A real conundrum (may purchase a car)

Coopers ST

Coopers ST

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A coworker of my wife brought two cars for interior details. She left town on vacation so we have these for a week. While working on a 2001 Honda Civic my wife says I am doing this so she can sell it. She already bought a new car and the dealer offered her $300 for trade in (yes three hundred). So the good. It's a Honda Civic, 4 door, manual, ac, cc, power locks, power mirrors, CD player (I don't even have any, but..)power windows, she is the first owner and has service records, never been in an accident, body is straight but has some scratches and scuffs you would expect with a car as old and miles, garage kept. The bad, almost 200,000 miles, the paint looks to have crows feet.

Why I am thinking, I have a soon to be 14 year old girl. This would be a great car to learn on and drive without fear of hurting our other cars. My Focus ST I think is too fast to learn on. Between now and when she starts to drive my wife or i would drive it on bad weather days.

So what I think is offer her $500, and don't charge for the details. She would be up $200 from the dealer, and she wouldn't pay for the details on either car.

We have till till Sunday when she comes back.
 
I would jump on that, even if you don't keep it, you will still make some coin!
 
I would buy that anyday, I am in the same situation as you are with my daughter being 14 now and I want her to learn to drive stick too. Sounds like a great deal for you.
 
Sounds like a solid deal to me. Nice reliable car to learn on. My wife had a '97 Civic Ex and it was a great car. As an auto tech by trade, I appreciated never having to do anything to it. Make sure the services have been done like valve adjusts, I think they can cause trouble if skipped.

If you get it, I'd be sure to keep it exercised in the interim while it waits for your daughter, cars generally don't like sitting. But for the price, definitely worth having around!
 
Do it mon, do it.

200K on a Honda isn't all that unusual. I agree that the daughter should learn to drive stick as well.
 
The fact its a manual will give your daughter a leg up on learning how to drive. Most teens never learn how to drive a manual anymore. While its high mileage, if the timing belt had been changed (probably should have been changed twice by now), that engine probably can keep going for a while. And those Honda's were very popular so parts are plentiful. And for $500? what do you really have to lose?

Do it and you might find yourself driving it more than the Focus! (ok maybe not)
 
Civic manuals will last forever so jump on it. Plus if it's got failing clear coat, you got an experiment car. Your idea is right, giving a learning driver a fast car is at best a body shop trip waiting to happen.
 
Buy it. Teaching your daughter (or any new driver) with a manual is safer in my opinion. It forces them to pay attention more and ensures no other kids will be able to drive it.
 
Yes my kids will know how to drive a manual to get a license.
 
CarolinasFinestDetailing said:
Buy it. Teaching your daughter (or any new driver) with a manual is safer in my opinion. It forces them to pay attention more and ensures no other kids will be able to drive it.
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Or text and drive :props:

Just make sure you have a road side assistance program, 200,000 miles is still 200,000 miles.

I say this as a father of a daughter too.
 
custmsprty said:
Or text and drive :props:

Just make sure you have a road side assistance program, 200,000 miles is still 200,000 miles.

I say this as a father of a daughter too.
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Was gonna mention the "texting & driving" as well.

Can't hold your phone with one hand on the wheel and one on the shifter. :xyxthumbs:
 
If you can get it for 500.00 sounds like a good deal. If she's going through the trouble of getting the car detailed she may be looking at KBB at the private sale price and have an unrealistic number in mind. In my market the KBB number on a private sale is 1800.00.
 
I wouldn't hesitate to buy that car at all. My son is a Junior in college. He bought a 95 Civic from a friend of mine with 256,000 miles on it for $1500, and has been driving it back and forth to college for a year now. Never once, has he had a problem with it. And, 40 mpg to boot!
 
for that price and to learn on that's hard to beat. just keep in mind unless you see it in the records, at that mileage things will slowly have to be replaced (clutch, shocks, tires/alignment, spark plugs, etc,). IIRC, that specific year civic needs to have it's airbag replaced due to some safety issues which is free of charge at the honda dealership...
 
Thought I would update this. The car is not at my house. The lady picked both hers up, loved them, and said she wanted $2,200. Today my wife came home and said her husband told her she was nuts and she asked what I wanted to pay. My wife was careful as to not offend her, and said something along the lines of the detailing money, detailing her new car that now has 3000 miles so it can't be too hard, and cash. Never said anything about the cash as the subject turned to her driving the car through a carwash. And how I would be pissed if my wife did that, and black cars (her new one) will not hold up to that abuse.

So...not really sure where we are yet.
 
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