JJR512
Active Member
Hello! I'm a new member here, just joined up. I'm looking at buying my ex-wife's 1998 Accord V6 Coupe. Not sure if it's LX or EX, doesn't say either on the back. It does not have leather. It has almost 240k miles.
I've been to the Kelley Blue Book website and tried to describe its condition as accurately as possible with the options the website allowed me. It suggested that the private-party sale price should be a little under $1400. I'm giving her $1500 for it. She's my ex, but we're still friends.
It has a number of issues. However, my feeling is that I'd rather buy a car whose issues I know about, rather than some random used car I know nothing about.
I'd like to now list the issues, and what I'm looking for is a general idea of what I should get fixed right away, what can wait for a few weeks, what can wait for a couple months. And an idea of what these things are going to cost to get fixed. For most issues I'm probably going to need to take it to a repair shop, and I'd prefer to take it to a reputable shop with Honda experience. I'm not looking for shade-tree repairs here. I'm looking for OEM parts or equally-good (or better) aftermarket parts, no eBay junk.
So here's the list, and I look forward to your comments and help... And don't be afraid to shout "run away" if you really think it's that bad! But I am aware that these repairs are going to cost more than I'm paying for the car up front.
- Temp gauge goes to red
o Fans will come on (not sure if one or both)
o Will stay at red for a few minutes, then rapidly drop to middle area
o Often drops after accelerating from a stop
o Usually won’t go to red if moving at steady high speed
o More common to go to red in city or suburban traffic
o Slight odor of coolant when overheating
o Fans keep running if engine shut off while overheated
- Heater not working properly
o Heater problems precede overheating issues and may or may not be related, and may or may not be a good source of clues for the overheating issue
o Prior to the overheating issue starting, the heater would usually blow cool air, occasionally lukewarm
o After overheating issue started, heater would usually blow cool air, sometimes lukewarm, unless temp gauge was at red then it might blow warm air
- Occasional rough idle after starting
o Does not happen with cold starts
o May only happen with starting a few minutes after shutoff while overheated
o Seems to accelerate fine
- Normally runs fine
o Accelerates very well
o Usually idles fairly smooth
o Unknown gas mileage
- Almost 240k miles
- Scheduled maintenance
o Occasional oil changes
o Brake work when needed
o To my knowledge, no other scheduled maintenance has been done
- Body
o Some rusting on front edge of right rear wheel well
o Has been low-speed rear-ended, no known structural damage, rear bumper cap now misaligned
- Other
o As far as I know, all other systems work fine
I feel I should get the overheating issue taken care of first, and I'm game to just replace everything (radiator, cap, hoses, thermostat, coolant, water pump). I doubt it's been filled with the Honda-approved coolant. At the same time I should probably get the timing belt replaced, which I don't know if it was ever done the first time it should've been, and I know it hasn't been replaced since my ex has had it. (She got the car at around 140k miles.)
So...once again, thanks in advance!
I've been to the Kelley Blue Book website and tried to describe its condition as accurately as possible with the options the website allowed me. It suggested that the private-party sale price should be a little under $1400. I'm giving her $1500 for it. She's my ex, but we're still friends.
It has a number of issues. However, my feeling is that I'd rather buy a car whose issues I know about, rather than some random used car I know nothing about.
I'd like to now list the issues, and what I'm looking for is a general idea of what I should get fixed right away, what can wait for a few weeks, what can wait for a couple months. And an idea of what these things are going to cost to get fixed. For most issues I'm probably going to need to take it to a repair shop, and I'd prefer to take it to a reputable shop with Honda experience. I'm not looking for shade-tree repairs here. I'm looking for OEM parts or equally-good (or better) aftermarket parts, no eBay junk.
So here's the list, and I look forward to your comments and help... And don't be afraid to shout "run away" if you really think it's that bad! But I am aware that these repairs are going to cost more than I'm paying for the car up front.
- Temp gauge goes to red
o Fans will come on (not sure if one or both)
o Will stay at red for a few minutes, then rapidly drop to middle area
o Often drops after accelerating from a stop
o Usually won’t go to red if moving at steady high speed
o More common to go to red in city or suburban traffic
o Slight odor of coolant when overheating
o Fans keep running if engine shut off while overheated
- Heater not working properly
o Heater problems precede overheating issues and may or may not be related, and may or may not be a good source of clues for the overheating issue
o Prior to the overheating issue starting, the heater would usually blow cool air, occasionally lukewarm
o After overheating issue started, heater would usually blow cool air, sometimes lukewarm, unless temp gauge was at red then it might blow warm air
- Occasional rough idle after starting
o Does not happen with cold starts
o May only happen with starting a few minutes after shutoff while overheated
o Seems to accelerate fine
- Normally runs fine
o Accelerates very well
o Usually idles fairly smooth
o Unknown gas mileage
- Almost 240k miles
- Scheduled maintenance
o Occasional oil changes
o Brake work when needed
o To my knowledge, no other scheduled maintenance has been done
- Body
o Some rusting on front edge of right rear wheel well
o Has been low-speed rear-ended, no known structural damage, rear bumper cap now misaligned
- Other
o As far as I know, all other systems work fine
I feel I should get the overheating issue taken care of first, and I'm game to just replace everything (radiator, cap, hoses, thermostat, coolant, water pump). I doubt it's been filled with the Honda-approved coolant. At the same time I should probably get the timing belt replaced, which I don't know if it was ever done the first time it should've been, and I know it hasn't been replaced since my ex has had it. (She got the car at around 140k miles.)
So...once again, thanks in advance!
And if you do purchase it, welcome to the family!
