Good morning! We’re doing same-make days this week, and today it’s Honda’s turn in the spotlight. Cheap used Hondas tend to either be well-kept but have a bazillion miles on them, or have been messed with by some kid… and have half a bazillion miles. Today we’ve got one of each.
Yesterday, we looked at two crusty old Fords, and it looks like the gaping rust holes in that F-150 put just enough of you off to give the Focus wagon a win. Not that most of you actually wanted the Focus, but a win is a win, so you’ll be seeing that little wagon again on Friday.
I have to agree. If I’m looking for a car this cheap, I’m probably looking to save money on gas as well, and a big V8 hauling around four or five thousand pounds of rusty sheetmetal isn’t the way to do that. And I know I like the Focus; I commuted in one for a year and a half when I lived in LA, and it was fine. Nothing special, but fine.
Now then: In case the headline has you scratching your head in confusion, let me explain: The first part comes from a famous ad campaign for Honda’s motorcycles back in the 1960s. Honda didn’t carry that slogan over to its cars, but Honda car ads were once pretty friendly, too, hence the second part. I can’t even remember the last time an automaker used the words “nice” or “simple” in an advertising slogan, but I sure do miss it. So today, we’re looking at two used Hondas: one is fancy but well-used, and the other is nice and simple, but has a bit of a history. Let’s check them out.
1988 Honda Civic DX Hatchback – $2,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed manual, FWD
Location: Orchards, WA
Odometer reading: 180,000 miles
Operational status: “Runs and drives” is all we get
Honda Civic enthusiasts sometimes sound like they have their own language. This isn’t a Honda Civic DX to them; it’s an EF with a D15B2, but the seller wanted to swap that for a K20Z1. It’s like technical jargon, or thieves’ cant. To the rest of us, however, it’s just a Civic hatchback, like the one your friend’s sister used to drive. (Remember how she used to keep a hair scrunchie on the shift knob? Why was that so sexy?)
The engine that the seller wanted to swap out of this one is a perfectly acceptable and very reliable 1.5 liter four-cylinder, driving the front wheels through a four-speed manual, which had pretty widely-spaced ratios for economy, if I recall. This was never meant to be a race car, but the tuners and street racers loved them, because they were as light and simple as a Civic got. Far too many of these met horrific fates simply because they were cheap and easy to modify. Thank goodness the seller ran out of gumption before ruining this one. It runs and drives, and I would hope someone would want to keep it that way and just enjoy it as is – but I imagine I’m in the minority on that one.
You can probably guess what the interior looks like, and you’d be mostly right. It’s partially disassembled, because the driver’s side window is off-track, and the driver’s seat has been replaced by some sort of racing seat. At least the seller has been keeping it in a garage, since the window won’t close. Since this is a DX, it’s devoid of options: no power anything, no air conditioning, not even a tachometer. Less stuff to break, I suppose.
It’s faded and sun-bleached outside, but thankfully not rusty. The aftermarket Enkei wheels look good on it; the aftermarket sunroof less so. It has been sealed shut, it looks like. I confess I have been guilty of cutting holes in roofs to install these things in the past, but I grew out of it, and I apologize. One last thing I should tell you about this car: it came from an auction, and the seller never applied for a title in their name, so make sure all the paperwork checks out before handing over any money.
2003 Honda Accord EX – $2,475
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter dual overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Camas, WA
Odometer reading: 219,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Civic, and the little N and Z hatchbacks that preceded it, were big sellers, but it is arguably the Accord that turned Honda into the powerhouse it is in the US market today. A little bigger, a little nicer, and geared towards family transportation, the Accord has found a home in American garages for forty-nine years now. This one, now twenty-two years old, is the Accord at its best: the fancy trim, with a manual transmission.
Although a V6 was available for quite a few years, the classic Accord engine is a four-cylinder, in this case Honda’s well-regarded K series, with dual overhead camshafts and the i-VTEC variable valve timing system. It’s a fairly tame version, making 160 horsepower, but this is a family sedan, not a race car. In fact, this is a one-family sedan. Its daily-use days are behind it, and it’s now just sitting around, so they have decided to sell. It runs well, and has new brakes, as well as a new battery and catalytic converter.
It’s the fancy EX model, with leather seats, power everything, cruise control, and all that good stuff.It has an aftermarket touch-screen stereo, but it sounds like the seller has removed the amp and maybe some speakers as well. It’s a little confusing. But hey, car audio is easy. It looks good for the mileage, too, with just a little wear on the seats.
The paint is pretty hammered; I don’t think this car has ever even known what a garage is. But I don’t see any signs of the typical Honda rust, and it has never been wrecked. This is a nice shade of green when it’s in good shape; it’s too bad it’s so faded.
I won’t say Honda has lost its way, but it has lost the simple and effortless feel that its cars from the 1980s through the 2000s were famous for. Cars like these are just a delight to drive – not powerful, but light and lively, at least with manual transmissions as these have. One has seen some rough treatment, and the other is getting up there in mileage, but they’re both still game, if you are. Which one appeals to you?
How expensive a reasonable paintjob can be? Accord it is.
(the scrunchie in the shiftknow was sexy because it evokes the notion that it was there to collect her hair before performing other kinds of jobs, they say)
Good to know.
I’m going with the Civic. ’80s and ’90s Civic hatchbacks are cool cars. I like that this particular Civic has not been modified to oblivion. It wouldn’t be difficult to return this car to stock if that is what you want. It also doesn’t appear to have significant rust. This could be a great car with a paint job and some interior work. Given the price, if you do the work yourself you could probably make money on this car. My only concern is the title issue. However, if the seller was willing to address that prior to money changing hands, I think this car is a solid deal for this price.
Frankly, I don’t see what people like about the Accord. It is a soulless transportation appliance. It is not even in good condition. It might run forever, but that only means your boredom will be prolonged. This car is the automotive equivalent of a 4 hour director’s cut of watching paint dry. I don’t say this often, but I might prefer public transportation to driving this vehicle.
Seems like the commentariat here generally prefers boring transportation in general.
If not for the title issue, I would have voted Civic, but I have to vote based on the ads. I don’t buy vehicles without a title in the sellers name, if the seller is willing to apply for an expedited title then I think Civic is the right choice!
I saw a Civic DX parked next to a current gen Fiat 500e, both in red. I had never thought of a Fiat 500e as massive until that day.
Don’t get why people are saying the Civic is beat. A rust-free EF is worth its weight in gold these days, and chances are you aren’t going to keep the D-series in it anyway. It’s an extremely good price if you’re into these cars, even with the title issue.
The amount of work it would take to make that thing a non-crap clean Civic isn’t worth it. If I don’t want it as a project, I have to evaluate it as a usable vehicle.
Guess I’m not seeing the issue – everything is there, it just needs some paint and the window fixed. It’s a very clean example overall.
I am also confused why people think this car is beat up. The body looks straight and rust free. All of the trim bits are present and look like they could be reused. It would be nice if there were more shots of the interior, but what we see looks good (no missing pieces, no dashboard/door panel cracks, no excessive wear, and it looks clean).
Obviously, this car might be worse than the ad suggests, but assuming seller isn’t hiding something, this is an excellent project car that is priced appropriately.
Exactly. I’ve seen completely stripped EF shells go for more than this. Title issue aside, this is an incredible deal if you’ve been looking to build one of these.
Paint’s going to have to include fixing the roof hole, and the end result is a base model 4 speed. That’s if the mechanicals are good.
I don’t know that a Civic is as interesting a project these days as it would have been twenty years ago.
I’m approaching this from the perspective of someone who wants to build a car – $2k for a rust-free shell, with parts you can sell off as needed, is a very good deal. Mechanicals are completely secondary in this case, as anyone who wanted to build a car would swap in a K-series or B-series if they have money. The Honda community is also as strong as it’s ever been, especially on the West Coast, so a car like this will very likely get bought up quickly.
I can understand, but I have no interest in this as a project.
I had no interest in making a project of my Civic when I had one.
I drove a 240sx during peak civic time. I was constantly revved on by fart canned, interfooler equipped shytebox Civics with park bench wings and stock Acura wheels.
I believe that colored my opinion of Civics forever, but I can’t consider them as anything but annoying road mosquitos.
Another person’s abandond project is the biggest red flag possible. And you can’t just wish the title issue away.
Ordinarily I’d agree, but there’s not much to really go drastically wrong on this car, and whatever does go wrong is cheap and easy to fix. The title is a definite issue, but at $2k you could part this car out and get your money back if you had to. If it was like $5k I’d agree it’d be too much of a gamble.
It is a good deal for a person looking for parts or as the base for a track car. But that is a small market. With a title, you could add the group that is looking for a base for a complete rebuild with a different powertrain. But still not a large market. For everyone else, it is a romantic paperweight.
The Civic isn’t a bad deal; it’s just one that only appeals to a very niche market.
Ehh, most auto enthusiasts have (understandably) little knowledge outside of their little fiefdom, and (less understandably) little desire to learn. So if it’s not a 1968-72 AutoGnocchi TurboMachismo, (or whatever their particular niche interest is) they have as little desire to learn about what makes a vehicle valuable or interesting as the barista you’re currently boring at the starbucks drivethrough.
So you get comments like ‘rare doesn’t equal valuable!’ and ‘this is worth [how much a used one went for in 2007] at best!’ and other comments that seem to suggest that they, automobilian aristocracy, are peering judgmentally over a half-raised wine glass at you, the filthy rabble, who have failed to have been properly destroyed by their perfectly tailored bon mot.
/quietly removes monocle and puts down wineglass
The Accord is a ready out of the box and the civic is that project car ready for the engine from the Accord. That would be best swap the Accord engine and drivetrain to the civic and you are set
So, both? Good call.
Basic beat Civic for me: I miss little lightweight shitboxes.
Easy one today. Glad I kept my internet monies from yesterday so I can swing the Accord today.
I’d love to try reviving the Civic, but it’s beat. The Accord is dull, but the faded green paint saves it a little.
Accord, easy – opened this expecting to go that way, hoping there wasn’t anything hiding that made it a bad choice. I had ’01 and ’07 EX-L 5-speeds, the first was green/tan not unlike this but that was a deep emerald and already had a repaint anyway. The ’07 was silver/grey and I should have kept that one longer.
Looks like it may have originally had navigation with the voice-activation button on the wheel but got swapped to I assume add CarPlay/Android Auto.
Could be a trick of the light, but I do think it’s had a bit of a repaint at some point, the grille surround was originally a grayish color and this looks like it’s the same shade of green, like it didn’t get taped off. Might explain why the paint is in such better condition in front and the front passenger door, other than just being parked in the same spot every day for the 20+ years in a way that the sun fade fell specifically on that rear 3/4.
That Civic is like a lovable dog in an animal shelter begging for a new owner to save it, but with a heart-breaking amount of issues turning people away.
When I was in high school, I went with my father as he picked out the same year CRX as a car for my sister (she loved that car). I remember the salesman recommending the Civic hatch to me as an alternative to the CRX when I was ready for a car and asking him why people liked them so much over the CRX. It was insurance. The hatch had a back seat and the insurance on it was a lot cheaper – so you could get one that was mechanically identical to a CRX and not have to pay a premium.
But dude. Get a title. I know it’s not easy, but is it any more complicated than what you did the the wiring?
Accord wins.
That civic already has the tuner sticker stack on the side, a poorly refitted drivers side window and no title?
Sure buddy, “auction”
I will bid tree fiddy for this fine machine.
(this car is 1000% stolen)
That Accord is begging to donate it’s engine and transmission to my 03 Lx, like seriously….
I want to want the Civic, but between the sunroof and the title, there are too many read flags.
Absolutely the accord. If the civic wasn’t beat to death, then maybe, but I’ve had that generation accord, and they’re fabulous with the 5spd.
No title no deal. Civic would probably be more fun, but I’m not touching it with a ten foot pole without the title in hand.
Exactly. I came to this right after reading Mercedes’ piece about the Vermont loophole closing, and that was enough to scare me off the Civic.
I never understand the people who are trying to sell a car, but won’t even declutter the seats or interior. people take your dang garbage out of the car before you take pictures of it to sell.
It’s a public service to let you know what kind of person they are in advance so you can steer clear accordingly. Kinda like MAGA hats.
That Civic is on the declining part of the curve that ends in scrappage.
The Accord with the Buick rear 3/4 (that sure was a mistake – it was super-duper disappointingly dumpy when it debuted and Honda fixed with a quick update)
My wife had an Accord from before we even met that became our family car – we had it long enough to film the odometer hitting 222222.2. At one point the cruise control broke, we didn’t want to shell out $900 to fix it, and then six months later it just started working again. It fixed itself! Like a bland, friendly Christine! That thing was completely bulletproof and the only reason we got rid of it was our family outgrowing it. Accord all the way!
I’ll take the Accord because I don’t wear a baseball hat backward or pull my hoodie over my head while driving (not judging, mind you). It’s also got a super comfortable-looking interior to make up for the gawdawful exterior.
It doesn’t matter which one you buy ( I prefer the accord), do your self a favor and adjust the valves before it burns an exhaust valve.
This! Happened to my 89 Civic wagon because I had no idea. It’s crazy that Honda continued like this for so long. Only other valve adjustment I ever did was on a 71 TR-6.
Honda kept the manually adjustable valves longer than anyone else?
Im probably wrong but someone on here will know and that’s why I love this site
I could easily see myself daily driving the Accord.
And, the sad part of old Hondas, despite the tall-look had limited headroom – so I’d need to modify the Civic with a trendy race seat to even fit.
I’d do a straight up trade, my 94 Accord auto for that 2003, even though mine has half the miles. The 5 speed makes all the difference between boring appliance and fun.
If they were both of equal condition, I would take the Civic. That doesn’t seem to be the case. So the Accord it is.
The Accord is a beater. The Civic is beaten.
Easiest choice yet!
That Accord would be an amazing first car for a teenager.