Been screwed--So scrap it or keep it?

fixerh

New Member
I got an 89 Integra LS in the summer of 2007 in NC for $2150 and I have had a lot of problems with it. At the time it had 103, 000 miles on it. Now it has 119, 000. Here's a spreadsheet of most of the repairs and maintenance I've had done to it.

Date Cost Repair shop and problems addressed
8/15/2007 988 Meineke rack & pinion, gas strut assembly lifetime warranty, R&R Front Struts
8/15/2007 63.99 Indy Tire 4 wheel alignment
8/16/2007 74.19 Meineke Cv-axle shaft
11/7/2007 108.63 Meineke Oil change including filter and coolant system inspection and flush and fill; wiper blades
11/12/2007 1055 EdMartinAcura replaced timing belt, water pump, and accy belts and spark plugs, high wire, spark plugs, cap & rotor, coolant
11/19/2007 91 Hubler Acura Test drove and said nothing wrong after customer complaint of "car feels like it never gets out of 3rd gear (55 mph at 3000 rpm)
11/21/2007 960 Hubler Acura 4 tires installed, thermostat, rubber, coolant type 2; rub, engine mount; rubber, RR.,; rubber assy.; 3 new wiper arms
11/30/2007 1164 Hubler Acura temperature sensor; changed 3 motor mounts; rear hatch struts; replaced rear wiper arm & drivers side wiper arm & painted passenger side wiper arm; mount & balance 4 tires; replaced rt & lt outer tie rod ends; adjusted steering wheel
1/4/2008 835 Hubler express collision replaced rt handle, outside lift gate; repl lkq lift gate add for clear coat corrosion protection; repl lt core support; repl mask for overspray; subl hazardous waste
1/7/2008 29 Hubler Acura windshiled washer hose and washer grommet
2/25/2008 24 EdMartinAcura Checked power steering pump and belt for squeak noise; added power steering fluid
3/11/2008 80 Hubler Acura replaced gromet and cap on the resevoir
3/24/2008 1419 Hubler Acura Installed after market power door lock kit; oil & filter change; added more P.S. fluid; replaced power steering rack; aligned all four wheels
12/1/2008 60 Stereo Advantage 6.5 inch speakers added
4/7/2009 375 CarX Pro-fit Muffler including warranty, resonator pipe, exhaust pipe, tailpipe
3/22/2010 37 Walmart oil change hm 10w30 oil and pro 3593a oil; oil filter replaced; washer fluid filled
11/2/2010 36.37 Walmart oil change hm 10w30 oil and pro 3593a oil; oil filter replaced; washer fluid filled
12/20/2010 275 Thompson's Honda put a new starter in there
2150 cost of car
129 sales tax
9954.18 total costs not including license plates and title and maybe one or two oil changes
Additionally, the A/C went out on it this summer and my dad had it fixed. I'm not sure how much it cost but it's not on my spreadsheet. He also had a new rear defrost put in and I'm not sure how much he paid for that. Honda is telling me it needs brake pads and the rotors need to be resurfaced for $225, which seems to explain the brake light problem. Further, sometimes one of the belts screech when I start the car up, especially if it's cold and I haven't driven it for a day or two. I put some WD40 on there, which seemed to help but not eliminate the problem. Additionally, the back wiper never worked on this car. Also, the passenger's side front tire has been rubbing up against the body of the car. Honda thought it might be a bent steering and suspension component but they elevated the car and found no such problem. They then said that they think I should have Acura disassemble and inspect the power steering rack because they replaced it back in 2008; however, it seems to be offset. Also, the power locks only work if you get right up next to the lock, so I don't even use it. The speakers fade in and out. And, for some reason when no one else in my apartment building parking lot has foggy windows, mine are fogged up when it's cold outside. Also, the rear defrost doesn't seem to be fixed because it takes 10 or 15 minutes to get the fog off the rear window. Should I keep putting money into having this car fixed or simply get rid of it and look into getting another car?
 
Last edited:

01FTW

New Member
fixerh said:
I got an 89 Integra LS in the summer of 2007 in NC for $2150 and I have had a lot of problems with it. At the time it had 103, 000 miles on it. Now it has 119, 000. Here's a spreadsheet of most of the repairs and maintenance I've had done to it.

Date Cost Repair shop and problems addressed
8/15/2007 988 Meineke rack & pinion, gas strut assembly lifetime warranty, R&R Front Struts
8/15/2007 63.99 Indy Tire 4 wheel alignment
8/16/2007 74.19 Meineke Cv-axle shaft
11/7/2007 108.63 Meineke Oil change including filter and coolant system inspection and flush and fill; wiper blades
11/12/2007 1055 EdMartinAcura replaced timing belt, water pump, and accy belts and spark plugs, high wire, spark plugs, cap & rotor, coolant
11/19/2007 91 Hubler Acura Test drove and said nothing wrong after customer complaint of "car feels like it never gets out of 3rd gear (55 mph at 3000 rpm)
11/21/2007 960 Hubler Acura 4 tires installed, thermostat, rubber, coolant type 2; rub, engine mount; rubber, RR.,; rubber assy.; 3 new wiper arms
11/30/2007 1164 Hubler Acura temperature sensor; changed 3 motor mounts; rear hatch struts; replaced rear wiper arm & drivers side wiper arm & painted passenger side wiper arm; mount & balance 4 tires; replaced rt & lt outer tie rod ends; adjusted steering wheel
1/4/2008 835 Hubler express collision replaced rt handle, outside lift gate; repl lkq lift gate add for clear coat corrosion protection; repl lt core support; repl mask for overspray; subl hazardous waste
1/7/2008 29 Hubler Acura windshiled washer hose and washer grommet
2/25/2008 24 EdMartinAcura Checked power steering pump and belt for squeak noise; added power steering fluid
3/11/2008 80 Hubler Acura replaced gromet and cap on the resevoir
3/24/2008 1419 Hubler Acura Installed after market power door lock kit; oil & filter change; added more P.S. fluid; replaced power steering rack; aligned all four wheels
12/1/2008 60 Stereo Advantage 6.5 inch speakers added
4/7/2009 375 CarX Pro-fit Muffler including warranty, resonator pipe, exhaust pipe, tailpipe
3/22/2010 37 Walmart oil change hm 10w30 oil and pro 3593a oil; oil filter replaced; washer fluid filled
11/2/2010 36.37 Walmart oil change hm 10w30 oil and pro 3593a oil; oil filter replaced; washer fluid filled
12/20/2010 275 Thompson's Honda put a new starter in there
2150 cost of car
129 sales tax
9954.18 total costs not including license plates and title and maybe one or two oil changes
Additionally, the A/C went out on it this summer and my dad had it fixed. I'm not sure how much it cost but it's not on my spreadsheet. He also had a new rear defrost put in and I'm not sure how much he paid for that. Honda is telling me it needs brake pads and the rotors need to be resurfaced for $225, which seems to explain the brake light problem. Further, sometimes one of the belts screech when I start the car up, especially if it's cold and I haven't driven it for a day or two. I put some WD40 on there, which seemed to help but not eliminate the problem. Additionally, the back wiper never worked on this car. Also, the passenger's side front tire has been rubbing up against the body of the car. Honda thought it might be a bent steering and suspension component but they elevated the car and found no such problem. They then said that they think I should have Acura disassemble and inspect the power steering rack because they replaced it back in 2008; however, it seems to be offset. Also, the power locks only work if you get right up next to the lock, so I don't even use it. The speakers fade in and out. And, for some reason when no one else in my apartment building parking lot has foggy windows, mine are fogged up when it's cold outside. Also, the rear defrost doesn't seem to be fixed because it takes 10 or 15 minutes to get the fog off the rear window. Should I keep putting money into having this car fixed or simply get rid of it and look into getting another car?
Click to expand...

You need a different car. You probably put more money into repairs than what the car is worth. But you knew going into this that you were buying a pretty ancient car, so you should of known a lot of repair work was inevitable.

Dont put anymore money into it, sell it and buy a different car. Buy a newer Integra...
 

JGvtec

New Member
Why did you keep putting money into it in the first place? If you try to sell it you wont get anywhere ear to that amount of money.
 

fixerh

New Member
Actually, my dad was the one who put most of the money into it. I suppose he wouldn't get rid of it for the same reason he still has a typewriter from the 50s in the garage. He can't let go of junk. I was working abroad. When I got home a lot of money had already been put into it, so I was faced with either continuing to fix it or face a car payment every month. Since so much work has been put into it, it always seems like it's just one or two repairs away from being a car that I could drive for another 7 or 8 years. But even though it's been fixed over and over again, it continues to have problems. Unfortunately, I'm in grad school and haven't worked all year, so a new Integra is out of the question. I've been looking around on the Internet and have seen some 2011 cars from other manufacturers for around 11 or 12K. If I were to get a new car, those would be the ones I would consider. After all of this, I don't think I want to buy another used car. And, if I were to buy a used one, I would only want it to be a few years old. By the way, what did you mean by a "newer" Integra? And by that, I mean what years?
 


01FTW

New Member
fixerh said:
Actually, my dad was the one who put most of the money into it. I suppose he wouldn't get rid of it for the same reason he still has a typewriter from the 50s in the garage. He can't let go of junk. I was working abroad. When I got home a lot of money had already been put into it, so I was faced with either continuing to fix it or face a car payment every month. Since so much work has been put into it, it always seems like it's just one or two repairs away from being a car that I could drive for another 7 or 8 years. But even though it's been fixed over and over again, it continues to have problems. Unfortunately, I'm in grad school and haven't worked all year, so a new Integra is out of the question. I've been looking around on the Internet and have seen some 2011 cars from other manufacturers for around 11 or 12K. If I were to get a new car, those would be the ones I would consider. After all of this, I don't think I want to buy another used car. And, if I were to buy a used one, I would only want it to be a few years old. By the way, what did you mean by a "newer" Integra? And by that, I mean what years?
Click to expand...
94-01 (3rd generation) models. You can find a nice reliable one for 1-3000K if money is an issue, sometimes even cheaper. Check Craigslist under your city and you'll see plenty of them. They're good cars, as Integras are in general very reliable vehicles, you just happen to get a bad apple. An Integra like yours with problem after problem is not common.
 


rockadilla

thats right.
honestly id probably keep it, its not gonna be perfect but id just keep it as long as it is drivable, just not spend any more money trying to make everything work, u arent gonna get much money for a car thats gonna be 23 years old in a couple days
 

Bizzyb

B18C1 lover
Lol sometimes I thinks posts like these are jokes 9 grand invested in an 89 that was bought for 2 grand that doesn't even make sense, but if your for real you guys definitely weren't thinking with your heads, just keep it considering you spent 11 grand on it, never getting more than 2 for it anyways and 2 is still really high.
 

fixerh

New Member
It's nice to see you're having a laugh at my expense, but I really am a guy who doesn't know the first thing about cars and got conned into buying a junker. In the interest of respecting my elders, I'll just say that my dad does what he does (like keeps old cars) because he is the way he is. I'll just leave it at that. Anyway, I'm still not quite sure what to do about the car as I've gotten mixed advice.
 

01FTW

New Member
fixerh said:
It's nice to see you're having a laugh at my expense, but I really am a guy who doesn't know the first thing about cars and got conned into buying a junker. In the interest of respecting my elders, I'll just say that my dad does what he does (like keeps old cars) because he is the way he is. I'll just leave it at that. Anyway, I'm still not quite sure what to do about the car as I've gotten mixed advice.
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Well if continues the same high maintenance pattern, you're just gonna end up sinking more money into that piece. Before you end up losing more money into it sell it and take what you get from the sale and combine it with any money you already have and buy a newer integra.

Go on Craigslist and look for one. Send us links to the cars you are considering and we will give you our advice on what you should do.
 

Cripton805

New Member
To be honest... 100%. You did plenty of "repairs" you didn't even need. On top of that you're complaining about wheel alignments and regular maintenance that every car is going to need. If you're going to be whinning about oil changes, wheel alignments, $20 here, $20 there, etc... You should might as well walk. You will have a heart attack the day you need tires dude.
 

fixerh

New Member
Cars I'm looking at

I've been looking around quite a bit on craigslist and autotrader. Pickings on craigslist are pretty sparse around here. Here are some of the cars I found on autotrader:
1) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=n&car_id=288102140&dealer_id=57242953&start_year=2008&search_type=new&distance=25&min_price=1&end_year=2012&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&address=46168&max_price=12000&seller_type=b This should be about $210 a month for 5 years with 0% APR. It's more than I want to spend but it's new.
2) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=285953900&dealer_id=58058938&start_year=1981&make3=ACURA&make2=ACURA&make=GMC&model=15SIPU4WD&search_type=used&distance=25&end_year=2006&model3=RSX&address=46219&model2=INTEG&seller_type=b Sweet looking car. Only gripes: no fixed in place cup holder and more than I want to spend.
3) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=291503014&dealer_id=571003&start_year=1981&make3=ACURA&make2=ACURA&make=GMC&model=15SIPU4WD&search_type=used&distance=25&end_year=2006&model3=RSX&address=46219&model2=INTEG&seller_type=b " " "
4) http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=c&car_id=287649268&dealer_id=73527&start_year=2002&search_type=certified&distance=50&min_price=1&end_year=2012&certified=y&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&address=46219&max_price=12000&seller_type=b This is a nice looking car and it comes with a warranty.
 

TheIVJackal

Freedom through Jesus
^^Uh, a bit harsh my friend Cripton
Im sorry about your car and your dads issue with getting rid of things. Lots of people have issues getting rid of their things. Id talk to your dad and tell him that youd like to sell the car. Get what ever money you can for it and buy a car thats a bit more reliable. When you test drive your next car, turn on all the buttons, flip all the switches and listen for any noise coming from any part of the car. Pop the hood and check for any signs of oil leaks. My engine bay was cleaned up real well, too well, and ended up finding a receipt under the seat after I bought the car for 2 cans of engine cleaner... Had an oil leak but managed to fix it my self. So let this be a learning experience and try to put it past you. Good Luck! -Aaron
 
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