I looked briefly today at a reasonably priced, pretty clean 2003 Civic, DX 4dr auto, as a potential 1st car for step-son turning 16 later this year.
My questions are if there are any known issues with this vehicle, and if it's a reliable auto transmission? I'm not a Honda guy. I went this afternoon to take a quick look at it to see if it was worth coming back and really looking harder - jacking it up to test the steering and suspension joints, pull some plugs, etc., etc.
It has 182k, new-ish tires, recent brake discs, very modest body wear and no signs of serious repair. Engine bay was clean, fluids looked maintained; really a pretty nice looking vehicle for the miles and age. Cars in the PNW can do that with maintenance. It started well, idled smoothly, no smoke and very clean inside the tail pipe. Signs of an old oil leak from the head down the back of the block, but new vcg so not currently, it appeared. Steering rack and things all very clean and dry. I didn't drive it; we will come back and do that and poke harder. I was ambivalent when I heard about it, but after a brief going-over, it looks really solid.
A friend (very good, honest, trusted friend) is selling it for another friend of theirs who moved away to Alaska. It was reportedly owned previous to that for a long time by a mechanic, and it does have that appearance to me; it looks as well maintained as our cars.
I am thinking it could be a cheap starter car for a new driver and reliable enough. I don't mind replacing things here and there, but just want to know what I am getting into and really what to now what the rep is on these engines and transmissions since I don't know Hondas in detail. I really don't want to face a transmission issue, new cats, or some big headache in the few years he'd use before we move him up to something bigger/nicer/etc.
My questions are if there are any known issues with this vehicle, and if it's a reliable auto transmission? I'm not a Honda guy. I went this afternoon to take a quick look at it to see if it was worth coming back and really looking harder - jacking it up to test the steering and suspension joints, pull some plugs, etc., etc.
It has 182k, new-ish tires, recent brake discs, very modest body wear and no signs of serious repair. Engine bay was clean, fluids looked maintained; really a pretty nice looking vehicle for the miles and age. Cars in the PNW can do that with maintenance. It started well, idled smoothly, no smoke and very clean inside the tail pipe. Signs of an old oil leak from the head down the back of the block, but new vcg so not currently, it appeared. Steering rack and things all very clean and dry. I didn't drive it; we will come back and do that and poke harder. I was ambivalent when I heard about it, but after a brief going-over, it looks really solid.
A friend (very good, honest, trusted friend) is selling it for another friend of theirs who moved away to Alaska. It was reportedly owned previous to that for a long time by a mechanic, and it does have that appearance to me; it looks as well maintained as our cars.