Here I go again. I am preparing to buy an Accord for my daughter's first car. I found a real gem at a good price:

Accord LX, Green; Automatic trans; 4 cyl
--98,000 miles
--front tires new, rear tires have <10k on them
--timing belt and power steering pump replaced at 70k
--brakes replaced at 65k
--oil changed every 3k
--exterior rates a 9 out of 10 (1 minor ding, 4 or 5 surface scratches)
--Interior in brand new condition (10 out of 10)
--woman driver; mostly hiway business trips up and down mid-Atlantic states
--Test drive - very smooth and quiet engine, very quick acceleration, shifting upon heavy acceleration almost unnoticeable, no pulling to right or left, brakes adequate but not great, no unusual road noise, no rattles or squeaks at all, suspension firm and not spongy, a/c is too cold on highest setting.

Negatives:
--high miles
--no CD player
--maintenance by reputable local mechanic (not dealer)
--front tires don't match rear tires (probably replace all 4 in 12 - 18 months)
--drivers side windshield washer dribbles and doesn't squirt

That's all I could come up with!

Price: $6900

My questions:

1. My major exposure can only be transmission or a/c and both SEEM in excellent condition. Is there anything else I can do to check the condition of these major systems?

2. Owner has invited me to take the car to a mechanic for a day to be checked out - i.e. they are not hiding anything.
PRINCESS - can the PRINCE tell me what a dealer would charge for this type of inspection and what they would do?? Is it worth having inspected or should I just go with my instincts and gamble without the inspection??

3. Benji - any wise advice or lessons learned from a fellow high-mileage purchaser?

4. Any suggestions for the simplest way to add a CD player? Just buy a factory unit on EBay and try to install it myself? Or go to Best Buy or Circuit City and pay $150 - $200 to have the factory unit removed and replaced with a cheap but decent Panasonic unit?

5. What would you do as soon as you got the car (oil change, trans fluid, etc.)

6. MOST IMPORTANT - I have been told that $6900 is the bottom line price. Any suggestions for methods to squeeze another $100 or so from the price? Usually I come up with a list of needed items, price it out and ask the seller to split the cost with me by lowering the price. But i don't have a list for this car...???

The best I could come up with was praising the car up and down and telling the seller how much my daughter loves it, then begging for mercy on my daughter's life savings that will be exhausted in buying the car (pretty sad, i know).

The seller has given me until Monday evening to make my decision, then they start to advertise.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS...

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

The mileage wouldn't scare me off, but I would ask if the transmission has been replaced under the extended warranty. If not, I definitely would have someone familiar with the 6th Gen tranmission failures look for telltale signs, ie..leaks (wet undercarriage), metal in the fluid, lots of play in the axles at the differential. Also, what was the frequency of ATF replacement.

My LX was used under similar driving pattern as this one and all was well until ~112K.

Good luck.

An inspection is usually 1-2 hours. So it would depend on your area's labor rate. You can call & ask.

You'd have at least another 50K for any tranny problems to show up. Honda is getting concerned about their rep with trannies & woukd probably replace it even later if it had a problem....

It sounds like a great car! I would replace the tires, but I really have a THING about mismatched tires! The windshield washer is probably just clogged with wax or something. CD players are an easy addition. The mileage isn't a big deal. If you get it inspected at a dealer they'd know by the VIN# if it has had any updates/recalls done & could advise...

Go for it!!;)

Maybe you could get the seller's help with replacing tires???

Thanks; is it possible to inspect for transmission damage during a general inspection like this? For example, would a dealer look at the trans fluid, find netal shavings and then conclude that the trans is in trouble? Or would I just have to wait for it to explode on the hiway somewhere?



:(

Originally posted by Pairallel
[BNegatives:
--maintenance by reputable local mechanic (not dealer)

That's all I could come up with!

Price: $6900

My questions:

1. My major exposure can only be transmission or a/c and both SEEM in excellent condition. Is there anything else I can do to check the condition of these major systems?

2. Owner has invited me to take the car to a mechanic for a day to be checked out - i.e. they are not hiding anything.
PRINCESS - can the PRINCE tell me what a dealer would charge for this type of inspection and what they would do?? Is it worth having inspected or should I just go with my instincts and gamble without the inspection??

5. What would you do as soon as you got the car (oil change, trans fluid, etc.)

The seller has given me until Monday evening to make my decision, then they start to advertise.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS...
[/B]

Maintenance by a local REPUTABLE mechanic should not be a negative in my book. Regular maintenance is the key.

Do NOT skip the step of taking to a local shop or dealer for inspection. Around here it's about $100-150 for a good check - not a once over. I would prefer a local shop that specializes in Honda/Acuras. Have the coolant system pressure tested.

Do a Carfax report.

Has the coolant been changed? How does it look/smell? Does the oil look milky?

Like according2me said, how often was the ATF changed? That would be the only thing that would bother me. The extended warranty is pretty much up (100k miles & it's gone). However, Honda may still help out there but no guarantees.

Why was the power steering pump replaced at 70k miles? Something is up there. I assume they went ahead & replaced the timing belt at the same time to save on labor??? That's quite a few miles early for TB replacement especially at the going rate.

I assume the timing belt and power steering pump are in the same area. The owner said the mechanic recommended replacing the timing belt since they had to do the power steering pump anyway.

Isn't the timing belt interval around 60k?

nope. 90K. It was done a little early, but if her mechanic saw any oil on it or if it were dried out he'd tell her to replace it. Or working in the same area.... that's not unusal. Sounds like he was thinking of her & deserves praise for that one!

PS pumps can need to be replaced from leaking at any time....or never. There's not a set pattern.

Actually, timing belt replacement is not recommended until 105k miles now with the 6th generation. It did used to be 90k miles.

Yep, you're right....it started in '96. We've just always ignored it & relaced @ 90K... so I had to look it up!:)

So I should be good on the timing belt until 180k miles i guess!?:D

I am going to have my Honda dealer check it out tomorrow - I will have them flush and drain the trans fluid to help determine the transmission's condition. I will also have them check for looseness at the differential and pressure test the cooling system.

Anything else I should ask for before 8 a.m. tomorrow?

Thanks.:confused:

I had thought about suggesting this before but didn't. When you drain & refill the tranny, do a UOA (used oil analysis) on the transmission fluid. It will show the wear metals & overall condition of the fluid. It's $20 from Blackstone Labs. It would be worth it in my opinion.
I am doing one on each drain & refill b/c of the problems with 6th gen Accords & they didn't extend the warranty for my '02 model.

Are they just doing a drain/refill or using a flush machine? If you're paying for it, heck even if you're not, I would just do a drain/refill. It's only 3 quarts.

How do you get the analysis done?

Are their local labs?

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Flushing is not necessary IMO to ascertain if metal is in fluid. A simple drain/refill will easily show this. Flushing will however get rid of more metal if the problem does exist.

If there is excessive play in the axles at the differential, it maybe that the fluid has already been flushed to hid the problem. However, if there is a leak from the trans/axle area (under carriage is wet), that's a pretty good indication that the carrier bearings in the differential are shot. I'm sure most Honda techs are well versed in this, as there was a service bulletin to cover this early in the 6th Gen. It advised them to not replace the axle seals as this would not remedy the problem.

Well. the results are in!

The dealer did a 25-point inspection, with specific emphasis on the transmission and investigation of a front end vibration at 60+ mph.

The results:

Overall, dealer says car is in very nice condition. Brakes are good, transmission is solid, no evidence of looseness, leaks or trans issues of any kind. A/C is good, suspension is good, all belts and hoses are good.

Problems? Just 1. The front-end vibration is being caused by the 2 new front tires ($30 tires from R&S Strauss) which have a "T" speed rating. The Accord requires a minimum "H" rating, and this non-complying tire cause the high-speed vibration. This sounds logical to me, especially since I had an unsolvable pulling problem on my '01 Camry after installing low speed-rated tires.

Maintenance needed:
-- Oil change
-- Trans fluid drain and refill
-- Brake fluid drain and refill
-- Clean throttle body (gas pedal sticks a little)
-- Replace cabin air filter (my idea - since car has been parked outside and not serviced by Honda dealers)
-- Replace all 4 tires with matched set

Estimated cost for al work: $750

Most of these items are simple maintenance, but i would love to get the seller to drop a $100 or so to help out.

Any final thoughts before I write the check?

:cool:

Sounds like a you MAY have a leg to stand on getting the price lowered a pinch with it NEEDING tires.....

I'm happy that it checked out great. It sure sounded good to me!! I've done a ton of used Honda shopping....but my criteria is a bit different having a tech to deal with the little things. I have a tendency to look more at perfect appearance. I have used the little imperfections to get a price down, but generally I'll pay what's advertised IF I think it's worth it.

The things you listed as "problems" are all little things & it sounds like the seller gave it her best shot with maintaince!:)

Lotsa Luck!

Well, I took the dive! $6900 later, I now own my 3rd Honda in 8 months - after 18 years of Toyotas. And my daughter is thrilled with her new car!

I am very impressed with the ride compared with my '04 Accord. It absorbs the small bumps a lot better and gives a much smoother ride. Of course, the '04 has more of a sporty feel and is much better in the turns.

My list of "to do's":

4 new tires - deciding between Goodyear Eagle GT-HR and Yokohama Avid H4S - also deciding whether it is worth saving $40 to go the Tire Rack route or if I should just go local.

Oil change - it was due anyway

Brake fluid - flush and refill

Trans fluid - drain and refill

Throttle body - clean (sticking at startup)

Cabin air filter - replace (owner had a dog)

Estimating $400 for the tires and dealer has quoted $322 for the other 5 items. Dealer inspection said tune-up and valve adjustment aren't needed at this time.

I will be detailing it this weekend.

Any other suggestions for work that should be done?

Any votes for which tire to go with?

:cool:

Your daughter is lucky!!! :) on the few rare occassions I was allowed to drive when I was in highschool and college, i got stuck with my parent's 87 plymouth voyager van..... I was paying for school and working 35 hours a week during college and didn't have any funds left for a car. (That's my sob :bawling: story!)

Anyway, congrats on the great deal!! :D Many more years of enjoyment to come for you, your family, and all the Honda's! :D

Originally posted by Pairallel
Any other suggestions for work that should be done?

:cool:

Under hood air filter possibly
Coolant possibly
Power steering fluid possibly
Check all brakes for wear
Getting close for spark plug replacement maybe?

They tell me I'm OK on the coolant, plugs, brakes and p/s fluid. Engina air filter is a good one to have them check.

Thanks.

:cool:

Originally posted by Pairallel
They tell me I'm OK on the coolant, plugs, brakes and p/s fluid. Engina air filter is a good one to have them check.

Thanks.

:cool:

Hey I'm new here and thought I'd add my 2cents too...

I'm unclear but from the above if you still have the same coolant after almost 100k you should change it for sure. Temp wise it might still show okay but the additives in it to prevent rust & corrosion would be broken down not to mention other contaminants which are probably in there by now.

Another thing is brake fluid for sure. Brake fluid absorbs water which is why it needs changed. It's not sealed at the top res. and absorbs water from the air. I just changed mine on my 2000 Accord and the old fluid was an ugly dark amber color compared to the new fluid which is almost clear color.

Yep the p/s fluid usually doesn't go bad

Much of the work you can save a lot if you do it yourself. Everything is easy. Even the transmission fluid is easier than changing the oil. I just did a four time change (over a month period) on my Accord in order to do a complete change of fluid.

I agree with what Princess said about miss-matched tires. Sadly tires are expensive. I remember my wife yelling at me about how much I spent the last time I bought tires. And they were for her CRV too.

It sounded to me like you got a very good price on the car.

Thanks for the input. I had all of the work done immediately because I was nervous about the high mileage and didn't know when it was last done. Now that I'm up to date, I will buy a manual or research here, and try to do future maintenance myself.

Yesterday I upgraded the radio/cassette to a radio/CD with no problem. Next I am replacing the digital clock bulb, the driver side windshield washer nozzle and adding mudguards when they get here.

Maybe I'll quit my job and become a Honda mechanic after that...:D

windshield washer nozzle

Oh you just reminded me I need to get those too. Mine aren't squirting right anymore either.

Originally posted by Mercury3
Oh you just reminded me I need to get those too. Mine aren't squirting right anymore either.

Make sure it's not just clogged with wax or something. I was about to panic after the first time I waxed the car & then they wouldn't work. I just got wax in there.

Remember me? This is my first post here, I saw your username and thought I'd jump in here. This site seems so mellow compared to the crazy Piloteers over at the 'org.

Congrats on the 3rd Honda!
Anyway, it sound like you're taking great care of your family putting them in Hondas, what great taste you all have!


I hope to make a new Accord our next Commuter. The thing is just drop dead GORGEOUS. Love my Pilot, but sometimes I wanna be sporty, you know?

Please post a family photo of your hondas if you take one. It does my heart good :)

PilotMom - you don't have an Accord, and you're floating around here? How could you have so much free time with kids home in the summer and all?

Anyway...great to have you here. We just crossed the 500-member plateau, Kemosabe is here on a regular basis, and we get some incredible inside info from Princess, whose Prince is a first-rate Honda mechanic in CA.

I will post a pic or 2 in the next week or so, as soon as I get all 3 cleaned up and the sun is shining again...

:eek:

I know, it's always craziness here, I should be doing dishes. But the baby's down for nap, so this is when I usually jump on the computer.
I'm here since I'm seriously thinking about making the new Accord our next commuter car. Civic's got 180K on it, and it's just too small for my big herd when 73Pilotdad steals my Pilot to haul something.

PLUS, I'm here since my mom just registered as "buyahondaMo" since I finally strong armed her into a Honda ;) YAY!!! and sent her this link.

We found a nice '01 EX-L for her. What a pretty car.
I'm waiting for her to get up the courage to make her first post here. Maybe with photos?

Sounds like your Mom got a nice Accord - what color?

Make sure she is aware of the transmission issues on the '00 and '01 Accords, and the resulting trans warranty extension to 100k miles. If she notices anything strange at all, she should run to the dealer to get it documented. Also, make sure she changes the trans fluid very often.

My '00 Accord has 99k miles and shifts like a dream - can't even feel it shift sometimes.

As far as your commuter car, if you want to go cheap, look for a '98 - '00 LX with 50k miles or more for under $8k. They are such solid cars, and 50k is just getting potty-trained for them... :blah:

The 6-gens are so easy to work on, and discounted parts and accessories are available everywhere, especially EBay.

:cool:

Hey wait a minute ! ! !

Why didn't your Mom register as PilotMomsMom? :D

It would be so much easier to recognize her then...

WHAAAAAAAT???

I was under the impression that the 4cyl tranny's are fine. Dang it. I was there when the deal went down thinking, oh good it's not the V6, we're safe. I'll let her know incase she's not lurking.

I was thinking 53Pilotgranny would be a cool name, but it doesn't make sense when she drives an accord...but my Pilot is one of my babies...so....

Thanks for the info, Pairallel. I'll look into the transmission issue.
BuyaHondaMo...pulse check.... are you out there, freaking out now?

Her Accord is Dark Emerald Pearl with Ivory leather....gorgeous combo that she's always wanted.

OK; Dark Emerald Pearl is what I have, with the cloth interior.

Time to accessorize it. With the ivory interior, think about the all season mats for the front, and the splash guards for all 4 wheels - they're pretty affordable from Hondacuraworld with the free shipping.

Also, get spare wiper blades and the Dk Em Pearl touchup paint pen (with the very fine tip) at Handaaccessories.com...

These are the 1st 4 items I bought for my '00...all 4 for under $90.

1 more thing - tell her to check the LCD clock and see if it lights up at night - might need that $2 bulb !


:yes:

Hey sorry I couldn't respond to you in time, I've been on vacation and internet use has been limited. My high mileage car is a manual, so I don't know what to say about the automatic but would guess that it's okay. I think that the only thing I learned is that although my engine seems okay, gas consumption seems to be a little high. The smog also indicates a lot of hydrocarbons out the tailpipe. I don't know what this indicates but the engine seems fine so I haven't spent money to dig into it. Also I have little rattles in the sunroof, but you have no worries about that. The other place that rattles is the glovebox; that is due to rubber stops that are not big enough and there is a TSB out for that. Not sure if it applies to the 00 model though. Anyways good luck with your Accord, I'm sure it'll serve you well. I plan on keeping mine until at least 300K :)

Strangely enough, I have put my '04 Accord in the garage and I am driving the 2000 for a couple of weeks. It is proving to be a very solid car, and everyone in the family likes it.

I have a problem with the glovebox rattle - can you point me to that TSB?

BTW - Welcome back Benji and Princess - it's been very quiet around here without the 2 of you....

:dunno:

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=748

I'm still on vacation actually :)

Just an update for those who care...Crossed the 103,000 mile mark this week and all is well. This car, as simple as it is in the LX 4 cyl version, is so much fun to drive. It has enough pickup, a great ride, and comfortable for 5 people.

My daughter has become an excellent driver, even though she is still under her permit.

Not a single problem with the car since I bought it. Have added all season mats, trunk tray and new air filter. Can't even think of anything else to do right now.

Brakes are next, but not for another 6 months or so....:cool:

:up: great news! Glad it's working out so well!

Ever fix that glovebox rattle?

No; I haven't had the patience to figure out the part to order with the Honda dealer, then wait a wek, then go pick it up again. If they kept those rubber stoppers in stock, I would have done it already...:rolleyes:

Part 77506-SM4-900 was what I got, seems to work good so I don't think they would come up with a redesigned version. One thing about it though is that now it takes herculean strength to close the glovebox, literally a slam. Don't like it so much but it's better than the rattle lol.