Need help on decision...

fraga · 11-27-2006, 08:14 PM

I got the 04 TSX for my wife last year. The payments are roughly 390/mth and she's gonna be starting her RN program this January. She will be hardly working and I'm looking to cut down on expenses. I'm looking into getting a slightly used 06 EX Civic Sedan since it's the end of the year. I figure I can pick up one for cheap. I figure I'd save money on the gas, regular vs. premium along with insurance.

This would be one of many things I would be cutting back on in order to save money. Does this sound like a smart move, if so, what advice would you advise, numbers wise I go into a Honda dealership with.

04 TSX Automatic w/ 23,300 miles in Good condition.

Feedback...PLEEEEEEEEASE...

nachob · 11-27-2006, 08:26 PM

I sold my 2005 TSX last January with only 11K miles in perfect condition and only 1 year old. It was a no nav 6mt. It was on the market a long time and got 21,500. My guess is that a 2004 with twice the mileage might not get you that much. Probably about 16-18K. If a new Civic costs 14K you would only be about 2-4K ahead. By the time you pay 2K in tax and license, you would end up with a new Civic and same payment. Might be better to just keep it if you like it. I was in the same boat last year and I started looking at used cars. I drove a used 3 series and fell in love with it. It was a lease car so the financing worked out and I like it better than the TSX. I'm glad I drove others but if you like the TSX, I think you should keep it.

Good luck.

IB

fraga · 11-27-2006, 08:33 PM

KBB puts my car right now w/ current mileage between 20k - 22k and an EX Civic Sedan for around 19k.

nachob · 11-27-2006, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraga

KBB puts my car right now w/ current mileage between 20k - 22k and an EX Civic Sedan for around 19k.

I hope it works out, it didn't for me.

KBB put mine at $23,800 for private party-good; and around $25,000 excellent private party with stock wheels. I had pristine A-spec wheels on mine. It was a 2005 with only 11K miles and I posted it November 2005 so it was still a 2005 model year in 2005.

The car was on sale from November through January and I finally sold it for $21,500 to the Acura dealer since no one else would take it. If you can get 20-22K for a 2004 with 24K miles, that would be great. I had a rough time selling mine.

Anyway, if you get a Civic for 19K you still have to pay 2K in taxes so the only thing you gain is a new civic for the same payment but another 2 years in your loan. I don't think it makes sense UNLESS you like the Civic better? Then I would do it. I think the TSX is a nicer car and you will probably have it paid off in a 3 years. I think it would make sense if you got a car that was 14K or less but for 19K plus 2K in taxes, you are not making any real progress to get you by.

IB

fraga · 11-27-2006, 10:35 PM

So the savings in gas going from Premium to Regular...the Insurance savings....don't make any difference in your decision...

shay654 · 11-27-2006, 10:45 PM

Good luck to you and your wife!

I wish I can help out! I guess your best bet is to find another car! I'm not quite sure which, but anything within a reasonable price would be good! hehe Sorry, I told you I'm not much help! hehe Either way, once your wife passes those exams, you'll be able to buy it back or go for a newer and expensive car!

TSX 'R' US · 11-28-2006, 02:23 AM

How much do you drive a year? I'll have to double check my exact numbers...but with driving about 10k a year, I would've saved roughly 40 bucks if I were to use mid grade and ~80 bucks if I would've used low grade fuel for a year. Just to give you an idea on how much you may save and if it's worth it. I was also averaging 28mpg with a lead foot. I can get you some more exact numbers on the mileage if you'd like.

Mine was a 2004 with 39k miles. KBB excellent condition private sale was around 21.5k...and I called up my dealership to find out how much I can get if I were to trade it in and they would've only given me around 18-19k for it. Pretty much inline with what KBB says. There was no way I could've sold it for that price myself...

If you make the move, sounds like you may just end up swapping cars with not much difference and from there on out you'll only save what the difference in fuel, insurance and maintenance.

nachob · 11-28-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraga

So the savings in gas going from Premium to Regular...the Insurance savings....don't make any difference in your decision...

Yes, gas mileage could make a difference since the TSX doesn't really get GREAT gas mileage, it's good but not great IMO. So that could help but you probably owe 19K on your car and have paid the biggest part of the interest. Also interest rates were lower in 2004 so by the time you pay taxes, higher interest rate, etc. You are probably in the same boat. If you drive the TSX carefully, your mileage can go up but you still have a very nice sporty car for special ocassions and it will be paid off in 3 years I assume. You might save on gas for now but then you will have the burden for more time to come. If you drive 36K miles per year, the Civic might make sense. Finally, you can put mid-grade fuel in your TSX and it won't hurt your car. It has a knock sensor that retards timing. You will lose performance but just take it easy on it as high-revving and temperatures increase the likelihood of pinging. That would save you 10 cents per gallon....1.50 per fill-up....$6 per month....$72 per year. If you put regular unleaded that would save you 20 cents per gallon...$3 per fill-up....$12 per month or $144 per year. If you drink 7-eleven coffee instead of Starbucks you would save more money. I don't know if you drink starbucks or not, just an example. Regardless, good luck to you and the wife, going back to school is hard but worth it. Finally, you should test the waters. KBB is not really good because there are a ton of used TSXs out there which deflates their price. My guess is that you would actually only get about 19K maybe 20K for your car if you have Navi and all the taxes, higher interest, longer payoff, etc will offset any gains. Switch to mid-grade fuel and drive conservatively and that will save you some money.

IB

fraga · 11-28-2006, 01:07 PM

Thanks for the help guys...guess I'll have to find something...talk to Dealerships...see what kind of an offer they'd make me...if it's too good to pass up...I'd take it...otherwise...I guess I could keep the car and cut back other places...

fraga · 12-02-2006, 07:52 PM

Well...got back from one dealership today...apparently tried to do the old bait and switch with me...said they had on 06 EX Sedan...when I got there they didn't...so he then said he could get me an 07 EX Sedan for 18,900. I thought that sounded reasonable...but when it came time for my trade in..the 04 TSX...he offered 18k...I nearly laughed in his faced. He said the highest he could go was 19k. I said thanks and left. Didn't anything sound wrong or did I mess up.

nachob · 12-03-2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraga

Well...got back from one dealership today...apparently tried to do the old bait and switch with me...said they had on 06 EX Sedan...when I got there they didn't...so he then said he could get me an 07 EX Sedan for 18,900. I thought that sounded reasonable...but when it came time for my trade in..the 04 TSX...he offered 18k...I nearly laughed in his faced. He said the highest he could go was 19k. I said thanks and left. Didn't anything sound wrong or did I mess up.

Yeah, I'm truly sorry. As I said in my post, I went through the same thing with mine. There are too many used TSXs out there and I figured you would be lucky to get 22K for it. Mine was an 05, still in 05 with only 11K miles and after almost three months, I only got $21,500 with two sets of wheels as I had the A-spec wheels. I was only asking $22,900 for mine and I couldn't sell it even with the a-spec wheels. 19K actually sounds in line with what I was thinking, maybe 20max but I can't see any more than that. If you like the car, you should keep it or get something a lot cheaper. Good luck.

IB

fraga · 12-03-2006, 10:24 AM

I'm wondering if this other dealing I'm talking too doesn't come through...I may have to sell it myself. It shouldn't be that hard should it...then just use that extra money for a down payment on the new one...I owe a little over 17k on it...so I guess if I just eat the Tax on the sale...it would still come out on top...

Zeeshan · 12-04-2006, 09:48 PM

really....by the sounds of things you're really going to be saving minimal money with the switch and driving a lesser car. I wouldn't do it, and I really don't think you'll save THAT much on insurance. when I went from my 2002 mitsu lancer oz rally (only $14k new at the time when I bought it) to the tsx....my insurance went up $45 bucks a YEAR!

if you really want to downgrade and save money, then I would say do it right. sell the tsx yourself, then buy a car for $10-12k (200t-2004 accord/camry). you'll really save money that way.

fraga · 12-04-2006, 10:29 PM

Well...got back from the dealer...he was only willing to offer into the high 19's for the TSX...so I'll be selling the car myself....soon...need to fix some dents first..hopefully come out 4k-5k ahead...and use that on a massive down payment on an 07 Civic Sedan...

nachob · 12-04-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraga

Well...got back from the dealer...he was only willing to offer into the high 19's for the TSX...so I'll be selling the car myself....soon...need to fix some dents first..hopefully come out 4k-5k ahead...and use that on a massive down payment on an 07 Civic Sedan...

High 19s sounds pretty good actually for a 2004. I wouldn't put too much money in fixing dents because I really doubt you will get that much more for it. If you spend $600 fixing dents, you might get $20,500 for the car and you gained nothing and went through the hassle. The guy above makes the most sense. My insurance went up only about $80 per year with the TSX in 2005 when I was driving a 1998 Toyota. Actually my insurance now with the 2004 BMW 3 series is pretty much the same as TSX. It sounds to me like you really don't like the TSX that much and want something better or newer. If that's the case, that is good but you should recognize that because if you are truly doing to save money, it just doesn't make any sense. You can run regular unleaded in the TSX if you really need to and you only owe about 17K. To keep it is what makes sense...if you really like it.

I liked my TSX and and I was especially attached becaue getting was big project. I had to put with months of frustration from asshole sales people telling me that the automatic was the same...that I was stupid for buying a manual....that no one would want to buy a Red TSX with Ebony interior, etc.

There were only 3 like that in the entire country so I flew from San Diego, CA to Jacksonville, FL. I bought it and drove it back to San Diego. As I said before, the car is marvelous balance of fun, styling, luxury and practicality but I still had gripes. I'm an old school guy and I never was able to shift smoothly, I hated DBW, the long throw clutch, touchy brakes, thin paint, buzzing and some rattles, plastic bumpers that changed color drastically, nervous high speed tracking, no manual night setting for the mirror so every time a semi-trailer would crest a hill behind me on the highway, I would get blinded for a second while the damn mirror adjusted itself again.

Anyway, I was very attched to the car but ended up in a money crunch since we had a second baby. If I really wanted too, I might have been able to do something creative like taking out an equity line or something so I could keep the TSX, but while I was shopping for a used car in the 10-15K range, I made the mistake of driving a 3 series BMW. Then it was game over for me. I ended taking over a leased 2004 325i 5 speed that helped bit financially but more importantly, I am truly, truly happy with it. Money is very tight, but the 3 series makes it worth my while. So it sounds like maybe you really prefer something else to me too.

If that's the case, get the Civic, it's a great car but I would be shocked if you got 22K for your car. High 19s sounds pretty good. And maybe you can learn from me. The highest price I got for my car was from the Acura dealer!
They gave me wholesale $21,500 in Jan 2006 for a 2005 Mint, undented, pristine, non-smoking, single owner Red/Ebony 6MT (very rare) with mint, pristine A-spec wheels and stock wheels. My car was on the market for 3 months in SoCal and I was only asking $22,900 to start with.

IB