/ /

1988 Honda Civic hatchback, manual, low mileage, runs well

  • Location: Arlington, Texas, United States
  • Condition: Used
  • Make: Honda
  • Model: Civic
  • SubModel: base 2 door hatchback
  • Type: Hatchback
  • Trim: Base
  • Year: 1988
  • Mileage: 128,419
  • VIN: JHMED6342JS032321
  • Color: Blue
  • Engine size: 1.5L
  • Number of cylinders: 4
  • Power options: Air Conditioning, Cruise Control
  • Fuel: Gasoline
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Drive type: FWD
  • Interior color: Gray
  • Drive side: Left-hand drive
  • Vehicle Title: Clear

1988 Honda Civic Base Description

My 1988 Honda Civic has only 128,419 original miles. Mechanically It runs very well. When I purchased the vehicle in 2014 it had approximately 117,000 miles on it. I am selling it because I recently purchased another vehicle. The Civic was used as a second car, and not driven often enough to warrant sparing the time to bring it back to its former glory.


The following maintenance has been done to the car since I bought it:

New clutch installed at 119,734 miles

Brakes were all serviced at 123,469 miles

Driver side Axle/ CV Joint was replaced with a new one at 123,495 miles


The known issues are as follows:

The vehicle has air conditioning, but it would need servicing to bring it back to working order. It needs freon, and a new a/c belt, but whether these are the only changes that need to be made to bring the A/C back to life would only be an educated guess.


I believe the wiring to the radio and the cigarette lighter was hooked up incorrectly by the previous owner. Whenever I would attempt to use the cigarette lighter socket to power up my cell phone, it would slowly drain the car’s battery. When I removed the fuse associated with the radio, there was no longer a drain on the battery. The stereo is almost brand new, so to use it, the wiring would need to be hooked up correctly.


The clear-coat has faded on the roof.


Rust near the wheel-wells were dealt with, and repainted when I bought the car, as shown in the photos.


The fabric on both front seats is worn, so I just put front covers on the seats when I bought the car.


The driver side exterior window molding has worn out, and needs replacing. Online, the new molding was priced at less than $50.


The interior fan is noisier than normal. I suspect if the fan compartment debris is cleaned out it would be a great improvement.


The Civic would be a great purchase for anyone who has the time and the motivation to fix the known issues. The engine is in great shape, and does not burn oil. It does not have power steering, if anyone is wondering, but It does have cruise control. I did purchase a new quality battery and a full-size spare wheel when I bought the car. The headlights, horn, and turn signals all work fine. The interior is in good condition. The tires have approximately 40% tread left. I repainted the hood because the clear-coat was peeling, so that is why the hood is a deeper blue color compared to the rest of the vehicle. I have the service manual, and all the maintenance records from the original owner. Overall, the vehicle runs fine, and is being sold AS IS. If any questions need answering, or more photos needed, feel free to ask. Good luck to all bidders!