Hi all,
I'm just finishing up college and starting to get used to the idea of not being poor, and am trying to buy a used car. I understand that Hondas are an excellent choice for good mileage/low maintenance, and I'd like to get a car that I can keep for at least 5-10 years. Looking around in the newspapers, it looks like the Hondas available for $3000 or less (my budget) are usually ~1990 Civics and Accords, usually around 160k, but occasionally I'll spot e.g. a 1994 Civic with 70k for $2500. Since you guys are the Honda enthusiasts, I thought I should probably ask: is there anything I should be especially aware of when buying a used Honda? What about those especially low-mileage deals--is that the reward for patience or is there likely to be something wrong with the car? Is it reasonable to expect a Honda to still be reliable at 160k? How much is it reasonable for a '90-ish Honda owner to expect to spend on maintenance? Any recommendations for where to find a good mechanic for a pre-buy check?
(If it makes any difference, the car I buy will be a manual transmission.)
Thanks! Max Wilson