Why I bought the Accord
I had a car accident that total my car, and after the lean was paid, I received about $1800. I decided I should be able to find a decent car at this price. My roommate had an 1988 Honda Accord that had been reliable, so I looked at Accords mostly but also Camerys and Maximas.

I found my car at a small used car lot. It appeared to be in good shape except the lights didn't go down anymore. I decided that the reputation of Accords gave me enough confidence in the car, and the price was right ($1650). Therefore, I bought this car.

What I like most of my car
The car still has my confidence a year later with 184k instead of 170k. I am not worried about it breaking down or nickel and dime problems adding up. Furthermore, the gas mileage is great for my budget (28-34 mpg).

The car drives well with acceleration to match any 4 cylinder sedan. The interior is nothing fancy, but I am still able to be proud of this car.

The problems I have had
The problems I have had are the result of three reasons. First, I used to drive an SUV, so when I got this car, I learned the hard way about bottoming out while driving on the hilly campus of the University of Tennessee. I learned this lesson twice and it cost me about $600 to fix.

Next, I blame some problems on it being a used car. The brake master cylinder leaked. My brakes (front and rear) are worn bad, and I am working to replace them. My oil pan had a temporary oil plug in it, which needed to be fixed. My air conditioner is not operating at full capacity; it needs more coolant. The sunroof leaked because the drains were clogged. It cost $30 to fix that.

Finally, I blame the car for wearing after 15 years and 170k miles. There is a minor oil leak, not enough to see on the ground but you can smell it burn off the engine.

Tips to people shopping for a used Accord

1. Check how clean the engine is. If it has been pressure washed then you don't really know if it leaks. Otherwise, you should be able to see buildup if it leaks.
2. Make sure the air conditioner cools enough to satisfy you. The R12 is more costly to replace than the new coolant.
3. Mileage is not a big deal, but my roommate's Accord has 225k, and it is starting to die. I think that is a fair mark to expect the car to be more trouble than it is worth.

Amount Paid (US$): 1650.00
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1988
Model and Options: LXi, sunroof, air, power windows and locks