If you would like to buy a used car at a reasonable price, you might want to consider Honda. These vehicles are safe, reliable and suitable for drivers with any level of experience. No matter whether you purchase your auto from a dealer or private seller, you should examine it carefully to find any potential flaws. In this article, you’ll find a list of six aspects that you should pay primary attention to and a few other smart tips.
Arguments in Favour of a Used Honda
These cars are functional and affordable. The manufacturer targets them at the mass market. Honda is not a fancy car that you buy to amuse your ego. Yet it’s perfect for families, shopping, driving to work and other casual duties. Also, it’s an ideal vehicle for drivers who have just got their licenses.
Even the most compact Hondas have relatively large trunks and a lot of inside space. You’ll be able to put a lot of luggage there.
The maintenance of a used Honda won’t cost you much. It has an excellent MPG (miles per gallon ratio), so you won’t need to pay a fortune for gas. Even if you need to change some parts or carry out big repairs, it should cost you less compared to many other cars. Besides, maintenance intervals for Hondas should be rather long.
Honda is famous for its high-quality engines. For many years, they have been setting the bar for the whole automotive industry.
Last but not least, when you decide to get a new auto, you should be able to get a good resale price for your used Honda. The resale value of this brand is among the highest in the market. Second-hand Civic and HR-V are the models that generate the highest demand on the international level.
Minor Drawbacks of Honda Cars
The small engines that Hondas are equipped with lack power. Also, the low-end torque of such vehicles is substandard.
Design is not Honda’s strong point, especially if we’re talking about older cars. Newer Civic or Accord might look a bit flashier than all the other models — but only outside. Inside, there would be plastic that looks a bit cheap. This is one of the reasons why Hondas are so affordable: the manufacturer reduces the design expenses and focuses on the functionality.
6 Tips for Customers Who Are Choosing a Second-Hand Honda
No car manufacturer is perfect and Honda has its weak points too. The good thing is that they’re not critical. Most of them impact just the level of comfort for drivers and passengers. These tips should help you to make the most of your purchase.
1. Check the Car’s Service and Repair Records
Pay particular attention to the number of previous owners as well as the number and the level of complexity of repairs. Mileage matters too — but low mileage doesn’t mean that the vehicle doesn’t have any problems and vice versa. It would be ideal if you could invite a professional mechanic to inspect the auto. Or, if you have some mechanical expertise yourself, you might want to have a look at the car on a rack.
This piece of advice is relevant not only for Honda but any other car brand too. Yet according to statistics, people tend to complain about their otherwise good Hondas simply because they didn’t investigate the auto’s history thoroughly enough before the purchase.
2. Try to Open the Windows
Electric window motors of second-hand Hondas tend to fail a bit more often, compared to other brands. These motors begin to work excessively because rubber in windows run channels has become crumbly. To avoid or at least postpone this problem, it would be wise to spray window channels with silicon.
3. Turn the Infotainment System On and See How It Works
New Hondas should have no problems in this aspect. But when you purchase an old one, you should check whether its infotainment system functions as intended. The vehicle might have no support for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The system might crash or freeze.
4. If Possible, Opt for the Mechanic Transmission
The automatic one tends to fail prematurely, after approximately 100 thousand miles. For manual gearboxes and automatic Honda’s with four-cylinder engines, this problem is not relevant. But Acura or V6 might be prone to it.
5. Make Sure There Is No Extensive Tire and Suspension Wear or Rust-Through
If you are planning to use this car for just a couple of years, a bit of rust would hardly disturb you. But you might struggle to resell the car later at a good price. Usually, the rust tends to appear under the body, hood or trunk.
Besides, you should check whether the following elements function properly:
- Suspension
- Shocks
- Tie rods
- Ball joints
There shouldn’t be any stutter stops. These components shouldn’t wobble, play or travel. If they do, you might need to pay around $1,000 to fix them.
6. Examine the Interior
Move the seats back and forth and fold over the second row. You should understand how much room there is in the back for cargo.
There should be no signs of wear and tear on the upholstery. The dashboard and floor mats should be in a good condition as well.
In case you smell smoke, mildew and mold, think of whether you can tolerate them. If you do, feel free to buy the vehicle. If you don’t, mind that you’ll never be able to get rid of the smell completely.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this information came in handy and now you have a better understanding of how to choose a worthy used Honda. Since Honda is one the most popular car brands on the second-hand market, the prices might vary considerably. If you find even a minor flaw when examining the auto before the purchase, you should ask the seller to lower the price. You’ll get quickly used to a car by this manufacturer and it can last you for many years.