95 VX for $5000 good deal or not?

[goof2cbr]

Saw an ad for 95 VX with 140k milage, clean 2 owner, stock, no bodywork.
Gas is under $3/gal now. would anyone pay $5k for this car?
I think $4k is more like it. Location is So Cal. Wasn't a VX in 1995 only 10K new?

I've seen lots of VX swap info on a CRX HF.

What about VX swap into a 92-95 DX Coupe? or 4 Door?

Any how-to/tutorials on swapping in a VX on a 5th (Same) gen VX engine on a Coupe or Sedan Civic?

What are the results? Is it worth it?

In California, how is a VX smog test? because of lean mode, doesn't that raise O2 level in idle test?

So if you put a VX engine in a non-VX civic and try to pass CA smog, would you pass or fail?

Are VX cars in smog tests given different gas measured parameters (ranges) than other 1.5l civic engines?

[thisisntjared]

i wouldnt pay more than $3k for it, but people will buy it for $5k if gas goes back up again.

california gets a different vx btw and it will pass smog if you leave it alone hahaha.

[vxdude]

5,000$ is alot for a VX, but if you a currently driving a SUV of some sort, it might be worth considering. Calulate how much you would save per month if you were getting 50MPG then go from there

[1993CivicVX]

I wouldn't pay $5000. I'd buy a 1992-1995 Civic DX instead. Compare the purchase price difference between a DX and VX and then compare the fuel economy difference of the two (which is about 25%) and go from there.

Case in point: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/887269476.html
--California DX with 140,000 miles but selling for $2000 instead of $5000 and has 4 doors to boot. Can be nursed to 50mpg.

and another one: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/ctd/887233293.html

[mad pup]

My federal VX passed CA smog with no modifications. I just did routine maintenance items (plugs & wires, O2 sensor, cat) and it passed.

I think this would be worth it if you really want to have a clean VX and willing to pay for it. If you're just looking to save $, there are more cost effective options, like the DX mentioned above.

[R.I.D.E.]

It would have to be perfect mechanically with reciepts to show all maintenance, including a current timing belt and major services.

It would have to require no bodywork or paint, be rust free, with a very nice interior.

Pull the oil filler cap off and it has to be almost like new inside the engine.

No ripped CV boots, no tires or brakes etc, NOTHING.

I spent more for mine by the time I got through with it, but it had 27,492 miles on the odo when I bought it.

regards
gary

[nowhhs]

I agree with Gary, its easy to buy a rougher car for a lot less, but by the time you get it really nice, you'll have close to that in it. I saw somebody's thread where they are completely rebuilding a VX, it needed body work, struts, CVs, almost everything. Even if he got the original car for nothing, he'll have more than 5k in it when hes done, not including all the labor (his own). IMO, if its perfect like Gary described AND you plan on keeping it for the long term, it could be worth that much. Gas prices will rise again, and that 25% difference mentioned earlier may be worth it in the long run.

[silversol]

i would not sell mine for less that 5k! and like some one said mine has all the maintance done. new tires, alinement, new o2, new clutch. and timing belt! and also i dont think anyone could find one! cleaner than mine!

[1993CivicVX]

i would not sell mine for less that 5k! and like some one said mine has all the maintance done. new tires, alinement, new o2, new clutch. and timing belt! and also i dont think anyone could find one! cleaner than mine!

I probably wouldn't sell mine for $5000 either (and it's clearly not worth that much) but I probably wouldn't buy one for $5000 either.

[goof2cbr]

thanks for all the replies

Yes I know how to calc for 25% difference between a DX for $2k vs a VX.

I currently drive a C5 vette now and its gets 20mpg avg with nearly 400hp.
So I believe its one of the best 350hp+ FE cars out there. Mine is an auto4 speed! There are plenty of C5 manuals that get 30+ on hwy. (C5 have lots of aero features, including the rare rounded wheel well.)

I want a prius or lexus hybrid, but recently discovered the VX. I had my eye on the CRX HF 50hp for CA, but 50mpg that I can have for under $2k, pocket change compared on prius or lexus.

I like the VX becasue it's newer than CRX HF, and seats 4~5 instead. Plus the lean mode is too cool, very innovative.

So in my search for VX I find again 90% ricer trash and this one 95 for $5k.
Yes all service records are kept, honda dealer maintained. The ad sounded rude and said she wont take anything less than $5k so don't waste my time!
I'm thinking damn!! the arrogance with (this) VX owner(s)! I didn't even feel like contacting this person. BTW, this ad has been on CL for about 1 month.

Here's the CL link

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/862925817.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/887119079.html
(this ad was placed again 10/20/08, slighly reworded)

anyway, the crack in windshield (identified flaw of this VX) will grow with time, thermal expansion, just a matter of when.

[goof2cbr]

ok, I guess my original post has many questions

so I'm going to post a new thread subject on asking how to swap a VX engine in to a coupe.

Please continue on discussion on the white clean VX for $5k. Maybe someone will buy it. I might pay $4k myself, but she said she wasn't open to offers.

websites like edmunds TMV and kbb.com value any VX well under $4k.

When did they VX get all this FE attention? From what I gathered VX, CX and DX were in demand by ricer boys because of the light weight shell. So at one point in time, maybe before $2.00/gal the VX were at the current kbb or TMV price of ~$2k private party, ~$3k retail. $2.00/gal was like in when? I forgot?!

[R.I.D.E.]

Here are some pics of mine.

5k is the cost of a hybrid battery, but 140 k miles will scare a lot of people away, even though you can get twice that. That one is probably a California car so it will not get the mileage of a federal emissions specs VX. Original Fed EPA highway was 56 MPG, I think Cal was about 50. EPA figures have been revised down recently. My VX averaged 10 MPG better than my brothers new Prius.

Mine has 41016 miles on the odo now.

They were really hot when fuel prices were high, maybe not so hot now with prices dropping.

I have $5500 in mine with some additional horse trading ;).

New t-belt (15 years old) amd Michelins (pic is of the original 113 date coded tires 11th week 1993). Car was built 8-93 94 Model (probably first month production).

I would buy that car before I would consider any hybrid, but you need to drive it first and make sure you can handle the difference in power, compared to your Vette. Of course if you drive 2000 miles a month you can easily save the cost of the VX in the high mileage depreciation in the Vette.

And if the price is firm you want to see records of recent timing belt change. Broken t-belt can wreck the engine. Low mileage engines are still available, so consider buying one for the long run, if you want to drive the car another 200,000 miles.

Also you need to either know or be a good mechanic if you try for 300,000 plus miles. I have 60,000 hours experience myself, in bodywork, mechanical, parts, and operating my own business (every aspect) for 14 years.

Will post pics in additional reply, done want to type this again

regards
gary

[R.I.D.E.]

Pics as promised
gary

[goof2cbr]

Gary-You've got a sweet ride. I would pay 5500 for your 27k VX, sure. That's almost a fair price. 27k on the clock is very rare. But 140k?
I understand VX owners are going to get a top dollar, but 5k for that doesn't feel right, like I said, I would probably buy it a $4k.

The reason I would buy a Prius is to make it a plug in. I would pay $20k in a sports car hop ups, why not hybrid hop up to get 100mpg?!

Don't worry about the high mileage depreciation of my vette. Modern corvettes C5 and C6 depreciate yearly regardless of mileage. They were mass produced and readily available in the ebay market. I plan to keep mine vette as it is has depreciated in TMV and it's worth more to me to keep it. 400hp, 0-60 < 5sec, 26+mpg hwy, 175+mph, daily driver. Name another car that can do that! So I claim its a green sports car. (as long as I don't get stuck in traffic- then it sucks 4x the gas at idle compared to civics)

Commuting and being stuck in traffic like I always am in LA, power wouldn't be really used, and yes I've had crappy low hp cars as well. Plymouth Champ, and Reliant K cars! So if I get a VX or VX Swap, I can use it to commute and as a beater car not think about cost per mile.

Right now, I'm on the beating the gas game kick. I'm currently putting together electric bike, just to see how practical it would be to use daily and want to see the maturity of LiFePO4 battery technology.
(then I web searched converted electric motorcycles! oh I want one! more on some other time)

And in regards to the Hybrid Lexus, it's the only Hybrid SUV that get significant FE at 30~35mpg for a 5000lbs box! Plus I need a semi-luxury car too.

[R.I.D.E.]

Your best move may be to just wait another year, and avoid the conversion issue. I think in the fall of 09 you will see dedicated plug ins that are actually practical cars, with a reasonable range.

Another pathway would be to get a CNG (compressed natural gas) Civic model anda home unit for refueling. 200 + mile range and fuel from the US. T Boone Pickens thinks its the way to go. It may deserve some research.

The VX seller has picked a declining market in which to sell. the demand is inversely proportional to the cost of fuel.

My other car is a 98 Mercedes SLK 230, which so far is averaging about 28.5 MPG. I paid $6800 for it with 89 K miles, so there is not much depreciation left compared to the original $42k price. If I put too many miles on it I can just scrap it and use the parts to rebuild another low mileage host car.

Check out Green Car Congress for some of the upcoming electric vehicles that should be available soon.

regards
gary

[suspendedhatch]

That's a rip off. Anything $1000 over blue book is just stupid.

[KU40]

^ I agree. I'd never pay anything close to 5k for that.

[MCAT]

[QUOTE=goof2cbr;122081]

Here's the CL link

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/862925817.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/887119079.html
(this ad was placed again 10/20/08, slighly reworded)

QUOTE]


I just got done reading both craigslists ads and she failed to mention if the Civic for sale is a genuine VX? What I'm saying here is that it's possible the car can be a CX! My brother had a white 93 CX just like the one pictured with no side moldings so it's kind of hard to tell if its a CX or VX just by looking at pictures she posted. The ads says that it has "NEW" VX alloy wheels. It's possible she swapped out the stock CX steel wheels with new VX alloys?

I would make sure its a genuine VX before spending time to go see it.

As for the $4995 price tag? IMO, I think its worth buying if you get paid by the miles like some employers offer to their employee drivers. I think the CA. IRS standard for paying mileage out to an employee is $0.49 a mile (It varies with different employers)?

I'm a Field Service Technician and I average 5K miles a month driving out in the field. If I was looking to buy a VX for work I would buy it if it had working AC, regardless of the $4995 price tag. So for a person who is looking to get the most gas mileage out of a car so they can get paid for it, then this car would be an investment in the long run. But in your case, you would just be commuting with it right?

[mad pup]

^ Yup, you're absolutely right. It could very well be a CX. She never did say it was a VX, only that it has VX wheels.

In fact, the fact that she mentioned VX wheels yet specifically omits that the car itself is a VX in the title could point to the car being a CX more likely than a VX.

If it's a CX, then it's definitely not worth $5k.

[1993CivicVX]

could be a DX with inflated MPG claims.

[Willard]

I would make sure its a genuine VX before spending time to go see it.Looks like the front lip is missing from the white car.


Gary = amazing pictures. :D

[1993CivicVX]

The lady replied to my email: said it's a CX.

[suspendedhatch]

That's some nerve asking $5000 for a CX with VX rims. CX is so stripped down and crappy. 8 valve gutless motor.. Not good for much else then turning into a race car with an engine swap. But not if you can get a DX for less.

[MCAT]

Case closed! Don't buy a CX for 5 grand! Keep searching!;)

Can't hate on the lady though for asking 5K....some poor sap will buy it sooner or later and that will be his or her fault for not doing research.

[mad pup]

Shiz CX for $5K? Well my VX has the same number of miles, the first person to bring $7K cash takes my car. :-D

[thisisntjared]

Case closed! Don't buy a CX for 5 grand! Keep searching!;)

Can't hate on the lady though for asking 5K....some poor sap will buy it sooner or later and that will be his or her fault for not doing research.if i had to choose between a dx with an automatic transmission or a cx with a manual i would go for the cx.... i wouldnt pay 500 more for any other 92-95 civic than i would for a cx... they still can get 50mpg even though they are the most underpowered.

then again i purchased my 94 cx for $1100 and a d16z6 for $300 back in 2004.

[MCAT]

if i had to choose between a dx with an automatic transmission or a cx with a manual i would go for the cx.... i wouldnt pay 500 more for any other 92-95 civic than i would for a cx... they still can get 50mpg even though they are the most underpowered.

then again i purchased my 94 cx for $1100 and a d16z6 for $300 back in 2004.


If I had to choose between a DX with an automatic transmission or a CX with a manual I would go for the DX..which I have and have no complaints. I chose an automatic DX because I personally enjoy the comforts of an auto shifting tranny and can deal with the MPG loss over a manual.;)

[bowtieguy]

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/892356576.html

[goof2cbr]

The lady replied to my email: said it's a CX.

It's a CX! :eek:
WTF is she smoking?! I has assumed it was a VX due to the high price.

It never really crossed my mind that it could be a CX.

She recently lowered the price to $4500 firm.

I was going to offer her $4000 if it were a VX.

But heck, a CX, I'd give her no more than $2500.

Get Real! Yes case closed, and this thread should also be closed.

It was my error/assumption that it was a $5k VX 140k for sale in title.

Now we find out that's no longer the case, just a crazy-overprice CX.

[mad pup]

It looks like the CL post is gone - anyone know if it sold at her asking price?

[Jay2TheRescue]

I just looked, and the post is there, she just lowered the price to $2,350

-Jay