https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-honda-civic-6-2/
I've been shopping for a new vehicle after being totaled by a drunk guy recently... Been shopping around for Civics, and this one comes up.
URL is incorrect, it says 1989 but its a 1987.... with 21k miles! Unbelievably low!
I think this is amazing, but some car buddies suggest that the 80's low horsepower of these civics will make it feel like a go kart rather than a real vehicle, after being nearly 35 years in the future... they say the auto transmission on this thing is not appropriate and a manual would have been better.. I can agree with those things, but the insanely low mileage makes me think that I could make this car last a lifetime... and I'm not looking for a racecar, I want something reliable and fuel efficient...
Would it be a hassle to call this thing my daily driver? Am I gonna wear out my money and patience trying to maintain such an old vehicle? I would think its in such low mileage that I could do one good overhaul on the thing and it basically be brand new at that point... just keep up with routine maintenance past that.
I would have to win the bid here, of course... but Its sitting at a reasonable price currently and this is the only car I've been excited about in the several weeks that I've been shopping..
What do you guys think about it?
thanks 🙂
"BringATrailer.com".
...its not going to make a good daily driver. Nothing that old is. Sure, the mileage is super but things wear out just from age and sitting. In fact, sitting is one of the worst things you can do to a car.
I get why you like it, don't get me wrong. And I don't mean to be that guy, but just think on it a bit. Would you be comfortable knowing your ability to get to work rested on that car? Your ability to get home?
I played that game for years and that's why we have a 2015 Camry and a 2020 Accord as daily drivers at my house. The toys are for shows and sunny days. The mules, as we call them, eat miles and get us safely to and from home in any weather. Imagine that old car in the rain, etc. around modern cars with modern day crazy drivers. They didn't exactly have great safety equipment standard back then....in an accident, you're not going to fare well.
It's your money...just offering you some thoughts is all.
Yeah... i do see what you mean... perhaps my eyes and heart were a little bigger than my brain here xD
That all makes sense... well, and sheds a light on any old vs new conversation, really... I'm afraid of new cars because of the computers xD ... and just the possibility of something being unnecessarily expensive to replace or fix... Not saying that that happens with EVERY new car, but I appreciate that an older car can have a reputation, and such.
Makes me wonder though... at what point is old too old? I can totally see how 87 is too old LOL ... but about the 90's? early 2000's? ... bigger question, at what point are cars modern?
What would be a better investment for a daily driver that isn't in the 2020 price range? Tbh, I'm hoping to shop in the $7500-$10000... coming down to 5k would be nice lol, but thats my budget otherwise... is it smarter to put that as a down payment on a new Toyota corolla hatchback? or 2010 civic with 100k miles?
Really appreciate your perspective 🙂 thanks!
You're welcome. It really depends on what you are comfortable with. If you don't mind payments, that's a good chunk down on a new car. But if you want something that's paid off, the older Civic is a fine purchase. 100k miles is nothing on them. Good luck with your shopping though because everyone is grabbing up the cars that are under $10k right now. Finding a good one won't be easy, but if you decide to go that route just be patient.
If you have a short commute and don't put on a lot of miles in the course of a year you actually might be able to make it work. Those cars can last forever.
