Hey guys, about 2 and a half years ago my Father gave me a 1997 Honda Accord Special Edition. It was my step Mom's before she passed away. Before this in 2004 I had an 03 Volkswagon Jetta. My father took excellent care of his cars always kept synthetic oil changed and always used high test gasoline, as well as keeping up on general maintenance. In it's 15 years now the Accord has never given him or me a major problem. I had the timing belt replaced and the radiator had a hole and I had it replaced, and a hose or 2 went up, but nothing else ever. My Jetta being new gave me 3 or 4 major problems in the 4 years I owned it. Just to say I am now a die hard Accord/ Honda enthusiast. The car only has around 144 thousand original miles on it, because for 3 or 4 years it sat parked in my Father's driveway while my step Mom slowly ailed and passed on. This car was the best gift she could have ever given me. I use the car for general transport to and fro work, school and gym, but I was considering fixing it up cosmetically. The paint is looking bad, and my Dad and step Mom probably never cleaned the interior. So I was considering replacing the carpet, getting a new paint job, tinting the windows to keep it cooler in the summer, re- upholstering the seats, and doing a good detailing on the inside. My question is; is it worth it? I love the car, and I can't afford a new one right now, and I can do everything I mentioned for around 2 grand little by little, but the car is 15 years old with 144 thousand miles on it. I've heard of them running as many as 500 thousand miles when they're taken care of, and this car has been owned only by my Dad and step Mom, and I know they took good care of it because my Dad was a mechanic. So the question is, to you who know a lot about Accords, is the year 97 Special Edition a desirable year to fix up, or should I just save the money and keep saving to buy a newer one? 144,000 miles yes, but 15 years, is what worries me. I just would like some advice from more knowledged specialists and enthusiasts. Thanks, Jason in Md

 

Well asking that on an Accord site...of course we are going to say yes (at least I would)

This gen is pretty solid (94-97). Now each one won't always act like another so keep that in mind. Personally I have a 95 EX auto. I got it at ~185K and the PO also took car of the maint items. I've put almost another 200k on it (at 371K right now). The only "major" things outside of "normal wear items" (t-belts, brakes, fluid, filters, tires, ect) that I've had to do is:

Upper ball joints/arm and tie rods-could consider these wear items when it got to 300K
Alternator gave out around 350K
Radiator gave out ~320k

Edit: Moved to the off topic because it doesn't really fit in Gen Tech

 

YOU like the car, right? You know it's had a good history, mechanically. Those 2 things are huge.

Any other car you buy, you probably won't know its history as well as this one.

 

I agree with JimBlake i would keep it and do what you planned with it. when i get done with my cars they are usually completely done and are only worth the scrap metal they can sell it for. if YOU like it and KNOW it's history has been a good one, that's the best car you can own.