by "AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
Published 09/21/2017 at 19:30
by "AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
Published 09/21/2017 at 19:30
No Tags
STARS: 1
My family has had a weird car history (story for another time). But of all the cars we had, none ever seemed to last, until we bought one that was, ironically, crashed.
It all started back in January of 2010. I lived in a nice part of the Bronx in New York, Obama was in his first term, and I was 8 Years Old, It was a nice time. My Family had owned a 2007 Nissan Altima Lemon that always seemed to have some problem, after that we had a sour taste with Nissan (wiped away after I discovered the R32 GTR existed) so we turned to the Religion of Honda (God is VTEC) after my dad saw a Honda Civic Si Sedan at a dealership, but the problem was it was out of our budget and so was a base Civic sedan. So we turned to salvage title cars fueled by one of my dad’s old friends, one who happened to be very skilled in fixing salvage cars, and is a certified broker.
Me, still with a burning passion of cars accompanied dad and his friend to an auction (I can’t remember if it was Manheim, Copart or Police).
In the auction line we saw lots of semi-interesting cars. There was a Hummer H2 that some jabroni jumped and broke the axles. There was an Altima just like the one that was ours except gold/beige colored. Those all didn’t interest us. It was what came up after a 2007 Kia Optima that really interested
After that bland kia, came something right up on my dad’s list. The car that my dad really wanted. It was a 2008 Honda Civic EX-L Automatic Sedan with Front Impact Damage.
Incredibly lucky for my dad, no one was bidding on it. So he put up a bid of $1100 on it, it was after that that someone decided to get into a bidding war. He bet $1200, my dad bet $1300, it went that way until my dad finally put in a bid for $2000, thats when the guy shut up with the bids.
So my dad won the car for $2000, with $5000 in our budget to spare. Dad’s friend offered to do the body work for the modest price of $1500, it turned out great. The only thing left to do was the engine. Me, my dad, and his friend all helped with this part. My dad and his friend replaced everything while I search the engine for broken parts. When we found that oil tank leaked everywhere, I found a cheap, used, completely intact one on eBay. We continued like this for 2 weeks until finally, the Civic was finished, and it only took about $5000 ($500 in parts, and my dad bought 4 Civic Si rims off a crashed one
The reason I am telling this story now is because it is almost the Civic’s 7-year run to end, as my dad is thinking of buying something else from an auction (another story for another time). Here it is again:
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/21/2017 at 19:50, STARS: 0
Ideal first car for you?
"AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
09/21/2017 at 19:57, STARS: 0
I mean it would be, but its going away. I decided to take whatever my parents give me when I’m old enough and work the rest of the way to a BRZ/FRS/86
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/21/2017 at 20:29, STARS: 0
For me it’s easy - put it on weekend/hobby car insurance rates, and have someone drive it to heat up the exhaust every week. Dad’s got next to nothing in it, and no one will offer much (salvage title) so keep it for the what? 3 years ‘til you get licensed? And it’s reasonably safe - side curtain airbags to protect you.
"Jayvincent" (jayvincent)
09/21/2017 at 21:48, STARS: 0
an ‘08 is still in the prime of it’s life (I speak from experience, with a pair of ‘03s and an ‘07 Honda which replaced my ‘00 which I sold just this summer), but it’s hard to find a buyer for a salvage title for more than scrap value. I understand the itch to move on to something different, but it’s hard to beat safe and reliable for your first car! good luck and either way, there’s many more interesting cars in your future
"AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
09/21/2017 at 22:14, STARS: 0
Who said it wasn’t safe and reliable. Inspections dont
"AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
09/21/2017 at 23:49, STARS: 0
My dad thought of just leaving the Civic in the garage until I got my license like our neighbors are doing with a Lincoln Town Car and their 4th graders, But it made no sense seeing as even with the salvage title dealers will trade for $6000
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/22/2017 at 01:26, STARS: 0
Hey, 6 grand is ... 6 grand. Curious - how many miles on the thing?
"AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
09/22/2017 at 08:00, STARS: 1
I haven’t checked recently but last time I did (1 month ago) it had 85,922
"Lokiparts" (lokiparts)
09/22/2017 at 09:09, STARS: 0
Man at 85k miles it’s just getting broken in. I also have an 08 EX-L but mine has 167,000+ miles on it and it still runs like new, and it has never needed anything besides normal preventive maintenance. Also I still think this body style is one of the best looking Civics ever made. He would be wise to keep it. That car is going to be worth more to your family knowing it’s history than you will be able to get for it selling it with a salvage title.
To put this into perspective I have a son who’s 9 and I have every intention of driving this car until he’s old enough to drive and I can pass it on to him.
"AC2 - The Now 15 Year Old Jalop" (ac-2-shoes)
09/22/2017 at 16:32, STARS: 1
The only problem it’s ever had is now one of the suspension struts is broken. It truly is an awesome car with great mileage (Fills up with $20 and lasts a week) and great looks. However, if it does end up being my first car, I’ll probably swap it to a Mugen face
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
09/24/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 0
A Mini Cooper s is a good first car. Just don’t get an r56. Get the r53
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
09/24/2017 at 14:45, STARS: 0
Heard the clutches on the earlier ones were not up to the job - otherwise, why not?
"Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner" (gavinharter30)
09/24/2017 at 14:50, STARS: 0
In the r56 the engine wasn’t up to the job. It was just a massive lemon