I bought my first car! '88 Civic Wagovan baby! (Pics added)

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

EDIT 3!: Here's a preliminary phone pic! I was removing the previous owner's crappy rear view mirror ornaments. More pics on page 7.

Photo_9A6321E0-9C4C-9151-EF0B-B40298E257C7.jpg (508 KiB) Viewed 907 times

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EDIT 3!: I BOUGHT IT!

Went out and took a look at it today, gave it a test drive and decided it was the car for me.

I'm grinning like an idiot at the moment and can't wait to get it home on Monday (have to get insurance ready and a buddy to drive it home with).

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EDIT 2!: '88 Civic WAGOVAN BABY!

Found this for a pretty good price locally and am head over heels excited for it. I go to look at it and hopefully walk away with it or a down payment on it tomorrow.

Not a pic of mine, but an accurate pic of how awesome it is:


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EDIT!: So I decided to settle on a nice little '85 Accord Hatchback. Cheap, but it gets me where I want to go and I like the style of it. After all there's nothing quite like an 80's Honda.

I'd really like an '86 Accord Hatchback as they had a number of features over the '85 I like as well as pop-up headlights (always wanted those since I was a kid) but there aren't any in my area.

If anyone's got a lead an '86 that is UN-MODIFIED in the Charlotte to Statesville NC area at a realistic (aka dirto cheapo) price then please drop me a line here or via PM!

I'm also partial to Truneos as they share the same sharp lined and sleek look that I'm fond of. So any help from anyone in the NC area would be appreciated!

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Ok, so I'm thinking of buying a car.

Thing is it's vintage (1982 to be exact) and has been sitting for about 10-15 years I'm going to see about taking a look at it this week. They're asking $800 but I think I can get it down to $400-$600 given it needs parts and the cosmetics are in need of paint and some slight repair.

I know I have to watch out for the stuff that can typically happen after so long such as locked up engines and leaky gaskets/seals etc.... They did say that the fuel pump on it needed replacing though.

I know what I'm getting into so far. I've researched parts cost and as long as the car is in need of only the fuel injector, minor seal/gasket repairs and the engine can still turn over the total cost of repairs for it all would be under $1000.

I know little to nothing about car repair but I've got a few friends who have worked on vehicles before that are willing to help me. I'm OK with putting my hobby mostly on hold and dropping the majority of my non food money into repairing this thing.

BUT, I need help from you guys as I'm a complete rookie at car maintenance and repair. I know it sounds insane for me to tackle something like this but I'm willing to do it if it gets this car running.

Are there any car buffs here on RB that can steer me in the direction of good parts dealers with affordable prices and help out a newbie?

Like I told the people who were asking me if I knew what I was getting into: I will walk, bike or crawl back and forth from my local auto part stores and do whatever it takes to get this thing running and cut my teeth on knowing everything there is to know about it.

Anyhow, general opinions? I'm almost 100% set on getting it. Just want some advice on parts and repairs from the more mechanically inclined here.

[Flake]

Hire a mechanic. Let him look at the car. Take his advice.

[Hobie-wan]

It is important to note here that this is an 82 RX7.

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2151488963.html

So this is a rotary engine, not a more common and easier to work on 4 banger. That car's obviously been sitting there a long time. Old RX7s are desirable for people that know rotaries. I guarantee it isn't 'just a fuel pump' that's needed to get a 28 year old rotary going that's been sitting long enough to get a crust like that on it. I don't see any plates or registration stickers from whenever it last ran. It looks like the lock is missing from the trunk so I bet that's been letting water in there.

He's not listening to me so I hope someone else can knock some sense into him. I said he needs an old Sentra/Corolla/Volvo. Some boring reliable 4 banger until he has a real full time job. One's first car should be a slow thing that keeps you from hooning until you have driving practice. One's first car might as well be ugly because you will screw up and bump into things and dent it up. One's first car should not be a project unless you have relatives that are already experienced at rebuilding cars helping you.

[Bradtemple87]

I would get a professional estimate of the repairs. It costs nothing and will detail all the work you need to do to fix it

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

So this is a rotary engine, not a more common and easier to work on 4 banger. That car's obviously been sitting there a long time. Old RX7s are desirable for people that know rotaries. I guarantee it isn't 'just a fuel pump' that's needed to get a 28 year old rotary going that's been sitting long enough to get a crust like that on it. I don't see any plates or registration stickers from whenever it last ran. It looks like the lock is missing from the trunk so I bet that's been letting water in there.

Called earlier and got the history.

It's been sitting since '95 and aside from the fuel pump there wasn't anything wrong with it at the time it was put away. I know that time can fuck up cars if they're left standing, I'd like to get more than just one opinion and at least see it in person first.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I would get a professional estimate of the repairs. It costs nothing and will detail all the work you need to do to fix it

Yeah, that's what I'm planning on doing for stuff I can't fix myself.

First thing first though is how I would get it to a mechanic. I plan on calling a good mechanic that a few friends I know go to. My big concern is learning signs to watch out for in person when I go to see it. Given how it doesn't currently run I can't just take it by a mechanic all willy nilly with the owner unless I rent or borrow a flatbed and they agree to it.

[Bradtemple87]

I would get a professional estimate of the repairs. It costs nothing and will detail all the work you need to do to fix it

Yeah, that's what I'm planning on doing for stuff I can't fix myself.

First thing first though is how I would get it to a mechanic. I plan on calling a good mechanic that a few friends I know go to. My big concern is learning signs to watch out for in person when I go to see it. Given how it doesn't currently run I can't just take it by a mechanic all willy nilly with the owner unless I rent or borrow a flatbed and they agree to it.

Yea that gets tricky. You should definitely take your friends with you to evaluate the car before you buy. If they know what they are doing and say its in good enough shape, then I say you have yourself a project.

[Flake]

If the professional mechanic in question is a friend or at least a friendly acquaintance, just offer to buy him breakfast if he'll come with you to look at the car. If there is anything completely boned about the car just from a cursory glance, you'll save a lot of money and effort right away.

[Hobie-wan]

First thing first though is how I would get it to a mechanic. I plan on calling a good mechanic that a few friends I know go to. My big concern is learning signs to watch out for in person when I go to see it. Given how it doesn't currently run I can't just take it by a mechanic all willy nilly with the owner unless I rent or borrow a flatbed and they agree to it.

You need someone to go with you to look at it. I don't see how you'd get a flatbed to use, convince the car owner to let you drag it on it's 15 year old rotted tires onto said flatbed, go to a mechanic, have them look (even if just on the flatbed still), then take it back to the owner's property and drop it back off all for free. If you're lucky you might bribe a mechanic with beer and lunch to go with you to look. Of course you have to find one that knows rotaries at the least, but preferably that gen of RX7.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I would get a professional estimate of the repairs. It costs nothing and will detail all the work you need to do to fix it

Yeah, that's what I'm planning on doing for stuff I can't fix myself.

First thing first though is how I would get it to a mechanic. I plan on calling a good mechanic that a few friends I know go to. My big concern is learning signs to watch out for in person when I go to see it. Given how it doesn't currently run I can't just take it by a mechanic all willy nilly with the owner unless I rent or borrow a flatbed and they agree to it.

Yea that gets tricky. You should definitely take your friends with you to evaluate the car before you buy. If they know what they are doing and say its in good enough shape, then I say you have yourself a project.

I don't really know if anyone I know has any knowledge of rotaries but I know a few people who know their way around a car.

My policy is that as long as it goes "vroom vroom" and the wheels spin I'm good. Engine and repairs first, cosmetics second.