HAF newbie here. I was a member of one of the Accord forums years ago when I had a '91 LX sedan. That car was a blast! Best 800 dollar car I ever had.

Anyhoo, my re-entry into the Accord racket is an 01 EX Coupe 5 speed. I wasn't really looking for an Accord. Was planning on getting some sort of hatchback for work. I am a field engineer. My needs are something good for carrying tools/parts, good mileage, comfy drivers seat as 500 mile days are somewhat common. I had considered both G1 and G2 Insights, Fits, CRZ, Focus hatchback/wagon, and a few others.

So, this morning I log into CL and just start looking through cars by owner and I came across the Accord. Here is the story on the car.

Bought by HS kid a year or so ago. He paid 2700 bucks. it had roughly 100K and was in very nice original shape. He did a CAI, plugs/wires, complete aftermarket exhaust, including header, cat(s), everything to the tail pipe. Looks like he was on the way to having a nice little slightly modded Coupe.

Then some woman ran into him......

To look at it, it isn't bad. Rear bumper cover has a few holes. The car that hit him, apparently hit with the corner of their car, right in the middle. It buckled the rear bumper, pushing the spare tire compartment forward an inch or two. Looks like that bumper frame was pretty rusted. Is this normal for these? I suspect it would have done better had it not been rusty.

The Insurance company totaled it. I guess it doesn't take much with a 16 YO car. So, it does have a salvage title

I am certain that it still drives straight. There is no sign of deformation of the frame, or what I call the frame, meaning the part of the unibody that is sort of frame rail shaped. Trunk opens/closes perfectly. I am sure that I can get the spare tire well back close to original with a little sledge-hammer love. Will need new bumper bumper frame and cover. Actually, I suspect I could just leave it as is and still get through the DMV inspection process. To look at it, you'd never guess it was totaled.

Overall, I think 1200 bucks for a loaded EX Coupe, 5 speed, sunroof, 112K on the clock is a good deal. I suspect it was worth in the neighborhood of 3-4 grand before getting smacked. His dad tells me he was into it for about 4700 bucks. Feel bad for the kid. I told him and his dad, just beat out the damage and throw a new bumper cover on, but, I guess he wants to move on.

So now it's mine. Hopefully the CT DMV won't break my ***** too bad to issue a rebuilt title. I am not concerned with future resale as I drive a lot for work and plan on running it into the ground. I put roughly 40-50K a year on cars for work. I get mileage reimbursement about my normal daily commute which is 34 miles. I suspect I can pay for this thing in a few months!

Besides fixing the damage, I doubt I'll do much modding. Maybe an aftermarket bluetooth/sat radio. It has the factory double din tape/6 CD changer (all in dash!) unit. That thing is neat. I do have an external sirius receiver that I bought years ago for my RV. Maybe I will put that in. Is there any way to get this stock unit to work with a bluetooth module?

My priorities are reliability, all day highway bomber comfort and mileage, in that order. I suspect the header might improve mpg a bit as well as possibly improve power a bit, but mostly, I think it is done for sound. I have the OEM exhaust manifold and it looks to be a pretty good flowing unit. If someone is interested in it, drop me a PM.

What sort of highway mileage can I expect? I would think that with sensible driving and maybe a little hypermiling, mid thirties should be easy. I'm hoping to make a run at 40.

Well, that is enough rambling on for now.

 

Sounds like a pretty good find. Once you work out the title and inspection stuff I'd want to go through all of the maintenance stuff that can't be verified.....

Timing belt job?
MT Fluid?
Cap and rotor?
Inspect suspension / brake items

Good luck with the new ride

 

Here is the list of what the PO did to it.

Invidia Exhaust-Aug 16 $462.00
Magnaflow 22642 Cat Aug 16 $184.00
DC Sports Header HHC5018 Aug 16 $320.00 I have the stock manifold also
AISIN Timing Belt Kit May 16 $114.78
NGK Pro wires May 16 $50.44
Mevotech Stabilizer Kinks and Moog ST8552 Struts Aug 16 $ 236.14
Beck Fuel pump/Dorman fuel tank- 12/16 $310.22
Firestone Firehawk Tires-195/65/r15- Aug 16 $ 355.92
Interstate Battery Sept 16 $110.00
K&N Aircleaner Aug 16 $45


Any thoughts on these components, recommendations for further maintenance would be appreciated. I do plan on doing full fluid swaps soon.

 

Looks like they did keep up with most things....good sign .

The timing belt kit is the big one to know that it has been done. Off the top of my head I can't think of anything else I would inspect.

 

I find it a little odd that he did the T-belt, but not the water pump. Typically these are done together on transverse engines.

How much of a PITA is the water pump to do?

 

Oh wait....I assumed the "timing belt kit" came with the water pump

Is there are "part number" for the kit in the documents?

 

You assumed correctly, poorman. I should have known better. I confirmed with the PO that it did include the WP.

Thanks for pulling my head out of my **** for me!

 

Cool, then you are pretty well set.

Cap and rotor are the only "replacement" things I can think of that are not listed.....besides fluids - oil, trans, ps, brake; coolant got drained with tb. So that and just the general, get it in the air and pull tires an a good look at things and you should be all set.

 

Yup, I'd do the fluid changes, and double check the sway bar bushings and links on both ends of the car. It's just a visual check, I'm not saying anything is broken, but it might be bent depending on the hit.