I started driving the car in 2003, I believe. My Dad bought it in 1989.
He rebuilt the carb because of smog rules.
He replaced the clutch once.
The timing belt has been replaced twice The valve cover gasket once
Radio stopped working in the 90's
AC stopped working early this millennium.
Since I've had it, I've done front brakes twice.
Tires when I got it at around 190,000
Need new tires again...224,000
Alternator is going out. Has been going out for 25,000 miles. The battery light just flickers on and off
Radiator. My bad. I was being dumb and ran over a traffic cone.
It still fouls a bit.
Has valve clack in that cylinder.
CV boots numerous times.
Muffler once.
Belts and hoses as needed/Dad drove it about 5000 a year. Things dried up on it.
The interior is sun drenched
Passenger window crank nob gone
Glove box hanging by a sheet of plastic. (joint gone)
remote trunk access doesn't work
horn plate came loose. before I taped it back on it fell through the steering wheel on the dash (held by the horn wires) as I was turning and snapped off my windshield wiper stalk. Good thing I live in sunny SoCal.
Friends have beat the hell out of it, aesthetically. Little dents on the outside. just cracks everywhere in the plastic interior. When I clean the car, I vacuum up bits of interior here and there.
Tune up stuff.
That's pretty much it. Engine, tranny, wheels and body completely OG.
I drive the (*&% out of this car.
It is the only car that I feel fits me as it never lets me down and newer reliable cars wouldn't be as fun to drive the heck out of.
After I drove over that traffic cone, I didn't realize the radiator was cracked I drove another 12 miles... over a mountain.
Didn't blow the head gasket...whew!
But I do oil foul the #2 cylinder now.
Circulate about 8 plugs through that cylinder bi-monthly.
It seems to have resealed itself.
It still fouls a bit.
Has valve clack in that cylinder.
Recently I ended up crossthreded the thing and now I have valve noise due to not being able to seat the #2 plug all the way.
I got this car after I spun a rod in the Olds. The Olds was of questionable history, but that said, the Honda definitely puts up with my abuse better. The Olds lasted 10,000 miles whereas the Honda has lasted 25,000. And I have done some seriously messed things to my motor. However I don't think the Olds would have developed a serious engine problem because I cracked the radiator. Those cars usually give warning signs before they go. (unless you drive north all night at freeway speed and throw a rod bearing... then they go fast)
The Honda sort of gracefully took it and developed this ring/valve guide? (not sure) problem.
I still manage 31 MPG, driving like a banshee with my screwy cylinder.
I drive around 90 on the freeway fairly regularly and get 31 MPG. I rev needlessly. It is funny to rev with my 86 horsepower since it sounds like a sewing machine compared with my previous cars.
Honestly I love this car.
With stock tires and suspension I take corners at 30+ MPH. 40 if I feel like sliding. The steering is sloppy with over 200000 miles. But hey, I also drive early 70s GMs.
For a car that can be had for the cost of a semester's tuition at community college ($500 more or less) it handles like the batmobile.
I gave it an 8 in power because when you are driving a 21 year old go kart, how much power do you need? 60 in 15+ seconds is good enough for me.
Question... you drive 90 mph on the highway...why? sounds like you have a death wish.. there are others that share the road with you that don't have that same wish.
90 isn't that fast, every car in the left lane is doing at least that, unless you're old.
Well, I once had that car up to 110 on a slight downhill. It maxed out @ 100 on flat ground. I've got nothign to prove... I ended up wrecking the car around 233000. I hit a curb at a high rate of speed and snapped the driver side axle. The car wasn't worth fixing. The only major work that car ever had was a clutch. Oil changes every 8000 miles. And it still got 31 to the gallon. And still started instantly after the incident with the curb. I even put it on jack stands, started it, and watched the snapped stub of an axle spin.
Hey it's the OP again. I haven't been on this site for a year. I am 24 years old now. In retrospect I don't regret my recklessness, cause that is me. And time is slowing me down anyway. But I do miss that car. Oh man do I miss that car. That was the best damn car I am EVER going to have. I loved that car.
If I could have that car back, I would trade any new car, any smoother car, any more powerful car. I would trade all the Ferraris, Bugattis and Rolls Royces in the world to have my faded blue 2 door hatchback 86 horsepower stickshift 13 inch rimmed slightly smelly interiored 1984 Accord. It's like a lost first love.
"Well, I once had that car up to 110 on a slight downhill. It maxed out @ 100 on flat ground. I've got nothing to prove... I ended up wrecking the car around 233000. I hit a curb at a high rate of speed and snapped the driver side axle. The car wasn't worth fixing. The only major work that car ever had was a clutch. Oil changes every 8000 miles. And it still got 31 to the gallon. And still started instantly after the incident with the curb. I even put it on jack stands, started it, and watched the snapped stub of an axle spin."
Why do you even have a license? I'm all for showing off what your car is capable of, but do it on the track guys...don't put other people's lives in danger by trying to get a thrill. I love cars and have all my life, and I love to push them to their limits, but I'd never do that on the road where I could hurt somebody. If you want to see what your car can really do, go to a large empty parking lot, where at least the only person you can hurt is yourself. And yeah, that can get you a ticket, but which would you rather have? The 3 points added on to your license, or the somebody under your tires? Car's are a wonderful invention, but they are powerful, heavy machines, more than capable of killing somebody.