Honda Civic or Honda Civic?

[spark-rain-fire]

I'm kind of torn, I'm looking at 2 cars, a 2002 Honda Civic LX with 80k for 7750 and a 2000 Honda Civic EX with 116k for 5995.


I kind of like that the 2000 civic has a sunroof, and that it's less expensive. But I like that the 2002 has less miles, and is newer

Thoughts?

[kahunablair]

Test Drive both.
The EX does have more options, but it might not be enough to offset the age of the car.

I personally would probably lean more towards the '02, but I still would highly recommend taking both out for a drive. Both prices are actually quite good, so you'll be getting a good deal either way!
The 2002 Info (http://www.edmunds.com/used/2002/honda/civic/100003248/prices.html)
The 2000 Info (http://www.edmunds.com/used/2000/honda/civic/3246/prices.html)

Good luck and keep us posted.

[kahunablair]

Actually, I just realized the 2002 LX won't have AntiLock Brakes. That would make me lean more for a no for me.

[spark-rain-fire]

I just test drove the 2002 LX. It seemingly has all the features I'd like. I will need to buy a new head unit, or iPod adapter to get my music in the car. The car seems like the best deal, just because of the age and the miles. As for anti-lock brakes -- that isn't something I'm too concerned about (I've been driving without them for 7 years) The car was comforatable, I do prefer the body style of the 2001-2005 as apposed to the 1995-2000. I'm going to look at the other one later on tonight..


-dann

[ariastar]

Find out the type of driving done for both. Better to have a car with more highway miles than one with fewer miles that were all in the city.

[spark-rain-fire]

I've run into a bit of an issue. I just ran a Carfax for both cars:

I'd be the 3rd owner on both cars. I guess that is to be expected, given the price of each car.

However, The 2002 Civic has been in an accident, but it looks like it was maintained more often, and driven less.

Carfax doesn't have any recent information on the 2000 Civic, even though it's being sold at a bigger dealer (really big nissan dealer) and the last reported odometer reading was 60k. So, it's been driven for 50k without any reported servicing or anything.

Thoughts on this?

Also, does NJ keep crash records online someplace? this is all the information carfax has:

New Jersey
Police Report
Case # 21617-06 Accident reported
in Ocean County
It hit another motor vehicle CARFAX began reporting information from this source on 05/03/2006.
It hit another motor vehicle. I'm guessing that means she rear-ended someone? I'd also guess that that isn't much of a big deal depending on the speed, other factors.



carfax links:
2000 Civic http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailReport.do?a=ho9B1FpCpONj7%2FN5Wnz%2BiiqTC xeXyUWbhyapjkBOn6HX88srkHtli9bDgDaCTSi3&language=EN

2002 Civic http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailReport.do?a=L9OU2smDL7NPQl%2BG9IOKoUGmGBi rd15HhyapjkBOn6HX88srkHtli9bDgDaCTSi3&language=EN

[acidburn]

On the 2000 Civic, I'd wonder why the oil was changed with 4 miles on the odometer. I wouldn't be concerned about the lack of service records on the 2000. Carfax isn't always that complete.


On the 2002 Civic, I'd be concerned as to why someone bought the car, put over 14K on it in a year and then got rid of it. Do you know anything about why the transmission was just serviced? Routine service or a problem. Seems odd that it was serviced at AAMCO and then the dealer took possession of it just days after. That would be a small red flag to me.

[spark-rain-fire]

On the 2000 Civic, I'd wonder why the oil was changed with 4 miles on the odometer. I wouldn't be concerned about the lack of service records on the 2000. Carfax isn't always that complete.


On the 2002 Civic, I'd be concerned as to why someone bought the car, put over 14K on it in a year and then got rid of it. Do you know anything about why the transmission was just serviced? Routine service or a problem. Seems odd that it was serviced at AAMCO and then the dealer took possession of it just days after. That would be a small red flag to me.

The dealer was the one that had it serviced at AAMCO, it was a routine inspection.. and he does have the service records, I just haven't seen them yet. (he met me on a Saturday before he had previous reservations)the girl that traded it in was a student at Penn State (where I live) and a resident of NJ. She traded it in right before inspection, which leads me to believe that she couldn't afford some of the work that was required for it to pass.

I'm calling the dealer tomorrow and I can get the service report, I'm sure. He is a smaller dealer, he doesn't have a full service garage, and thats why AAMCO did the work for him. He also used to be co-owner of the Ford dealer in the area, but they were "loosing money" and they sold his half off. (it was a part Ford, part Dodge dealer)



edit: just got off the phone with the dealer. he said that he had the rocker panel replaced, and that the bumpers were recently painted. he also said that the student that sold him the car was headed out to ROTC training, and that's why she got rid of the car (he actually told me that before I asked about why the 2nd owner got rid of the car)

The work done at AAMCO was brakes, and an oil change

[ariastar]

Not all servicing places report to Carfax, and certainly there are no reports if someone does their own maintenance. My parents' Chrysler would have a report showing nothing...because my dad was a mechanic and did all the work himself. Every weekend he was out with the car inspecting it to find even the hint of a problem starting to take care of it before it became a problem.

Take those reports with a grain of salt and use them more or less to look for inconsistencies with what the seller says. They aren't going to be the complete story.

Don't worry about the collision if the work was properly done.

I agree with Acid though that it's odd to put a bunch of work into a car only to get rid of it soon afterward. Red flag for larger problems the previous owner couldn't afford to take care of.

[spark-rain-fire]

I agree with Acid though that it's odd to put a bunch of work into a car only to get rid of it soon afterward. Red flag for larger problems the previous owner couldn't afford to take care of.

I find it odd that carfax reports that the work was done, then the car was bought. I'm guessing there was a lapse in time from the DMV? because the car dealer is the one who had the work done at AAMCO. It was an inspection.

Also, he bought the car from a Penn State student, that had to go to ROTC training -- thus getting rid of the car in a hurry.

Thankfully this guy is free on a sunday, I'm going to try to get my mechanic to look it over today (also thankful that I have a mechanic to look at these things) Even if he hates Japanese cars.

-dann

[acidburn]

I find it odd that carfax reports that the work was done, then the car was bought. I'm guessing there was a lapse in time from the DMV? because the car dealer is the one who had the work done at AAMCO. It was an inspection.



They probably took it in for the work as soon as they took possession of it, even if it was before the paperwork got filed with the DMV.

[spark-rain-fire]

They probably took it in for the work as soon as they took possession of it, even if it was before the paperwork got filed with the DMV.


yea, that's what happened. I took the car for another drive today. I'm really starting to enjoy the car, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to buy it. The work done at AAMCO was simple stuff, I saw the bill today. (brakes, rotors) and there wasn't any significant damage in the "accident" because the hood, trunk, and doors are all originals. (they are serialized, and matching)

This will be the only car, besides my first car (Mazda 323) , that I'm excited about owning. This is also my 5th car..

[angie1313]

get the newer car with the lesser miles. It may not seem like alot now but in a few years the newer car will require less work

[techliveadmin]

i dont know anything about cars. Even though my aunt and uncle own the biggest car aircondition repair store in the country. But I would go with the new car. Like the guy ( oops, meant girl :D ) above me sed, in the long run, lesser miles = less expense.

[spark-rain-fire]

I was just about to get the loan worked out last night then i read carsurvey.org for the 2002 civic. It seems a lot of people are dissatisfied with the car.. anyone have any experience owning or repairing civics?

http://carsurvey.org/modelyear_Honda_Civic_2002.html


however, overall the edmunds reviews seem to be good -- for the most part.

and it won two awards "editors most wanted" and "consumers most wanted"

http://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2002/consumerreview.html

This would be the first car i've ever owned that cost more than 2,000 dollars, so while it might not seem like a big deal to some of you, I'm super nervous.

-dann

[spark-rain-fire]

I bought it! I decided to bite the bullet and go for it.

I got the 2002 Civic, and I pick it up on wednesday.

[kahunablair]

First off, Congrats!

I was just about to get the loan worked out last night then i read carsurvey.org for the 2002 civic. It seems a lot of people are dissatisfied with the car.. anyone have any experience owning or repairing civics?
Sorry I missed this post earlier, but you'll be fine. Honda's are probably the cheepest/easiest car to get repaired. I really doubt you'll have problems as many of those people stated.

This would be the first car i've ever owned that cost more than 2,000 dollars, so while it might not seem like a big deal to some of you, I'm super nervous.
Whether it's $2,000 or not, buying a car is a friggin huge decision either way. I'm happy to hear you got something good. Happy driving!

[spark-rain-fire]

I'm beginning to get excited. The loan application went super well, and I got a really exciting rate. Next step, just wait for the paperwork to come in the mail!