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

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

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.

Thing is I don't know him.

I had a few of my friends recommend him though so I'll see what happens when I talk to him in the morning.

[Flake]

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

You should make your policy more comprehensive than that. That's an okay view point for a 4 cylinder automatic ford or toyota. For something as wacky as what you are looking at, 'vroom vroom' might not be enough.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

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

You should make your policy more comprehensive than that. That's an okay view point for a 4 cylinder automatic ford or toyota. For something as wacky as what you are looking at, 'vroom vroom' might not be enough.

Vroom Vroom being it starts up and runs for a bit. But I get your point.

I'm gonna need all the tips I can get so any pointers on signs to look for are appreciated.

[Flake]

Look...

You have a great idea here. But unfortunately you are not the person who can have this dream yet. This is not a normal car - as it is you will be hard pressed to find a mechanic who can fix it properly, much less one that you can afford.

It has suffered nearly 15 years of neglect. Literally, the entire car pretty much will need to be replaced at this point. New paint, new tires, new engine parts. If it's not made of metal or glass, it's pretty much going to have to go. The seats are probably shot by this point. Who knows if the interior has survived. Depending on your state, it is likely you will have to get a reconstructed vehicle permit to cover all the work this car is likely to need.

This is the kind of project for someone who has serious money, serious time, serious knowledge, and will not need the car to run at any point in time in the next year.

I think you are about to spend $800 on a lodestone to place about your neck.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Point taken. I'm still going to go look at it in person though, after all it's free to window shop.

[Flake]

Point taken. I'm still going to go look at it in person though, after all it's free to window shop.

Absolutely. Just keep in mind that whoever buys this car (be it you or the next guy) is being asked to spend $800 in order to spend a further $7000.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Ouch. I guess I'm just gonna file this as a lapse in judgement on my part.

Plus I'm far more partial to hatchbacks anyway.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Ok, so I've settled on a nice non-fucked with 85' Accord hatchback that's only a few hundred.

But I'd much rather have an '86 instead. I dig the looks and handling of the 86'es a bit more than the '85's and figure I might as well see if anyone here had any leads.

Any idea where to find one that is UN-MODIFIED in the Statesville to Charlotte NC region?

[hashiriya1]

I love those old Accords. The 90-93 Accord Sedans are my favorite, but I love most Japanese cars from the 60s until about 1998. That is when most (not all) Japanese car designs went downhill. Good luck on the car. I have never had a problem with any Honda I have owned, or the ones I own now.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Thanks man!

My personal favorite is the '86 Hatchback (Dunno why, but I just love how hatchbacks look) with it's pop-up headlights and sleeker sharper lines.

What happened to hard edges and angles in cars? Everything now is mostly blobular shapes that look wonky.