So, I thought I would share the events of the past 24 hours with everyone. I was browsing for a cheap car to use while here in AZ on vacation from MI for the next 3 weeks and came across this gem the day it was listed on Craigslist.
Guy posted up a 1989 Honda Accord SE-i Coupe. Its a ONE owner, All Original, 42k mile pristine example of the top of the line 3rd Gen. model. I thought, no way in hell its still available. I call him up and sure enough, an older gentleman answered and said it is! Gears were immediately going in my head. How do I get it home, can my parent's 2003 Toyota Sienna w/ 267k miles tow this amount of weight with a 3500lb tow package rating, where the closest U-Haul dealer was, etc.
I schedule a time to meet him at 2pm in Tucson, AZ. I'm visiting in Chandler, so about 115 miles away. I make sure the U-haul near him has tow dollys available and get that squared away and reserved. I go to the bank, pull out the money and stick it in an envelope. Check, check check.
So I get there, and everything is as expected. I can't believe how clean everything is on this nearly 29 year old Honda. There are a few things wrong with it, but what do you expect, the owner of the car is an old lady who's now 99 years old and can no longer drive. It was shown by either a family friend or the guy storing the car in his garage.
The car started out life in Hawaii, 29 years ago. It was purchased by check on May 29, 1989 for $19,000, $5k below the retail sticker, which I have a copy of in the documentation the guy gave me. It was kept there and driven about 37k miles until 1996 where it was then relocated to Green Valley, AZ...basically southwest Tucson. The place is more like a retirement community for older folk. so it was driven only 5k miles in the past 22 years!
I'm racking my head as to what I should do with this car, especially with the limited time I have here in AZ before I have to go back to work in MI on Jan 3rd. I'm definitely going to get it in roadworthy condition. By the way, it does run and drive but leaks coolant from some rubber lines and fuel in the middle two injectors and has the original, never touched timing belt and water pump in it. But I was able to get it onto the dolly under its own power.
Should I post it up for sale on Bring a Trailer? Keep it in the family and ship it back to MI and drive it in the summertime? Keep it in AZ and drive it when I visit family? Contact Honda to see if they're interested? Sell it to a Honda museum? So many options.
But here are some photos of the find:
Guy posted up a 1989 Honda Accord SE-i Coupe. Its a ONE owner, All Original, 42k mile pristine example of the top of the line 3rd Gen. model. I thought, no way in hell its still available. I call him up and sure enough, an older gentleman answered and said it is! Gears were immediately going in my head. How do I get it home, can my parent's 2003 Toyota Sienna w/ 267k miles tow this amount of weight with a 3500lb tow package rating, where the closest U-Haul dealer was, etc.
I schedule a time to meet him at 2pm in Tucson, AZ. I'm visiting in Chandler, so about 115 miles away. I make sure the U-haul near him has tow dollys available and get that squared away and reserved. I go to the bank, pull out the money and stick it in an envelope. Check, check check.
So I get there, and everything is as expected. I can't believe how clean everything is on this nearly 29 year old Honda. There are a few things wrong with it, but what do you expect, the owner of the car is an old lady who's now 99 years old and can no longer drive. It was shown by either a family friend or the guy storing the car in his garage.
The car started out life in Hawaii, 29 years ago. It was purchased by check on May 29, 1989 for $19,000, $5k below the retail sticker, which I have a copy of in the documentation the guy gave me. It was kept there and driven about 37k miles until 1996 where it was then relocated to Green Valley, AZ...basically southwest Tucson. The place is more like a retirement community for older folk. so it was driven only 5k miles in the past 22 years!
I'm racking my head as to what I should do with this car, especially with the limited time I have here in AZ before I have to go back to work in MI on Jan 3rd. I'm definitely going to get it in roadworthy condition. By the way, it does run and drive but leaks coolant from some rubber lines and fuel in the middle two injectors and has the original, never touched timing belt and water pump in it. But I was able to get it onto the dolly under its own power.
Should I post it up for sale on Bring a Trailer? Keep it in the family and ship it back to MI and drive it in the summertime? Keep it in AZ and drive it when I visit family? Contact Honda to see if they're interested? Sell it to a Honda museum? So many options.
But here are some photos of the find:
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