Topic: Advice for used Civic vs Accord at Honda dealer

[Straysheepie]

Yes, if you must inquire, I didn't buy a car yet

Went to a Honda dealer to look at used cars today and saw 2 cars:

1999 Civic EX
- 110k km, sedan, listed at ~$13000

1999 Accord EXL
- 120k km, coupe, listed at ~$16000

Unfortunately I didn't get to test drive the cars (they were closing up soon, and the cars were parked awkwardly) so I'll probably go on Saturday morning to have another look.  I'm leaning towards the Accord because it's very well loaded and the list price is closer to the Lemon-Aid price ($13,000-$14,500) while the Civic is quite far from the LA price ($6500-7500).  I know '99 Civics are closer to $10k here though through buy and sell ads though.

Just wondering if the prices sound reasonable keeping in mind this is a dealer and it's Vancouver (sigh), and also I looked at the insurance claims reports for both and each had an accident reported but no payout.  I asked what it meant and the sales said it's usually b/c one car hits another and the owners want to report it right way, then find out the damage is minor and the owner just pays the repair cost without going through ICBC to save on premiums... does this sound reasonable?

Also, I'm guessing I can only get BCAA to look at dealer used cars since it's unlikely they would let me take it off the lot to a mechanic... or can I?  I haven't tried asking.

Thanks and any help will be appreciated

[johngenx]

Well, $13K for a 99 Civic is WAY too high.  Ridiculous, in fact.

I imagine in Vancouver it's tough to find a car that has not at least had a minor fender bender.  It's like driving in a bumper car alley there.  Have a mechanic check it out carefully to make sure it's straight and not a stitch-job.

Seriously, my opening offer on a 99 Civic would be about $7000 for a clean example and around $12.5-13K for the Accord, and I wouldn't be moving much.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

They're both ridiculous!

And if you want a reliable car, there's better ways than spending $16K on a non-waranteed '99 Accord with 120K.

[Shnak]

For that kind of money, I'd get a brand new Accent-5 instead!

[William_w]

Or I would book myself a flight and fly to Toronto for a weekend ($400), 2 nights of hotel ($250).  Rent a car in order to get around town ($50 Enterprise rent a car weekends rate) and ship your purchase back to Vancouver for ($800).
(Total cost for your trouble = approx $1500)

I know this is kind of extreme.  But if prices in Toronto is $2000 cheaper, than I think it is worth your while to do that.

http://www.trader.ca/VLotsEnlarged.asp?strPic=4112620&strYear=2001&strMake=HONDA&strModel=CIVIC&strMile=91000&strPrice=8900&vlotNamegif=RedLineMotors/images/logo.gif&trader=1&CAT=1&unitcode=K

(Message edited by William W on January 28, 2005)

[ovr50]

West Coast prices are higher than Toronto for sure so I'm not surprised at the numbers being asked; however, the Civic is way too high and the Accord is over also but not so much. The Accord Coupe in a nice car in the '99 year and would sure be my choice of the two. Are you getting some dealer's warranty with these? I'd work on the Coupe a bit if the price could be worked some. My wife's '99 Solara is a comparable car and these cars were about the same MSRP new, $30 to $32K. 50% after 5 years is "reasonable" for Vancouver prices given that the coupes maintain their value better than average. Our Solara has far less kms on it, but we wouldn't sell it for less than $16k and we'd ask more (it's immaculate with all service records and 60k kms). Just some thoughts.

[ArticSteve]

The west seems like a hell of a bad place to acquire good used vehicles.  At least you don't drive around in salt for 5 months like I do.

My buddy just sold a 2000 Honda Accord Special Edition, 43,000 km, 5-peed, black, 4-door, no sunroof, MINT (I had just done the brakes this past summer) for $14,000 with full set of fairly new Michelin Alpins.  Got 3 calls and only one actual guy from Withby came to look at it and he took 3 weeks to decide.  Plus he had to drive the guy back to Whitby from Mississauga to drop off the car.  It was listed in the Toronto Trader.

[Saint11]

go for the accord. you get some nice goodies and it'll make it up sfu much easier. you get more goodies too.  

the whole paying accidents without going thru insurance is fine but sketchy at the same time. it happens all the time though. but for safety reasons it depends if the car you are buying was the cause of the accident. because if it was, then perhaps the driver always gets into little accidents and doesn't want his insurance premiums to increase even more.  

the civic is extremely overpriced. my mom was considering buying one from a friend. a 2000 Civic SI for 15k. and this was In 2003! So no, don't touch the civic.  

Is the civic oon the Richmond Automall lots? Cuz their used car prices tend to be 2k above everyone elses. Just like how kingsway dealers are 2k below. Either way, don't buy from either. haha. Just use the UPASS until it runs out

[Straysheepie]

I checked some ads in the Vancouver Sun newspaper today and it does appear the '99 Civic is insanely priced... Accord price is ok (well average) compared to the Buy and Sell.  I like William_w's idea of going to Toronto to take a car-buying vacation! My friend in Montreal is laughing at me because I'm going to pay probably $2k more for a car that's probably exactly the same just a few provinces away

I'll try to find out how long the dealer warranty is tomorrow, I don't remember if it's Honda Certified or not... oh, and here's a private ad I saw:

2000 Accord coupe, V6 (I think the '99 is a V4?), leather + power stuff, no mods/accidents/break-ins, 41000 kms, $18500 obo.  While it's more expensive it has 1/3 the mileage!!  I'll try to view the car sometime in the next few days and compare with the '99 I see tomorrow.

Might drop by another Honda dealer tomorrow too... and I've printed off the Black Book price for the Accord to see how the dealer will react.  Will keep you guys posted!

[ovr50]

Stray - you might want to check out that private '00 coupe also. Sounds pretty clean with low kms and the price is in the ballpark if really well maintained, etc. To my knowledge, there never were any 4 cyl. Accord coupes, but I could be wrong.

[Mdxtasy]

Sheepie....you've really moved up the price ladder since you first started looking.  

For 18500....you can get into a brand new Civic.  

The Accord is a fine vehicle and like all Honda's, they hold their value really well.  The V6 has some good grunt while the I4 (inline configuration) is also no slouch.  It's a big car, and it is tough to see out the back with the high trunk.....especially if you're vertically challenged.

[Saint11]

I4 is great, my brother has one. it'll go up da hill no problemo. Good luck. But like mdx said for 18500 its a whole new ballpark. just keep in mind how long you will use this car for, it might be worth the investment to a buy a new car.  

Sucks how you guys don't have reading break and us folks at UBC do. mwhahaha. but you did have a longer vacation.

[ArticSteve]

That Accord SE I mentioned was a 4 banger.  Like Over50 says, that Accord Coupe V6 looks real good.  I assume that car is an automatic and has a sunroof.  Also, I too think they only come in V6

Always try and buy private whenever you can. 7% of 18,5000 is about 1300 bucks.

There is a hude difference in riding around in a 2005 stock civic than a 2000 Accord V6 loaded coupe with leather. The 2000 coupe is a really good looking car IMO.

I checked the Toronto Trader and you can't find a better deal there so if I were you I get over and see that car asap.  They are fairly rare cars.

[Brig]

Why is the right-hand margin messed up in this thread?   The text doesn't seem to be wrapping normally.

Is anyone else see this, or is it my own personal hallucination?

[johngenx]

It
seems
to
be
wrapping
normally
to
me.

[Snowman]

.....Huh?
...........I
.....don’t
.......see
anything
....wrong
......here

[Brig]

Then I guess I'd better lay off the cheap crack.  

[Ericthejet]

Did someone say V4?  Cheap crack?  I gotta swith to decaf soon!  

[safristi]

Here's a cheap crack fer ya Bridge....why did you complain about the "Ring for Janitor" sign at work...thought he was too lazy???

[davidy]

Any thoughts on getting a late 90's or early 00's Nissan Altima or Maxima? These would be a better buy and be cheaper to insure IMO. A Toyota Camry should also be considered.

http://www.buysell.com

http://www.autotrader.ca

Dave