Buying a used Honda Civic can be a smart choice if you are looking for a long-lasting car with good gas mileage. Honda Civics can get from 28 to over 34 miles per gallon, depending on the year and engine.
Have a mechanic or a trusted friend knowledgeable about cars go with you to look at the Civic. If no one is available you will have to look for possible problem areas yourself. Open the hood to look at the engine and other parts. Check the oil and make sure it looks clear and not black, which is a sign of internal problems in the engine. Look under the car and make sure there is no oil leaking. Check the transmission fluid and make sure it is also clear and not red, which is a sign of damaged gears.
Open the trunk and lift the carpet liner on the floor area that covers the spare tire. This area is known to leak in some older Civics and may have standing water or rust below the spare tire. A sign of leaking water in the trunk is a musty smell when the trunk is opened.
Test-drive the car. During the drive, check to see that the lights, brakes, turn signals, cruise control, and all radio and temperature controls are in working order. Some models that were made in Canada were not equipped with air conditioning. Make sure to check for this if you want air conditioning, even if you are purchasing the car during a cold season. Paying to have an air conditioning system put into a car can be very expensive and often not worth the cost for a used car.
Look around in the front of the car under the dash, in the center console or directly under the radio controls for a cigarette lighter if you want one in the car. Many Honda Civics did not come with cigarette lighters.
Inspect and rate the car according to Kelley Blue Book standards. See what condition the paint and body is in, what condition the interior is in, how the car runs and what the overall condition of the car is.
Search Kelley Blue Book and input the car's information and condition to get a fair value. Offer the seller this value or lower for the car. The seller may have valid reasons to raise the price, like a new CD player, custom wheels or an alarm system, but the price should remain close to the Kelley Blue Book value. If the seller refuses to come to a reasonable price, look for another car. Honda Civics are very popular and used models are easy to find.
