What to watch out for when buying a civic coupe

[blitz_syd]

hey guys,

i'm saving up for Honda civic coupe 1998-2000 model which i will be buying within the next 6 months.
in the process of buying the car i want to know things to look out for when walking aroudn the car, and when taking it for a test drive.

rust build up?


or anything ????

thanks

[diegoaccord]

Check the valve covergasket, headgasket, and the shift linkage. You'll only have to worry about these things if a so-called street racer has owned the particular car in question. And make sure the mirrors and license plate area arent flat black .

[Options]

Ask if it has a clean title and all that good stuff.

[96GreenCivic]

Which trim level are you looking at?
Go for the Ex or Si. IMO

*From the front or back, sight down the car and look for fluctuations in the paint and body work.
*Run your finger between the hood and side panels and feel for a consistent gap. Again checking for body damage.
*Look at the spare and the well it's in. Be sure the spare holds air and the well has no moisture.
*Be sure there is acceptable tread on the tires.
*Test drive w/o the radio on.

That is some of the big stuff. There is a lot more of course. Go to the library or Bookstore to research.

[colblaha]

I'm in the market for a '94-'98 Ex(preferably), but I have no car knowledge hardly at all. I've picked stuff up from my friends, but when it comes down to buying time, I won't know what to look for. Any help?

[blasian_man]

if youre buying a 98-00, try and see if you can get an extended factory warranty, just in case

[eckoman_pdx]

try and get all the records for the car if the previous owner has them, also, I know here, a salvaged title has a different colored boarder I belive. Call up the local DMV and find out what to look at to tell, and actually look at the title to make sure. Also, if then car has any leans on it (bank, credit union, etc) make sure you that the buying price isn't lower than the lean, or it will pass on to you. Another tip to help look for body damage is see if you can wash the car and dry it before you buy. This gives you a up close look at the body and paint for damage. A compression test on the engine will give you an idea of the health of the engine, so that might be a good idea. Also, make sure to find out, if the milege is past 60k, if the timing belt/water pump has been done, and when it was last. Maybe pay a mechanic if you trust one to look over the brakes, engine, etc; a pre-purchuse inspection, if you are serious about buying the car. This will help you minimize the suprises you might find once you own it.I hidden rear-end wreck can be harder to tell than you think. Open the trunk, peal back the carpet, and look for Tack welds, etc where it might have been fixed, or marks from where it was straightend out. Also if the car was in a wreck, try and make sure it was done properly, and that they just didn't straighten and bondo the hell out of it. I hope some of this helps a little.

[blitz_syd]

thanks guys


btw. i'm in aus. so we only have VTi, GLI, and ** can't remember the other one.
thanks for all input. i will be getting an authorised mechanic to check out the car before purchase. and will look around the body, for any visible damage, as well as inside for welds

[AtomAton]

Originally posted by colblaha
I'm in the market for a '94-'98 Ex(preferably), but I have no car knowledge hardly at all. I've picked stuff up from my friends, but when it comes down to buying time, I won't know what to look for. Any help?

EX is a good choice, im partial to the 97's but 98s are just as nice gonna cost a little more, like they all have said look for body damage, look under the car for frame damage (accedent repair) look on Carfax.com for the cars history, and most importantly DONT BUY SOME RICE BOYS CAR!!! look out for civics with big ol bolted on wings, or aftermarket air intakes

but civics can take a lickin and well u know the rest, good cars

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally posted by AtomAton


EX is a good choice, im partial to the 97's but 98s are just as nice gonna cost a little more, like they all have said look for body damage, look under the car for frame damage (accedent repair) look on Carfax.com for the cars history, and most importantly DONT BUY SOME RICE BOYS CAR!!! look out for civics with big ol bolted on wings, or aftermarket air intakes

but civics can take a lickin and well u know the rest, good cars

True for the most part. Carfax is a good place to look and get idea's, but beware. I know of serveal cases that they missed things. and it didn't qualify under there up to $5000 gaurentee (I know I spelled it worng, sorry. I'm tired, lol). Ine case A guy I know bought an infiniti Q45 I think it was, or something close to that , from a dealership. Looked on carfax, clean record. A year later, he found out the car had flood damage. It hadn't been reported though, at least to dmv, so carfax didn't pick it up and he got burned there. The second case was a civic. Clean clean looking 5th gen sedan. Very nice looking car, owned by a middle age couple. All the recrods, and a completely stock car. Carfax showed no damage. After he bought the car, he ordered a copy of his clue report (comperhesive loss underwriting report, insurance copies use it, it show's your claims history plus the car's claims history).
Well, a few people he knew in the know with car bodies had told him earlier they thought the car had been rear-ended before. I good clean fix for the most part, but it had been. Impossible, carfax didn't show it, right? Nope, there it was, on the CLUE. Listed as comperhinsive, but it was there. $4000 property damage, plus $1500 pip. It had been rear-ended before, carfax didn't show it. Both times, had someone in the know with car bodies looked at the car before hand, these trhings would have been known before purchase (and probably could have ment a little lower price too). I am not bashing a carfax report, just make sure that after you order it and look it over, if you are serious about the car, have a person in the know with car bodies look it over.

[Jay!]

Make sure the toolkit includes the lug wrench. And the jack, for that matter...