Should I buy a 2003 Honda Civic for long distance travel?

Question

Hi, I am looking at a 2003 Honda civic LX that has 180000 miles with an automatic transmission.

The owner wants $3200 since he spent money on new parts like the front wheels bearings and coils. I stills think it is a bit overpriced. My question is we all know Hondas are really reliable l, but is it reliable enough for long distance travel, and should I consider it with this price? (What is a reasonable price?)

thank you!

MountainManJoe · Accepted Answer

Posted by: @ahm is it reliable enough for long distance travel You're going to have to drive it around for a while first and find out. If you're not mechanically inclined, then it's probably not a good idea to take long trips with an unknown vehicle.   Posted by: @ahm What is a reasonable price? I haven't researched 20 year old civics lately. Check your local listings. eBay is handy because it shows you actual "sold" prices, not asking prices.   It also depends largely on the vehicle condition.I'm not going to hazard a guess without the vehicle in front of my face. It could be a "run away from this quickly" car.

Chuck Tobias · Answer

Price sounds too high. If it has an automatic transmission that's a weak point in Hondas of that vintage and it might not go for much longer.

If a good mechanic says the car is OK it should be fine for local use. (Always have a pre-purchase inspection done before buying a used vehicle.)

I would not recommend any 20-year-old used car for long distance travel unless you plan to carry tools and spare parts with you, as well as a membership to AAA or other towing service just in case.

Chuck Tobias · Answer

Posted by: @ahm Just to clarify what I mean by long distance travel is 200 miles trips and similar Are you prepared to deal with breaking down 200 miles from home? The transmission failing? Posted by: @ahm would $3000 be a fair deal? (As I said the owner changed a lot of stuff including the tires) That still sounds like too high a price. Kelly Blue Book, which tends to have inflated prices to begin with, pegs the private seller price of that car in good condition at about $2000. (When you sell an old car you can't expect to get back the money put into it.) You might want to check and see what comparable vehicles in your area are going for.