2001 Honda Civic 1.6 automatic - Any problems
Discussion
I'm a bit out my depth on this one if someone can assist please.
My girlfriend is looking for her 1st car and has been offered a Civic which she's really keen on. They are asking £350 so I can see why she's keen. Its from a very good friend of her side of the family so I think they are doing her a favour with the price.
The only details I have is the number plate, I've done a search and the MOT history is pretty clear, the only recent failures are tyres being worn, it had done 95k at the last test in October and it has been averaging 3-4k miles for the past 5 years or so.
It's got a 1.6 engine with an auto box, she's got to have an auto as she can't fathom out how to use a manual.
For the money I'm fully expecting it to require bits and pieces, I'm happy to get the spanners out myself to do bits like servicing and brakes etc but is there anything specific that I need to have a look for on these?
I confess I don't know anything about Hondas really but my dad has a 2002 Jazz which just keeps on going.
My girlfriend is looking for her 1st car and has been offered a Civic which she's really keen on. They are asking £350 so I can see why she's keen. Its from a very good friend of her side of the family so I think they are doing her a favour with the price.
The only details I have is the number plate, I've done a search and the MOT history is pretty clear, the only recent failures are tyres being worn, it had done 95k at the last test in October and it has been averaging 3-4k miles for the past 5 years or so.
It's got a 1.6 engine with an auto box, she's got to have an auto as she can't fathom out how to use a manual.
For the money I'm fully expecting it to require bits and pieces, I'm happy to get the spanners out myself to do bits like servicing and brakes etc but is there anything specific that I need to have a look for on these?
I confess I don't know anything about Hondas really but my dad has a 2002 Jazz which just keeps on going.
Does it look like this https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/... or does it look like a Rover?
Either way, it's an old car now I had a 1.4 version of the one that looked like a Rover (MB2 chassis code for the beards) and it was utterly reliable, but check for rust.
Again, it's an old car, so look carefully at the service and MOT history to see if it has been taken care of. I only got £115 for mine PX against a newish at the time Jazz and it had been serviced on time, every time since new.
You may get a cheap gem, but in all probability, it's likely to need some money spent on something.
Either way, it's an old car now I had a 1.4 version of the one that looked like a Rover (MB2 chassis code for the beards) and it was utterly reliable, but check for rust.
Again, it's an old car, so look carefully at the service and MOT history to see if it has been taken care of. I only got £115 for mine PX against a newish at the time Jazz and it had been serviced on time, every time since new.
You may get a cheap gem, but in all probability, it's likely to need some money spent on something.
Thanks buddy. I don't know what it looks like as yet. She's going to take her dad to look at it tonight (we live 40 miles apart) so it might not be me that looks at it now or makes the decision to go for it. I've asked for some photos though.
I've warned her that it's likely to need money spending on it but she's been interested in the restoration of my mini so I've said we can work on it together which she wasn't super keen on but didn't dismiss it.
I've warned her that it's likely to need money spending on it but she's been interested in the restoration of my mini so I've said we can work on it together which she wasn't super keen on but didn't dismiss it.
It's worth stating that the auto boxes will need servicing at regular intervals; honda do state service intervals (cant remember off the top of my head but it might be around 50,000 miles). Do make sure this has been done. The timing belt requires changing at 70,000 miles (along with the tensioner). It's not particularly easy to inspect so factor this in if there is no history (receipts!) of it being done. Oil changes should be no more than 12,000 miles, and they are with 5w-30 fully synthetic. Again, receipts will show this.
Of course, it's a cheap car...very very cheap. No car costs that little so factor in a major service. The engines should also have the valve clearances checked every 25,000 miles (this is out of my honda handbook) although personally I've never had it done. My 2005 civic is at 94,000 miles and I will be looking at getting that done soon though.
Go in with eyes wide open and inspect very carefully. take a pen and notepad and make a list of things that look like they will need attention, or even get the AA or RAC to inspect it. Things like brakes and such (you might be able to see pad depth). It will all want servicing.
Of course, it's a cheap car...very very cheap. No car costs that little so factor in a major service. The engines should also have the valve clearances checked every 25,000 miles (this is out of my honda handbook) although personally I've never had it done. My 2005 civic is at 94,000 miles and I will be looking at getting that done soon though.
Go in with eyes wide open and inspect very carefully. take a pen and notepad and make a list of things that look like they will need attention, or even get the AA or RAC to inspect it. Things like brakes and such (you might be able to see pad depth). It will all want servicing.
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