97 Honda civic

[Martay]

Hi,
I have to go look at one for sale in the morning, and besides knowing its a 1.4auto Ek hatch, Im lost! What do i look for? Any particular areas to mind with rust? Anything i need to know? Any help greatly appreciated
Ta
Its not for me btw
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[janner_10]

Its a cheap 16 year old car - listen for obvious bangs and noises - its most probably fucked anyway.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[DSK]

Rusty rear arches rear sill sections other than that, mechanically they are pretty bullet proof.

Honda mechanicals nearly always outlive the body/chassis
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Current Bike - 1990 CBR600 FL Benetton edition.

[Frodo]

Had a few of these civics including an import type r one

1.4 is a bulletproof engine, they'll take abuse all day long and won't break

As said rear arches and the backs of the sills where it meets the arch are the prone areas to rust. Slam panels rust a bit but usually just surface. Get your hand up under the rear arches and have a feel around the inner arches to make sure they're solid

Bonus is they're very popular so parts are super easy to get hold of and are cheap

[Martay]

Cheers for the advice
She bought it! I took it for a wee test drive and it was so smooth and quiet i was impressed! Im not a fan of autos, and have never driven one for any length of time, but this was good. No rattles, smoke or noises (98k) autobox goes up and down well, bubbles starting on the o/s/r arch but sills and rear quarters are solid. Usual bumps and scrapes for a woman owner, but its going to be her first car so she'll inevitably write it off! Years T+T £450 delivered 40 miles, cant really complain, saves me towing it!!
Thanks again
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[pits]

Pretty much as above, that said Hondas aren't bullet proof, distributors can go dodgy so if it has a distributor chances are it's going to die.

If it hasn't got a sunroof the shell is worth money

If it has a centre console/arm rest it's worth about a quarter of what you paid for the car.


Also goes for anything JDM on the car, as kids seem to pay over the odds to tart up their shit box Civics, oh yeah next point...it's a shit box Civic don't bother trying to do anything to make it prettier
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Stinkwheel: You have no right to free speech
00:32:08 Blau Zedong: yes, i am a massive CB400 fan and collector
00:33:00 Blau Zedong: the CB400 is my favourite road bike

[Frodo]

Shitbox ones look bad

Jap type r ones are stunning and one of the best handling cars on track

This is my one I just sold

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8647400535_eee865da92_c.jpg
DSC_0288 by Frodo8191, on Flickr

[Vincent]

[Dischord]

I've had an EJ9 (the 3dr 1.4) for about 2 years and it takes anything you can throw at it, I'd get in it now and happily drive it to France and back

Also had 2 EK4's before this and they where amazing 160hp VTEC yo!

Civics FTW!
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2012 KTM EXC 250

Check out my vids - https://www.youtube.com/user/KTMSparky/videos

[krarkol]

If its around the 50k mark, see if it's had a new timing belt as they need replacing around that area.

Edit: I see you've already bought it and it's way past 50k
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Bandit 600 - deaded

[Teflon-Mike]

Mine's refused to fail its MOT every year, since I got it April 2009. (95 I think, 1.4 Auto). It arrived with just under 50K on the clock; now nudging 80K. I lifted the bonnet in 2010 to put a new battery in it... I think I have lifted it a couple of times since to re-fill the screen wash bottle, 'cos it lived under a tree and gets covered in tree sap. It's been washed twice. I really ought to check the oil some-time! And STILL it refuses to die!
I'm beginning to think that I might miss this little car when it goes! Its growing on me!
Turned up on my drive as part of a family shunt around; no-one wanted the Auto.
When the dust settled, I'd been using it about two months; my mother asked what I thought of it... to which I replied... "Not a lot"
"Well, what's wrong with it?" To which I replied... "Not a lot"
It's remarkably unremarkable, and forced to find fault; I realised that when the biggest grumble is that the seat-belts a little awkward to reach round for, you GOTTA be onto a good thing!
Had half a dozen Fast&Furious fans knock my door and ask if I want to sell it, too?!?!?!? Disturbing to consider that there are people of dubiouse taste that consider them 'cool'! We call it the Chavic!
NOT as ecconomical as I had presumed. Book says I think about 40mpg, but round town, it's barely returning 30. On the motorway, it can deliver decent consumption; I have done a few longish runs where by tank range I think it must have been nudging 50ish, but only because I didn't go over 60. Hold motorway speeds, and that four-speed box sees you back down in the low 30's, and it can 'shift-hunt' at around indicated 80, if you have a head-wind or incline, as that little motor, willing as it is, doesn't suit a slush-box; it has to be revved to find the power.
TIP: DONT stick it in 'D' and leave it there. Round town, stick it in '3', or its constantly trying to short-shift to higher gear, and drives like a limp lettuce. In fact, I leave mine in '3' pretty much everywhere, and only bang it up to 'D' when I'm doing over 50 on a duel carriageway or by-pass. This does not seem to harm the economy!
Of all the cars I have ever owned? This one is probably the least inspiring, least exiting, but also the least hassle!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[andyscooter]

mum and dad had a nissan sunny like that

nothing ever went wrong with it

the pxed it for a renault(shudder) that decided it didnt like its ecu

a taxi company bought it and used it up untill a few years ago it was a d reg so about 86
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet