Intra-family discount: 2002 Honda Accord

"webmonkees" (kayoteq-of-the-forest) 05/09/2015 at 19:55 • Filed to: Mary's Got A Brand New Car, Will this fit my Honda?

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I have learned to not question the logic of parents and relatives taking pity on my daily driver from 1990. So, here you have it, a 1998-2002 Honda Accord “common sense on wheels.” While it is 2015, I’m not knocking it. Especially with a dealer tuneup thrown in. and “100k”.

Have not seen car. know it’s blue. 4 doors. 2002. Accord. That’s it. Nephew’s wife’s car, and yeah, they’re more successful than me at affording newer cars. But stock, not into what ruins so so many decent Hondas. I like the cars. Never had one. Guess I will. More likely to have blasted Jimmy Buffet through the speakers than dubstep. I generalize a bit.

Photo: Probably a 90% match.

And I get to keep the 1990. Well, it’s like, MK2s are desirable and could probably get my 2003 purchase price out of it with about $200 at Rockauto and The Bus Depot and a few weekends.

But then I’d have it working again. Now, I guess it’s the freedom of having ownership as an option rather than the main daily driver.. cuz it’s fun on them curvy road things. Would be nice to tweak it to a better set of things, like tires that match.

230-???,000 worth of still works fine but metal fatigue and cumulative missing of 60,000 maintenance 30k 120k fixes when break

*Bumper cover sagging for illustrative purposes only. It’s screwed in place. Drive Safe !

With the freedom to take on each corner and remove 230k of wear and tear. But yeah, I was running out of folks to help tow the thing out of wherever it broke down. Just little, debilitating, cheap fixes, like broken axle, broken accelorator cable (drove home with a rock, do not attempt), the clip from the distributor cap broke off an edge so it’s zip-tied in place because car has nothing if that little bit of tin falls off. Except for one bit near the coolant overflow, rust free.

Nothing that a Wheeler Dealer episode couldn’t deal with. Perhaps I’ll get Monkey Wrench started with that project. Anyway.

The VTec Bath Chair

Jezza likes it. He likes the performance versions better but he does try to plan for retirement as this video shows.

Overall

Has new tires, so that saves me the cost of a tire. So I’m ahead on that. Dealer service, so I don’t have to change the power steering belt.

Tax and title extra. Next week I might even get to see it. Perhaps take it home. Do paperwork. Go OCD on Honda factory manuals. Order a MCM sticker. Search CL for stock parts discarded by the kids in their quests to make an asphalt leveling device.

2002? didn’t they evolve past then?

I think those are all Accords. At least the 2002 looks like something.. Mazda sedan? Mk4 Jetta? The sedan brands all seemed to morph into each other in the quest for nearsighted buyers.

Safety And Durability: An unlikely comparison test.

Well, I’ve rammed an newer Accord by driving backwards with the Jetta, causing $1750 of damage. That was when the heater core was leaking and obscuring my rear window, other distracting factors. Not as exciting as it sounds. I have to tell you the story in order to give you any indication of the damage caused to the Jetta, which I think is a scratch on the bumper cover as their front license plate bumper and hood were moved about. Tsk tsk.

The big question :

Will I be able to have fun? Is there a pedal missing? (probably) But all that is moot in face of the extreme family discount that is applicable in this case.

And I didn’t even ask. I think everybody was just noticing the state of the VW, and a future need for a station wagon for the future little one. Aww.

no, not that big question, this one.

“will this fit my honda?’

webmonkees > webmonkees 05/09/2015 at 20:04

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Drawbacks:
Probably stuck with car due to discount. Trading for other vehicles and then that vehicle having issues would put me in deep doo. And normal wear and tear as I am familiar with applying.

Steve in Manhattan > webmonkees 05/09/2015 at 20:36

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Given my vast experience with rental cars, an Accord is much more tossable than, say, a Camry. Not so comforting, I know, but you can certainly put some miles on this thing. Do you know if it’s a 4 or 6 cylinder?

jdmrookie > webmonkees 05/09/2015 at 20:53

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My dad used to have a 98’, it was the first car I learned to drive in. A 4 cylinder automatic. I believe the auto transmissions of this generation had many problems, but even with that and the fact that he would treat it like absolute shit the thing never stopped running. The poor thing, finally put her to rest in scrapyard heaven around 362k.

webmonkees > jdmrookie 05/10/2015 at 01:04

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That’s the thing about the 230k VW, I’m just behind on the unscheduled part replacements.. it’s just a matter of catching up and it’s reliable again. Maybe.

wafflesnfalafel > webmonkees 05/10/2015 at 01:41

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Those are nice - and the blue is even better. Other than an “over-beiged” interior they are fun little sedans.

jdmrookie > webmonkees 05/10/2015 at 08:49

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Yeah man, my dad did nothing to it, I am pretty sure he changed the oil only once a year or something bizarre like that. So I am sure your’s will fare better if you give it some actual love. I miss our car.

Dunnik > webmonkees 05/22/2015 at 02:20

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If there is a pedal missing, beware. Honda automagics from this era were notoriously bad. Unless you’re presented a receipt for a rebuild or new transmission, hold out for a manual, family discount or no. Or just be prepared to reburb or replace :/

And don’t forget the timing belt/water pump combo. Replacement mileage will vary based on your climate. Hopefully it’s been done not long ago.

Otherwise: you’re absolutely right, if you can get it for a nice family discounted price, and want a cheap, reliable DD, go buy it.

webmonkees > Dunnik 05/22/2015 at 03:03

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Oh, it’s gone through a proper Honda service run, it could have passed Japan MOT when they were done. I am concerned about the automatic’s potential for foulup, need to see when the fluid and filter were changed on the transmission . If not, then well, that’s a new task to learn or outsource.

webmonkees > webmonkees 05/22/2015 at 03:14

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Update:

green, and the passenger side is undamaged by the big hail storm of 2013.

mpg is great.