Used Cars: Honda CRX, wheel drive cars, front wheel drive cars

Question
Hi there
I'm looking into buying a Honda CRX, the one i'm after is a CRX which
has a V-tech engine in and has been modified...by the sound of tings
quite intensively modified, it is a friend of a friend who owns the car, i
know the car has been driven hard, but i also heard that the owner
loves his car and when he does something he does it the right way, this
realy sets my heart at ease as i don't want a car that has been trashed.
I'm organizing a look at the car, and my other friend who also drives a
Civic v-tec is coming along, I would just like to know on these cars
what are things one needs to look out for?
I do know cars,but unfortunately the Honda is all new to me as i'm use
to Opel's.


Answer
I try to avoid cars that have been heavily modified, that being said I don't know what kind of modifications have been done. A turbo on this car wouldn't scare me away that much, but nitrous would be the kiss of death for me.  If it had both I would run the other way.  Internal engine upgrades must accompany both of these in order to secure a reliable state under the hood.  I do agree with you that most people who "hop" up their cars take better care of them than the average person. But also consider that they have to.  Superchargers and turbos increase the compression inside the engine cylinders far above what the factory has even considered having.  I must implore you to take the car to a qualified mechanic, I can not tell you how many people I have known that have taken a friend to look at a car with them, bought it and then had a huge repair bill.  That being said if the price is right and you like the car what is the extra little bit of money going to hurt, especially with the piece of mind it brings.

As for specific things to look for, start with cv joints, big horsepower front wheel drive cars go through cv joints pretty regularly. Turn the wheel all the way right, drive in a circle, then repeat on a left turn, if you get clicking or popping noises,  they are bad, make sure the car goes through all the gears with no grinding or slipping. You didn't say if the car was manual or auto, if it is a standard make sure the clutch pedal engages and disengages at a proper position, to close to the floor or to far above would idicate at the least a clutch problem maybe worse.  Check the tread on the tires, check the a/c and heat and make sure they work in all modes.  Try using all the power equipment.  Then after that, it is trusting your judgement not to be blinded by a pretty or fast car.

good luck