Should I avoid a car that's spent it's life on very short trips?

I'm considering a red 1998 Honda Accord (V6) for $3500. It only has 88,000 miles on it, but essentially all those miles are EXTREMELY short trips… Most of which are under half a mile. This person lived 1/4 mile from work and drove every single day to work and back for lunch (4 trips each day). Also, the car has sat outside during the day for these fifteen years (garaged at night, tho). Now, it has barely been started for almost two years since this person died. What bugs me the most are:

1) The numerous short trips.
2) Sitting in the sun for 15 years during work.
3) Sitting for two years without being driven very much.

Could this car be a disaster?

Driving a long drive is better than short trips, as in long drives, less brakes and change of gear is required, so less stress is applied on axle( on humps its the worst case) , brake shoe, tyres etc…
i would buy a much more run car if its was used only to transport people from city to other city, than from someone who goes to 20 min work everyday.

anyways thats my opinion

I wouldn't buy it. And I bet if they had WALKED the 1/4 mile they would be alive and healthy today!
Bill Bryson said when he lived in America, he invited neighbours for dinner - they lived literally a few yards away. The family left the house, loaded up into the big minivan, and the father drove them onto Bills' driveway!

It's not ideal. Short cycle cars in my area tend to go at around 150,000 miles though, so it can go either way.

Not automatically a disaster. Are the tires dry rotted?

What does your mechanic say about its mechanical condition?

So what that it sat in the sun during the day?

Would you prefer a car with 210,000 miles?

My car is a 94 model. I've had it for 10 years. Almost all of my trips are short ones. The first lady who owned it also rarely drove it for short trips. And in between a guy drove it everyday for about 9 months.

The end result is I have a car with very low mileage for its age. 82,000. Its never needed anything significant but it does seem to need something about once a year. I've replaced all 4 tires, 1 at a time. The brakes twice, alternator, battery, fuel pump, waterpump, the AC pulley(car won't run without it) and numerous other minor things.

The fuel pump & AC pulley was a $365 conmbined repair. But overall. I'm pleased with it. I paid about $2000 for it 10 years ago and its worth about $1200-1500 now.

I keep it in my garage most of the time but faded paint isn't a deal killer on an old car.

Lots of people pay $250-400 a month car payments + $75-100 a month in insurance.

I pay $180 a year on insurance and the occasional repair.

Over 10 years, It comes out to $39,000-60,000 versus about $7000 for me.

Not to mention the money earned on the difference.

I'm a millionaire by the way.

Basic principle:
http://www.daveramsey.com/blog/drive-free/