Buying a used car....good choice?

[AmdInside]

Hello all. I have decided to buy a used Honda Del Sol from a friend. It only has 70k miles on it which is perfect for me as a commuter car. My only question is how reliable is this car compared to other Honda's? I've owned a Honda Civic in the past and it reached 300k miles before it needed repair work (clutch). Ended up just selling it because that was a college car and I wanted a nicer car. My dad had another Honda Civic which also reached near 300k miles before it broke down. My father didn't bother fixing it because it was like a 1975 car and the government pays owners of really old cars to get them off the road.

Anyways, so are Honda Del Sol's just as reliable as other Honda's? I hope this car will last me at least until I hit 300k miles again.

P.S. I did a search but only found reference to the H-Wing Holda Del Sol:

http://www.shawnandcolleen.com/shawn/Pages/hwing/index.html

 

[radioouman]

Same engine as a Civic.

Wind will beat you in the back of the head when you have the targa top off! :laugh:

 

[SecretShadow]

Kinda a girlie car....other than that, it will fit your needs/wants.

 

[swtethan]

civic del sol

 

[Chryso]

I never understood why the del Sol didn't do better than it did.
It is a nice looking car and it is a Honda.

 

[AmdInside]

Yep. I test drove it yesterday and will be buying it today. I really like it. Why doesn't Honda make anymore Honda CRX/Del Sol like cars anymore?

 

[BobDaMenkey]

Yep, it's still a civic, just a different shell. It should last for a good long while.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
Yep. I test drove it yesterday and will be buying it today. I really like it. Why doesn't Honda make anymore Honda CRX/Del Sol like cars anymore?

They just didn't sell as well.

I believe the insurance will be higher on Del Sol vs a regualar civic as well, it's classified as a "Sport" car because it doesn't have a backseat.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: AmdInsideMy father didn't bother fixing it because it was like a 1975 car and the government pays owners of really old cars to get them off the road.

The didn't offer me anything to quit driving my 77 Mercury with a 460 V8...

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
Yep. I test drove it yesterday and will be buying it today. I really like it. Why doesn't Honda make anymore Honda CRX/Del Sol like cars anymore?

Government safety standards, maybe?

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
Yep. I test drove it yesterday and will be buying it today. I really like it. Why doesn't Honda make anymore Honda CRX/Del Sol like cars anymore?

The market changed, people don't wan't small coupes anymore they want small hatchbacks with huge interiors. See Scion, Fit, PT Cruiser, etc.

 

[AmdInside]

I guess the money I'll be saving on gas will go towards higher insurance premium

 

[Al Neri]

what did you pay for it?

 

[Zolty]

I <3 my CRX

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

del slo?

I've heard owners of del sols say that they really enjoyed the car

 

[AmdInside]

Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
what did you pay for it?

I'm gonna be paying $4000

 

[fbrdphreak]

Might wanna check theft rates on those. A lot of Honda's have amazingly high theft rates, not sure about the Del Sol's.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: AmdInside

Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
what did you pay for it?

I'm gonna be paying $4000

:shocked:
That seems like a lot. Did you check book value?

 

[AmdInside]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: AmdInside

Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
what did you pay for it?

I'm gonna be paying $4000

:shocked:
That seems like a lot. Did you check book value?

Yes I did.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: AmdInside
I guess the money I'll be saving on gas will go towards higher insurance premium

And changing the timing belt

 

[Al Neri]

I would gladly pay $4000 for a del sol. Right now I have an '04 Accord EX V6 Coupe with all the trimmings, paying $365 a month...

 

[vi edit]

I guess my biggest concern would be leaks. The seals may have dry rotted the last 10 years and will not prevent water from leaking in during heavy rains like it used to.

If you will be parked in a garage most of the time it's not a big deal. But if you are parked outside it's not cool hopping into a soggy seat and putting up with the mildew smell.

Mechanically the engine *should* be good assuming proper maintenance was done.