Buying A Used Car

Out of context: Reply #18

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  • vaxorcist0

    How many miles? It's the maintenance intervals that matter. Check this info online once you find the car make/model/year you're looking for.

    First thing I ask with a Honda / Acura is when the previous owner replaced the timing belt. I do NOT ask "did you replace the timing belt" because people will probalby say "yes" in order to sell it... I ask WHEN, and wait for the response....

    For example, if you have a Honda with 70,000 miles, that car might have just had it's 60,000 mile service done, and it's probably in great shape.

    Compare that to a Honda with 65,000 miles that has NOT had it's 60,000 mile service done, and/or even the 30,000 mile service done, that car may need thousands in repairs....

    Most hondas and many other cars have "interference engines" where you HAVE TO replace the timing belt every so many miles, if you don't, and the timing belt breaks, the engine is massively messed up. Replacing this timing belt is $200-400 or so.

    If a timing belt breaks on a "non-interference engine" car, it's no big deal except you're stranded on the road and have to pay $250-400 to fix it, your engine probably won't be fried....

    a list of older cars with interference engines:
    http://www.aa1car.com/library/ti…

    I'd ask a mechanic if the model you're looking for is an interference engine or not.

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