Civic coupe views

Piriz

hi,

i am considering buying this http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3984694

gona take a look tomorrow perhaps, what are your opinions about this car? anything of interest to note? thanks

Esel

Looks nice! Honest John (I know some users here pooh-pooh HJ, but anyway) says:

Reports from USA of early automatic transmission failures.

Same as Japanese Civics.

Official recall 6-6-2002: Electrical contacts in ignition switch wear prematurely leading to a stall. Remedy to fit new switch. 53,175 Hondas affected.

Some owners' reviews from Parkers (including 3 for the auto).

bazz26

The Coupe was American built as opposed to Japanese/UK so some parts might not be common to either.

Bandito909

Looks nice alright.

You can beat your wife, you can beat your kids, but you'd never beat a Honda. :pac:

liam7831

Auto

Piriz

liam7831 wrote: »

Auto

yea i agree, ive never driven an auto... what are the drawbacks?

Wicklowandy

Autos are great if you dont like driving.....

Old school autos are thirsty and definately not suited to a 'performance' coupe.

On the plus side autos are generally bought in hondas by woman / mature / one legged drivers so may have been better minded.

That honda looks very clean. All the previous honda civic coupes were good cars, but that one as someone said is based on the american version. The americans released it at a low price to appeal to american college kids. It wouldnt be hugely capable and interior fittings feel cheap.

But being a honda, it should be reliable. But make sure its perfect, as in my experience honda parts can be expensive.

Piriz

the chap said it averages 36MPG... maybe i'd be better lookin for a diesel

Stheno

Piriz wrote: »

the chap said it averages 36MPG... maybe i'd be better lookin for a diesel

What's your yearly mileage OP?

That car looks lovely

Voodoomelon

No cash no drive, who is this guy? Is he expecting many joy riders of Civic family saloons?

Piriz

Stheno wrote: »

What's your yearly mileage OP?

That car looks lovely

i do about 250 miles a week spend about 50euro

Stheno

Piriz wrote: »

i do about 250 miles a week spend about 50euro

At that mileage (13k miles a year) I don't think it would be worth your while getting a diesel.

Others may disagree though

Do you do a lot of city driving or is it a mix of city/motorway?

Piriz

Stheno wrote: »

At that mileage (13k miles a year) I don't think it would be worth your while getting a diesel.

Others may disagree though

Do you do a lot of city driving or is it a mix of city/motorway?

its a mix...

Wicklowandy

As someone says, stick to petrol...what have you got right now?

Wicklowandy

Wicklowandy wrote: »

Autos are great if you dont like driving.....

.....

Most Joe soaps have enough to be doing steering when pushing on, most Joe soaps reckon autos aren't great and also reckon they're better at driving than most Joe soaps :pac:

Piriz

ive got a rover 214... its nippy but its old and i want something nicer... will an automatic be nippy....didnt get to see the car today unfortunately...will see it next week...

Wicklowandy

RoverJames wrote: »

Most Joe soaps have enough to be doing steering when pushing on, most Joe soaps reckon autos aren't great and also reckon they're better at driving than most Joe soaps :pac:

Auto is made for large wafty barges.

And personally when pushing on, a manual car is far easier to control, and be safe and quick in.

But thats just joe soap talking:pac:

Wicklowandy

Id try it and keep looking at other things that you may like this week, and try and view a few the same day.

Just to say, i think that may have a 4 spd auto (not sure, but you should check)

That would make it a much more old school, thirstier car compared to newer cvt transmissions. Might be worth noting in your choice.

dharn

i have driven one of those many times they are a great reliable car 1.7 in an auto is still quite fast and not too hard on juice ,you could drive a hard bargain as it is 1.7 big tax, and auto, not popular

bazz26

I'd doubt the auto in that Civic would have been that sophisticated even when it was new, 4 speed probably as already suggested. Best thing to do OP is test drive one and see if you can live with it.

Supergurrier

dharn wrote: »

i have driven one of those many times they are a great reliable car 1.7 in an auto is still quite fast and not too hard on juice ,you could drive a hard bargain as it is 1.7 big tax, and auto, not popular

1.7 is by no means big tax tbh

dharn

i know, but most people looking for a civic are looking for 1.3 unless they are boy racers who are not looking for an automatic the owner of the one i am talking about found it impossible to sell it virtually gave it away in the end

Wicklowandy

I dont like it but would prefer it to a hyundai coupe of that age

Piriz

bazz26 wrote: »

I'd doubt the auto in that Civic would have been that sophisticated even when it was new, 4 speed probably as already suggested. Best thing to do OP is test drive one and see if you can live with it.

I think they have the cvt transmission...

langdang

Piriz wrote: »

I think they have the cvt transmission...

Hmmm, think the cvt box in the hrv wasn't great

djimi

Personally Id prefer the older Civic Coupe but Im not sure what your chances would be of finding one that hasnt been dogged within an inch of its life...

dharn

not cvt, perseptable changes as you drive 3 speed i think but not bad on petrol

Wicklowandy

djimi wrote: »

Personally Id prefer the older Civic Coupe but Im not sure what your chances would be of finding one that hasnt been dogged within an inch of its life...

The two previous shapes particularly 92-96 are actually very good, a world away from this shape, but getting rare. All boyracered or rustyarched to death

Esel

Piriz wrote: »

Will an automatic be nippy?

Much nippier away from lights etc. compared to a manual (unless you are caning it a bit ). An auto will be a bit harder on fuel, but well worth it imo.

Honda make their own auto boxes, and they are reliable and smooth (in my experience).

Do bear in mind that you are in a very strong bargaining position on this car, as the auto will put a lot of people off (as well as the 1.7 litre engine, as people have already said - also it's a 3 door). It may be the ideal car for you - but don't give the seller a hint of that!

If you are going to try to buy it, prove to the seller that you are interested (flash a wad of cash or whatever), and ask him what is his lowest price. I know he said "Price is non negotiable" in the ad, but ignore that!

If I was buying, the most I would plan to pay would be €2550 - €2600, and I wouldn't get to that amount without a lot of hard bargaining. Remember he needs to sell (baby on way).

Make a low offer (€2200 ?) and see what the response is. Only make a slightly higher offer (€50 increments) if he refuses to lower the price in response to your first offer. If he just won't budge on the price, increase your offer price slowly. Make your 'final offer' for a fair bit less that you are prepared to pay. He may reduce his asking price at that point.

How much tax is left on it? It will be 10 years old in less that 6 weeks, use the fact that is auto to show that it makes it somewhat unattractive to you - you've heard horror stories about hugh repair costs blah blah.

Say your 'final offer' was €2400, and he then said his absolute bottom price was €2700 (hopefully he has come down below that already!). At this point you could offer to split the difference at €2550, or you could say you could scrape together an extra €50. Etc. etc.

Be prepared to walk away though - there are plenty of nice cars out there for that kind of money.

I'll say it again though, the car looks good, and the ad reads well - lots of plusses - low miles, FHSH (check this religiously - main dealer, stamped, mileage tallies etc.). Do a motorcheck or carcheck before you travel. Is the car an import? How long has he had it?

Let us know how you get on anyway.

Stheno

dharn wrote: »

i have driven one of those many times they are a great reliable car 1.7 in an auto is still quite fast and not too hard on juice ,you could drive a hard bargain as it is 1.7 big tax, and auto, not popular

Esel wrote: »

Much nippier away from lights etc. compared to a manual (unless you are caning it a bit ). An auto will be a bit harder on fuel, but well worth it imo.

Honda make their own auto boxes, and they are reliable and smooth (in my experience).

Do bear in mind that you are in a very strong bargaining position on this car, as the auto will put a lot of people off (as well as the 1.7 litre engine, as people have already said - also it's a 3 door). It may be the ideal car for you - but don't give the seller a hint of that!

If you are going to try to buy it, prove to the seller that you are interested (flash a wad of cash or whatever), and ask him what is his lowest price. I know he said "Price is non negotiable" in the ad, but ignore that!

If I was buying, the most I would plan to pay would be €2550 - €2600, and I wouldn't get to that amount without a lot of hard bargaining. Remember he needs to sell (baby on way).

Make a low offer (€2200 ?) and see what the response is. Only make a slightly higher offer (€50 increments) if he refuses to lower the price in response to your first offer. If he just won't budge on the price, increase your offer price slowly. Make your 'final offer' for a fair bit less that you are prepared to pay. He may reduce his asking price at that point.

How much tax is left on it? It will be 10 years old in less that 6 weeks, use the fact that is auto to show that it makes it somewhat unattractive to you - you've heard horror stories about hugh repair costs blah blah.

Say your 'final offer' was €2400, and he then said his absolute bottom price was €2700 (hopefully he has come down below that already!). At this point you could offer to split the difference at €2550, or you could say you could scrape together an extra €50. Etc. etc.

Be prepared to walk away though - there are plenty of nice cars out there for that kind of money.

I'll say it again though, the car looks good, and the ad reads well - lots of plusses - low miles, FHSH (check this religiously - main dealer, stamped, mileage tallies etc.). Do a motorcheck or carcheck before you travel. Is the car an import? How long has he had it?

Let us know how you get on anyway.

Great post, good advice for most people buying in that sort of market.