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Short version: I just bought a 2002 Honda Civic EX coupe to replace my old and battered 1997 Civic LX.
The long version is this.
A year or so ago, my best friend's mother bought him the car I just mentioned. It's a 5-speed manual, and he'd never driven anything except automatics. Despite putting in a fair effort, he never could learn to drive it, so his mother has been driving it, and he's been driving her brand-new Accord.
So since I'm in the market for a new car, and I really like that 2002 stick shift Civic, I decided that I'd buy it off him, and that money could go towards getting him an automatic.
Now get this.....
It's a 2002 Civic EX coupe, 5 speed, black, with a charcoal interior.
By sheer luck, we found a 2002 Civic EX coupe, black, with a charcoal interior, automatic.
Absolutely identical except for the transmission. Even the mileage is almost the same (bout 7000 miles different).
AND the guy was asking for more than a $1000 less than book value.
Well, we looked at it, ran a CARFAX report, test drove it....and bought it!
It's almost as if we just took his car intot he shoip and had the transmission swapped out.
So now I have to prepare to sell my 97 Civic. This morning I went out to clean out the trash and other junk that has been accumulating in it. I moved it away from the retaining wall I park next to so I'd have more room to work, and left it running so there'd be at least a little heat and so I could run the stereo without draining the battery too much.
Ran into two problems that now need to be fixed before I can sell the car.
While I was cleaning out the trunk, I found my jug of windshield washer fluid. There wasn't much left in it, and I've been using a lot of washer fluid lately, so I decided to pour it into the washer bottle so I could get rid of the jug.
Pulled the hood release handle and *SNAP!*
Damn thing broke off in my hand.....great....
I tried grabbing the cable with a pair of pliers but they kept slipping off. Oh well....I guess I'll have to have that fixed, but at least that'll be pretty cheap.
I finished cleaning and went to put it back in it's spot so I wasn't blocking the garage, and MUCH to my dismay I say a green spot on the snow under where it had been idling.
Yep, it sprang a coolant leak.
Not a severe one, but a leak nonetheless.
And because I can't get the damn hood open, I can't even check the coolant level!
I was able to actually observe the leak while it was idling. It's very very slow, just a tiny drop once every 40 second or so.
It's almost as if the car is crying because it knows we're parting ways soon.
Not to personify the car too much, but we've done a lot together. I've owned it since 2003, and went on three long road trips in it.
-Pigeon Forge Tennessee in 2004
-Chicago in 2006
-Gettysburg PA in 2008.
Also did a day trip to Cape Cod with my friend Melinda in that car this past summer to go to a Cheech & Chong performance.
No accidents (or tickets) in the time I've owned it.
But now I need to bring it in for service before i can sell it (even if I could get away with selling it with a coolant, I couldn't do that with a clear conscience). If it's the radiator I'm gonna be pissed.
I don't have possession of the "new" one yet, but once I do I'll post pics.
(He's getting his 'new" one registered and insured on Monday, and until that happens his mother needs it to get to work, so although I've paid for it, I won't be taking it until then).
After this will come the tedious process of swapping over my aftermarket speakers and and iPod direct connect head unit.....(already have the installation kits on the way).
The long version is this.
A year or so ago, my best friend's mother bought him the car I just mentioned. It's a 5-speed manual, and he'd never driven anything except automatics. Despite putting in a fair effort, he never could learn to drive it, so his mother has been driving it, and he's been driving her brand-new Accord.
So since I'm in the market for a new car, and I really like that 2002 stick shift Civic, I decided that I'd buy it off him, and that money could go towards getting him an automatic.
Now get this.....
It's a 2002 Civic EX coupe, 5 speed, black, with a charcoal interior.
By sheer luck, we found a 2002 Civic EX coupe, black, with a charcoal interior, automatic.
Absolutely identical except for the transmission. Even the mileage is almost the same (bout 7000 miles different).
AND the guy was asking for more than a $1000 less than book value.
Well, we looked at it, ran a CARFAX report, test drove it....and bought it!
It's almost as if we just took his car intot he shoip and had the transmission swapped out.
So now I have to prepare to sell my 97 Civic. This morning I went out to clean out the trash and other junk that has been accumulating in it. I moved it away from the retaining wall I park next to so I'd have more room to work, and left it running so there'd be at least a little heat and so I could run the stereo without draining the battery too much.
Ran into two problems that now need to be fixed before I can sell the car.
While I was cleaning out the trunk, I found my jug of windshield washer fluid. There wasn't much left in it, and I've been using a lot of washer fluid lately, so I decided to pour it into the washer bottle so I could get rid of the jug.
Pulled the hood release handle and *SNAP!*
Damn thing broke off in my hand.....great....
I tried grabbing the cable with a pair of pliers but they kept slipping off. Oh well....I guess I'll have to have that fixed, but at least that'll be pretty cheap.
I finished cleaning and went to put it back in it's spot so I wasn't blocking the garage, and MUCH to my dismay I say a green spot on the snow under where it had been idling.
Yep, it sprang a coolant leak.
Not a severe one, but a leak nonetheless.
And because I can't get the damn hood open, I can't even check the coolant level!
I was able to actually observe the leak while it was idling. It's very very slow, just a tiny drop once every 40 second or so.
It's almost as if the car is crying because it knows we're parting ways soon.
Not to personify the car too much, but we've done a lot together. I've owned it since 2003, and went on three long road trips in it.
-Pigeon Forge Tennessee in 2004
-Chicago in 2006
-Gettysburg PA in 2008.
Also did a day trip to Cape Cod with my friend Melinda in that car this past summer to go to a Cheech & Chong performance.
No accidents (or tickets) in the time I've owned it.
But now I need to bring it in for service before i can sell it (even if I could get away with selling it with a coolant, I couldn't do that with a clear conscience). If it's the radiator I'm gonna be pissed.
I don't have possession of the "new" one yet, but once I do I'll post pics.
(He's getting his 'new" one registered and insured on Monday, and until that happens his mother needs it to get to work, so although I've paid for it, I won't be taking it until then).
After this will come the tedious process of swapping over my aftermarket speakers and and iPod direct connect head unit.....(already have the installation kits on the way).
But I know it's the right mix and it's the kind my car needs.
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