cOoTeR Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 A buddy of mine tells me his neighbor is selling an 88 CRX si for dirt cheap. I've been wanting to get a car that I can track and notworry about breaking for awhile so I ask how cheap? The guy is selling it for $1,300. So I decide to go look at it after doing some research. Most of the other ones are listed at $2,500 and up and nada has them valued at 2,600 for rough retail. I go and look at the car with my buddy who used to be a certified Honda mechanic. The body is ok. Couple small areas of surface rust upfront from when the guy lived in Oregon. I'm not too worried about that since I live in AZ. Wheel arches and under the rear bumper and under the car itself are rust free. The paint shows its age due to Sun fade. It was in a crash and damaged the front bumper hood and left fender. The guy tried to fix it on the cheap and bought a fender sight unseen. When the body shop got it they told him it was actually also a damaged fender with bondo on it. So it looks like shit after being installed and still has the same bumper and hood from the crash. It all sits fine just looks like crap but I don't mind that. Interior is good actually better than I expected for a car that has been on the road since 88. Only issue is the drivers seat hassome small tears from getting in and out. It doesn't have a radio because the guy sold the system he had in it with the radio. I don't care about that as I'm probably going to strip the interior anyway. It had a messed up idle. My friend looked at it said that the things that cause that are vacuum leaks, idle or throttle postion sensor (i can't remember what he said.) And leaky injector seals. He said he could get that fixed for me dirt cheap or tell me what to do and help for some beers. But the parts are cheap. The car has a specter intake and a full exhaust but I'm not sure what brand. The car is lowered with aftermarket rims. The guy said he lowered it by buying lowering springs and didn't cut the springs. It also has a front sway bar. I figure its a good car for what I want a disposable car that handles good with cheap aftermarket and lots of potential for upgrades and engine swaps. I figured the guy was asking $1,300 so he would take less because no one starts with their bottom price. I was prepared to pay $1,300 if the guy absolutely wouldn't come down but would be real happy at $1,000. So I offered $900. The guy thought for a second then said I'll have to think about it. I said well what are you thinking? Where are you at? Trying to get him to haggle. He said well I don't know if I can let it go for that. You're the first to look at it and I don't know if I can go that low. I see them listed for $2,500 and up for the few I see for sale so my price is already low. Then I counter with all the issues the body the engine the radio it needs an alignment and doesnt pass emissions (i also don't care because I live in the country so my vehicles aren't subject to emissions here. I told him I'd be comfortable at $1,000 for those reasons. He said I'll have to think about it and still wouldn't give me a number. He said he'd call me today so I decided I wasn't going to run the price up on myself since he was already on the fence at $900. I think he is just attached to the car so I'm not sure he really wants to sell it but I'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 I never understood why people like those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 I never understood why people like those what would you buy instead for $1,000 to $2,500? I've never lusted after a CRX, but I'd drive one if I needed cheap transportation that was surprisingly fun. ...I would probably look at an Escort ZX2 first, but the CRX is the same philosophy, with more aftermarket support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpoppa Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 I had one in college. Fun & cheap to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 what would you buy instead for $1,000 to $2,500? I've never lusted after a CRX, but I'd drive one if I needed cheap transportation that was surprisingly fun. ...I would probably look at an Escort ZX2 first, but the CRX is the same philosophy, with more aftermarket support. you talking as a toy? or a DD? a toy...3rd Gen F-Body a DD...an accord coupe or integra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 ...now I'm looking at cheap beater cars My brother's old ZX2 got 44 mpg highway when I used to drive it to Philadelphia and back. Lists about 30hp and 30ft-lbs. higher than the CRX, and only weighs about 500 lbs. more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 that 500 lbs means quite a bit for a track car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedytriple Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Honda del sol would be a fun little beater car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 that 500 lbs means quite a bit for a track car. absolutely, but I bet a lot of that 500 lbs (and the fact that we're talking 1988 versus 1998) makes the ZX2 safer, and more rigid. If you're really going to gut both, the seats, stereo, AC, etc. would easily be 500 lbs. ...then you'd put half that weight back in with a roll cage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted January 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 what would you buy instead for $1,000 to $2,500? I've never lusted after a CRX, but I'd drive one if I needed cheap transportation that was surprisingly fun. ...I would probably look at an Escort ZX2 first, but the CRX is the same philosophy, with more aftermarket support.I've never really wanted one but for under 1500 and running. Can't really beat it especially with how many different Honda engines can be swapped in for under $500. Plus they are light. There is also some level fun that comes from running the piss out of a crappy car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 27, 2014 Report Share Posted January 27, 2014 Miata? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Miata?Can you get those for that cheap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mango_sv Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 (edited) Hard to beat a Honda. I have a 94 Civic EX 4dr 5sp that is my beater and MPG car. 33 MPG average with 240,000 miles on it. Love that thing. Bought it 5 yrs ago for $1400 with 186000 miles on it. I would drive it anywhere. Only things I have done to it are coil, distributor, full SS exhaust (header and all), extra wheels and tires for I can run studded snow tires, and tierod ends. By far the cheapest car I've owned to drive, maintain, and mod. Edited January 28, 2014 by mango_sv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Can you get those for that cheap?Yea if you're not picky... I found a 5spd early 90s convertible for $500 (interior and top were torn out, needed reinstalled... There's affordable miatas out there for 1-2.5k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Craigslist: 1991 Mazda Miata http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/4269022683.htmlCraigslist: 1990 Miata http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/4296986437.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e-flores Posted January 28, 2014 Report Share Posted January 28, 2014 Another suggestion if I may add my $.02. If you're going track beater. There are plenty of great e-30's out there for $2,000-$3,000 range. You have to do work to find them and haggle down on price but they are great cars. I picked up a 1990 325i convertible 135,000 miles and it's loaded heated seats and all. Limited slip rear diff 15" basket weave BBS's too. I've had it around 4 months now and I couldn't be happier. I've done a lot of track time and can tell you that with a refreshed suspension and tune up that thing would be a blast to have on a track. That and there are so many people out there with parts for them you can upgrade, replace and sell parts easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedytriple Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 Yeah butters your in Az now find a 20 year old car in ohio that clean lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTheAzn Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 +1 for e30's and 3 series e36's. shit even e-46 3 series (not m3) are coming down in price. Even e46 M's are coming down. I've driven a handful of those and they are a riot to drive when the have just simple suspension mods. Nothing crazy. And then there was my buddy's techno-violet supercharged e36 m3.... That thing was scary fast. Sent from my iPhone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaCinci Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Those engines are bullet-proof providing you change the timing belt before every 80k miles. I had 3 friends in the 80's with CRX's and each put 200k+ miles on them and every single one of them drove it like they stole it. I attempted to get one but I couldn't afford the insurance on a 2 seater at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tall_tracy Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I had a 94 del Sol which was one of my favorite cars, although I did get teased about being it being a clown car given my freakishly tallness. I bought it with 98k miles and only sold it due to excessive rust. More recently I had a 94 civic lx sedan, bought with 209k miles and aside from burning oil it ran really well. Honda's are pretty bullet proof if you keep up with regular maintenance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Z31 body style 300zx turbo. Bought one back in 07 for $800. Fun little car, really wish I had held onto it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revelstoker Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Man, you already know the car is priced below market and you want to dicker him down? You should have just paid him since you already stated you would have paid $1,300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 I "raced" a CRX with a fart can today. He lost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted February 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I picked it up a couple days ago paid $1200. Trying to figure out the idle issue it has. It has a wandering or surging idle Always when it is cold and sometimes when it is warmed up. I replaced 2 injector seals to eliminate leaking injectors. I cleaned the idle air control valve which apparently is the main cause for idle issues on late 80's Honda's. Bleed the coolant system. The next step I'm going to take is cleaning the Fast Idle Thermo Valve which seems to be the next cause for screwy idle. I also replaced the valve cover gasket so there isn't any oil leak any more. That took a whole 15-20 minutes to do. But it handles nice even though the ride is a little rough being lowered. I didn't notice how rough the ride was until I got it out in the country where I live and the roads aren't as well maintained. Once I get tires on it this week its going to become my daily driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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