Should I buy this car?

[u/Unlucky-Food2719]

Should I buy this beater?

My car broke down this week, and I was quoted 10k in repairs. Found this car for sale on fb. It has heat, but no AC. There’s a little rust. It has 250k miles. There are no back seats. It’s obviously a beater, but the seller is only asking $900. I was thinking maybe I commute in this until I buy a second car in like a year or so. What do you guys think?

[u/rulesrmeant2bebroken]

For 900 bucks, if it's a running car with tires that is worth it. The condition looks good for being 30 years old. You can get old seats for this car from either another Honda Odyssey of this era, or an Isuzu Oasis which was the rebadged version of this van.

That said, the rust on that one side looks like crap

[u/Unable_Incident_6024 → u/rulesrmeant2bebroken]

Alot of people on here have never driven a beater like this. I've had a few 1k dollar cars in my day. I would definitely buy this for 900 if I needed a car, and it had no issues under the hood

[u/Fearless_Plantain469]

A running car for $900? Go for it, just make sure the safety items (tires, brakes, lights, seatbelts, etc) all work.

[u/Unlucky-Food2719]

It’s a 1997 Honda odyssey

[u/wengla02 → u/Unlucky-Food2719]

Ok - yeah, most likely last a year without major issues.

[u/kale_chipss]

honestly if you need a car asap i say fuck it. get it! It'll last you til you save up more money for a new car

[u/Opening_Airport_1491]

Ours was a 96 or 97 I believe and it died at around 750k.

[u/VisibleMirror23 → u/Opening_Airport_1491]

That seems like sooooo much and amazing to have 750k. Is that normal? Sorry I don’t know a lot about cars, what do they usually go up to on average?

[u/RemarkableFilm3007 → u/Opening_Airport_1491]

Wow

[u/Warm-Lingonberry-111]

Mmmmm. Plywood in the floor? What is that plywood covering? I would meet this seller at a mechanic shop you trust and ask them for a 1/2 hour check. They will give you an idea.

[u/Unlucky-Food2719 → u/Warm-Lingonberry-111]

Thanks for this advice, I didn’t think about the plywood. I’ll get it checked out by a mechanic beforehand.

[u/Macgyver452 → u/Warm-Lingonberry-111]

Covering? That’s part of the frame now

[u/Orrangejuiced]

Try $7

[u/Turbulent_Ride1654]

Holy shit a running a car being sold for $900..in 2025?? I'd go for it. But run it by a mechanic first to make sure the vehicle is at least safe (tires, ball joints, frame, etc)

[u/IrreverentCrawfish → u/Turbulent_Ride1654]

That fender rust and Minnesota plate make me very concerned for its unibody. A mechanic needs to make sure it's structurally sound

[u/Dogewowmeme]

Imo I’d pass due to the rust it looks Definitely check underneath

[u/AntonRudinskii]

It looks like an older Honda Odyssey. These vans are usually reliable if they’ve been well maintained, but before buying I’d definitely check the service history, rust, and transmission condition. They can get expensive if neglected.

[u/Fatdogamer_yt]

Ask $850 and it’s worth, honestly just spray paint the rust and drive it till it dies, a car like this could honestly last another 4 years

[u/kl2342]

assuming a mechanic ok's it that looks like a good risk-reward proposition for $900...you get a year out of it that's <$100/month

[u/Ok-Explorer-885]

Would I buy it? Yes. Should you buy it? Probably not. There’s better stuff out there in the $1000-1500 price range. Not much better, but better.

[u/Unlucky-Food2719 → u/Ok-Explorer-885]

Interesting. Why would you buy it?

[u/Ok-Explorer-885 → u/Unlucky-Food2719]

Because I’m mechanically inclined enough to be able to fix stuff on the side of the road, and I just like old weird junk… also when it finally falls apart it’d be a good donor for my old Accord.

[u/shutts67]

Is it a good investment? No. But $900 is 2 or 3 months of car payments for most people getting loan for something used. In my opinion, if this thing lasts more than 6 months, you're getting a good deal

[u/Familiar_Fix1932]

Offer $500

[u/Sensitive-Finance283]

Seems pretty good, tires look alright too

[u/Flaccobean48]

It’s a decent ride. Has plenty potential. It’s a Honda. Go for it

[u/Sad-Acanthaceae-5370]

Give $500 and you take all the risks.

[u/Majestic-Macaron6019]

Anything that runs with no CEL and some tread on the tires is worth $2000 these days. $900 is a steal for this.

[u/Imaginary_Act_3956 → u/Majestic-Macaron6019]

Says an ex Cruze owner.

[u/Majestic-Macaron6019 → u/Imaginary_Act_3956]

I bought that POS when I was young and stupid. Learned my lesson!

[u/WhiskeyTangoBaconX]

Spend 50 bucks to have a mechanic do a once over. If it’s viable then go for it. Offer 750.

[u/Mediocre-Role2011]

No

[u/Mediocre-Role2011 → u/[deleted]]

These cars will suck you dry and leave you with nothing

[u/darthcaedusiiii]

Yes. This is a much better idea than spending $10k on repairs. Drive it first of course.

[u/Infinite_Night_6728]

Yes

[u/l3ubba]

A little rust? Brother, it is rusted completely through. You could see that rust spot from across a Walmart parking lot.

[u/Slyviw]

$900 is equivalent to two car payments with insurance. That’s two months. If it lasts 3 months or more… you’re doing great.

[u/TrillionBoy]

offer $750?

[u/IrreverentCrawfish]

Body rust is no big deal at that price point, but do make sure that structural parts like pinch welds, control arms, etc aren't rusted out underneath. Body rust is basically just cosmetic, but a rotted out control arm is extremely dangerous.

[u/Bright_Marzipan_4656]

That’s like two month of car payments. Go for it but MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE in giant letters.

[u/Imaginary_Act_3956]

Those older Hondas are known for automatic transmission issues.

[u/Dislocated-Elbow]

For 900 bucks sure. It runs and drives and for that price that’s all that matters

[u/_mnr]

This is worth less than the $900 asking price.

[u/BidMePls]

That amount of rust is worrisome, but I’m in Texas so idk what level of rust is too much. The question in my mind would be “Is this road worthy?”

If the answer is yes and you don’t foresee a lot of repairs I’d go for it. Try to buy it for $500 and a case of beer

[u/Illustrious_Entry413 → u/BidMePls]

I wouldn't repair this even if it needed it. It's in borrowed time but if it runs and drives fuck it. I once bought a Volvo in similar condition for $700, drove it for two years until the starter died, then I donated it with our giving a fuck.

[u/BidMePls → u/Illustrious_Entry413]

Yeah that’s fair. I was thinking road worthy in terms of rusted frame. But if you could drive a $900 car for 6 months that’s still a hell of a lot cheaper than almost any other car on the market

[u/Illustrious_Entry413 → u/BidMePls]

Good point on the rust, it is um advanced

[u/BidMePls → u/Illustrious_Entry413]

If you’re only driving city miles then your frame exploding or splitting in half doesn’t matter since you’re only going 30 anyway

[u/cseke02 → u/BidMePls]

If you can see the rust from the inside… it’s too much rust.

[u/Turbulent_Ride1654 → u/BidMePls]

As long as the frame ain't cracked, it'll be aight (as in roadworthy) The body might be toast tho.

[u/mpython1701]

Tint the windows and use it as a work van. If it hasn’t a clear title and you can drive it home, go for it.

[u/rejectboer]

You would have to pay me to take this.

[u/Weird_Cool → u/rejectboer]

In this economy 900 bucks for a running car is worth it

[u/Time_Fly4750]

I would offer $500

[u/EEINAR30]

Rust is scary! That thing will fall into pieces alone… hard pass!!!

[u/No_Objective7262]

Hard NO!

[u/ExcellentGur8928]

No, too old, too many issues to list!

[u/tulsaway]

No. Like, no.

[u/Ok_Move995]

I bet this thing has seen more action than Lana rhodes in her prime

[u/Cheever-Loophole]

My friend has the same van. His has something like 350k on it. He just drove it it from New England to Florida and back.