Looking To Buy First Car - Honda Civic Coupe / Saloon

[Sam666]

In April / Early May I will be taking my driving lesions, I have 2 grand (mebbe bit more by then) for a car and insurance so I want to spend about £1600 on a car. I want a Civic Coupe or Saloon 1.4 - 1.6i 1998+ and less than 100k miles. Engine size depends on insurance and cost of car, but there are so many different ones I have seen on auto trader and ebay, 1.4i's 16v's, LSI's, V-Techs sports, V-Techs sports, LS etc. What's the best one to be looking for? Are they all 16V or only the 1.5 or 1.6s? I will probably be looking more towards a 1.4i that's also 16v I hope.

I'm not that knowledgeable with cars so if anyone could shed some light I would be grateful, I know I don't want a hatchback as all the chavs have one. And the coupe looking ones look so nice and original with a decent body kit.

Cheers
Sam

[japow]

Hello mate

You cant go wrong with a Honda Civic - very good cars even without maintenance. There are loads of engine variants from the SOHC 1.4s & 1.6ILs to the 16 valve DOHC Vtechs & SRs.

I have an immaculate 1.6 ILS coupe that i'll have for sale in a week or so - car belongs to a lady friend of mine & has done just 59,000 miles. I've given it a near full re-spray to get rid of a few pin dents etc & I've just bought a set of lowering springs & some new 17" wheels & tyres for it, along with a new sports exhaust.

This car will be a stunner when ready as everything will be new & you'll be really proud to have this.

Selling complete with remote locking cat 1 alarm for £2450 or less without the alarm.

Let me know if you're interested, email me on [e-mail] & i'll send you some pics.

Regards

Japow

[V-TECJUNKIE]

Hi Sam

Ok a few pointers for you. Firstly shop around. As great as the above offer sounds, don't let impatience get the better of you.

Be critical. Taking the above post as an example:

name said:

I have an immaculate 1.6 ILS coupe.....I've given it a near full re-spray to get rid of a few pin dents etc

This is not an immaculate condition car...it may well be in nice condition after the respray but its not immaculate. Look at specific terms used such as 'etc' what exactly does a few pin dents 'etc' mean???

name said:

I've given it a near full re-spray

Potential paint mis match?? something to look out for if you ever visit it!

name said:

car belongs to a lady friend of mine....& I've just bought a set of lowering springs & some new 17" wheels & tyres for it, along with a new sports exhaust.

Ask questions such as why are you selling for her and why have you lowered it got rims and sport exhaust when your are going to sell it....in fact...why are you selling it..

name said:

This car will be a stunner when ready

Comments like and comments such as 'great little runner'..you know the sort, really have no place in a car advert if the car is as good as is being made out.

My advice is buy a stock car of an old lady and do any mods yourself..and get them done well. Buying already Moded cars is often a mine field IME.

Japow sorry if that all sounded a bit rude but just trying to give the lad the some sound advice.

Sam all the best and post up anymore questions or cars you are looking at and I will help as much as possible

Edited by V-TECJUNKIE on Wednesday 2nd May 13:13

[japow]

Hi

Thanks for your comments. Very reasonable & sound advice.

I am a car enthusiast & import japanese cars to sell on, so i wont sell a crap car ever.

The lady friend is in fact my ex & the mother of my son

She has 4 kids & they did most things in the car & she never washed it/parked it in the street where the bumper corners got rubbed, kids kicked balls against it etc.

The car only ever drove around in South London between her & her mum's.

I bought it in 2000 for her for nearly £7k with only 18k on the clock.

So, you see, I know the car quite well. She doesn't use it anymore & I'm importing an MPV from Japan for her so she asked me to take it. Which means I get it looking mint & sell it. Any inspection is welcome.

I just thought i'd be honest in describing the car because i've not come across many 10 year old plus cars that haven't had some sort of paint work or worse done. And those that haven't usually need it & i'd be rather suspicious if i came across a minter that age & the owner said the car was always like that.

Dont get put off in your search for a car - best to get the AA check it out & HPI it if you're shelling out decent money. Like i said, happy to have these checks on mine.