I'm considering crossing over...

[Tiberius Jim]

...to a foreign car.

I've driven American cars ever since I've had my license. Started with mom's Dodge SUV, then I got my Chevy Monte Carlo, and now my Chevy Silverado. My truck was pretty much a spur of the moment decision back in September 2007. Gas was still below $2.00/gal and I had a job that paid more than enough. I felt that it was the perfect time to indulge a little and get the vehicle I really wanted.

Well, mere weeks later...gas shot up to $4.00/gal and my place of employment folded. I was paying $80 to fill my tank and was soon to be out of work. Not to mention I was rarely hauling anything but myself, maybe a couple friends.

Gas prices have gone down somewhat (still hovering around $3.00/gal) and I am working, but am paid about half as much. A 15 MPG vehicle with a $400/mo finance payment just isn't seeming very practical right now.

So I've decided it's time to go for something that I will still enjoy driving every day but that will give me more bang for my buck in the gas mileage department. I'd love the new Camaro but it'd be even more expensive in the trim level I'd want, and would be no better in the MPG department. From searching the various car maker sites, I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to go foreign.

I have yet to test drive one or even sit in one, but from what I've seen, I really like this car. I may end up hating it once I drive it, but I doubt that. So without much further ado, here is the exact car I am considering getting:

2009 Honda Accord EX-L V-6 in Belize Blue Pearl

These babies come pretty loaded standard with things like heated seats and XM Radio. Not to mention they can get up to twice the MPG I'm getting right now in my truck, and have a huge trunk and a back seat that can actually handle full sized adults. I'll know more about how it feels behind the wheel when I test one out but so far I'm really liking what I see. I saw this exact color in a parking lot yesterday and it look gorgeous.

I've probably broken some hearts here (Emher, I'm sorry) but I think this is a smart way to go, especially with car companies doing the way they are, I think Honda is a good choice. (Not to mention their cars are built here in the US...while GM, Ford and Chryslers arent)

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I don't understand why cars choices have to come with built in requirements based on patriotism. Get a car that works the best for you. That's it.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I guess it's a loyalty thing, probably goes way back to when American cars were actually made in America though. Now things are all backwards so it doesn't really matter anymore I suppose.

 

[Emher]

I've probably broken some hearts here (Emher, I'm sorry) but I think this is a smart way to go, especially with car companies doing the way they are, I think Honda is a good choice.

That's alright. You ******* traitor!

Nah not that angry. I totally get your reasoning and in your financial situation it makes sense. Even I'm rethinking whether or not to get the LT or the SS when I do get my Camaro for financial reasons and the simple fact that I've been hearing a lot of good stuff about the LLT engine. If it only sounded as mean as the LS3...

And as for your choice I'd say that's not bad at all! We don't have that model here in Europe and that's a damned shame, looks pretty sweet! If your going Japanese, Honda is not a bad choice. My dad and brother have Honda bikes both of them and they're great machines. The cars they have here in Europe are good, machinewise, but I can only fit properly in the Accord and the Civic (we have a different Civic here btw). And the Insight is a joke. My dads main vehicle is his Toyota Prius and the Insight don't have a snowballs change in hell of trumping that. And that comes from a guy who don't particularly care for Toyota.

 

[sojourner]

The thing I don't get is people often decide to "trade up" for a more fuel efficient vehicle without taking into account the price of a replacement. If you still owe more than the truck is worth, more than likely any fuel savings are going to be lost in the cost of the new vehicle. How much gas could you buy with the additional money the new car is going to cost you?

 

[Aurian]

Looks shiny!

 

[Canadave]

Hondas are, IMO, fantastic cars. I've never driven an Accord, but the Civic and Fit are both great vehicles. Part of it is the fact that Honda tends to design their cars to be really fun-to-drive, which you can feel when you get behind the wheel. And the Civic certainly hasn't been the best-selling car in Canada for the past decade for no good reason.

 

[An Officer]

I am amazed a pick-up truck could have been an impulse buy. I guess that explains it though.

 

[Canadave]

I am amazed a pick-up truck could have been an impulse buy. I guess that explains it though.

Every time I walk past the stacks of F-150s at the checkout I'm tempted, but I always manage to resist the urge.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

The thing I don't get is people often decide to "trade up" for a more fuel efficient vehicle without taking into account the price of a replacement. If you still owe more than the truck is worth, more than likely any fuel savings are going to be lost in the cost of the new vehicle. How much gas could you buy with the additional money the new car is going to cost you?

Uh...This car costs less than my truck was. The truck was about $32k. And my trade in was worth $6500, and they have me a $3k rebate...so I owe about $18k now. The car is about $25k. I think its reasonable to expect I'd get more than $18k for a 1.5 year old truck that's in nearly perfect condition. If they don't give me more than $18k for it, the deal is off.

 

[Jayson]

I don't understand why cars choices have to come with built in requirements based on patriotism. Get a car that works the best for you. That's it.

I hope you reconsider. Barak Obama will be most displeased. Don't forget the FEMA prision camps are proably going to be finsihed soon. It's best not to do something that could cause a change in your living arrangments.


Jason

 

[Kommander]

Go for it. American cars are too expensive for what you get. For whatever style, the foreign equivalents are usually thousands less.









<--- also, note my location.

 

[Lookingglassman]

The best car I ever had was a Mitsubishi 3000GT. It ran great and my only major problem with it was the brake lights would burn out once a year, but other than that it ran fine.

All my American cars have had one problem or another. I drive a mustang now (the 3000GT got into a fight with a semi truck on I-65 and lost) and so far it is running fine, but the "check engine" light keeps coming on. I have taken it to the dealer and they dont know what is wrong. They adjusted the sensor, light still comes on. They checked the engine, light still comes on. They are at a loss to what is wrong.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I don't understand why cars choices have to come with built in requirements based on patriotism. Get a car that works the best for you. That's it.

I hope you reconsider. Barak Obama will be most displeased. Don't forget the FEMA prision camps are proably going to be finsihed soon. It's best not to do something that could cause a change in your living arrangments.


Jason

lol, it doesn't make a difference to me, I'm too poor to afford a new car. My car's American and my family have an American car and a Korean car. The American car is a sedan, but it gets 17.9 mpg!

 

[sojourner]

The thing I don't get is people often decide to "trade up" for a more fuel efficient vehicle without taking into account the price of a replacement. If you still owe more than the truck is worth, more than likely any fuel savings are going to be lost in the cost of the new vehicle. How much gas could you buy with the additional money the new car is going to cost you?

Uh...This car costs less than my truck was. The truck was about $32k. And my trade in was worth $6500, and they have me a $3k rebate...so I owe about $18k now. The car is about $25k. I think its reasonable to expect I'd get more than $18k for a 1.5 year old truck that's in nearly perfect condition. If they don't give me more than $18k for it, the deal is off.

Well, if you end up paying more on the monthly payment of the new car, it would have to be less then the difference in gas savings.

As far as your trade in value, depending on options, mileage, and condition, it will be close:

http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/Pri...ue&Condition=Excellent&QuizConditions=#survey

 

[Mistral]

I own the 2cnd FORD in my life. My next car will be a riceburner.

 

[Warp Coil]

I own a 2006 Honda Accord coupe and I love it. No regrets. My co-worker/friend just purchased a 2009 Accord coupe (EX-L/navi) and he's constantly looking for an excuse to drive somewhere or take a road trip.

There is no reason to buy a car based on patriotism. Remember that many American automakers build cars outside the U.S. (like, say, in Mexico). The Honda Accord is primarily built in Ohio by an American work force.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

May i suggest a Nissan? I love my Sentra. Never let me down.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

The thing I don't get is people often decide to "trade up" for a more fuel efficient vehicle without taking into account the price of a replacement. If you still owe more than the truck is worth, more than likely any fuel savings are going to be lost in the cost of the new vehicle. How much gas could you buy with the additional money the new car is going to cost you?

Uh...This car costs less than my truck was. The truck was about $32k. And my trade in was worth $6500, and they have me a $3k rebate...so I owe about $18k now. The car is about $25k. I think its reasonable to expect I'd get more than $18k for a 1.5 year old truck that's in nearly perfect condition. If they don't give me more than $18k for it, the deal is off.

Well, if you end up paying more on the monthly payment of the new car, it would have to be less then the difference in gas savings.

As far as your trade in value, depending on options, mileage, and condition, it will be close:

http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/PricingReport.aspx?YearId=2007&Mileage=60000&VehicleClass=UsedCar&ManufacturerId=9&ModelId=63&PriceType=Trade-In&VehicleId=166839&SelectionHistory=166839|30859|32746|0|0|1909562|true&Condition=Excellent&QuizConditions=#survey

Well, like I said, if they can't give me the new car for at least the same monthly payment as my truck, I won't be getting the car. I've done the math and based on the price of the car and what I owe on the truck, they'd only need to give me between $2500-3000 over what I owe for me to be paying the same or less for the car. I may be wrong but I don't know if a dealer would let someone walk out over $2500. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[RevDMV]

Well hardly foreign anymore, I think it's built in Ohio.

As far as automotive purchases, I recommend used(one to two years). Let someone else pay the initial depreciation.