I'm looking at two cars for my daughter.

1. 95 Honda Accord, coupe, red, 120,000, 4 cyl. all power. asking $4,500
(Vin check shows car was a lease in NY for 2 years then had a couple owners
in New England)

2. 90 Honda Prelude, black, coupe, 72,000, all power. asking $3,200
(Vin check show the car was owned localy)


I would want to change timeing belts in both cars.
Both cars look in good condition. we do live in New England so these cars
take a beating in the winter.


They seem to just about even out.
Accord has higher milage but its newer.
Prelude is almost 15 years old but has 50,000 miles less than the accord.

Both dealers are small lots, I wouldnt trust either!
I plan on having the car I choose inspected by my mechanic first.

TIA for any insight!!

Steve

 

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 07:23:52 -0400, "Steve" <yeah@right.com> wrote:
>I'm looking at two cars for my daughter.
>
>1. 95 Honda Accord, coupe, red, 120,000, 4 cyl. all power. asking $4,500
>(Vin check shows car was a lease in NY for 2 years then had a couple owners
>in New England)
>
>2. 90 Honda Prelude, black, coupe, 72,000, all power. asking $3,200
>(Vin check show the car was owned localy)

Well, my 1987 Accord turned into a losing proposition when it reached
120,000 miles at about twelve years old, so on that basis, I'd rate
these two about a tossup. The Prelude is cheaper, but the Accord is a
larger vehicle and a more modern design.

If the Prelude has already had all hoses replaced, boots in recent
years, interior isn't too bad, then I'd consider it. Otherwise you
might want to figure in the bucks to do these yourself.

I presume the 90 has steel cylinder liners, is the 95 an all-aluminum
engine? I'm not clear when the newer tech all-aluminum engines need
head work, or how long the cylinders last - and how they go, when they
go. My old '87 had liners, the cars I've had since, I haven't run up
the miles or years on.

Depends on the duty involved, if this is just local transport for a
kid in school, and you want to anticipate maybe a winter fender-bender
or two, then these seem appropriate choices. Likely some additional
maintenance will be needed on either, if the car gets much use.
Another option might be to lease a new Civic, more bux over three
years but should be more reliable and nearly zero on maintenance.

J.