A car with 27,000 miles feels like a safe bet. That is exactly why one New Mexico shop owner tells buyers to get it inspected anyway, and a 2017 Honda Civic Sport showed him why.
The mechanic who posts as @CarWizard runs a shop in New Mexico. A customer brought in the Civic for his full front-to-back inspection.
A Clean Honda Civic Sport With A Twist
The car is a six-speed manual hatchback with 27,043 miles on the clock. In addition, the customer handed over a Carfax report, and one line stood out.
“It came from Hawaii.”
According to the mechanic, that told him there was something he needed to check. So he saved it for last.
What The Inspection Found First
Most of the news was good. For example, the wheels had some road rash, which he calls cosmetic. Meanwhile, a trim piece by the driver’s footwell had broken off, and someone had tried to glue it back.
Under the hood, he says the 1.5-liter turbo engine looked clean, though he thinks all its hoses will add labor time for repairs. Underneath, he found no leaks and no rust, which the customer had worried about since the car came from Hawaii.
On top of that, the brakes had about 70 to 80 percent left. Finally, a date code on the tires showed the 24th week of 2022, so they still had good tread.
Inside, his wife walked through the cabin and found it in good shape. The cloth seats had no stains, the digital dash worked, and the folding rear seats looked barely used. In short, it was the kind of car most buyers would take home on the spot.
He notes this was not a cheap quick check. Instead, his shop’s full inspection covers every button and system, which is why customers often say they never knew about small issues until it is done.
The Coolant Reading
Then he drew a sample of the antifreeze into his tester.
“It’s not even registering. It’s zero.”
However, he says this does not surprise him on cars from places that never freeze. His guess is that someone did work on the car and topped it up with water or a weak mix.
“a mechanic could think it’s never going to leave this island. What does it matter?”
As for how it reached New Mexico, he guesses a service member bought it new in Hawaii and brought it to the mainland on new orders. Still, he is clear that this is only his theory. Antifreeze also carries corrosion inhibitors that plain water does not, he adds.
“They could literally freeze their engine and destroy it or damage it.”
He also makes the case for an inspection before you sell. That way, when a buyer points to a problem, you can show the report and stand firm on your price.
What To Check On A Low-Mile Car From A Warm Place
- Low miles do not mean nothing is wrong, so get a pre-purchase inspection.
- Ask where the car has lived, because a history report can show it.
- Have the coolant mix tested, even if the level looks right.
- Plan a flush to the right mix before a winter trip north.
- An inspection before you sell helps you defend your price.
Where Things Stand
Because the customer needed the Civic back the same day, the fix had to wait. Even so, the mechanic expects it to return soon for a coolant flush that brings the mix to the right level.
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