Uh oh...I'm a search for a cool, fun car, when a 1989 Civic Wagon pops up the radar.
I've got no competition, and the dealer got it as a trade in. He "wants it off the lot asap."
Downside? 290,000 on the ODO. Runs, sounds good, no smoke. Hardly any rust...
$500. I told him I'd pay that if he inspected it, less if he didn't.
It's not fun, cool, or fast...or anything else for that matter...but it'll buy time until I can find something that is all of the above.
What do you guys say?
I know they're just as ugly but are they 4WD like the Tercel wagons :) If they're 4wd I'd get one just cuz it'd be cool.
For $500 you can't go wrong especially if it runs well and no rust like you say.
The 4wd civic wagons sell for at least $2k here even if they arent that nice.
It's not fun, cool,
I resent that! I think they're kinda fun and definitely cool. If it runs, drives, stops, and doesn't make any hideous noises, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Pull the cover and take a look at the timing belt for the hell of it, or just run'er till she blows.
"Fun" is all in how you use it. Sounds like it's time for you to jump into Rally-X.
Get it in the dirt and tell me how not fun it is.
It's not AWD, which is a bummer.
However, this also means that a possible engine swap would be easier and/or cheaper.
Basically, I got a hefty check from the Insurance Company, but I can't find anything right now (especially being Christmas) for a decent price.
I've looked at 240SX (overpriced or already paid for), Miata's (overpriced), Volvo's (just out of reach for my price range or really old!)
I don't care what it is, a car with 290k only has so much useful life left in it. How long do you want to drive this thing? Granted a civic wagon is pretty neat (I looked into a cheap build too) even that one is best left to die. The door hinges, windows, buttons, suspension, etc is all well worn.
On the flip side: http://www.hondacivicwagon.com Was a good find.
In reply to PHeller:
I had an '88 AWD for years, and my Dad still has a '90 AWD, Great cars, and they are kind of fun to drive if you have a manual trans. I used to run E MOD in my CRX, and when the last event of the year came, I needed to win to win the local SCCA championship. I had been running with a stout Cobra kit car all year. Well that morning it was raining hard. I feared my car would hook up in the rain, but I went anyway. I was almost to the event location when I saw the Cobra on it's way there. It was sliding all over the place. I quickly went home, swapped the CRX for the wagon, and handily beat the Cobra for the championship. That guy couldn't get over getting beat by a Civic wagon. This has nothing to do with you buying one, but I've been wanting to tell that story for year and figure this is my best opportunity. 
Nitroracer wrote: I don't care what it is, a car with 290k only has so much useful life left in it.
BullE36 M3! My first Miata gave me 40k great miles before the short nose crank wobble started at 374k. Then it got an engine swap and turned into a spec racer. Still going strong last I heard. At that mileage unless nothing was replaced EVER or its rotted to the core there is no reason it can't go to 500k easy.
PHeller wrote: It's not fun, cool, or fast1. Most regular Civic/CRX hop up parts should bolt right on. 2. Its way cool. 3. The heavier wagons had the Si engine to bring the performance in line with the lighter lower powered sedans iirc. So you're ahead of the game already all you need to do is add lightness
I'd rock that in a second 
bravenrace wrote:In reply to PHeller:
I had an '88 AWD for years, and my Dad still has a '90 AWD, Great cars, and they are kind of fun to drive if you have a manual trans. I used to run E MOD in my CRX, and when the last event of the year came, I needed to win to win the local SCCA championship. I had been running with a stout Cobra kit car all year. Well that morning it was raining hard. I feared my car would hook up in the rain, but I went anyway. I was almost to the event location when I saw the Cobra on it's way there. It was sliding all over the place. I quickly went home, swapped the CRX for the wagon, and handily beat the Cobra for the championship. That guy couldn't get over getting beat by a Civic wagon. This has nothing to do with you buying one, but I've been wanting to tell that story for year and figure this is my best opportunity.
That is a good story.
PHeller wrote:Uh oh...I'm a search for a cool, fun car, when a 1989 Civic Wagon pops up the radar.
I've got no competition, and the dealer got it as a trade in. He "wants it off the lot asap."
Downside? 290,000 on the ODO. Runs, sounds good, no smoke. Hardly any rust...
$500. I told him I'd pay that if he inspected it, less if he didn't.
It's not fun, cool, or fast...or anything else for that matter...but it'll buy time until I can find something that is all of the above.
What do you guys say?
No smoke, no rust, $500. It's rare that any Honda is all three of those things at the same time. If you like it, go for it.
Oh and I think it is cool. Then again I also drive a 90 VW Fox wagon.
that's because Fox Wagon's are cool. (I drove won too)
I passed on the Civic Wagon.
I've got bigger fish to fry. (See newer threads)
In reply to Junkyard_Dog:
How far did you trust driving a 374k miata? Most of my cars have been daily transportation and need to be reliable, I just can't trust something like that to work everyday, even if I've done all the maintenance on it from day one. You probably don't have issues with rust in your area either.
Now as a track car things are different. Systems are rebuilt and constantly checked. The car isn't driven as far, but it is driven harder and you can expect things to go a rye running the car full tilt.
