Opinions on car I might wanna buy

weirdone

Banned
Jan 28, 2001
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Ok, my friend is selling his car. Just wanna know if you think it's a good deal or not. Here's the information.

1990 Acura Integra RS Hatchback 2D
Engine: 4-Cyl. 1.8 Liter
Trans: 5 Speed Manual
Drive: Front Wheel Drive
Mileage: 130,000

Equipment:
Air conditioning
Power steering
Power Brakes
Tilt wheel
AM/FM CD Player - Detachable face
Charcoal Grey Cloth interior

The transmission blew out about 6 months ago, but he's gotten it fixed. He might include some rims with the car, but maybe not since he paid $1600 for them. Only other thing wrong with the car is that he seems to drive it fast and rev up the engine. He does this a lotta times. I don't know if it' bad for the car, but just seems as though if it was my car, I'd take a little better care of it. There's no major problems with the car. If I had to rate it (according to Kelly Blue Book), I'd rate the car at GOOD - FAIR condition, settling in between them two. He's had it for about 4-5 years now. I've already checked KBB prices and just want to know what your thoughts are on this. He's askin about $1700-$2000 for it. I may get him to get it to $1500 or so. Any input would be appreciated! Thanks!
 

SuperGroove

Diamond Member
Dec 17, 1999
3,347
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Let's just hope Honda's reputation for building reliable cars applies to this car as well. If you know the driver beats the car up, don't buy it. However...you relaly can't buy that much a nice car with $1800. Have you thought about an '85 Golf 8v?

Paul
 

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
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pay a few hundred under kbb.com trade-in value. Thats about right. You know he rags the car, so i would go with "fair" quality rating.
 

weirdone

Banned
Jan 28, 2001
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Hmm.. true.. can't get much for $1800 these days in terms of a decent car. You know how college students are: POOR. Haha. '85 Golf 8V though? Hmm.. reliable suckers?
 

Windogg

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,241
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NEVER buy a car from a friend if you value your friendship no matter how good the deal is. Period.
 

kaiotes

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2000
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i tihnk what wwindogg means is that say u buy the car in a couple months, car needs major repair, puts both of u in bad situtation.
i'd buy that car for that price....
 

Midnight Rambler

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,200
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Windogg's advice is a widely held opinion that usually proves true. Unless of course you know someone who works for an automaker and gets a new car to drive every 3 months, and who can then sell them (for/via the company) to his friends at a good price with full warranty intact. ;)
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,104
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Hondas are indestructable. My cousin once bought a 86(?) Accord that had 400,000 miles on it. It still ran failr reliably. I think that's a fair price, $1500. Honda makes engines that rev to the moon. I know for a fact that a 89 Integra RS with a 5/speed runs about 4K rpm at 80mph. Guy at work paid $1250 for one of those with a CLEAN interior and very good body. Course, that one had 188K on it. I don't think its a BAD buy per se, but if something goes wrong it probably won't be cheap, unless you have a personal mechanic. For reference, I own a 91 Accord with 103,000 miles. Runs like new.
 

weirdone

Banned
Jan 28, 2001
284
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You could say the same about Toyotas also. My 91 Celica was busted up, but it had 180K miles on it and ran as smooth as silk. It's a shame that I had to break it. Hit a patch of black ice and big bad telephone pole. I talked with a friend and he said that if the transmission was replaced, the crank shift may not be as good as before. Anybody know if this is true? And also, what other features may have been affected by this replacement?
 

Jalapeno

Senior member
Dec 26, 2000
991
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Just like Windogg said. Don't ever buy, or sell anything of value from/to a friend.

Most likely it's gonna bite you in the ass.
 
Apr 5, 2000
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I wouldn't buy a car from someone who drives it like its stolen....not to say it'll be in worse shape than a car you buy from an old grandma, but someone who drives it hard will let you know how the car has been treated in the past.
 

Jalapeno

Senior member
Dec 26, 2000
991
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81
Let me say this: Obviously you will find defects/inadequacies with this car, hell it's only $1.800.-, so what do you expect... Eventually you will encounter more problems... And then something else you don't like...

Deep down in your heart you will develop resentments towards your friend for those defects, even though it might not be his fault.

My advice - stay away from it and keep him as a "friend" in the true sense. Buy a car from someone you don't know, ad if problems develop you can always condemn that guy to eternal hell! ;)
 

spamboy

Banned
Aug 28, 2000
1,033
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Buying cars or borrowing money from friends is an easy way to lose the friendship when something goes wrong... Not to say that WILL happen, but it certainly could...
 

weirdone

Banned
Jan 28, 2001
284
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Thanks for all the advice. He's willing to negotiate the price, so I'm gonna test drive it in a couple weeks and find out what it's really like. He replaced the radiator and the transmission already, so it shouldn't have any problems. And he's only driven it 6K miles since last year. Maybe I'll be poorer and have a car, or maybe I'll be poor and have NO car. Hehe.