For sale is a 1989 Civic Wagon with a B18A1. This is a FWD model! Let’s start by getting the many problems out of the way:
MAJOR PROBLEMS:
Driver's side axle needs to be replaced. It creaks and cracks after 10 or so miles of driving.
Passenger front brake line needs to be replaced. It has a bulge.
Driver's rear tire needs to be replaced. Cord showing on the inside.
Driver's side doors are trashed. Was hit by a snow plow, door windows are gone and door frames are bent. They still close but do leak in the rain. Windows are made out of tape at the moment.
MODERATE PROBLEMS:
Valve cover gasket leaks. I add a quart of oil every 500 miles or so.
Coolant leak. Not sure which hose, I top off the overflow reservoir every 250 miles.
Engine cuts out at full throttle. No idea why, I’m not in the habit of flooring it so it never bothered me.
No exhaust after catalytic, it fell off.
Passenger rear tire has a slow leak. Holds air for ~2 weeks before needing refilled.
Front brakes pads probably need to be replaced.
Sometimes idles rough at startup until given gas.
Sometimes won’t start on first try, just clicks, will eventually start. I’d say this happens one in every 50 or so startups.
MINORISH PROBLEMS:
Rust, especially around the rear wheel wells.
Body is rough, lots of dings and dents, most noteable being the driver’s doors and a gash in the A-pillar from the snowplow.
Dirty interior.
Driver’s seat is trashed
Crack in windshield.
Hatch struts blown.
No Radio.
Wiper blades are crap.
Still reading? Now for the good. I drove the car EVERY day for 8 months delivering the newspaper until last week when I quit. I put 9,000 miles on it in that time and it never let me down. The motor runs fine and the transmission shifts nice and smooth. I’ve never had any grinding problems with the transmission. The heat works, all the lights work, everything important works. It even has functional power steering. As mentioned, the car has a B18A1 from an Integra. The body has ~168,000 miles on it. Based on what I was told the motor should have around 160,000 miles on it but who knows. The car is also lowered on Raceland coilovers.
The car is driveable and still driven as is. I've driven it this way through rain, sleet, snow, etc. That said, unless you're really crazy it's probably best as a parts car, it's really in pretty terrible shape. I realize most people won't put up with a car in this condition on a daily basis.
$500, located in Dayton, Ohio.
