Posted by TBR (IP: 152.163.213.212) on October 30, 1999 at 11:54:40:
In Reply to: For Sale (unfortunately) posted by Brandon on October 29, 1999 at 19:09:10:
...I agree with what everyone has written about your nice Mav versus the Honda. The Honda is a dead-on reliable car, but not after 340,000 miles. If you go that route, be sure to check out the c/v joints & timing belt. The former is easy to test, just make some tight low speed turns in a parking lot. If you hear clicking noises it's time for new joints. Replacement is a serious project but is within the scope of a DIY shadetree mechanic.
The belt is another story. The engine is an "interference" design. That means if the belt breaks, your valves will stop moving while the pistons hammer them into creative little shapes(it only take one revolution). That usually happens on start-up, but I have met people who had the belt let go on the interstate(Monument Hill, TL...LOL). That belt is only safe for about 50k miles. After that it's anybody's guess when it lets go. And...Hopefully the pistons don't get cracked. You can estimate the repair will be WAY more than the car is worth. BTW, replacing the belt may not be a DIY project. The tight clearances in FWD cars usually mean dropping the engine for access - translation: expensive. Good Luck with whatever path you take;-)