I need your help!

[TSilvs]

Hey guys and girls I need your opinions on somthing. I went looking for a car today, and I found a 95 Civic EX with 98k. The dealership is asking for $5,800, and said that is low enough already and wont go down on the price. One thing they offered me is that for the time I own the car they will replace anything that goes on the car. If I can take the part out they will give me a working one if I cant they will charge $10-20 an hour to take it out. Is this a good deal? Im looking for a car that I could make look good and be pretty quick. Is this a good choice or should I keep lookin? Oh ya the body and inside of the car are in excellent condition (brand new paint), and it drove very smooth. ;)

[ChrisCantSkate]

5800?? riiiiiight

[ebpda9]

that's too much for a civic, and those miles. i wouldn't get it. why does the car have new paint ? was it a fender bender, was it wrecked, was it painted just because it needed a new paint job ? do your homework before.

[TSilvs]

It was just painted because the paint was dull on the hood and a little on the top. The book value is $7150 from a dealer. And I have been lookin around and all I find is cars with 120-135k and the price is still around the 6000 range. I really need a car and I dont want to get ripped off.

[ChrisCantSkate]

damn... ive seen si preludes sell for 5000 with lower miles than that.if you wana spend 10500 you can buy my lude :cool:

[TSilvs]

If I had the money I would. :) But I dont and I need a car and have no idea what to do. There is another Civic there and it is also a 95 but it has 44k on it. At first it sounded good but I dont know how 7 year old car only has 44k miles. The average person puts 12 to 14k on a car each year. This one would only be around 6k....is that a little fishy or should it be ok?

[ChrisCantSkate]

its fine.. they probobly used it as a winter car, or had a 2nd car. or only drove a mile to work and back every day (my dad can put only 3000 miles a year on his truck if he dosnt take it on trips)

[TSilvs]

I guess but is there any way to figure out if they messed with the miles? I mean I dont want it to be lemon. And my dad is set that it is impossible and somthing must be wrong. Should I go for that one over the other one. There both 95 and nice paint and this one is only 500 more. But is this still way to much money??:paranoid:

[ChrisCantSkate]

check with the dmv, they should be able to tell. it is possible

[TSilvs]

How do I check? What do I say? But would it be a good deal if everything checks out ok? or is 6k way to much?

[Addict]

WWW.CARFAX.COM

Get the lower miles one if it runs ok.

[AzCivic]

PM me the VIN's I have unlimited searches on CARFAX.COM for another 20 days or so.

[TSilvs]

Ok ill find them out today and messege you with them.;)

[TSilvs]

But say the one with 44k checks out ok and everything looks good would it be worth the 6k he is asking for it? Why would there be only a $200 difference between them? This one still sounds fishy but I think you guys know more about it then me so I think im going to trust you if it works out ok on carfax. Ill call in a little bit and ill prob. be back later today to give the #"s. Thanks alot guys....yet again you have helped me out!

[AzCivic]

Do they both have the same options?

[Racing Rice]

Its very possible for it to have 44K miles. In 97 I bought a 93 Geo Storm that had 13K miles on it. The car was spotless. The guy that had it before me was a shool teacher that drove less then a mile to work everyday. I know this for a fact because he was my teacher one year.

An average is numbers take from both high and low. I know a lot of people that drive 30-40K miles a year. Its completely possible to have a 95 with 44K miles on it.. I wish I could.:D

Take a look at it. If its in good shape and you like it I would definately buy it.:yes:

I know someone that has a uncle that is selling a '90 300Z TT with only 1100 miles on it. They said the car is mint. Wouldnt that be nice to have!:eek:

[TSilvs]

Ya they both have the same options. They are both EXs and I just got off the phone with the dealer and he said "I dont play the vin nimber game anymore, I buy my cars from insurance companies and no insurance company would think of touching the mileage" He said he has other Civic that are 95 Exs but they need to be repaired, one has been vandalized and hes not sure about the other one. The one with 44k is at the paint shop right now, could this mean that it was stoled or vandalised also? If I want the number I have to go down there and write it down!:| If I can get numbers and a carfax report will it show if it was vandalized or stolen or anything that could tamper with the milage??? And how much do i have to pay for the report?

[Addict]

Originally posted by TSilvs
Ya they both have the same options. They are both EXs and I just got off the phone with the dealer and he said "I dont play the vin nimber game anymore, I buy my cars from insurance companies and no insurance company would think of touching the mileage" He said he has other Civic that are 95 Exs but they need to be repaired, one has been vandalized and hes not sure about the other one. The one with 44k is at the paint shop right now, could this mean that it was stoled or vandalised also? If I want the number I have to go down there and write it down!:| If I can get numbers and a carfax report will it show if it was vandalized or stolen or anything that could tamper with the milage??? And how much do i have to pay for the report?

Stay away from that dealer.:no: If he won't hand over the VIN then he has something to hide. Especially since he buys from insurance companies and has other Civics that need repair from theft/vandalizing.

[ChrisCantSkate]

Originally posted by Civic_Addict


Stay away from that dealer.:no: If he won't hand over the VIN then he has something to hide. Especially since he buys from insurance companies and has other Civics that need repair from theft/vandalizing.
exactly what i was thinking

[TSilvs]

ya its not sounding to good.

[TSilvs]

What happens when the carfax report doesnt come back with anything? It says that it has no information about the car to check back later because it gets updated everyday. It tells the make model year and all that information but nothing else. What does this mean?? Oh ya and say that this car was vandalized if he fixed it and everything looks good wouldnt that be fine?

[nonovurbizniz]

why would you trust people who are working only with what you (an admitadly un-experienced car-buyer) if i were you i would make MY OWN best judgment. or listen to your dad. don't go out and buy something (especially a 6k something) based on somebody elses opinion who's never even seen either car. my best bit of advice would be DON'T buy either of those cars they both sound fishy. stop restricting yourself by model and make and find the best used car you can IE:
best running
best shape
most trustworthy sales place/person
don't buy a car based on opinions from people who may or may not know what they're talking about and have never seen the car your talking about

And to answer your question Maybe No Maybe Yes. if he does fix everything to spec and it all worked out ok then sure the car is fine. But what most likely is going on is he is cosmeticly fixing up these cars so they look fine and run fine for now. down the road parts will start rusting the car might not run right you could be diving head long into problem pond.

Also keep in mind the blue book value of a car is based on it being in PERFECT CONDITION. if this guy is repairing vandalized or stolen cars and selling them then they are in FAR FROM PERFECT CONDITION. So the price should be lower. if he's not willing to go down on the price it's because he know's some other dumbass will show up with a boner to get that car so why should he sell it to you. it's not that it's actually WORTH the money it's that stupid people think it is.

Honda is not the only name in import cars there are many other options both foreign and domestic. if you want a civic real bad then get ready to pay for it. cuz lots of other people do to (even though they don't know why they want one)

[TSilvs]

That is a great post. Thanks for the advise. I dont think im going to get this car and I think im going to go looking elsewhere. But im still surprised that he is willing to only take half the money now then after a month or so if the car is still running good and I am still happy with it I can give him the rest or have him buy the car back from me for the same price he sold it to me. I could have it checked out as many times as I want and if anything is wrong its my choice to have it fixed or sell it back to him. Its sounds pretty convincing and sounds like he is very confident on this car. This is why I am still confused on what to do. Then after the 30 days if any drivetrain part goes he will replace it with a working one for free. Only thing I have to pay for is labor, and my dad is pretty handy with cars and my best friends dad owns a garage so if I can get the part out myself and bring it to him he will take it and give me a working one for free. This again makes this decision very difficult;( .