It's a blue '94 LX sedan with an auto tranny and 135,000 miles. The woman selling it is asking $3000 but she is willing to negotiate because she said that the last time she took it in for service they suggested that she get one of the halfshafts replaced. She has owned the car for 5 years and has always used synthetic oil and she said it doesn't really burn any. What do you guys think? Seem like the car is worth getting? If so, how much should I offer her? Keep in mind that I would have to replace at least one of the halfshafts after I got the car so she said the price she listed is really including getting that repair done too. I was thinking $2500 or so...

 

why buy another car if you already have a GS-R?
and not bad of a milage for a 94 actually. pretty cheap too.
i say go for it. and rather then fixing the F22 engine, drop a F23a1 engine in there.
you can find a F23a1 for less then $500 now a days.

 

Well, actually the car isn't for me per se. It's for my girlfriend/soon-to-be fiance. Her car is on its way out (just passed 200k miles). She just needs something somewhat reliable and fuel efficient until she graduates from college next year. So it seems like a pretty decent deal then? The F23a1 is the 4th gen 2.3 liter non-vtec prelude motor right?

 

F23a1 is 6th gen[98~02] honda Accord motor. 4 cylc.

and preludes only came in H serise motors, but some in UK are F22's

 

If you are going to swap in a motor, I would just go the H22 route, 40-50 more HP for your troubles.

Yeah, if it's clean and you like it, go for it. I wouldn't let the half shaft be a factor in your decision. You can DIY with a reman axle for around $60-75.

 

What should I offer her if the car looks pretty good? I am going to take a closer look at it tomorrow. Also, she doesn't know if the timing belt was replaced by the previous owner but she's never changed it in the five years she's owned it and the car currently has 135,000 miles. Is this something I should go and have done right away, if I decide to buy it?

 

Yeah, I think the 5th gen is due at 95K miles, so if it hasn't been done, it needs to be. You can use that as some leverage probably.

No clue on the prices, sorry.

 

Honda dealer quoted me roughly $600 to replace the timing belt on my '99 Accord. It's not a cheap repair. Something to use as a bargaining chip. That's the first thing I asked people when shopping for my Accord. Most of the cars I looked at had 90,000+, and if it didn't have the timing belt replaced recently I wasn't even going to consider it unless they knocked at least $500 off the asking price.

 

I went ahead and purchased the car today. I told the seller that because of the halfshaft issue and the timing belt needing to be replaced I would give her $2500 ($500 less than what she was asking), which we both thought was a completely fair price. The car is in great shape inside and out. My girlfriend is really excited about the car (since she is going to be the owner), but I'll drive it sometimes too. Anybody know where I can get a pdf of the repair manual for the 5th gen accords or anything like that? Thanks again.

 

Congrats on your new ride, sounds like a good deal.