Dr5D

iTrader: (6)

regradless of what I think, or what these others might say you will feel realyl cool haveing a brand new car, not to mention it will look like a new one longer, since the ones coming out soon after in the same gen will proab look the same

Eeeeeeh

I'd go with an 03, I've got an 03 Ex. For the 03's they have a red numbered instrument panel with a red border, wrapped around 3 chrome rings, looks really nice. They're is a new pattern on the seats which are Black/Gray, and Beige/White. A new Leather steering wheel, New wheels for the Ex models which look like "Si stocks" but look a little more revised. Plus they are newer than the 01 and 02's. I'm not really diggin' the 04's though

Eeeeeeh

Oh yeah, you'll have more potential for your engine if you get an Ex (Vtec)

LazyDog01

iTrader: (1)

03

crv16

I went thru this exercise last week -- and it all came down to $$$. Honda dealers are getting a $500 dealer incentive on the 03's, plus you can get 1.9% financing thru AHFC.

Bottom line is -- 03's are gonna be around $900 cheaper than a 04, combined with the 1.9% financing, your payment on a 03 EX will be around $40/month cheaper.

I bought a 03 Civic EX sedan 5spd for 15,390 + 109 (mats) + 129 (doc fee). I put about $600 down, and it costs me $258 per month for 5 yrs.

If I got an 04 Civic, the price would have been well over 16k, and payment would have been $299 per month.

WD40

iTrader: (1)

If I could do it over, I would not buy new either. Buy a slightly used car with low mileage and let someone else eat the depreciation. I drive so many miles, my car is probably not worth what I owe.

crv16

If I could do it over, I would not buy new either. Buy a slightly used car with low mileage and let someone else eat the depreciation. I drive so many miles, my car is probably not worth what I owe.

The problem is that Hondas don't depreciate much.

For some cars, mainly domestic SUV's and sedans, which depreciate like a rock, it makes sense to buy used, because you can typically pick one up at half the cost of new for a 3 year old car.

In my case, I drive more than average (around 25k per year), and I like to drive Hondas. I typically trade in around 150k miles, before any major repairs might come due.

I figure it is no cheaper for me to buy a used Honda than it is to buy new:

Scenario 1:

Buy new 2003 Accord EX, auto trans for $20,000. Sell 6 years later, with 150k miles. Edmunds TMV trade in value is ~$5,300. Total cost per mile is $0.10 (150,000 miles / $14,700 depreciation).

Scenario 2:

Buy used 1999 Accord EX, auto trans for $13,000, which has 60k miles on it. Drive it 3.6 years and sell it at 150k miles, with an estimated trade in value of $4,000. Total cost per mile is $0.10 (90,000 miles / $9,000 depreciation).

Scenario 1 will have higher registration, interest, and insurance costs, but scenario 2 will have higher maintenance costs, so total costs should be about the same.

Bottom line is that there is not a dramatic difference in costs when buying new or used -- so why buy used?

With the low APR financing available on new 03 civics, which you couldn't get on a used car, it's actually cheaper to buy new right now than used.

feo_mack01

I would say go w/ an 02. As a matterof fact, I have one for sale up here in
NorCal (Bay Area). IM me if your interested.