[Tavel]

Yeah...I make decisions with reason and logic, while she makes decisions with emotion and hairspray.

We both lease cars, and at $0.15 per mile over the lease agreement of 12000 miles per year, she alone will cost us $1000 by the end. This has never been a problem, but an employer change now forces her to drive extra miles.

Besides, who doesn't want a car to mess around with, and one to take the wear and tear out of the other vehicles?

so this will be the first time you'd owned a car? owning a car is great, no strings attached. you pay 350 now, plus any repairs that come down the road, and you'll save a TON Of money over leasing.

 

[jlee1469]

this guy has a bunch of parts for you

http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZonemoretry101

headlights, corners, etc...

 

[DCR]

Yeah, I had a few items from him on my watch list...found that a couple of days ago.

I have both owned and leased before, as well.

 

[WRXrob]

Yeah, I am going to really comb it through this weekend and then decide on it.

From what I gather...are any of the possible oil leaks "life-threatening" to the engine as they pertain to this car? I don't know where it is yet, but I would like to know if a specific one is a slam-dunk for a major problem.

on the GA16 engine that is in the car (unless its an SE-R), the rear main seal is a very common problem which does not cause any major problems, other than having to put oil in the car often. Once I had that fixed (around $250 total), the oil leak problems were gone. I don't know why the market underrates the value of these cars. In my opinion this car has had as few problems if not fewer than my stock 97 honda prelude that pretty much died at 160K.

a 95 civic would cost you thousands to purchase. This car is much cheaper, and probably just as reliable.

 

[DijitaL]

on the GA16 engine that is in the car (unless its an SE-R), the rear main seal is a very common problem which does not cause any major problems, other than having to put oil in the car often. Once I had that fixed (around $250 total), the oil leak problems were gone. I don't know why the market underrates the value of these cars. In my opinion this car has had as few problems if not fewer than my stock 97 honda prelude that pretty much died at 160K.

a 95 civic would cost you thousands to purchase. This car is much cheaper, and probably just as reliable.

I just got my car running.. I had to find out why it wouldnt start.. fix BOTH CV's, and a oil leak in the front crank seal.
( but yeah my old car i had to fix it like 17 times! this one 1 so far.)
man.. <3 nissan...

 

[Kindfiend]

Yeah, I am going to really comb it through this weekend and then decide on it.

From what I gather...are any of the possible oil leaks "life-threatening" to the engine as they pertain to this car? I don't know where it is yet, but I would like to know if a specific one is a slam-dunk for a major problem.

You searched and know quite a bit about this car, which is an excellent start. The only thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing chain tensioners. There are two of them, and they tend to wear out by 100k. The upper one is easy to replace, the lower involves many hours of labor just to get to it. If let go, the chain can wear into the timing cover. Nothing life threatening however.

 

[DCR]

You searched and know quite a bit about this car, which is an excellent start. The only thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing chain tensioners. There are two of them, and they tend to wear out by 100k. The upper one is easy to replace, the lower involves many hours of labor just to get to it. If let go, the chain can wear into the timing cover. Nothing life threatening however.

The timing chain stuff...I saw a little about that, but I will make sure to check it out.

I come from a long line of Hondas...a loooonnngggg line, and it is virtually impossible to find anything in a lower price range that both runs and is a good deal.

The thing about me, however, is that I don't really get involved in car vs. car, rice vs. muscle, Ford vs. Chevy vs. Honda vs. Nissan vs. Acura, etc...I like to think I have matured beyond that.

I look for consistent reliability and for the history of both Nissan and Honda, I don't think I could go wrong either way in this case. This case, however, will be much cheaper in the Nissan world this time around, so here I am.

My current cars:
2003 Civic Si
2004 Civic EX
-former cars
2001 Civic EX
1993 Civic Hatch
1989 Accord
1987 Prelude
1985 Prelude

These were all owned in the last 7 years or so. Some were modded, some were not.

 

[stevja1]

If it were me, I'd walk out the door, go to the bank, and hand your friend $350. I'd then drive it till the engine quit, and swap the engine. (Which is remarkably cheap.)

By the time you spend what the car is worth on repairs, you'll have a fairly new car that'll last you a really long time. (And maybe go faster than your Civic EX.)

I'd say do it.

 

[DCR]

I called my buddy last night and tried to get more info on the oil leak.

He said that from 4 quarts, it would have to be refilled in 2 to 3 weeks, and that oil does not spill on the ground. That sounds like an awful lot of oil consumption...I didn't read anywhere the average rate at which these leaks will consume oil...but that can't be normal, is it?

 

[stevja1]

I called my buddy last night and tried to get more info on the oil leak.

He said that from 4 quarts, it would have to be refilled in 2 to 3 weeks, and that oil does not spill on the ground. That sounds like an awful lot of oil consumption...I didn't read anywhere the average rate at which these leaks will consume oil...but that can't be normal, is it?

That's (in my book) pretty bad. I don't remember what normal consumption is either, but that is pretty bad. I think a quart every 200 miles would be bad and this is worse.

For $350 though, it is still a pretty decent deal. You could drop a new engine in for $1200 and be on your way. New car - $1500. That would be cool in my book. (With a strong new engine.) Insurance would be super cheap too.

Heck, you could probably buy it for $350 and scrap it somewhere for more.

 

[pete?]

if you have a good car now, just buy the 200 and rip it open, dick around with it on the week end and by the time your lease is up it should be running like a clock. the body its self is worth at least $350, then if you just put a fresh/rebuilt engine in it you should be set for quite awile. and out of many of the beater ass ecno boxes i think the sentra/200sx has a good looking interior, its a nice deep charchol color instead of that awful milky grey.

 

[DCR]

if you have a good car now, just buy the 200 and rip it open, dick around with it on the week end and by the time your lease is up it should be running like a clock. the body its self is worth at least $350, then if you just put a fresh/rebuilt engine in it you should be set for quite awile. and out of many of the beater ass ecno boxes i think the sentra/200sx has a good looking interior, its a nice deep charchol color instead of that awful milky grey.

Hmm..maybe. I am sure not too excited about that oil leak news. The last thing I need is to be screwing with it constantly.

 

[pete?]

Hmm..maybe. I am sure not too excited about that oil leak news. The last thing I need is to be screwing with it constantly.

ehh, not constantly...........just when you get board...........its $350 lol. yea its still a bit of change, ever have those eurges just to do something really stupid? ever wanted to rally? i would buy it just to F around in if you didnt feel like fixing it. or if its icy and you dont want to risk wrecking your good car........its a beater, now beat the hell outa it :thumbup:

i understand what your saying, and i wouldnt buy it as a daily driver either, but it will save you from some accidents on your good car, and they are quit good in the snow, just get a set of snow tires for the front.

 

[WRXrob]

when my crankshaft seal was leaking, I'd have to put in about 1 quart per week. It doesn't leak on the ground hardly at all in the driveway.

You will notice the rear of the car always looks somewhat dirty. That is from the oil leaking underneath while the car is running, and driving.

I guarantee that is your problem. rear main crankshaft seal. Many others on here have had the same issue.


If you replace it yourself (there are instructions somewhere on here), the part is like $15-20.

 

[DCR]

OK...that is good to know that it is still probably a known leak. I am looking it over real good on Sunday, so I'll know more then.