Hey guys,

First CL forum post, so be nice! I'm an active member over in the TSX community
Just to get to the point, i'll show a few main facts.
-i'm an engineer that got moved to a field job for the next year. The site is all red clay, dirty, and i have to drive a little while on location. The job is 53 miles one way, so about 110 miles a day whereas before, i was commuting 3 miles to the train station with my car.
-i have a 2006 TSX with only 12,600 miles with Ron Jon wheels and a bunch of other stuff and i really don't want to get it all messed up and rack up the mileage. I really want to keep it nice.
-i don't have a ton of money but if need be i could afford a beater car to use to make my commute and drive in the mud. So, i looked into a truck but they get crap mileage so i am now looking for like a 97 civic or something like for like $4k to use as a commuting car. HOWEVER, i have a friend who's mom is getting ready to sell her 1998 CL 3.0 to my g/f's brother who doesn't want it. So he told me they were getting a deal on it and it would be passed to me if i want it. The only stats i know so far is it seems to have been well taken care of, has around 100k miles on it, its black on black, and they only want $3k-$4k for it, which i think it a steal.

SO, my questions are, will i get decent gas mileage in this car making a 110 miles round trip commute and not really using it for anything else? Also, i know about the tranny issues but i don't know specifics, what should i look for if it hasn't yet been replaced?

OR, should i just get a civic for the money and forget about it? I also just thought about buying it, and the selling for a little more money and getting a little newer civic.....

Thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Jordan


EDIT: Oh yea, its an automatic too!

 

get the civic........3.0 with 100k and original tranny is asking for trouble no matter how well it was maintained.

 

I don't know it if has the original tranny or not. The whole family drives Acura's so i have a feeling it might have been swapped for a new one. Dad drives and MDX, mom the CL, and son an Integra that is really hooked up nicely too. You think i should still just try and find a civic though?

 

I think that you should go for the cl, i think the tranny problems are on the 02 and 03 cl, but you will want to look into it. But if they all own acuras then im sure its well takin care of. Its a great car.

 

wrong, first gen 3.0's have tranny problems along with all 3.0 accords.

 

As long as the tranny is in good shape, the 3.0's get good gas mileage, assuming the tranny has been maintained or rebuilt

 

As much as I hate to say this, go with a 2-door Civic EX. Less problems. I was looking into one before my parents bought the CL. I might be having first symptoms of tranny problems already and I don't even have my lisence yet.. Might just be inexperience too tho. If ur going to sell it anyway, and it's running great now, then jump on it! My .

 

I owned both a civic(95) and a 3.0(97) and have to say sadly based on RELIABILITY and the GAS the civic hands down. If you want a nice car with some power and alittle less reliability get the cl. If you need to from point a-b cost EFFICIENTLY( putting as little $$ as possible into the car) get the civic. If you want to get there in stlye get the cl. My civic couldn't wipe my cl's ass based on looks and some features so it depends on what suits you best............

 

if you get a manual then you will like the car better

 

Well honestly, i will ONLY be driving this car from my house to the construction job site with maybe an occasional run to the gym or something and use the TSX for weekends. Therefore, style is not really important and i just need to get from A to B with the best gas mileage possible. I don't even care if the car has some dents as long as the engine is good! I will be crusing probably around 80-85 MPH too.

I am going to look into the tranny issue this weekend and get back to you but as of right now i think the civic would be best. I have also looked into a mazda protege, toyota corolla, and hyundai elentra. Any input on those?

Thanks again for the feedback guys! Please keep posting your opinions of the car or what gas mileage any of you with a 97 or 98 3.0 get on straight highway miles

 

just get a manual 2.x CL. it has really good highway milage and no tranny issues.

 

my sister ran her 3.0 to @ 200k on the original trans, so nothing's impossible if the car's well maintained, but i'd have to agree with most above: the civic better suits your posted needs. (plus, it's kind of a waste to have dirty cl )
maybe something like an old awd n/a impreza for the dirt?

 

I actually did look into them but for the same price as a civic with like 105k miles the subaru had like 150-160k miles on them so i stopped looking at them. Plus they didn't get that great of gas mileage compared to the civic.


Dicorp, i'll have to look into those and see how much they are running, thanks!

 

sorry to say this but, a 3.0CL's tranny is bound to die. I have a 1997 3.0 and we got it at 104K miles. Its at 132K now and we had the tranny rebuilt twice. And its still shitty. Yea I may drive it rough sometimes and beat it up. But still. Go with a Civic Ex. Depending on the moeny you want to spend. I think the 04' models look pretty clean. Not much under the hood. But like you said. It will get you some good mileage for all of that driving.

 

The tranny might go to poo, but you never know. As far as I know, my tranny has never been replaced and I drive a 97 3.0 CL with 150k miles on it. You'll probably get better than 225 miles to a tank of gas. That's usually what I get, and about 3/4 of those miles are highway miles.

 

Bought a 98 3.0 last year with 140K and I drive 90 miles per day on the freeway. I get about 24mpg. I had a 93 Civic and got about 30 mpg. Both run great and very little problems. I like the Acura because it's heavier and feels better for the long distances. I've got about 155K now on the original tranny and no mechanical problems.

Good luck.

 

Make sure the tranny is good. Have a tranny shop check the screens in the syleniods if there is shavings in them then there is a problem, if not your probably good to go.