My Dad has a '90 Civic AWD wagon with an automatic. It has relatively low mileage (I think around 90k), and looks great on the outside and inside. It was pretty rusty at one point, but I did the needed body work and re-painted the areas that needed it.
He loves the car, but yesterday a guy left a note on the windshield asking him to call him if he was interested in selling it. About 6 years ago he was offered $7500 for it (he never told me, or I would have told him to jump all over that!), and that was before I did all the work on it.
It currently needs nothing. I have no idea what it's worth. I know there's a cult following for this car, so I'm thinking finding the right buyer (like the guy that left the note) would result in a higher price than it would to someone just looking for a used car.
Based on what I've wrote here, does anyone have any idea of what this car might be worth? For reference, I live in the rust belt, and his car is the only one I've seen on the road in many years.
On this board, $2012 
.
More seriously, they seem to get advertised out here in the $3k-$4k range with double the miles or more and the ads don't hang around on CL for long.
To the right set of eyes it is probably worth around ~5k if it is stock and in great condition. It's hard in the rust belt to find one unmolested or not rotted out.
Jim-I would call that guy back and see where he would be on the price. Sounds like he wants it bad. It would be worth more if it were stick I would think. Great cars, I have much experience with the EF's, but never the wagon. I would be gladly to buy it for challenge price
Which reminds me:
WAGON ATTACK!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ZzqBPz4sY
It's worth $20. I think I've got that in my wallet. When can I come get it?? I think my teammates and I can find a good use for it. Is the hood in good condition? 
You don't see a lot of them around anymore, but I'm not sure they're actually worth a lot. I guess for the right person looking for that specific car, it may be worth something. I'd guess $3000 or so if all is in really good shape.
Here's a couple pics of it. I don't have any of interior, but it's in good shape. However, in full disclosure, I created and installed all new rocker panels, and most of the rear quarter panels I fabbed myself from regular Civic replacement panels (not the same). The car WAS pretty rusty, but has no rust now, body or underside.
In relative similarity, this has been up for sale for a while now. I first saw it up there at least a month ago.
http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/3227540631.html#.UGHEt67yC70
'89 5spd $5,950 No mention of mileage.
In reply to bravenrace:
You do nice work. Are those easier to get in and out of than the hatchbacks? They look like they sit up higher. I have a new set of General Arctic snow tires that would fit.
You should be able to get $5,000 for it given the condition. It's almost certainly one of, if not the, cleanest examples in the rust belt. The low mileage is also a huge plus. I doubt it would sell in one day, but given a month you should sell it. I'd call the note-leaving guy and tell him that you know what you have, but you're willing to sell for the right price.
I've called people who left notes before and many are low-ballers. Was offered $300 by a guy for my EG civic VX!
I don't get the civic wagon thing myself, I'd be happier spending a few thousand extra and getting a Honda Fit, but to each his own.
I would think it's worth about $4500. Possibly a little more. You did the rust repair right so in my mind that increases it's value.
If he loves the car he better keep it. It's not like he's going to find another one of those anytime soon. Of course there is always the Fit.
HindsFeet wrote:
If he loves the car he better keep it. It's not like he's going to find another one of those anytime soon. Of course there is always the Fit.
Having driven both, I would hold onto the wagovan. The fit is more refined and has modern creature comforts, but the EF's leave you with that awesome direct connection to the road. The wago/EF just feel RIGHT to drive, they are a simple, no-nonsense machine. Who knows, maybe it will be a collectors item one day
In reply to wrongwheeldrive:
Yup. If you see my profile, I've had a red CRX Si and a red Civic Si. This one is the only one I haven't owned.
HindsFeet wrote:
In reply to wrongwheeldrive:
Yup. If you see my profile, I've had a red CRX Si and a red Civic Si. This one is the only one I haven't owned.
Awesome! I have a K swapped CRX and a daily driver sedan DX. Really want a hatchback SI to complete the trifecta!
wrongwheeldrive wrote:
HindsFeet wrote:
If he loves the car he better keep it. It's not like he's going to find another one of those anytime soon. Of course there is always the Fit.
Having driven both, I would hold onto the wagovan. The fit is more refined and has modern creature comforts, but the EF's leave you with that awesome direct connection to the road. The wago/EF just feel RIGHT to drive, they are a simple, no-nonsense machine. Who knows, maybe it will be a collectors item one day
I find that most people that question the appeal of the wagon have never driven one. That said, I used to have a manual equipped version, and my Dad's is no where near as fun to drive. But it is a very comfortable car, with outstanding visibility, and the higher seating position is great for that 89 year old man. The lack of power accessories is not. That's the only reason he's giving any thought to selling it.
HindsFeet wrote:
In reply to wrongwheeldrive:
Yup. If you see my profile, I've had a red CRX Si and a red Civic Si. This one is the only one I haven't owned.
I've had these:
85 CRX DX
85 CRX SI
87 CRX SI
88 CRX SI (still have)
88 Civic AWD wagon
88 Civic LX sedan
89 Civic SI
90 Civic SI (still have)
91 CRX SI (bought new)
Plus numerous other Hondas and Acuras. Still, I have never considered myself a Honda fan boi. I just like these cars. And yes, I've gotten pretty good at repairing rear quarter panel rust.
Wow, that looks fantastic! I had an 86 Tercel 4WD wagon with the 6-speed manual and sold it for $2500. It was clean and ran great but it had rust bubbles at all four corners (I live in the rust belt). And it was that sickly seafoam green colour.
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/2244/
I'm half tempted to make an offer, but I'm thinking of trading up my Civic for a 1st gen TSX next spring for a DD. I would be curious to see what that guy's offer would be. Probably more than what I could do.
In reply to HindsFeet:
My thinking was to try to get an idea what people here thought it was worth, and then let my Dad know. Then if he's interested, he'll call the guy and see what he's willing to offer.
It's worthless. Nobody likes these things. You should save yourself the trouble of trying to sell it. Just give it to me - I'll take care of it.
I find myself drooling all over this which is funny because when they were new and I was in my early 20's, I would have rather walked than owned one.
I think the one I saw on Speedhunters whet my appetite
Way back in 1989, when I was shopping for a new car, I stopped at the nearest Honda dealer. They had 2 of these out front, both light blue metallic with a blue interior. Living in Tn. where it rarely snows, I figured why spend $10K+ for a big, blue, AWD box? that's about what these were selling for when brand new....keeping in mind that did NOT include A/C.
Nowadays, when I see these (I've seen 3 or 4 in the last 10 years), they are always manual-transmissioned and have nearly 200K miles. Most recently, one was for sale here in No. Fl. for nearly $1600....but it looked tired.
If / when you sell it, please do not sell it to someone who will give it to their teenaged son or daughter as a sort of "beater". Your car looks way too nice to wind up like that.
P.S. try getting it listed on BaT.
This is one of those cars I would pay way over value to buy. They're cool, and hard to find in good condition. I still kick myself for not buying the one from my friend's grandma for $600 about 10 years ago.
My aunt had one with 300+ thousand miles on it but only 2wd, it was a sad day when they sold that thing back to the state for 1000$. I'm pretty sure hondas of that era have one of the most reliable engines built, my cousin had another sent off to the state with 300+ thousand miles. That is super clean looking, don't see many of those clean even in california.
The one I had was that light blue metallic with a blue interior, and a buddy had an identical one at the same time.
