Hi everyone,
I’m from Lahore and need some honest advice about my current car situation.
Earlier this year, I bought a 2002 Honda City for 10 lac PKR. When I was buying it, my main focus was that the engine should be strong, and thankfully, it is. The car performs really well mechanically and gives me excellent fuel average:
17–18 km/l with AC on long routes
9–10 km/l with AC in city (heavy traffic)
12–13 km/l without AC in city
So from an engine and fuel economy point of view, I’m very happy. But now, I’m facing serious body and electrical issues, mainly because of water leakage in the trunk, which I didn’t notice when I first bought it.
🧾 What I’ve Already Spent Since buying the car, I’ve put in a lot of basic upgrades and maintenance:
Kabli tyres: 40,000 PKR
New battery: 10,000 PKR
LCD + reverse camera: 15,000 PKR
Rear tyre hub: 5,000–7,000 PKR
AC service after 2 months of use
Radiator fan motor: 2,500 PKR
General tuning: 5,000 PKR
Brake shoes (can’t remember exact cost)
Regular maintenance (oil, filters, etc.): 15,000 PKR
Current Issues Water leakage in trunk (still not fixed)
Rusting in trunk, doors, and possibly underbody — estimated 20–25% of the body
Rear windshield (sheesha) seals appear damaged, may be contributing to leak
Roof side seals (left and right) also seem worn/damaged
Trunk already has metal patchwork (lohay ke pathay) installed — signs of previous rust treatment
2 doors sometimes get stuck and don’t open smoothly
2 power windows not working
Central locking is inconsistent
Floor carpet (black chaamray wali) is torn in multiple places
Seat fabric is dirty and partially worn
Back bumper is slightly damaged or out of place
Outer body paint is slightly damaged in 3–4 places and there are some dents starting to form, but overall the car still looks attractive and well maintained
That said, the car still looks great overall — no major dents or paint issues beyond what’s mentioned. It also drives really well, engine response is smooth, and fuel economy is excellent.
Option 1: Repair Everything I’m thinking of fully restoring the car — fixing the leak, treating and repainting the rusted areas, getting the windows and locks fixed, doing some interior work, etc. I’ve heard about Bilal Ganj and Montgomery Road, but I don’t have any experience dealing with workshops there.
Questions in my mind:
Which workshops in Lahore are reliable for rust repair and restoration?
What would be a rough estimate for this kind of work?
After fixing, will rust come back in a few months or will the car last longer?
Will the resale value improve if I repair everything?
Option 2: Sell Now and Upgrade Later If I sell the car now, I think I can get around 10 lac PKR, maybe a bit less. Long-term, I want to buy a Toyota Corolla (2010–2013), which costs around 20–25 lac, but I don’t have that kind of budget at the moment. I’d need a few more months to arrange the money.
My concern is: if I don’t repair or sell now, the car’s condition (and resale value) might get worse.
Looking for Advice: If you were in my shoes, what would you do?
Is it worth investing more into a 2002 Honda City with 20–25% rust?
Any trusted workshops in Bilal Ganj or Montgomery Road?
Would you recommend keeping it and using it for another 1–2 years, or selling now and upgrading later?
Thanks in advance for any help or advice! I really appreciate it.
