Old automatic cars

[Gravity Aided]

Especially being a Honda, I'd have a look at it. Manifold may need clearing out, maybe some new spark plugs and auto transmission fluid, new radiator anti-freeze and a look at the brakes. All cheap stuff to have changed out.

 

[tyred]

At that end of the market (which is where I shop myself) buy on condition. Badge, spec, etc don't matter a great deal if you just want a cheap run around.

I was always suspicious of autos myself but I rented a car in Scotland when I was there in May and they gave me an auto (Honda Jazz, I think it's actually a CVT box) and after a week I had grown quite fond of it once I'd figured out how to use it properly and was reluctant to give it back if I'm honest.

 

[I like Skol]

If it's a 1997 automatic Honda Civic it's probably only been driven 200 yards to the shops each day by someone's granddad.

That's one of the worst kind! There's two extremes in cars, the above scenario with lots of short journeys where the bits and pieces never get warmed up properly and the other end of the spectrum is the lead footer who flies around everywhere flat-out, at full power/revs and getting everything screaming hot! Anything in between are the ones to go for.
I have autos'. My previous 4x4 was a 2000 registered 4ltr jeep but the technology was definitely very late 80's/early 90's and not 21st century at all. Vehicle was approaching 140k when I sold it and still drove beautifully but we wont discuss fuel consumption. At the moment I have a 05 reg VW Passat, last of that model and it is a 5 spd auto that is just perfect with the powerful 1.9tdi engine (130hp). Goes like a scalded cat if you want to but on a slow motorway run at 60 mph will give 55-60mpg. If I drive a bit more enthusiastically around town in traffic it will drop to around 30mpg, still not bad for a big, heavy automatic car in those conditions.

I wouldn't let the automatic gearbox put you off. I think the lack of confidence in auto reliability stems from some of the shocking attempts that were sold in the 60's and 70's. More modern cars are better built and use better oils. If the vehicle you are looking at drives well during a longer test drive then go for it.

 

[accountantpete]

Scrap is going to get you £150 - £200 back.

Personally I go for the unfashionable types with new MOT and full service history including belt change - currently a 2002 Astra with 90k on the clock which cost £700.

 

[MarkF]

Not heavy on fuel then?

Well it was a 4L! But I don't do enough miles per annum for MPG to have any real impact on my finances. I just like auto's as my driving in mainly stop-start in Leeds/Bradford, I buy low owner (1 is preferred) and always with FSH.

The Honda sounds fine to me.

 

[Cheddar George]

Scrap is going to get you £150 - £200 back.

Personally I go for the unfashionable types with full service history including belt change - currently a 2002 Astra with 90k on the clock which cost £700.

I was once told that accountants spend as much as they can on a house and as little as possible on a car.

 

[MarkF]

I have autos'. My previous 4x4 was a 2000 registered 4ltr jeep but the technology was definitely very late 80's/early 90's and not 21st century at all.

I had one, the technology is very much 1970's with sprinkling of unreliable 90's electronickery thrown at it! I'd buy the 98 Honda no problem and expect years out of it too.

 

[Accy cyclist]

[QUOTE 3787325, member: 45"]You've got little to lose then. What's the VED cost?[/QUOTE]

That's a slight problem it's £230 a year tax and £350 insurance.

 

[Levo-Lon]

It's a private sale. I know the bloke selling it, he's serviced it regularly,it's his mum's car.

that is at least a plus as you will know its history..

if it drives well ,changes gear well, and is mechanically sound the its a good buy for a monkey..
If its had regular services and gets a run out now and then it should do you well.
hondas are better than astras fords etc when older.
toyota corolla would also be a good buy..
1.6 petrol cars are steep on tax especcially old uns..

get a once over by someone with knowledge..mot ? Take it for one if in doubt..30 quid mot offer ? Lots do this, could be 30,40 quid well spent ..

 

[perplexed]

The only thing I'd fear in the '97Honda is that it might induce incontinence... That's why they've all still got the garage fitted plastic seat covers on when they're 5 years old...

 

[Globalti]

At the moment I have a 05 reg VW Passat, last of that model and it is a 5 spd auto that is just perfect with the powerful 1.9tdi engine (130hp). Goes like a scalded cat if you want to but on a slow motorway run at 60 mph will give 55-60mpg. If I drive a bit more enthusiastically around town in traffic it will drop to around 30mpg, still not bad for a big, heavy automatic car in those conditions.

I wouldn't let the automatic gearbox put you off. I think the lack of confidence in auto reliability stems from some of the shocking attempts that were sold in the 60's and 70's. More modern cars are better built and use better oils. If the vehicle you are looking at drives well during a longer test drive then go for it.

I've just gone auto with a new Passat with DSG and I'm absolutely blown away by it; it's far better than a manual and with more power and less weight than the older B7 or B6 models it goes even faster. At only 3000 miles I can get over 50 mpg without trying too hard. As others predicted at the time, I will never go back to a manual; I am arriving after the commute relaxed and happy and looking forward to the next drive. This one even drives itself in traffic, all you have to do is steer it!

 

[subaqua]

Not heavy on fuel then?

no heavier than the manual box , which was as rare as rocking horse on a Cherokee . the big problem is that the car begs you to boot it as it wants to use all the horses under the bonnet .

Am considering buying a pre2001 petrol again .

 

[Piemaster]

We've swapped a few times between autos and manuals. Current is a DSG (not strictly an auto, but no clutch so close enough for me). Yes they can go wrong, but on a £500 car I wouldn't worry, on short journeys a manual clutch will be getting a lot of use too and a clutch will need replacing eventually, an autobox could last the life of the car.
It probably won't make much of a measurable difference in fuel use either - every car does 0 mpg sat at traffic lights, even the ones with the start/stop function.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

1990's jap cars were very, very good IMVHO, I've owned 1 Honda and 3 Nissan's and they were all bullet-proof mechanically. Rust is probably the biggest enemy, I would definitely get underneath it and check it out for it, What type of Civic is it a 3 door (EK series I think they were called) or is it the 5 door (MB series) that looks like a Rover 45? I had a 1999 Civic 1.8 VTI-S MB6 cracking car, check for rust though. Rust is what killed my old 1995 K11 Nissan Micra, if it didn't it would of just ran forever. I think the 3 door Civic was built in Japan and the 5 door Rover look-a-like in the UK.

I used to own a 2002 1,6 Ford Focus automatic, cracking car, but the most it would do was 30mpg. It was expensive to tax also but a really nice car.

Edit: I agree with the previous comments about getting a full MOT on the car. Its expensive to get rust damage repaired, I ran my old Micra into the ground, it was 17 years old when it died, but the last few years I was always paying to have a plate put on a sill or the front cross member repaired at MOT time. It made it not that cheap motoring I guess.

 

[biggs682]

Following on from my question about sunroofs and roof racks i have another question about the car. The car i'm interested in is a 1997 Honda Civic automatic. A few have told me that automatics are very heavy on fuel and gearbox repairs and replacements are very expensive, Seeing as i'd be using it for short start stop journeys would it use a lot of fuel and is an 18 year old automatic gearbox a bit of a gamble?

check the condition of the auto fluid on the dipstick if it smells burnt walk away for sure , check it before and after a test drive and see if colour changes . Also check it changes gear smoothly without hanging/holding in the gears also worth checking the kickdown operates ok .

i would expect a bit heavier mpg compared to a manual version