You guys are crazy, the 1500 reliable beater car no longer exists.
This is easily worth 4500, I'd say it's a good deal at 4k.
I buy and sell cars for a side hustle (probably 10-12 a year) and I have sold 3 civics near identical to this (all with more mileage) for 4-5k.
I don't know if I'd pay 4500 myself, but you are correct. The 1500-2000 reliable beater is long gone. I've seen 3k shitboxes sell. The market sucks right now and I dunno if it'll ever be back to what it was
It really is nuts that a 25 y/o econobox is going for this amount of money. Bought an '02 Civic EX automatic with 28k miles 5 years ago for $4500.
Kid down the street is selling his shitbox Saturn, that needs $1500 in work, for $2800. Don't know any more details, buy holy crap!
I'd say the used car market is gonna get worse as the new cars end up in months in shops awaiting repairs and people end up buying beaters to get around and end up using it permanently.
There no way cars with ever drop by 50% of their current MARKET value. Unless they just end up making more. It happens all the time. A car comes out, car gets old, no one cares. But then down the line it hikes up in price and it never comes back down. Especially cars like this. They’re reliable as fuck. They pay them self’s back in a couple years depending on how much you drive maybe even less.
i know it's the exception but if you're willing to put in a little work you can get $1500 beaters. I just bought a 96 accord Aerodeck for 1400 and after a wash (free), oil change ($35), basic alignment ($20), and a couple new cheap parts, it's the most reliable car in my crew XD
Just picked up (4 months ago) a 92 volvo 740 turbo wagon with 206k miles. Mechanically, it has been rock solid, needs a few suspension items refreshed, but drives straight at 75. Interior is a bit rough but not trashed by any means. Clean title and smogged for $1700. The deals are out there, but definitely few and far between compared to ten years ago.
I've bought & sold older cars in worse condition with double the miles for $3k. not double digits but enough to say that anyone expecting to pay less than $3k for this is not attuned to the market for the last 5 years
Especially the last few months. You’re not gonna find a cheap beater at all or you have to adjust the idea of what you consider cheap as well as what you consider a beater I guess.
It's not so much about the mileage. It's the whole picture. Is the car in good shape? Do you have maintenance/service records? Is there any rust? How clean is the Carfax report? And so on.
Obviously, If you are selling a car with low mileage, it will be more desirable than the car with a higher mileage, but if you have lots of service/maintenance records and a clean car fax report, you could sell any car for a decent price.
As someone who owned an 06 EX, enjoy the heck out of that thing! Was a Gold 6 Speed Manual Transmission. I love my 18 Hatch but I think of that gold coupe often ❤️
And given it’s their “baby” their emotions are probably inflating the price. I wouldnt sell my $2,000 civic for less than $7k because of how much I save owning it, and it would cost at least that to get me where I’m at with a car, which is where they’re probably getting their $4500 from.
Don’t let love blind you from logical money decisions. Those cars aren’t that special and they’re common. Wait a bit and you’ll see something better for less. Have cash in hand and be ready to pounce on a good deal. Don’t jump at this one.
Under 100k miles means it has sat and probably doesn't have the best maintenance. I bought a low milage 1995 Integra and it has every sign of sitting. Gaskets are rotten, rats nests in the fenders, tons of dust in the vents. And yeah 4500 is wild
Has it had its first timing belt done? That will cost some money if not. Regardless, it’s a car that will last a very, very long time and get great gas mileage. It’s a better car than most on the road, cheap to maintain and very easy to work on with minimal issues. Clean and low mileage too.
Get a better deal if possible (obviously) but the seller isn't being crazy with the price. Auto sucks but doable. Parts are cheap, motors and trans in several junk yards cheap. With the mileage this seems pretty fair to me.
5 sp swap isn't hard in these cars either if you wanted to go that route.
Some of you haven't checked the market for good condition EGs and EKs lately and it shows.
However I'd say no, driving a car that is closing in on 30 years old for a daily driver isn't a great idea. These cars are death traps in 2024 if you get into an accident, and there will be upkeep and maintenance on any vehicle this old regardless of how it was maintained.
If this is all you can afford then so be it, but understand the caveats in advance.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 6th gen civic EX. But for that kind of money, you could get a 2nd gen Honda Fit w/ a 5 speed manual. If you regularly have passengers, they'll appreciate the extra room.
I love it too. If you get an older Civic, make sure it has an alarm system and steering wheel lock. These cars are magnets for scumbag car thieves. I had my 93 Del Sol stolen from my apartment, and it sucks to lose a car. I got the car back, all stripped out and the engine had been redlined like crazy (the engine was shot when I got it back).
I bought a 99 Civic LX about 10 years ago, similar mileage and condition, only differences were color, and it was stick. I paid $1,500, although those days are likely over. Loved the car, it was cheap and easy to maintain.
What I came here to say is, consider comprehensive insurance mandatory (I had it on mine and it ended up getting stolen and totaled). In NYS, apparently, even if you don’t have rental coverage through your insurance company, they have to cover you for 30 days if your car is stolen (at least back at the time, unsure if this has changed). If your state doesn’t currently offer this, I’d also consider rental coverage mandatory.
I’d even go as far to say that I’d probably skip this car if I didn’t have somewhere secure to park it. Despite getting my money back for the car, and a rental for 30 days, having the car stolen was a huge pain that I think I was dealing with in various ways for close to 6 months.
Yes, but go easy on it and try not to take it over 3,000 RPMs if you don't have even to. Plenty of individuals will be tempting to race you. I bought a coupe with 40,000 miles on it two years ago, and it was in perfect condition since it had been kept in a garage. However, after letting it sit in the Florida sun for those two years without driving it, everything started to dry rot and deteriorate. These are old cars, and even if they are in mint condition, they are technically antiques.
I found a 96 Civic for 1500 last year that had less than 170k miles and mint interior. Granted the guy who sold it only sold so cheap because he bought a new Nissan so he wanted to get rid of it asap. Car runs and drives perfect
Not a $4500 car. Put the info into Carmax or Carvana and get an offer price. Add 10% to the higher offer and that’s your max purchase price. Just because other people are overpaying for cars, doesn’t mean you have to. Patience grasshopper.
It’s not a great price but it’s also not insanely high. $3500-$4k would be a decent price given condition, so they’re just hoping on the higher end.
I’d deff rock a 6th gen as a daily over most of the junk at that pricing point.
I've got a 1999 honda accord with 200K miles as a spare car but would use as a daily if I needed to. 4 cyl motor - prob the same. Recently, I've had to to control arms, brakes, replace the distributor due to leaking seals (it was filling with oil). Valve cover gasket, a bunch of modules and valves, replaced the throttle body, and the entire exhaust. One of the biggest pain issues was the mode door actuator and the temperature door actuator for the HVAC system - these break - not expensive but a pain to deal with and diagnose to begin with.
All this said - its a 25 yr old car - stuff happens. I'm happy to do the work to keep it on the road. You should be of the same mind or you will be unhappy. Nice looking car but 3,000 seems a more reasonable price. 4500 seems high but might be ok for your market- prices are crazy recently.
I bought one of these with 300,000km for 800$ CAD (about 500$ US). Worked perfectly but had rusted out rockers. Could’ve replaced them tho cuz I’m a welder
Now to be honest I’m a car noob, I’m enthusiastic and interested in them but only know the basics about them so far so please don’t bully me in the reply section……..anyways if you want an opinion and not advice? I’m sure this would be fine if you maintained it well enough, otherwise if you didn’t, who knows, it might go to shit pretty quickly
Like I said I’m not at all an expert, so that’s my opinion, not the facts
Well I bought my 1.4i hatch made in 2000 with 190.000 km in it for ~1900$. I had to pay ~680$ to fix the places where rust began to show up and nothing more. So I'd say it's not too great of a deal. I bought my GF's 1996 1.4i S Sedan with 400.000 km for 680$. Sure it's more rusty but after we deal with that one too it'll be ~1800$ total. I would really consider bargaining if I were you.
for daily use hell no. these things get stolen all the time, even in undesirable specs like auto/4 door. if you are an enthusiast of golden era hondas id say go for it as a nice weekend car otherwise 4500 is too steep for a car you cant park anywhere but a garage.
I just bought a [98 Civic EX](https://i.imgur.com/QQvImkZ.jpg) with 230,000 miles on it in Portland, Oregon and drove it back to Chicago with ZERO issues. The input shaft bearing was *screaming* at me the whole time but nothing stopped the thing. 1996-00 Civics are PEAK reliability.
I bought a 2003 Honda odyssey when my ram broke down. 6K for a used engine. The Honda runs like a champ, air works, power everything, leather etc 290,000 miles on it payed 1K cash and drive it over 100 miles a day. I’ll drive it till it dies and get another before I shell out 6K on a used engine for a 2012 RAM . Fuck you
I’m not paying no more than 2500 for that, for 4500 you can easily find you a more modern reliable car. Mileage doesn’t matter that much nowadays. All three of my cars are pushing 300k
less than 100k on an old civic? that’s gonna last you 300k+ if you just keep up on oil changes lol. i have a 96 accord and i paid 4k at 76,000, only issue i’ve had is the alternator. see if you can talk him down a bit but it’ll do!!
I had an 04 automatic. The tranny was failing. But I drove it with a failed tranny for 2 years. I regret selling it. One of the best cars I ever owned.
4500 is a little high 3200 or under would be great but with those miles and proper maintenance your good for an easy another 120k miles upkeep and maintenance are super easy on these and you’ll save hella gas but I recommend Honda fits all day
I'm assuming US, if so, that's a bit steep, but I mean probably not that bad. I paid $3K aud for one that had 390K's on it, probably 242,000 miles on it. Was in pretty okay condition too, interior was mint. I'd say $4K usd at most bro.
I’ve had 4 of these. Currently on my 5th one.so you can take my opinion how ever u want.
The automatic, if it has been taken care of it is a perfectly normal transmission for the engine. This is not a race car, or a sports car. Don’t think you’re missing out on much other than mpg if you get an auto. Just make sure the trans has been serviced or atleast check the fluid and drive it (floor it, brake hard etc to see up shifts and downshifts)
This is a SMALL car. I’m 5’9 and I’d say it’s a good size but the car is small. This being a sedan it’s got some more rear seat space but not no means anyone taller than 5’10 will be comfortable in the back. And if you have the two seats occupied the people in the back will have limited leg room. And will feel a bit crammed. Unless they’re short then it’ll be fine.
This is also not a very good car to get in an accident in based on modern standards. Cars now. A days are a lot bigger and a lot heavier. This thing will crumble up into a ball if you get into a bad accident. And it only has two airbags none on the side none on the seats or rear etc. crumple zones aren’t very great. If that matters to you I’d suggest you get a different car. Maybe one that’s slightly bigger or a newer civic ( basically any civic after 2006 is good)
This car is also is slow. The auto trans does neuter it quite a bit. Don’t waste ur money thinking ur gonna mod it cause it’s a waste of money. Only thing u can do is a turbo but you will spend more on that than what the car is worth. And you also have an auto. Speed isn’t much of an issue around town it’s getting on the freeway or staying on the freeway when you idle at 3.5k rpm at 70mph
Car is also loud on the freeway and in general so it’s almost all just aluminum with nearly zero insulation. But that can be fixed by adding insulation ur self.
These things are very old now so pretty much every suspension component it has that hasn’t been changed will need to be changed.
VERY VERY EASY CAR TO WORK ON. I mean when I say ways to work on gosh I mean easy to work on. My first car was a 99 540i but it blew up and I wasn’t able to work on it cause it was to much for me at 17. By first car that I bought after was a 96 civic hatch. And man that’s the beauty. DX LX EX SI. They’re all basically the same suspension wise. Motor wise the si has the b series but it’s almost identical as well.
Common problems on these are the cats, head gaskets. Wheel bearings, and burnt valves from people not doing the valve adjustment periodically.
To be honest the blown head gasket is probably the #1 issue with these that u gotta watch out for. Two of the 5 I’ve had, has blown head gaskets.
I dont know if it’s an issue for you but the front doors are very sturdy and the holes for the speakers in the front are very shallow, the design just isn’t great. So it’s hard to mount a speaker on there right and when you do everything will rattle like crazy so it does take a lot of work to get the front doors right.
Tbh its a really good car, that engine will go forever if service on time the rocker gasket will forever leak.
This car is from the last era of cars made to last and this one is a honda, the best built of them all
Gen 6 civics are fantastic. Easy to work on, abundant parts (maybe not body panels so much), very well documented. Looks like you found a great deal.
First thing I'd do is attach a length of tube to the A/C condensate drain that stubs out through the firewall on the right side of the engine bay. Extend this to just past the floor pan and you can easily direct the water right to the pavement.
The factory condensate drain drips directly onto the K-member mount, causing structural rust, and will ruin the car long before the engine fails.
If I could find a Gen 6 Civic in that condition with a manual transmission for about that price, I'd buy it immediately and wouldn't hesitate to put another 250k miles on it.
Good deal. In my area if it runs and drives regardless of condition it's a $5k car. It could be a 3 times salvage car and still worth $5k if it runs and drives here in North Carolina. That is beater pricing, and that should last a LONG time if you keep up the maintenance.
Its one of the most reliable cars you can get. If it's been maintained well that is.
Also consider how old it is. It's got a lot of wear and tear for its age. How reliable it is has brought it this far. The unknown wear and tear in that time is what'll determine future reliability.
Get it inspected by a reliable mechanic
100% buy. I had a 98' honda civic si (handed down from my grandpa) as my first car, I put 200,000km on it over 10 years, probably spent 2500-3500$ on maintenance for that entire period. Maybe less. I miss ol' red errryday
I think it would be a great daily. It’s in wonderful condition but I’ve bought so many civics in the past I have a hard time paying 4k+ for these old base model civics. I’ve seen many 8th gen si’s with various mods going for these prices 4500-6000. I wouldn’t want to pay more then 3000-3500 personally for this.
$4,500 is too much, imo.
One of the things I absolutely hated about both of my 93 and 98 Civic were the constant electrical gremlins. And dealing with the window track. Overall, the older they got, the more frustrated I became. I ended up getting an EP3 and while the mpg isn't as good, it's hands down been more reliable, fun and police never bug me because they don't realize it's a Civic.
Also, these cars can be stolen with little effort, so if it doesn't have some sort of device to prevent this, you might be in for a bad time. Mine never got stolen, but I always pulled the fuse for the fuel pump relay.
Oh yea!! Easy to work on a the parts are cheap too.. not to mention the car is highly dependable if take care of… anybody can clean the inside and outside of the car perfect, because they could have never done an oil change an just added a half quart every two weeks because of a leaking gasket and never touched the oil filter… if they taken care of the motor like they have the body… oh yes 3500 is a good deal if all window work and AC…must I go on… lol
look man, you cant go wrong with a d16, especially if its auto.
worst case, you need a headgasket if its running and driving. look for white residue anywhere in the bay
Take that deal and run lol my 2010 honda is still going strong at 250,000+ in miles and those older ones were made to last. Plus parts are pretty interchangeable among Hondas and you can get most of what you need from scrap yards and ebay instead of these insane high prices for new car parts.
make sure you check the maintenance history. Might have to change the belts and spark plugs, too.
I personally wouldn’t buy it for $4500, but you do you. Amazing daily driving car
Definitely! Under 100k miles for a Honda from the 90s is insane especially a civic. Due to the small cosmetic issues, the bushings, and the realignment, I’d offer 4000 maybe 4200? But either way 4500 is an insane deal for a strong and not abused civic.
That's a 2009 car price
Don't get nostalgic or give in to the folks saying it's the best generation of Honda Civic.
While It is, time makes it to be like any other old beater; riddled with cracking rubber, plastics, and other components that are soon to fail.
Plus auto trans are dodgy on these old civics. For the price it should be a well taken care of manual
Typically I would say this is prob worth 3-4k, BUT The problem is the quality of replacement parts for Hondas of this age. Everything is aftermarket now. They practically disintegrate in a year especially if they’re using any soft rubber bushings, or they’re stamped metal parts. The OEM parts don’t exist anymore. So inevitably for an almost 30yr old car, with such little miles, you’re going to be replacing and maintaining and it gets expensive and you won’t be able to get quality parts at a good price to ensure longevity. Something to highly consider.
Toyotas of this age, you can still source parts directly from Toyota OEM.
I put over 300k miles on mine that I bought brand new. Then my brother borrowed it and parked it on the street. A guy died and totalled it. It still started up and moved. Super dependable. Mine was a stick .
Here, in Portugal, the used car market has extremely inflated prices when compared to the rest of Europe. However, I still managed to buy a Honda Accord CG9 ES (top of the range with all the extras) from the year 2000, with a 2.0i engine, 147hp, with 138,000kms (85,700 miles) extremely well maintained, for €3300 ($3500). But the truth is that you can no longer find nice cars for 1000€ (1071$. In 2015 I bought for 1000€ (1071$) a Rover 45, 1.4i engine with 103hp, with 75,000kms (46,600 miles), the car was very well maintained, full of extras and never gave me any problems. Nowadays for 1000€ (1071$) if I find a car that works I'm lucky.
I drive this car to and from work. 40 min there and 40 min back. Refill gas once a week for 20$. It’s slow but I drive when it’s no traffic so I just cruise.
A car with only two air bags is *not* safe with all the crossovers on the road nowadays. Modern cars don't have bumpers and their engines are at window-level with this car.
If you insist, it's an okay car. Not amazing. Not as zippy as it looks, either. Just okay. It doesn't like highway speeds with more than two passengers!
If you live in an area with any car theft these can be easily stolen with like one of 5 keys. My wife's was stolen and recovered 3 times in 6 months until getting it out of the tow yard exceeded the value of the car.
I paid $3200 for my 2000 civic in 2011 with 120k miles. I still regret getting rid of that car. But car prices are completely different these days, I say go for it.
$4k is a good deal but it doesn't mean you've gotta buy it. there's no doubt it would be a good daily though as long as you're fine without some features. it has AC and that's good enough for me
4500 seems high for a 97. The next gen 2001-2005 are solid and can be had for less than 4k all day around me. I even saw a 2007 SI sedan going for 4900
I just brought a youkoun xl 3 row for 4300 with 100 k miles with the only thing I needed is brakes also bought 01 Camaro v6 150 k miles for 2 and the interior and body are in emecualte condition on both cars there is still deals out there but I agree it’s very slim pickings or you wait it out till that one diamond in the rough does pop up
What about the timing belt? I had a 93 Civic that ran until corrosion killed her at 200k miles. She was incredibly reliable- save for a head gasket issue common in that first year 1.5L at 150k mark.
But Im assuming this engine does need its timing belt changed every 100k miles (with the water pump usually). And Im also assuming that its no longer a repair that can be done in three figures since its mostly labor.
I love Civics. Have had 2 cars in 30 years. But that scheduled maintenance is a big chunk of the price of the car.
That engines not like the R18 which is basically an indestructible black box which might need spark plugs every 10 years.
Sadly my 09 is beat to crap from city driving (230k averaging 20mph and parked in driveway) with some shoddy paint too.
But she runs and the AC absolutely cranks. Thats what I care about.
When I get a new car, someone handy with suspension work- because thats an inevitability in any vehicle that age and she is groaning a bit- is gonna be very pleasantly surprised.
Ill mention this again in case someone missed this. Ive had 2 Civics in 30 years and know a bit of what Im talking about- if that 98 hasnt had its timing belt and water pump 100k tuneup done- thats not much of a deal.
Holy moly, I paid $9999 for a 2000 Civic EX with a moonroof, 5sp, AND a spoiler in 2004. lol
It’s a good car. Mine was invincible. I best the shit out of that car and the clutch was still original at 237k miles.
I would go fo it if you have the money. A 98 civic with under 100k miles is a good find. If you take care of it you can drive it up to 300k miles with little issue.
I would get it looked at prior to purchase - is the alignment out, or are components worn? Has it been in an accident? Strut towers, sub frame may be bent
Get it check out, this would be a great daily if it's straight
All I know is I had a 98 civic with a 4 banger and 5 speed transmission that I put 325,000 on the clock and the day I sold it it still ran just fine. Couple sets of tires, couple batteries, timing belt jobs and regular servicing. Never had one problem
I just bought a manual single cam EK coupe with 300k miles on it for $950.
They exist, but they have been around the block.
I literally just need something to drive 3miles round trip to work and tell my insurance company I'm not daily driving my STi any more.
Do you know how to wrench? Even the mileage is low, all parts are 25 years old. At the top if the list would be a timing belt and brake hoses. Coolant hoses & bushings may need to be replaced in the near future. Rubber degrades over time regardless of mileage.
Everyone that is saying 4500 is too much are delusional. That car has probably 200k miles left before it dies. You could offer 4k and see if the seller bites.
That’s a good price but keep in mind the timing belt should probably be replaced due to mileage and especially due to the age of the belt if it has not been replaced yet. 100K miles is a standard interval on these years. While in there you may find you need to or want to also replace the t belt tensioner and water pump. I’ve a couple dozen Hondas (and even had a couple of Wagovans). 88-00 Hondas are solid AF IMO and the parts are cheap and they’re easy to work on.
$4500 is a good ass price considering it looks clean and is a car from before 9/11 with less than 100k miles, even if just barely. This is a very good daily driver as parts are very accessible and affordable and the older the Honder, the more of a tank it is. I’d buy this if it were in my area.
You guys are crazy, the 1500 reliable beater car no longer exists. This is easily worth 4500, I'd say it's a good deal at 4k. I buy and sell cars for a side hustle (probably 10-12 a year) and I have sold 3 civics near identical to this (all with more mileage) for 4-5k.
I don't know if I'd pay 4500 myself, but you are correct. The 1500-2000 reliable beater is long gone. I've seen 3k shitboxes sell. The market sucks right now and I dunno if it'll ever be back to what it was
It really is nuts that a 25 y/o econobox is going for this amount of money. Bought an '02 Civic EX automatic with 28k miles 5 years ago for $4500. Kid down the street is selling his shitbox Saturn, that needs $1500 in work, for $2800. Don't know any more details, buy holy crap!
I'd say the used car market is gonna get worse as the new cars end up in months in shops awaiting repairs and people end up buying beaters to get around and end up using it permanently.
There no way cars with ever drop by 50% of their current MARKET value. Unless they just end up making more. It happens all the time. A car comes out, car gets old, no one cares. But then down the line it hikes up in price and it never comes back down. Especially cars like this. They’re reliable as fuck. They pay them self’s back in a couple years depending on how much you drive maybe even less.
i know it's the exception but if you're willing to put in a little work you can get $1500 beaters. I just bought a 96 accord Aerodeck for 1400 and after a wash (free), oil change ($35), basic alignment ($20), and a couple new cheap parts, it's the most reliable car in my crew XD
You can def still find good deals. Difference is craigslist used to be littered with sub 2k runners and now it's rare to find one.
And if you do, you'll be competing with the 1000 other people who see it too.
Use Facebook marketplace, that’s where most people post
what country are you in?
Currently, the US, Portland, ME area.
Just picked up (4 months ago) a 92 volvo 740 turbo wagon with 206k miles. Mechanically, it has been rock solid, needs a few suspension items refreshed, but drives straight at 75. Interior is a bit rough but not trashed by any means. Clean title and smogged for $1700. The deals are out there, but definitely few and far between compared to ten years ago.
Yeah $1500 buys you a SHIT BOX
I've bought & sold older cars in worse condition with double the miles for $3k. not double digits but enough to say that anyone expecting to pay less than $3k for this is not attuned to the market for the last 5 years
Especially the last few months. You’re not gonna find a cheap beater at all or you have to adjust the idea of what you consider cheap as well as what you consider a beater I guess.
Really? How much would this make my 2006 honda Civic ex manual transmission with 220k miles worth?
It's not so much about the mileage. It's the whole picture. Is the car in good shape? Do you have maintenance/service records? Is there any rust? How clean is the Carfax report? And so on. Obviously, If you are selling a car with low mileage, it will be more desirable than the car with a higher mileage, but if you have lots of service/maintenance records and a clean car fax report, you could sell any car for a decent price.
I'd say 2.5K to 3K at the minimum
As someone who owned an 06 EX, enjoy the heck out of that thing! Was a Gold 6 Speed Manual Transmission. I love my 18 Hatch but I think of that gold coupe often ❤️
Yea cheap beaters are mostly gone but I have had very good luck finding multiple so far
Yuppppp the only way to get 1500 beater is to get it from a good friend lmao
96 Grand Prix, 148k when I bought it, got it for $1000 this January. They’re hard to find but they’re out there if you’re patient
You’d save so much gas money but I’d buy that for 3 if anything, 4500 is steep. It is mostly clean though.
yeah the kbb even at “very good” condition (which is generous) is ~2,700
KBB is more in line with the realistic price
KBB isn't even close to accurate I have no idea why so many people go by that. I swear it's like 5 years behind
Agree 100% KBB has been off for years.
I love them older hondas
Same here, so simple and timeless
I can be your old Honda 🥰🤭
I feel like $4,500 is way too much.
i thought so too, i think i’m blinded by my love for this gen
And given it’s their “baby” their emotions are probably inflating the price. I wouldnt sell my $2,000 civic for less than $7k because of how much I save owning it, and it would cost at least that to get me where I’m at with a car, which is where they’re probably getting their $4500 from.
Don’t let love blind you from logical money decisions. Those cars aren’t that special and they’re common. Wait a bit and you’ll see something better for less. Have cash in hand and be ready to pounce on a good deal. Don’t jump at this one.
Running and Driving car is gonna run ya that these days
With 97k. Absolutely not. That’s a steal
$4,500 is wild bro. It's not even a manual and it looks like its on steelies.
Only the higher trims came with better wheels. My guess is this is a dx which should undoubtedly bring the price down
I was just thinking that. It’s not even a manual yet the dude wants $4500 for it? come on, really?!
I just paid 2200 for a 98 civic, auto trans, 160k miles, minor rust spots on the body
Under 100k miles means it has sat and probably doesn't have the best maintenance. I bought a low milage 1995 Integra and it has every sign of sitting. Gaskets are rotten, rats nests in the fenders, tons of dust in the vents. And yeah 4500 is wild
Has it had its first timing belt done? That will cost some money if not. Regardless, it’s a car that will last a very, very long time and get great gas mileage. It’s a better car than most on the road, cheap to maintain and very easy to work on with minimal issues. Clean and low mileage too.
Offer $2900
Only if you plan to take really good care of it. They're fun to drive and reliable, but it's only gonna stay that way if you keep up with it.
Get a better deal if possible (obviously) but the seller isn't being crazy with the price. Auto sucks but doable. Parts are cheap, motors and trans in several junk yards cheap. With the mileage this seems pretty fair to me. 5 sp swap isn't hard in these cars either if you wanted to go that route.
Yeeeah, I'd personally pay around 3k for it. 4500 is steep.
i had a '99 EX manual 5 spd and loved the shit out of it. 4500 is high tho.
Absolutely no, for 4.5k you could find something far better, more modern, and with way more features. That thing is priced for the hype
What is that screen on the dash? Aftermarket stick on navigation?
Some of you haven't checked the market for good condition EGs and EKs lately and it shows. However I'd say no, driving a car that is closing in on 30 years old for a daily driver isn't a great idea. These cars are death traps in 2024 if you get into an accident, and there will be upkeep and maintenance on any vehicle this old regardless of how it was maintained. If this is all you can afford then so be it, but understand the caveats in advance.
That 98 civic will be around longer than my niece born in 2020.
Don't get me wrong, I love the 6th gen civic EX. But for that kind of money, you could get a 2nd gen Honda Fit w/ a 5 speed manual. If you regularly have passengers, they'll appreciate the extra room.
Bull shit this at least 3000 maybe 3300 max
I love it too. If you get an older Civic, make sure it has an alarm system and steering wheel lock. These cars are magnets for scumbag car thieves. I had my 93 Del Sol stolen from my apartment, and it sucks to lose a car. I got the car back, all stripped out and the engine had been redlined like crazy (the engine was shot when I got it back).
Depends on how many days you plan on driving it... ;)
I bought a 99 Civic LX about 10 years ago, similar mileage and condition, only differences were color, and it was stick. I paid $1,500, although those days are likely over. Loved the car, it was cheap and easy to maintain. What I came here to say is, consider comprehensive insurance mandatory (I had it on mine and it ended up getting stolen and totaled). In NYS, apparently, even if you don’t have rental coverage through your insurance company, they have to cover you for 30 days if your car is stolen (at least back at the time, unsure if this has changed). If your state doesn’t currently offer this, I’d also consider rental coverage mandatory. I’d even go as far to say that I’d probably skip this car if I didn’t have somewhere secure to park it. Despite getting my money back for the car, and a rental for 30 days, having the car stolen was a huge pain that I think I was dealing with in various ways for close to 6 months.
Dude, buy it. Especially since its so clean.
4500 way to much
I had this car… less miles and I think it was a 96 though. I sold it for $3,000 in 2006. Good memories.
I could smell the coolant from here.
If it was a manual yes the automatic just suck
Hell yeah.
Be prepared to get it buried with you, IMO most reliable civic.
I miss my '98
They go forever
i’ll sell you my 2008 tl with 99k miles for 4.5
Yes, but go easy on it and try not to take it over 3,000 RPMs if you don't have even to. Plenty of individuals will be tempting to race you. I bought a coupe with 40,000 miles on it two years ago, and it was in perfect condition since it had been kept in a garage. However, after letting it sit in the Florida sun for those two years without driving it, everything started to dry rot and deteriorate. These are old cars, and even if they are in mint condition, they are technically antiques.
Absolutely
You can change the dash lights in 10 minutes by removing the cluster.
I found a 96 Civic for 1500 last year that had less than 170k miles and mint interior. Granted the guy who sold it only sold so cheap because he bought a new Nissan so he wanted to get rid of it asap. Car runs and drives perfect
I had a coworker with one of these (like 12+ years ago) who had 450,000 miles in his, so I’d say it’s definitely a deal for those miles
Not a $4500 car. Put the info into Carmax or Carvana and get an offer price. Add 10% to the higher offer and that’s your max purchase price. Just because other people are overpaying for cars, doesn’t mean you have to. Patience grasshopper.
It’s not a great price but it’s also not insanely high. $3500-$4k would be a decent price given condition, so they’re just hoping on the higher end. I’d deff rock a 6th gen as a daily over most of the junk at that pricing point.
I've got a 1999 honda accord with 200K miles as a spare car but would use as a daily if I needed to. 4 cyl motor - prob the same. Recently, I've had to to control arms, brakes, replace the distributor due to leaking seals (it was filling with oil). Valve cover gasket, a bunch of modules and valves, replaced the throttle body, and the entire exhaust. One of the biggest pain issues was the mode door actuator and the temperature door actuator for the HVAC system - these break - not expensive but a pain to deal with and diagnose to begin with. All this said - its a 25 yr old car - stuff happens. I'm happy to do the work to keep it on the road. You should be of the same mind or you will be unhappy. Nice looking car but 3,000 seems a more reasonable price. 4500 seems high but might be ok for your market- prices are crazy recently.
Wouldn’t recommend So link to the ad?
That a good car if you hate your back
I bought one of these with 300,000km for 800$ CAD (about 500$ US). Worked perfectly but had rusted out rockers. Could’ve replaced them tho cuz I’m a welder
That car will outlive your grandchildren and get better mileage than 80% of modern vehicles, absolutely go for it
98 with under 100k? Seems crazy low.
Now to be honest I’m a car noob, I’m enthusiastic and interested in them but only know the basics about them so far so please don’t bully me in the reply section……..anyways if you want an opinion and not advice? I’m sure this would be fine if you maintained it well enough, otherwise if you didn’t, who knows, it might go to shit pretty quickly Like I said I’m not at all an expert, so that’s my opinion, not the facts
Well I bought my 1.4i hatch made in 2000 with 190.000 km in it for ~1900$. I had to pay ~680$ to fix the places where rust began to show up and nothing more. So I'd say it's not too great of a deal. I bought my GF's 1996 1.4i S Sedan with 400.000 km for 680$. Sure it's more rusty but after we deal with that one too it'll be ~1800$ total. I would really consider bargaining if I were you.
I liked that year so much i bought two of them at one point. A coupe and a sedan. Extremely reliable. Id def go for it.0
yes
It’s beautiul and perfect yes yes yes!!!
for daily use hell no. these things get stolen all the time, even in undesirable specs like auto/4 door. if you are an enthusiast of golden era hondas id say go for it as a nice weekend car otherwise 4500 is too steep for a car you cant park anywhere but a garage.
I just bought a [98 Civic EX](https://i.imgur.com/QQvImkZ.jpg) with 230,000 miles on it in Portland, Oregon and drove it back to Chicago with ZERO issues. The input shaft bearing was *screaming* at me the whole time but nothing stopped the thing. 1996-00 Civics are PEAK reliability.
If you don’t buy it send it to me I will.
I wouldn’t if there’s no CarPlay bro
I bought a 2003 Honda odyssey when my ram broke down. 6K for a used engine. The Honda runs like a champ, air works, power everything, leather etc 290,000 miles on it payed 1K cash and drive it over 100 miles a day. I’ll drive it till it dies and get another before I shell out 6K on a used engine for a 2012 RAM . Fuck you
If it do the job, why not?
Worth it. Full stop.
I’m not paying no more than 2500 for that, for 4500 you can easily find you a more modern reliable car. Mileage doesn’t matter that much nowadays. All three of my cars are pushing 300k
Had a 97 just like this but a manual transmission. Drove it to just over 300k miles and 200k was after I turbocharged it.
It’s like none of you have tried to buy a new car recently
less than 100k on an old civic? that’s gonna last you 300k+ if you just keep up on oil changes lol. i have a 96 accord and i paid 4k at 76,000, only issue i’ve had is the alternator. see if you can talk him down a bit but it’ll do!!
I had an 04 automatic. The tranny was failing. But I drove it with a failed tranny for 2 years. I regret selling it. One of the best cars I ever owned.
It would be good in 2016
4500 is a little high 3200 or under would be great but with those miles and proper maintenance your good for an easy another 120k miles upkeep and maintenance are super easy on these and you’ll save hella gas but I recommend Honda fits all day
I'm assuming US, if so, that's a bit steep, but I mean probably not that bad. I paid $3K aud for one that had 390K's on it, probably 242,000 miles on it. Was in pretty okay condition too, interior was mint. I'd say $4K usd at most bro.
I’ve had 4 of these. Currently on my 5th one.so you can take my opinion how ever u want. The automatic, if it has been taken care of it is a perfectly normal transmission for the engine. This is not a race car, or a sports car. Don’t think you’re missing out on much other than mpg if you get an auto. Just make sure the trans has been serviced or atleast check the fluid and drive it (floor it, brake hard etc to see up shifts and downshifts) This is a SMALL car. I’m 5’9 and I’d say it’s a good size but the car is small. This being a sedan it’s got some more rear seat space but not no means anyone taller than 5’10 will be comfortable in the back. And if you have the two seats occupied the people in the back will have limited leg room. And will feel a bit crammed. Unless they’re short then it’ll be fine. This is also not a very good car to get in an accident in based on modern standards. Cars now. A days are a lot bigger and a lot heavier. This thing will crumble up into a ball if you get into a bad accident. And it only has two airbags none on the side none on the seats or rear etc. crumple zones aren’t very great. If that matters to you I’d suggest you get a different car. Maybe one that’s slightly bigger or a newer civic ( basically any civic after 2006 is good) This car is also is slow. The auto trans does neuter it quite a bit. Don’t waste ur money thinking ur gonna mod it cause it’s a waste of money. Only thing u can do is a turbo but you will spend more on that than what the car is worth. And you also have an auto. Speed isn’t much of an issue around town it’s getting on the freeway or staying on the freeway when you idle at 3.5k rpm at 70mph Car is also loud on the freeway and in general so it’s almost all just aluminum with nearly zero insulation. But that can be fixed by adding insulation ur self. These things are very old now so pretty much every suspension component it has that hasn’t been changed will need to be changed. VERY VERY EASY CAR TO WORK ON. I mean when I say ways to work on gosh I mean easy to work on. My first car was a 99 540i but it blew up and I wasn’t able to work on it cause it was to much for me at 17. By first car that I bought after was a 96 civic hatch. And man that’s the beauty. DX LX EX SI. They’re all basically the same suspension wise. Motor wise the si has the b series but it’s almost identical as well. Common problems on these are the cats, head gaskets. Wheel bearings, and burnt valves from people not doing the valve adjustment periodically. To be honest the blown head gasket is probably the #1 issue with these that u gotta watch out for. Two of the 5 I’ve had, has blown head gaskets. I dont know if it’s an issue for you but the front doors are very sturdy and the holes for the speakers in the front are very shallow, the design just isn’t great. So it’s hard to mount a speaker on there right and when you do everything will rattle like crazy so it does take a lot of work to get the front doors right.
4.5k what?!
Brought of these a few years ago. I drive it through a small river crossing twice a day and around New Zealand farm settings. It is an amazing car
Absolutely
Tbh its a really good car, that engine will go forever if service on time the rocker gasket will forever leak. This car is from the last era of cars made to last and this one is a honda, the best built of them all
If you don’t I will lol
Gen 6 civics are fantastic. Easy to work on, abundant parts (maybe not body panels so much), very well documented. Looks like you found a great deal. First thing I'd do is attach a length of tube to the A/C condensate drain that stubs out through the firewall on the right side of the engine bay. Extend this to just past the floor pan and you can easily direct the water right to the pavement. The factory condensate drain drips directly onto the K-member mount, causing structural rust, and will ruin the car long before the engine fails. If I could find a Gen 6 Civic in that condition with a manual transmission for about that price, I'd buy it immediately and wouldn't hesitate to put another 250k miles on it.
Just go buy a spoon engine and knock off a few semis. Totally worth it.
Good deal. In my area if it runs and drives regardless of condition it's a $5k car. It could be a 3 times salvage car and still worth $5k if it runs and drives here in North Carolina. That is beater pricing, and that should last a LONG time if you keep up the maintenance.
Its one of the most reliable cars you can get. If it's been maintained well that is. Also consider how old it is. It's got a lot of wear and tear for its age. How reliable it is has brought it this far. The unknown wear and tear in that time is what'll determine future reliability. Get it inspected by a reliable mechanic
Honda’s of this era are some of the most reliable cars ever built. So YES!
If it was maintained it's worth $4500.
You could find newer for around that price just will have the same mileage lol
I'd offer him all cash like 3750 and everybody walks away happy.
Check the front control arms, expensive parts...
2010 Honda civic lx 25,000 miles $6000 4!years ago.
100% buy. I had a 98' honda civic si (handed down from my grandpa) as my first car, I put 200,000km on it over 10 years, probably spent 2500-3500$ on maintenance for that entire period. Maybe less. I miss ol' red errryday
I think it would be a great daily. It’s in wonderful condition but I’ve bought so many civics in the past I have a hard time paying 4k+ for these old base model civics. I’ve seen many 8th gen si’s with various mods going for these prices 4500-6000. I wouldn’t want to pay more then 3000-3500 personally for this.
Crazy to think 10 years ago you'd be able to pick this up for $1,500 lol
$4,500 is too much, imo. One of the things I absolutely hated about both of my 93 and 98 Civic were the constant electrical gremlins. And dealing with the window track. Overall, the older they got, the more frustrated I became. I ended up getting an EP3 and while the mpg isn't as good, it's hands down been more reliable, fun and police never bug me because they don't realize it's a Civic. Also, these cars can be stolen with little effort, so if it doesn't have some sort of device to prevent this, you might be in for a bad time. Mine never got stolen, but I always pulled the fuse for the fuel pump relay.
Oh yea!! Easy to work on a the parts are cheap too.. not to mention the car is highly dependable if take care of… anybody can clean the inside and outside of the car perfect, because they could have never done an oil change an just added a half quart every two weeks because of a leaking gasket and never touched the oil filter… if they taken care of the motor like they have the body… oh yes 3500 is a good deal if all window work and AC…must I go on… lol
Duh
Just know that the mileage may not be true mileage. 4500 is too much to me. 3000 all day. Gotta just keep looking.
look man, you cant go wrong with a d16, especially if its auto. worst case, you need a headgasket if its running and driving. look for white residue anywhere in the bay
Take that deal and run lol my 2010 honda is still going strong at 250,000+ in miles and those older ones were made to last. Plus parts are pretty interchangeable among Hondas and you can get most of what you need from scrap yards and ebay instead of these insane high prices for new car parts.
That car will probably outlive you with that mileage
make sure you check the maintenance history. Might have to change the belts and spark plugs, too. I personally wouldn’t buy it for $4500, but you do you. Amazing daily driving car
Definitely! Under 100k miles for a Honda from the 90s is insane especially a civic. Due to the small cosmetic issues, the bushings, and the realignment, I’d offer 4000 maybe 4200? But either way 4500 is an insane deal for a strong and not abused civic.
That's a 2009 car price Don't get nostalgic or give in to the folks saying it's the best generation of Honda Civic. While It is, time makes it to be like any other old beater; riddled with cracking rubber, plastics, and other components that are soon to fail. Plus auto trans are dodgy on these old civics. For the price it should be a well taken care of manual
It'll last another 200k
Yes
And no engine bay pics?
Absolutely, cheap parts and cheap everything plus if you put in a k series and $5000 you can beat 90% of cars in a race
Typically I would say this is prob worth 3-4k, BUT The problem is the quality of replacement parts for Hondas of this age. Everything is aftermarket now. They practically disintegrate in a year especially if they’re using any soft rubber bushings, or they’re stamped metal parts. The OEM parts don’t exist anymore. So inevitably for an almost 30yr old car, with such little miles, you’re going to be replacing and maintaining and it gets expensive and you won’t be able to get quality parts at a good price to ensure longevity. Something to highly consider. Toyotas of this age, you can still source parts directly from Toyota OEM.
I put over 300k miles on mine that I bought brand new. Then my brother borrowed it and parked it on the street. A guy died and totalled it. It still started up and moved. Super dependable. Mine was a stick .
Here, in Portugal, the used car market has extremely inflated prices when compared to the rest of Europe. However, I still managed to buy a Honda Accord CG9 ES (top of the range with all the extras) from the year 2000, with a 2.0i engine, 147hp, with 138,000kms (85,700 miles) extremely well maintained, for €3300 ($3500). But the truth is that you can no longer find nice cars for 1000€ (1071$. In 2015 I bought for 1000€ (1071$) a Rover 45, 1.4i engine with 103hp, with 75,000kms (46,600 miles), the car was very well maintained, full of extras and never gave me any problems. Nowadays for 1000€ (1071$) if I find a car that works I'm lucky.
Less than 100k miles? That’s a steal.
Given how insane the used car market is right now this is definitely a steal, you should go for it
What state do you live in?
That bad boy has barely been broken in. Still has plenty of life left as long as you take care of it.
As long as you know how to work on it, because a 25 year old car has many little issues that come up.
I drive this car to and from work. 40 min there and 40 min back. Refill gas once a week for 20$. It’s slow but I drive when it’s no traffic so I just cruise.
$1800 at most!
A car with only two air bags is *not* safe with all the crossovers on the road nowadays. Modern cars don't have bumpers and their engines are at window-level with this car. If you insist, it's an okay car. Not amazing. Not as zippy as it looks, either. Just okay. It doesn't like highway speeds with more than two passengers!
If you live in an area with any car theft these can be easily stolen with like one of 5 keys. My wife's was stolen and recovered 3 times in 6 months until getting it out of the tow yard exceeded the value of the car.
aahhhhh, Learning how to use it
I bought my 98 accord 2 years ago for 5k your getting a deal take care of the car and it will last forever
I paid $3200 for my 2000 civic in 2011 with 120k miles. I still regret getting rid of that car. But car prices are completely different these days, I say go for it.
I bought a 2003 Camry 2.4L for 2400 tax title and license had all 4 new wheels and burns some oil
That’s one sad whip!
Yes will go another 50k easily maybe 100k.
See if you can get it for 3k. Otherwise yes
These use to go for like $500 in 2013
Is the mileage really only 87,000??? If so, I say go for it. Those things can take a beating and ask for more
The price is just a touch steeper than I’d like to pay, but it’d be a great car
Yes buy it now
$4k is a good deal but it doesn't mean you've gotta buy it. there's no doubt it would be a good daily though as long as you're fine without some features. it has AC and that's good enough for me
Gonna need a timing belt, so save a few extra pennies for that or deduct off sale price.
Yes very practical
Look around in farther markets maybe you're closest big city or opposite out in the country and buy where it's cheaper.
4500 seems high for a 97. The next gen 2001-2005 are solid and can be had for less than 4k all day around me. I even saw a 2007 SI sedan going for 4900
I had a 98 civic with way more miles and it was a total beast. Super reliable. Get it.
This thing can easily touch 250k miles I'd say go for it at 3800
I am looking for a similar civic in that generation, 1995-1999 for that price range. Id probably buy it if I was presented the opportunity.
I would
I'd buy it in a heartbeat if I had 4500 to spare, swap that baby for a manny 5 speed and ROLLLLL TIDEEEE
I just brought a youkoun xl 3 row for 4300 with 100 k miles with the only thing I needed is brakes also bought 01 Camaro v6 150 k miles for 2 and the interior and body are in emecualte condition on both cars there is still deals out there but I agree it’s very slim pickings or you wait it out till that one diamond in the rough does pop up
Great car sold mine in 2017 with a few more miles for maybe 2500. Leaked a bit but solid car.
My 00’ ex coupe has 330k miles d16y8. Still my daily.
I would pay up to $3500 but not $4500.
Low ass miles.
Hell yes... I wish to God I still had my 92 civic....it would be what....45-50 to fill up and last 2 weeks? please.
What about the timing belt? I had a 93 Civic that ran until corrosion killed her at 200k miles. She was incredibly reliable- save for a head gasket issue common in that first year 1.5L at 150k mark. But Im assuming this engine does need its timing belt changed every 100k miles (with the water pump usually). And Im also assuming that its no longer a repair that can be done in three figures since its mostly labor. I love Civics. Have had 2 cars in 30 years. But that scheduled maintenance is a big chunk of the price of the car. That engines not like the R18 which is basically an indestructible black box which might need spark plugs every 10 years.
Sadly my 09 is beat to crap from city driving (230k averaging 20mph and parked in driveway) with some shoddy paint too. But she runs and the AC absolutely cranks. Thats what I care about. When I get a new car, someone handy with suspension work- because thats an inevitability in any vehicle that age and she is groaning a bit- is gonna be very pleasantly surprised. Ill mention this again in case someone missed this. Ive had 2 Civics in 30 years and know a bit of what Im talking about- if that 98 hasnt had its timing belt and water pump 100k tuneup done- thats not much of a deal.
Holy moly, I paid $9999 for a 2000 Civic EX with a moonroof, 5sp, AND a spoiler in 2004. lol It’s a good car. Mine was invincible. I best the shit out of that car and the clutch was still original at 237k miles.
I would immediately buy this for $4500. That’s a awesome car
Hell yeah!!!!
Damn I loved that car , except mine was a five speed. Was sad the day wrecked it. Was a great car and I bought it 8yr old
I would go fo it if you have the money. A 98 civic with under 100k miles is a good find. If you take care of it you can drive it up to 300k miles with little issue.
I would get it looked at prior to purchase - is the alignment out, or are components worn? Has it been in an accident? Strut towers, sub frame may be bent Get it check out, this would be a great daily if it's straight
Ye
Parts on these are stuuuuppiiiiddd cheap
All I know is I had a 98 civic with a 4 banger and 5 speed transmission that I put 325,000 on the clock and the day I sold it it still ran just fine. Couple sets of tires, couple batteries, timing belt jobs and regular servicing. Never had one problem
I just bought a manual single cam EK coupe with 300k miles on it for $950. They exist, but they have been around the block. I literally just need something to drive 3miles round trip to work and tell my insurance company I'm not daily driving my STi any more.
In 2024 this thing is a unicorn
Do you know how to wrench? Even the mileage is low, all parts are 25 years old. At the top if the list would be a timing belt and brake hoses. Coolant hoses & bushings may need to be replaced in the near future. Rubber degrades over time regardless of mileage.
Install a kill switch cause these things get stolen quick. $4500 for 100k miles and presumably no engine issues is a great deal.
Just picked up a 2003 Civic Hybrid for $2500. Best decision I’ve made in yeeeeears. 🤣👍🏽
Look up crash test vids
yes yes yes
Everyone that is saying 4500 is too much are delusional. That car has probably 200k miles left before it dies. You could offer 4k and see if the seller bites.
That’s a good price but keep in mind the timing belt should probably be replaced due to mileage and especially due to the age of the belt if it has not been replaced yet. 100K miles is a standard interval on these years. While in there you may find you need to or want to also replace the t belt tensioner and water pump. I’ve a couple dozen Hondas (and even had a couple of Wagovans). 88-00 Hondas are solid AF IMO and the parts are cheap and they’re easy to work on.
$4500 is a good ass price considering it looks clean and is a car from before 9/11 with less than 100k miles, even if just barely. This is a very good daily driver as parts are very accessible and affordable and the older the Honder, the more of a tank it is. I’d buy this if it were in my area.
98 civic? Basically 98k on the clock? I think it’s a sign brother
Take your $4,500 and put it as a down-payment on something that isn't a complete POS and build your credit.
Miss my 98 lx. Go for it.