Used car prices have been on a rollercoaster in recent years. First, they went way up during COVID-19, then they slammed way back down. Look around, and they’re still doing weird things in some quarters. Case in point, this Kia dealership in California.
A reader named Patrick wrote in to notify us of a lovely car he’d found, a 1995 Honda Civic up for sale at Kia of Irvine. It’s got the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 102 hp, so it’s not a tuner darling with the B16 donk. In fact, it’s a four-door sedan in the LX trim, with 74,000 miles on the clock. Oh, and despite being listed with a five-speed manual, a look at the interior shots suggests it has the less-desirable four-speed automatic.
How much would you expect to pay for this fine but aging machine? $2000? $4000?
Try $7,995!
Now don’t get me wrong. An old Civic can be a very reliable and satisfying car. I’ve had one myself, which I was given by a clown. But that is a ridiculous price for a 1995 Civic.
Real talk: 74,000 miles is low for a car from 1995. Plus, the vehicle seems to have decent panels and a fairly clean interior. It’s also got what appear to be the original wheel covers. These are good things, to be celebrated in a used car!
However, they do not ultimately add up to $7,995. Patrick’s thoughts on the subject sum it up nicely:
A few years ago, this would have been a $2,000 used car – max!
I worry about dealers continuing to target everyday people who may not know better about how to assess and determine the value of quality and safe used vehicles. This listed sales price for something so old feels almost predatory. Even around SoCal, you really don’t see many daily drivers this old anymore.
I can only concur. While the mileage is low-ish, there is otherwise absolutely nothing exceptional about this car. It would likely be a poor financial move to spend $7,995 on this vehicle. While Civics are generally reliable, this one is old, and the older a car is, the less reliable it typically gets.
On the official Kia of Irvine website, it appears there may be a mistake in the listing, too. It’s cited as a manual, which is wrong, but also appears to be listed as Kia Certified Pre-Owned. Unfortunately, it’s not a Kia. It’s also well outside the 120-month powertrain warranty which starts “from original in-service date”—i.e. 1995.
In any case, the dealer’s (possibly automated) system sent me through a full quote today—as above. You’re looking at closer to $10,000 to actually get this thing out on the road.
For $8,000, you can get much newer cars that fill a similar niche. You can get Civics from the mid-2000s era for that money, with similar mileage to boot. Try a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid for $5,799, or this 2007 Honda Civic EX for $6,879. Probably stay away from the 2022 Honda Civic Sport for $5,950, though, there’s something weird going on there.
Newer models are less likely to have rotting seals or tired shocks, or any of the other problems that face a car when it starts edging towards its thirtieth birthday. You’ll also get a nicer, more modern interior, a better crash safety rating, and it’ll probably be easier to hook up your smartphone to the stereo, too.
You want to know the really weird, thing though? This 1995 Honda Civic isn’t even an outlier. Head to Cars.com, and there are multiple Civics from this era listed for big money. There’s a 1994 Honda Civic DX with 75,000 miles for $9,995, which just boggles the mind. Then there’s a 1995 model with 201,000 miles for $5,945, which is still wild.
The hilarious gem, though, is this 1995 Honda Civic EX with just 560 miles on the clock. It’s listed for a mighty $39,995. For forty large, you’re getting the sought after coupe model in Paradise Blue Green Pearl. What about performance? Well, it’s got a 1.6-liter VTEC engine, but hold your horses—it’s the D16, not the B16. Still, it’ll throw down 125 hp to the front wheels, via an utterly disappointing automatic transmission. Ugh.
What’s going on with these Civic prices? Do you get it? I certainly don’t! I’ve written to Kia of Irvine for clarification, but I suspect they won’t appreciate my questioning their prices. It’s looking like this is a thing all over, though. Even the haggard Craigslist examples are getting up there.
Are good used cars so hard to come by that people are paying high four figures for a 30-year-old grandpa sedan? Or are these used car dealers just able to find high-dollar buyers that aren’t fussed about paying big prices for old metal? Speculate freely in the comments.
Image credits: Kia of Irvine, Cars.com via screenshot
If it helps I got an old ’98 Non-Vtec 5-speed ex coupe (in silver :D) for 600$ a couple of months ago. The only major issue is the brake lines are busted. Already calculated the cost of the parts (general suspension bits not just brakes) and it’s 900ish totaled. So it’s still only a 1500$ car.
This is another reason to stay away from Kia and Hyundai dealerships.
You would be much better off buying from a private party, and avoiding the ridiculous asking price, the doc fees, electronic transfer fee, and $750.00 title fee (WTFF??!!).
Thirty five C-notes and you’re on your way, and you can have your own mechanic inspect if first.
The Focus/Fiesta DCT vehicles mentioned should all be scrapped. Or Ford should replace them all with manual transmissions.
Nostalgia for the Gen Z’s I imagine. The kids that grew up in one of these are likely in their 30’s now. Also low miles nd stupid car market still. I saw an 83 the other day with also low miles, 63K I believe that was listed for 5K. The thing is though, just because they list it for stupid money, does not always mean they will get it.
Zoomers are from 1995 to 2009, so… They wouldn’t have really been old enough to experience these. An EK, probably. An EP or FA most definitely. An EG or EF Civic however would be prime Millenial bait, especially to the Fast And The Furious burnouts who still listen to Limp Bizkit and wear oversized T-shirts even though they’re forty three and are still in debt because of the used Hyundai Tiburon they bought eleven years ago.
Don’t forget gen x. We’re approaching 50 or already subscribed to aarp. I remember seeing these hot little civics on the dealer lot and couldn’t afford them back then either. However, there is a collection of high mileage Hondas here on my property and someone mentioned “Hector” and “T66 turbos” after seeing them. The response was: “what the f are you talking about?” Someone had to explain it to me as I’ve never seen f&f. Mabe I’ll rent it to see what the big deal is.
Stealership ripoffs
Nope.
5 miles from me….
One owner, garaged, mint 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid with 90k. $7000
I remember back in 2007 during the first Top Gear special in the US, the team had USD$1000 to find a car. When asked if he had anything for that price, one dealer hopefully replied, “What about a ’99 Honda Civic?”
How times change.
This car would be stolen in like 5 minutes if you parked it on the streets.
Yep. The 3 civics and 1 accord I’ve owned all had theft records. Even if I go to the grocery store I’m locking the doors, flipping the hidden kill switch, and putting a Club on the steering wheel. Still won’t be surprised if it disappears. And on the rare occasion they go to the shop I stash a phone in the trunk so at least there’s a chance to track it.
You can ask $1,000,000 for it. That doesn’t mean anyone will buy it.
Another example of the law of supply and demand here.
The supply s lower than it once was.
We demand that you pay out the ass. YMMV
My 2nd car (for 8 years) was an EJ EX and do I have some strong member berries to own another one. Not this strong of nostalgia, but there is some pull, if it was $2k like said.
I don’t think it’s so outrageous. $8000 is the new $3000. I would try to talk them down, but it’s realistic.
$8,000 USD is about $5K in California…
Basically dealers have decided to treat 90s Civis as “collectible” at this point.
Because they are. Go try and find a decent one and let me know how long it took you.
What’s with the username?
But the ones listed were regular trim autos. I could see if it was a mint Si it would have some collecatability.
Who is collecting regular traffic from the 90s?
In response to this any everyone cluching there pearls. Let’s break this down. So they took it in on trade say $2000, then they had to have a tech do a inspection on it probably at his pay 1-1 1/2 hours so at least $100. Tech is going to write up all the gravy, new brakes, fluids, timing belt, tires and fluids and any faults. Dealer paying out at there own shop and only techs rate you are still looking at probably $1500 to $2000. Then you have to pay the detail department to get it cleaned up at another 200-300. So just at that the dealer is sitting on having 4500-5000 in the car. Then you have to pay the salesman to sell it and all the office folk to transfer paperwork. Then the dealer will really take 6800. So when all is said and done the dealer is only pulling in around $1000. If you bought the same private seller sure you could find o e cheaper but you would be way over $8000 making it right.
If the ad mentioned it had all new belts, brakes, tires that’s a different story, but they don’t so there’s an equal chance that the mechanic spends 1 hr inspecting ($50/hr internal cost), fluids topped up and maybe an oil change is done ($100), wash car and wipe down interior ($50), admin for trade-in and selling ($500).
The tires don’t look new, so I bet this is a gamble to snag a “they don’t make em like they used to” whale. List it online and let it sit on the lot for a while, if it doesn’t sell in a few months then slash the price and still profit.
It’s probably somewhere in between our imagined scenarios
New and late-model used cars are generally so depressing and overpriced that this happens. Given the choice between a $30k 3yo boring sedan and an $8k low miles ’95 I’d at least take a serious look at the ’95. Clean 30yo cars aren’t in high supply.
When I upgraded my 2002 Sentra to a 2012 Cruze it was amazing the level of safety enhancement that had happened in 10 years. I don’t think I could ever daily drive or even DD-adjacent a car built before the mid Aughts. I don’t have the courage.
I would only buy one for weekend fun.
I’m old enough that I have survivor bias. I’ve even had a couple cars without seatbelts. I’d probably want something more engaging as a dedicated fun car.
There’s a difference between passive and active safety. Passive safety’s more likely to be beneficial to you, like crumple zones and smaller blindspots. Active safety is annoying intrusive things like the lane keeping assist and emergency forward braking. We pretty much nailed passive safety by the early 2000s, and it’s just been shoving active safety in to try and gain extra unnecessary margins by taking control away from the driver instead of giving them any new information or influence on the situation.
Me personally I can’t stand active safety. I’m likely to die regardless after getting blindsided by someone barreling along in Chevrolet Equinox either way because physics dictates weight and velocity inertia blah blah blah. So at least let me be in control up until the moment Cody McCrossover decides he needs to run the red to get to work early.
I think my 2002 was a little too early for the latest passive safety standards. The difference between my 2002 Sentra and 2006 Miata was significant.
Out of curiosity what is different between your 2002 & 2012?
I have a 2005 and a 2017 and everything is exactly the same visually, not sure about the frame.
The A pillars are much thicker (probably because of offset crash test standards increasing). The window height is much higher (probably because of the side impact test requirements increasing). 2 Airbags vs 10 airbags.
I think the 2005 era had the improved standards, so you might not see the difference.
To ask is one thing, to receive another.
I owned one from new and while it was a very well made car, it was a total drag to drive. These are NOT sports cars. They have crazy amounts of understeer and are not fast, quick or even peppy by today’s standards.
I bought a new ‘94 Civic EX sedan with the 5-speed. It was a unicorn even then. It was, indeed, kind of boring to drive. Too softly sprung and not enough power. I think it could have been made to handle much better, since it had the 4-wheel double wishbone suspension. I never bothered to upgrade it.
Even a base model civic with coilovers is a riot.
Probably true. In 1994 I didn’t know what they were.
I’d much rather spend $8000 on this than the $5000 on yesterday’s Cimarron.
A clean 5th gen Civic with under 100k miles for 8 grand from a dealership. Sounds fair to me. And good luck finding one in that shape with a 5 speed that isn’t asking another $2,000.
30 years past and they’re still looking good. Add in the ease of repairs, great aftermarket support, reliability and you got a fine automobile with high desirability.
I love my ’95. It’s a daily driver with 249k miles; and Honda fans don’t even double blink at that.
Gen 5 was peak Civic. I had 82′ 2nd gen: 1.5ltr CVCC, 5spd, and it was a real deal Wagon, brown dash and all!
Greatest car I ever owned until the vacuum leaks came, oh the vacuum leaks. I swear that thing had a mile of vacuum line under the hood, but it got damn near 40 to the gallon all through high-school, and was a little billy goat on highline roads.
One of the first cars I drove when I was 12 was an ’82 civic! Mom’s boyfriend even let me peel out in it. Since the purchase of the ’95 It’s like a bug bit me. Really want another one but there’s only spider webs in my wallet.