new car decision

[jinxjx]

hi all, i'm looking at buying a new car. i like the honda civic coupe and the scion tc or the xb. which would be the best bang for the buck? something that will last. anyone have one of these cars?...thank you

[saleem]

Re: new car decision

hey... i guess you first need to figure out your needs. the civic coupe and tc are similar in form, but the xB is a differently (shaped) animal. are you looking for the hatchback versatility/space of the xB? Also, I think new xB's are coming out for 2008 model year, are you willing to wait/pay premium for the newest generation? The old generation will quickly look faded in the public's eyes.

i was in a similar but slightly different situation, as I was interested in a Civic LX. I found that for a little more, you could get the benefits of the EX, which puts you at about $18K and change. I figured out that if I could get a good deal, I would get tons more (ride, space, comfort, quality, class of vehicle) in an Accord SE for the same price, and that's what I got. It's kind of odd that a decently equipped Accord (SE) is the same price as the Civic EX. But given your preference for the coupe, I guess I can only suggest the Accord Coupe to add to your list? The new coupes are coming out in the fall (2008 model year) for the Accords, too. Right now you can get a 2007 Accord for $1500 below INVOICE. In the fall you'll get the 2008's, prolly at about sticker aka MSRP.

I kind of digressed but I hope that helps

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: new car decision

Sorry don't own either. However my neighbor has a civic,and justs lovesit. A differant neighbor had a scion and traded it in. Not scientific, but true.

[jinxjx]

Re: new car decision

ok, accord coupe, i'll have to look at them, thank you

[kpagel]

Re: new car decision

Scion xB all the way if you want the best bang for your buck vehicle. You can get them out the door for something like $15K and they get ridiculously good gas mileage (28/34- city/fwy, I believe). The tC doesn't get that much gas mileage because it has a peppier engine. I used to own a tC and it was a really good little car, but I traded it in for a Tacoma because I needed a truck. No experience with the Civic, though. All three should be very reliable for you.

[imacarnut]

Re: new car decision

i have an 03 civic coupe and am pretty happy with it as it's good on gas mileage and very reliable. at the time i bought it, the tc wasn't available otherwise i would have gotten that instead. the standard features on the tc are more than that of the civic, imo. what's your budget?

[jinxjx]

Re: new car decision

i'm really leaning toward the hondas, either the fit sport or civic lx or ex. theres about a $1500 difference in all 3 after tax and tags. any way, with $4000 down, i'm going to be between $250 to $300 a month range for 60 months. well, for the scions, toyota does have higher intrest rates than normal compared to honda and others.. thanks.

[imacarnut]

Re: new car decision

i'm really leaning toward the hondas, either the fit sport or civic lx or ex. theres about a $1500 difference in all 3 after tax and tags. any way, with $4000 down, i'm going to be between $250 to $300 a month range for 60 months... thanks.

if you decide to go with the civic, get the EX! having hubcaps instead of alloys, no moonroof, non-matching painted side mirrors, etc... with the LX stinks. either way, you can't go wrong with a honda!

[jinxjx]

Re: new car decision

yea, i thought about that too. anyone on here have the new civic ex? i don't think there is going to be much difference in pricing from dealer to dealer on hondas. i've been checking and they all give me about the same bottom line prices. $17,300 for LX without tax and tags. its ashame honda don't do rebates. they only do very low financing but you have to have perfect good credit and credit score of 790 or better to get that. i'm at 6.9%...thanks

[imacarnut]

Re: new car decision

yea, i thought about that too. anyone on here have the new civic ex? i don't think there is going to be much difference in pricing from dealer to dealer on hondas. i've been checking and they all give me about the same bottom line prices. $17,300 for LX without tax and tags. its ashame honda don't do rebates. they only do very low financing but you have to have perfect good credit and credit score of 790 or better to get that. i'm at 6.9%...thanks

remember... there is invoice pricing, so it will be around $2000 less than sticker price. of course, the dealership won't tell you that so you will have to inquire about that as you get into the paperwork. my civic at the time listed for $15,900 at the time, but i got it for $13,500 with 1.9% because of my good credit score and deal they had at the time, so it will vary...

[jinxjx]

Re: new car decision

well, i requested quotes from a few online dealers. haven't gotten any back yet. if they have better pricing, i'm going to print it and take it to my dealer to see if they can match it. i hope. but i can't see a big difference in pricing with these hondas...thanks everyone for your help

[HagFan]

Re: new car decision

Don't buy any of them without also driving the Civic Si. Mine is the Sedan, because I've always been practical and conservative. This is as "out there" as I've ever gotten, and man do I love this car. Yes, it uses premium unleaded and doesn't get the mileage that e EX/LX gets. I get over 27 mpg driving a mix of highway and city, and have a hell of a lot of fun driving. . It's rated at 32 mpg on hwy.

The performance is fun and everything expected and more. The big surprise is how quiet this vehicle is with regard to tire/road and wind noise.

I had a '93 Civic EX that my son owned until last summer. It was a great car. I like the Si better and if you like the convenience of a sedan, you'll forget your driving one with this one. I actually prefer the look of it to the coupe, but that's me.

Oh, and shop around for a dealer you can deal with and trust. Ask people you know who drive Hondas where they bought them and if they were satisfied. Around here, there is only one dealer of four nearby that I'll deal with. The others want to play games. They'll tell you the Si is a "high demand" vehicle... and I always tell them I'm only buying one...

[jinxjx]

Re: new car decision

they do look nice. i really want to stay $300 or under. i just got first quote from online dealer. civic EX with AT $18.200 bottom line.

[saleem]

Re: new car decision

well, i requested quotes from a few online dealers. haven't gotten any back yet. if they have better pricing, i'm going to print it and take it to my dealer to see if they can match it. i hope. but i can't see a big difference in pricing with these hondas...thanks everyone for your help

Comparing and getting dealers to reduce their online offers is the way to go. I bought my accord in january and have been active in the edmunds'/carspace forums... the honda civic prices paif forum is here (dont think this is commercial, sry if it is) http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/dir...f7c305.eea7241

I'd def check the accord coupe too b/c you can get the Accord LX for under $17,000 and the Civic LX for the same money if not more. I follow SE's most and see Accord SE's at under $18,000 if youre lucky, plus destination and everything else. But you'll get so much more than a civic EX.

[Murr1525]

Re: new car decision

Sort of have to decide with a smaller car with more features, or a more basic bigger car, but thats up to you.

I kind of like the carsdirect.com site as well. Seems to have good info, and says what people in your area are paying for different cars. I suppose it is somewhat accurate.

18,200 with a 3,000 downpayment should be in the $300 ball park if you are buying.