Good morning! We’re starting the week off by looking at two cheap used Hondas, a make that, possibly more than any other, only offers two choices: “Good grief that’s a lot of miles,” or “That poor car.” I think I already know which one you’re all going to choose, but we’ll do our due diligence.
Friday was all about old pokey German sedans, but only one of them is the sort of car you’d expect to be pokey. It’s the winner, and probably not coincidentally, the one that sold over the weekend: that cool old Mercedes 220. Several of you mentioned that it gave off “third-world dictator vibes;” I think that’s part of its charm, actually.
The BMW, on the other hand, is the right style, in a decent color combination, but equipped with the wrong engine and transmission, and with way too many miles. It might still be fun to tinker with, but it would take a lot of tinkering.
Now then: Despite my ambivalence towards a lot of Japanese cars, I have grown awfully fond of ’80s and ’90s Hondas over the years, especially those with manual transmissions. They’re driver’s cars to the core: light, crisp, ergonomically friendly, and eager. They’re also built like tanks, despite the lightness, and have a well-earned reputation for reliability and durability – as long as you keep an eye out for rust.
But because of all that wonderful engineering, they also became the darlings of the “tuner” crowd, and a lot of them suffered at the hands of enthusiastic amateurs armed with a plethora of questionable aftermarket parts. These days, if you want a cheap stickshift Honda, you have to choose between a bazillion miles, and a bazillion mods. Today, we’re going to look at one of each.
1994 Honda Accord LX – $2,250
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Odometer reading: 280,000 miles
Operational status: Doesn’t say, actually
Ask a car-literate person for advice on what cheap used car to buy, the answer will probably be either a Toyota Camry or a Honda Accord. For me, the choice between the two depends on who’s asking the question. If it’s someone who isn’t typically a car person, who just needs to get around, I’ll suggest the Camry. If it’s someone who doesn’t really know cars, but likes driving, I suggest an Accord, specifically one with a manual transmission.
The Accord has always been a nice car, but around the third and fourth generations, it really came into its own. By the time this fifth generation Accord was built in 1994, it had just about reached perfection: it was now mid-sized, but still not too big or cumbersome; the 2.2 liter four ran like a sewing machine, and the five-speed gearbox was, as it always had been, a delight to run through the gears. This one just passed a smog test, so I imagine it runs just fine, though the ad doesn’t say for sure.
It looks good inside for having that many miles. It’s a mid-level LX model, which means cloth seats but power windows and locks and whatnot. There’s a little wear and tear, and it has an aftermarket stereo, but unless it has a funny smell or something, I can’t imagine it’s anything but a nice place to be.
Fifth-generation Accords came in some cool colors, including a really great dark green, but unfortunately the original buyer of this one chose this champagne beige. Ah well; you can travel incognito, at least. It’s faded and has a couple minor dings and scrapes, but at this mileage, I’d be more surprised if it didn’t.
1990 Honda Civic – $1,800
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed manual, FWD
Location: Longview, WA
Odometer reading: 237,000 miles
Operational status: This one doesn’t say either; stupid dealerships
The Accord’s smaller sibling, the Civic, never has been as fancy. Well, it is nowadays;Â all cars are fancy now. But back in the early ’90s, you could still get a base-model Civic that was really a base model: no power anything, no air conditioning, no hubcaps, not even a fifth gear. This is such a car, but it has had a few additions over the years.
This is where the rear seat used to be. It appears that someone was trying to build a giant speaker box in the back out of plywood and fiberglass. I don’t know if the goal was to turn it into one of those stereo competition cars, or something, but if you buy this car it comes with a couple hundred pounds of crap in the back you’ll have to throw out.
Ironically, it does not come with a stereo; there’s just a gaping hole in the dash. There are speakers in one door, and a bunch on the floor in the back that I think were supposed to go in the other door. I don’t know car stereo stuff well enough to know the brand; I’m guessing they’re cheap garbage, but if anyone wants to enlighten me in the comments, feel free.
The ad gives no indication of its mechanical condition, but it has current tags, and, well, it’s a Honda Civic. Unless someone has done something catastrophically cruel to it, I imagine it runs just fine. It looks a little beat-up, but if you just ditch all the misguided stereo stuff, it becomes just a decent little Civic hatch again. I think. Unless there are more “mods” hiding somewhere.
Honestly, these are probably both acceptable used cars. But I have a feeling the condition and the equipment of one of them is going to overcome the $450 price discount of the other. But maybe not; maybe the simplicity and “blank canvas” nature of the hatchback will appeal to some of you, especially those of you who like to swap engines and such. I’ll be curious to see how this one turns out.
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Though I always wanted a Civic of that generation because hatchback, I’m too old for the level of work this particular one would seem to require, so I’m going to play it safe (like 92% of other readers/respondents) and go with the Accord, even though it’s unremarkable in every respect including color.
I was going to vote Accord even before I saw the rear of the Civic. A five vs a four speed is well worth it. The condition of the CIvic just solidifies this.
Yeah, gimme the Accord…was gonna vote Civic since the 5th gen Accord wasn’t as good as the 3rd/4th, but in this instance it’s better…what the hell were they thinking w/ that speaker box?!
Oh, the Civic for su—WTF?! Accord it is.
That Civic has been lowered, and given the quality of the other, um… Mods, almost guaranteed the dumbass cut his springs. It’ll be like driving a trampoline, and you’ll scrape going over curb cuts which will eventually scuff a hole into the fuel tank.
I know because back in the day when I was in a Honda club, we swapped a number of gas tanks in 4th gen Civics/2nd gen CRXs when people would buy lowered cars and not realize what was about to happen.
Had a ’94 Accord EX-L for 20 years and 150K miles. Never left me stranded, never had a check engine light. Can’t remember a repair more expensive than one A/C condenser.
The 4-speed auto was “fine” for commuting, but it would certainly have been more fun with the 5-speed. My mechanic suggested it was good for 300-400K miles on the original engine/trans if I wanted to keep it, but I’d passed it on to my kids to share in its 15th year and it was (cosmetically) a bit worse for wear.
Sold it to a guy who flipped it. The final owner was a high-school student who – shortly after buying it – tweeted that it had been stolen. Never located. RIP(ieces), Accord.
That poor Civic reminds me of Rocket Raccoon. I didn’t ask to get torn apart and put back together over and over again.
This will almost certainly be the most lopsided survey result ever.
The Accord is one generation newer than my first one, an ’86 LX-i. That car was a dream all the way through 160,000 miles, when I had to relinquish it in a divorce. This one looks nice and probably still drives very well.
The Civic looks like a really bad and sad sample. The black bumpers, mismatched rub strip and then the “OMG, what happened” interior. Hard no thanks.
I was going to go for the Civic until I saw the interior. Yikes.
Same. Those things drove like little go-karts. Fun as hell. But they were also affordable and, well, fun as hell so the kids got hold of them and did shit like this to them. It’s pretty hard to find, hell not even an unmolested example but just one that was modded halfway decently.
Had the same exact EF new. $7,100. Even the passenger side mirror was extra. Didn’t spring for a/c, so that was enough to eventually trade it two years later for a ’91 CRX HF that I proudly daily to this day.
Never drive a meth-head’s car.
Easy vote for the Accord.
I was thinking “eh, maybe I could save that Civic” but I fear you’re right – one of these cars shouldn’t get me pulled over and probably wouldn’t get the drug dog to signal unprompted.
As I type this there are 426 votes for the Accord and 34 for the Civic. I’ve read the comments explaining votes for the Civic and I get it. I would at least consider adopting the scared, snarling dog crouched in the back of its shelter cage with the hope that I could give it the right home to bring out its best qualities and give it a good life. And I know in my heart that I would have a far, far better chance of bringing that animal to a state where it would be safe to let it sleep next to a baby in its crib than I would turning that Civic carcass into anything worthwhile. I salute those of you who are willing to try.
Does the Civic actually run? Maybe it was going to be a pizza delivery vehicle…
The Accord is probable the better decision, but for a car I’d rather keep and put effort into, I voted for the Civic. It’s almost cheap enough to be a project car, and I might actually keep it.
You can get a DA Integra in a billion times better shape all day for the same price that comes stock with a B-series engine and rear disc brakes instead of drums and a D series econo-motor. That sad Civic is destined to be crushed or parted out.
All I can say about that Civic is “WT Actual F?”
Gimme the Accord.
I swear, it is impossible to find a clean 4th gen Civic anymore. I owned two, and the first was my grandmother’s – a blue on blue DX with no power steering and crank windows, but she splurged for an automatic transmission and air conditioning. The AC blew colder than anything I’ve ever experienced. I also remember the headlights being excellent to the point where just about everyone who rode with me in the dark would comment on them.
However in this case, it’s an easy win for the Accord. That poor Civic has been modified to death.
It’s not that bad. I bet you could remove all that dead weight in an afternoon. Then you just need to hunt scrap yards or forums to find an interior. Then you’d have a rust free EF hatch, begging for a swap.
It’s so hard to find these in junkyards anymore, and the 4th gen forums are very dead with only a few posts per month.
Ten years ago I’d agree with you, but the supply for these seems to have really dried up recently. I always thought I’d get another one for old times sale, but I think I missed the window.
You can usually find rusted out ones for under 1g. That’s probably the way to go, then swap the interior and resell the rusted beater without an interior.
yeah but then there’s all the dodgy wiring.. I was with you until I remembered the horrors that can await when you have to deal with home brew stereo wiring; like fires.
Accord, easy choice. As for the Civic or what’s been done to it, I can only think of the song by Alice Copper, “Welcome to my Nightmare”
Not knowing what electrical nightmare will I find in that Civic’s wiring harness would keep me up at night.
Fires, fires everywhere.
Having owned both vehicles (My 91 Civic was a sedan), I say Accord for commuting and Civic for fun.
I must be crazy. I voted for the Civic.
I had a 1987 Accord LXi for many years that ran like a top. I later gave it to my Mom when she needed a car and she passed it on to my brother. That being said, I’ve always liked the look of early 90s Honda Civics and always kind of wanted one.
My brain knows what the correct choice is, but my heart won out today. My optimism also says I could tear out all of that stereo crap and find a junkyard interior to bring that Civic back to stock (and add a decent but not ostentatious sound system.)
The truth is I would probably get as far as ripping the wood box out and driving around in an empty shell. I know me.
This is the way.
I’m going with the Civic. This is a decision between an abused cool car and a beige transportation appliance. My Model 3 is a better transportation appliance than the Accord, so I have no use for that car. I always have use for a janky cool car, though. I actually like that the Civic is pre-destroyed. I see it as a track car, and this is a car I wouldn’t think twice about adding additional lightness by removing what remains of the interior. The Civic could be a lot of fun for very little money.
I’m not mad that the boring beige Accord is winning, but I am disappointed.
A 4 door Accord is never going to be anything anyone wants outside of the cheapest car to get from A to B.
I agree with you, I won’t have any second thoughts about doing whatever to a Civic in this condition, anything you do isn’t going to decrease the value.
Even just comparing them to a Model3 means you have no idea what they are like anymore. My full-interior stock-ride-height DA Integra is still 8/10 scary to passengers – the interior is loud and the doors are paper thin. It’s closer to a motorcycle than any modern car. You might as well be comparing a economy JetBlue ticket to a paraglider.
I squinted hard at the pics of that Civic. “Well, maybe if I took that weird enclosure out of the back … and un-pimped the off-side door card … maybe it could be a LeMons racer?”
But it’s too expensive for that and too far gone to be anything else. So we’ll take the Accord.
Take the Accord.
Not a want for a Civic that has been crapped out by some kid with no sense.
I cringe to imagine what other stupid shit has been done to abuse what was once a fine car here. YMMV
When my wife and I first moved in together we kept her ’06 Accord LX, and that was the most reliable car I’ve ever had. When we traded it in with 250k miles it still ran like a top. I was gonna pick it even before I saw the Plytanium nightmare in the back of that Civic.