance of needing work done is higher then low mileage cars.

Not trying to be a dick, or shit on your parade....just being honest.

I babied my 2002, and it still needed work at 135k.

[toycar]

Prices have come down quite a bit for decent parts from wholesalers online. Buying a cheap ass $500-$1500 car leaves a ton of money for whatever could be going on. I remember when OEM quality rotors were about $300. Now you can buy Brembo blanks, which I think are better than OEM, for about a third of that price.


I strongly suggest going that route.


For a thousand bucks I can find an accord in shitty condition. Rusty rear quarter panels being the biggest grype, but, all together a running car from square one.


Replacing with quality parts ;

-Upper control arms
-Lower control arms
-Wheel bearings
-Lower ball joints
-Sway bar bushings/end links
-Radius rod bushings
-Acc belt
-Timing belt/h20 pump + tensioner
-All new fluids
-Spark plug tube seals
-Plugs/wires
-Fuel filter and line flush
-Brake pads all around
-New rotors
-Struts/strut bushings
-Inner/outer tie rods
-Alignment

Wouldn't cost $2,000 and thats for Moog parts and OEM goodness and oem equal off the shelf struts. Shit I bet you could get new tires in there too for $2,000 if you shopped accordingly.

So beater, + all that work done and now you are riding in something that feels good and is reliable as long as you did your compression/transmission homework before you bought the car. If you only spend a grand on the car, and 2 grand on all of these parts, you'd still have money left over for plates + 6 months insurance and a couple nights at the Holiday inn(for that vacation I was talking about)

[ontheroad92]

i'll post in here about the beetle. i would like one as my next car if my accord ever kicks the bucket beyond repair. beetles are funny little cars. they're easy to repair and get decent gas mileage for their age; however, they can have quirks. a good example: you'll drive the beetle across country and back without a single issue and the next day it won't start 2 miles from your house. i really wouldn't recommend getting one unless you plan on doing the repairs yourself. they need frequent tune ups. you can read 'how to keep your volkswagen alive' by john muir to give you an idea of what you'd be getting yourself into. also, you'll need to consider proper insurance for it.

that said, i myself have injuries. severe ones. i'm stubborn as a mule and REFUSE to let it stop me from fixing my accord. sometimes i do have trouble. sometimes it takes me longer to do things. could i do auto repair as a job? hell no! BUT when i was young i always wanted an antique car as my mode of transit. it means sacrifices, walking even when in pain and taking public transit sometimes, but i'm not going to let my condition stop me. like i said, i am a horribly stubborn person. the positive aspect is i've saved $$$ doing this and have learned a lot about cars as someone who had to take public transit most of my life.

seeing that you have kids, i'm not sure how well those booster seats for kids will fit in a beetle. i'd check out thesamba.com and search there about that.

[h22sparkle]

Get a 2006 or 2008 si that hasn't been nodded just keep it stock. just keep saving up