2005 Accord

[Drew99GT]

How many cars have you bought and sold Critic? Have you personally ever traded a vehicle in at a car dealer?

I'd rather buy this one for low to mid 13s if we can get it, rather than pay 15.5 at a dealer.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
How many cars have you bought and sold Critic? Have you personally ever traded a vehicle in at a car dealer?

I'd rather buy this one for low to mid 13s if we can get it, rather than pay 15.5 at a dealer.

I keep cars 'till they die. My buddy is a car dealer and he said that this car would about 10k at best at a trade-in.

For 13k, why not buy a newer Malibu?

 

[JHZR2]

The reality is that used hondas are a poor value, because the markup is so high. There is little to no good reason for it.

I agree with the critic. They markup, because they think theyll sell you on their "reliability" so that youll pay a premium, no questions asked. Many do.

For a 30k mile car that is 2-3 years old to have all receipts is not all that significant... For it to be mint - well, its 2-3 years old, it had better be mint, else it wouldnt be worth buying. But, at the same time, you can get full-records, mint cars that are 10 or even 20 years old, relatively easily.

Nothing special there, IMO.

Offer low, if he wants to make the sale, he'll deal, if not, you can walk and try again. If it gets bought, there are plenty more out there...

JMH

 

[Drew99GT]

My buddy is the president...........bla bla bla. Your buddy would start at 10K and someone with enough balls and negotiating sense (ie walking in with numbers) would laugh and say try again or I'll go to another dealer (I got an extra 2K out of my 2002 Corolla that way), and likely get mid 11s. Or say, OK, I'll take 10, then you can knock 1.5K off the price of the car I'm buying.

We're done with GMs (5 in the last 10 years - all five have had intake gasket problems and one lost a motor to it). Plus, newer 2005 Malibus are in the 11-13K range with as many or more miles. We keep cars till they die to; my moms Olds now has 170K and my Dad's Blazer has 215K. At some point though, they'll nickel and dime you to the tune of the price of a new car - that's where we're at with my pop's Blazer. He's taking over the Olds which still runs good and my mom is getting in the Accord.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresu...dsfyc=&systime=

 

[The Critic]

Actually, Hertz is selling 07 Malibu 4-cyls around here for 12k with 28,000 miles. Well maintained as well, according to the garage that services them.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

I agree with the critic. They markup, because they think they'll sell you on their "reliability" so that you'll pay a premium, no questions asked. Many do.


Yup, and the reason is, ON AVERAGE, they have a better ownership experience because they're not breaking down as much. I know, everyone knows someone who had an Accord that was a total p.o.s., but it's no secret that in general, they're more reliable, last longer, and for that reason - hold their value more. Same with Toyotas.

 

[The Critic]

Actually, I'd trust a GM 2.2 or 2.4 4-cyl paired with a 4T45E to last longer than a Honda 2.4 and 5-speed auto.

 

[Drew99GT]

Why is that?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Why is that?

Lousy Honda ATF. Unproven durability of the 5-speed auto (though they have been a lot better with the I4 than with the V6). Engine may require periodic valve adjustments, if I'm not mistaken.

GM 4-cyl is easier to service. Transmission has proven to be reliable.Dexron-VI fluid lasts longer. If transmission needed to be rebuilt, it could be done for at least 25% less than the Honda automatic.

Don't get me wrong, I think both are fairly reliable...but I do believe that the GM combo does have a slight advantage here, possibly in the transmission department.

 

[Drew99GT]

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/1033443/

GM may be better now, but like the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[The Critic]

Remember, that car was HIGHWAY driven 99% of the time. Heck, my classmate's dad got 190k out of his 03 TL's infamous 5-speed slushbox...again highway driving. On the other hand, a lot of other people had failures well before 100k.

That report doesn't tell you much.

 

[Drew99GT]

They won't even put a freakin drain plug in the pan on the tranny! Screw that. Valve adjustment: done it to my Toyota with shim over bucket - PITA. Thank you Honda for the rockers with needles and set screws - 30 minutes tops at a cost of nothing but a valve cover gasket.

 

[Drew99GT]

Man Critic, for an 18 year old, you know A LOT!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
They won't even put a freakin drain plug in the pan on the tranny! Screw that. Valve adjustment: done it to my Toyota with shim over bucket - PITA. Thank you Honda for the rockers with needles and set screws - 30 minutes tops at a cost of nothing but a valve cover gasket.

Don't need it. The Dexron-VI fluid is so good, it'll likely outlast the transmission.

On the other hand, the Honda ATF-Z1 fluid.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Man Critic, for an 18 year old, you know A LOT!

I'm surprised that you keep track of my age-- you do it pretty well too.

 

[Win]

If you could get a loaded '07 with navigation for $20K and a warranty, that sounds like a lot better deal than a used car for $13K.

I had a used car business a few years back with a lot, license, inventory, the whole smack, and the only guide I ever considered valid was NADA, and as far as I was concerned, the only figure in the guide that accurately reflects what a vehicle is worth is the loan value.

Also, every, and I mean every, used car is average, so don't pay any premium for condition unless it's brand new, never titled. Milegae can affect the price, but never condition unless it's a total dog.

Anyway, that's my two cents from having actually been there, I never found buddy of a buddy anecdotes that useful. It was an expensive education for me, but you win some and you lose some.

Good luck.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Man Critic, for an 18 year old, you know A LOT!

I'm surprised that you keep track of my age-- you do it pretty well too.

OK, you 19 now? Everyone knows about The Critic on BITOG!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Man Critic, for an 18 year old, you know A LOT!

I'm surprised that you keep track of my age-- you do it pretty well too.

OK, you 19 now? Everyone knows about The Critic on BITOG!

No, I'm 18. Everyone knows me? Yikes!

 

[Drew99GT]

No, seriously, you really know a TON about cars and I appreciate your insight a bunch.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Man Critic, for an 18 year old, you know A LOT!

I'm surprised that you keep track of my age-- you do it pretty well too.

You have soaked up a remarkable amount of information for an 18 year old, that makes your age memorable.

You also seem to have a better sense of what the information means (and more importantly doesn't mean) than many older more experienced people do at any age.

Don't let it go to your head though, you still have a few decades of growing and developing to do.