I talked to him for about 20 minutes and somehow ended up getting the car for $60 bucks. Yeah. SIXTY. After the initial shock wore off, and we exchanged monies, bill of sale, and title stuff, I started to see what i was working with. This was on 5/12/08
The car had 306,000 miles. It's a 1990 HF, 5 speed. He said the clutch had 3 months of drive time on it before it was parked. Radiator was also newer and is a metal top as opposed to the stock plastic tank. Windsheild was replaced a few years ago after a deer broke out the other one, also claiming the drivers mirror and fender.
My s13 had a half size battery in it so i took it out and popped it in the car. After a prime or two, the car started on the third try. It did not tick, smoke, bumble, or anything. It was awesome.
I drove it to my house down the street, realizing it needed brakes, and parked it.
The 13's were toast. Tires had almost no air in them and were oblong shaped from sitting. So I went up to Strictly German (old workplace) and picked up a set of 14x6.5 basket weaves out back with some good 205/60/14 Michellins. Ideal size is 185/60 or 195/60 so it's a little baja right now, but i like it and the tires are not goign to waste thats for damn sure!
I bled the brakes to get some pedal feel, changed the oil, cleaned it out and started driving it. Notice the corner light? It won't fit, because the fender is off an EF hatch. But i will get the right one. Plus a friend Gave me two corner lights since mine both have broken lenses anyway. Yay!
So I love it. My friend tried to give me $1000 for it the night i bought it, which was $940 profit. IT WAS NOT EASY TO SAY NO!!! But i had been looking for a CRX for like.... 8 months when i found this car. And to sell it would be not even close to worth it in the long run.
After three or four tanks of gas, i was averaging 39-41 mpg.
I bought some parts to help the car in general and boost the gas mileage back up to what it shuold be.
-New struts (they are BLOWN)
-New front rotors and pads
-New spark plugs and wires
-some used lowering springs (ok this was just because i already was getting shocks and didn't want the stock 306k mile springs on them)
-Fluids (more oil, brake, others to come)
Stuff that i still need
Driver's mirror (i sourced one, just have to pick it up)
Driver's window (friend is goingt o call me back. Window clip is broken, can't find them seperate)
Fix the window tint. Its all fucked up on the driver/pass doors and the hatch. It's getting re-done professionally.
Oh and i'm buying a timing belt/water pump and some other seals and such that are conveniant to replace while that stuff is off as preventative maintenance.
Thanks to a friend, the stuts, brakes, plugs/wires and anythign else i get at advanced auto is like 25% off. This is a big help lol.
After said parts were bought, i have a total of $492 invested in the car, including original purchase of the vehicle and wheels/tires.
I am fixing this car up to daily drive. It's going to get me through college and keep me from going broke when gas is going over 4 bucks a gallon. The motor purs, and the transmission is smooth as can be. All my friends that are honda guys want me to put a swap in it, but that is money wasted right now since it runs so damn good.
Today (6/6/08), i changed the plugs and wires. 3 of the 4 wires came out in three pieces. 1 came out in two peices. And all the plugs were pretty nasty. This should help with get up and go, as well as a little mpg help.
Once the tires wear out, i think that with the 185 or 195s, fuel filter (came with car), and some other small things i should be back up in the mid to high 40's average.
Lots of small updates coming. I am shooting to build the car and have it looking nice for under $1,000 including stuff like cd player and what not. Oh, and for whatever reason, the AC still blows cold. I neary shit a brick when i realized this after owning it for three days. It has come in REALLY handy since its hot as hell outside. I'm also going to prove to people with this car that I can keep a vehicle LoL. I've missed my old crx's, and the last one i sold was a stupid decision. Making a quick buck on it was a mistake, one i'm not to make with the new one.
-Austin
old wires
old plugs
comparison
lots o' miles, still many to go
But it's all good i've got this now.
so I'm fixing the window tint on the drivers window, pass window, and the hatch. Then a smaller steering wheel (bus steering wheel + no tilt steering = suck), and some other misc shit.
