Originally posted by reeftool I will chime in that car buying is a very miserable experience. I've been driving Honda's for the past 10 years and mostly because the dealership is top notch. I looked around a couple of years ago for another truck when my 2005 GMC Canyon went to the junkyard after the frame rusted through. After spending a few days at different dealerships, I had enough and bought another Honda CRV. Added a hitch and a utility trailer from Tractor Supply and I discovered I didn't really need a truck anyhow. This is the third CRV I have owned. Yeah, they only come with automatics but I have never had a lick of trouble. My first one (a 2000) had 260K miles on it when it went to my daughter. She sold it after a couple of years and I still see it around. I have a 2007 CRV with around 140K miles now and a 2014 with 80K with no repairs other than normal maintenance, brakes, tires, etc. No tranny issues. Changing the fluid every couple of years is standard maintenance as is the rear differential fluid but that isn't much of a bother. I can't say anything bad about Honda's although I don't like their "truck".
If you like Civics, you might want to buy another one. I was drooling over the new hatchback model I saw recently and they come with standards if you really don't want an automatic. I will say, with only 135K miles, your old Civic is just getting broken in as long as it isn't rusting out. Rust is the car killer here in the northeast. My daughter had a 95 Civic with over 500K miles before she retired it.
now a Honda CRV story
[ these are all true experiences I have had buying Hondas ]
went shopping for one with my wife
she got pi**ed off at the salesman and said " we are leaving "
I don't know what ticked her off
once we got into our car and drove away, she told me to go back and buy the car - she wanted it but not to deal with " that guy "
it is the only Honda dealership within 30 miles
talk about having bargaining power, not
went back and told the salesman that I needed to see his sales director.
told him that I didn't know what the problem was but my wife didn't want me to deal with the salesman but we were interested in the car
the sales director and I had coffee and talked about " wives "
bought it
now I don't go with her when she wants to buy another " blue " car
yes, that is what she looks for when buying a vehicle - a " blue " car
---------- Post added 02-24-18 at 05:51 ----------
Originally posted by timb64 It [ Honda Prelude ] did have a bench seat across the back.I once got six passengers in it
(four across the back and two in the passenger seat).Don't try this at home kids,always drive responsibly.
I was part of a similar " crowd " in an original VW bug
not fun for long
___________________________
first memory of car buying
went with my dad looking to replace a V W Micro Bus, I must have been in jr. high
he was looking at a Datsun 510 " station wagon " with manual transmission ( later he used that vehicle to teach me how to drive )
salesman told him that he could get him a great deal on white wall tires which would help on resale value
salesman asked " how often do you trade in your vehicles "
My dad replied truthfully
100,000 miles or when the vehicle has burned to the tires which ever happens first ( which is what happened to the VW due to a fuel leak while he was driving )
Salesman said " forget the white walls "