What Would You Do?: Civic transmission or pickup head gasket

Gang, my lady's transmission just died in her 2005 Honda Civic.

Here's the situation. We live in the mountains, and we hate her civic. She's owned it forever - 220k miles. We got rear ended maybe 10k miles ago and I'm assuming this contributed to her transmission failure tonight. The car is in town in a neighborhood. We'll have it towed to the honda shop tomorrow but I know they'll tell me it needs a new tranny for 3-4k. Out of the quesition.

The car has a salvaged title and we came out on top with a 4k check from insurance after getting hit. The car means nothing to us. Except for the snow tires she put on it last week.

On the other hand, I just picked up a 1988 toyota pickup to turn into a plow truck. It needs a new battery, head gasket, and a couple other minor things before it's worthy of commuting.

My question to you is this: Would you,

A) find a used transmission and swap it into the civic and drive it into the ground (maybe $500?)

B) Expedite the pickup resurrection and try to get it road worthy this weekend (probably more work than civic). Part out or scrap the civic? I wanted to pull the motor on the pickup for a proper resurrection, but I could do the head gasket and get her running until we replace her vehicle

C) Expedite loan process and pursue a new to us vehicle (she wants a 3rd gen 4runner )

I figured my lovely TW folks would happily weigh in on the situation. What would you do?

 

You can never have too many Toyotas. I'd normally say put a new transmission in the Civic, but you two hate it. I would have selected both "Resurrect the '88 pickup" and "buy a 3rd Gen 4Runner" if it would let me...

 

Haha. Yeah I suppose that would be the course of action. The pickup would be a temporary DD until she found the right candidate for purchase.

It seems transmissions in Denver aren't too hard to come by. Could be about $200. I'd estimate more labor to do the Civic than to get the 88 driving.

 

Is that an automatic Honda? Man if you ever asked Scotty Kilmer he’d say “rev up your engines! But not an automatic Honda”.

 

So this Civic was totaled and you bought it back? I know Colorado has annual emissions testing in some areas. Do you live in one of these areas and if so does the Civic pass? Does the air-conditioner in the Civic work? Is it a stick shift?

 

If it's a stick shift, has a working air-conditioner, and will pass inspection, I say keep it!

 

It's an automatic. Everything else about the vehicle is fine. Air conditioning works and the interior is quite clean. Exterior has been beat up. And yep, it was totaled and we bought it back. Two crumple points compromised but otherwise drives fine. She just got her registration renewed and passed emissions.

 

Sounds like a suitable demo derby car if you don't want it! This is proof that Hondas don't die!

 

May have found a transmission for $400.....

 

Shitcan civic, get her a reliable vehicle, then fix up the toyota.

 

That's what we're leaning toward. May donate the honda for a tax write off, they'll pick it up and we'll be done with it. Already profited off this car, to be honest.

I've heard of people getting good value for trade-ins at dealerships with shit vehicles. Anyone have any insight to share there?

 

FWIW, my wife had a 2006 civic with a 5 speed mt. The synchros started to go at about 130k. I drove it back and forth from SF to Austin a few times and on one of those trips it decided it no longer wanted to stay in fifth and I had to hold it there. I got a bungee from the trunk and wrapped it around the stick and pulled it taught to the bottom of the glove box to keep it in gear. Helluva bang when it spits it out of gear at 85.

Anyway, we threw a new tranny in and it lasted about 8k. Then the shop threw in another under warranty. Then another . And finally another. Supposedly a common problem with these transmissions but that was really excessive.

Anyhow. Just reminded me of that.

I’d also opt for a resurrection. And a 4Runner...

 

Ditch the Civic and get the truck going as soon as you can.

 

Whatever the fuck gets your old lady back on the road and happy! Def don’t brush her issue aside to put money into your project.

Honda trannys are pretty robust, but hilly terrain will take its toll I guess. I sold my ‘93 civic with 293,000 miles on the original trans and currently have a ‘02 on the original trans with 240K, neither had any shifting issues.

 

Head gasket, hands down. I had bought a Saturn for $1500 a while back because the grand am I was driving blew a head gasket and the saturn lasted two weeks. PO dropped nuts into the intake and didn't tighten down the harmonic balancer so it was f***ed. $800 (600 for gasket kit and 200 for resurfacing the head) bucks and the Grand am was running good again. Should've done it from the start.

Only got $600 out of the Saturn selling it to a guy who had an engine to put in it.

 

Pic of the truck?

 

I'm super excited for the truck. I've been on craigslist daily for three years looking for a good candidate. The bed is shot, but the frame and cab are really solid. Hardly any rust at all. That's a huge win for me. Unfortunately it's IFS, but that's just an excuse to all in. Currently exploring axle swap options. And definitely a flatbed (I live on some acreage, needs to have some utility)

Totally, good call. That is totally something I would do. She needs a solid rig pronto. Right now she's looking at a few-year-old subaru with only 5k miles on it.

Also, yes, hilly terrain, and we got rear ended. And it has 220k miles haha


Update: the civic is at home. I'll likely do the transmission swap but on a relaxed schedule for the resale value.
I think I'll take her to the subaru dealership tomorrow