vader1

Dude, of course you can get one for less. I am talking about the average price of new car these days and it crossed $31,000 last year. Sure you can get a 4 cylinder Accord at the "end of the year clearance", with no options on it. But look around the lots and see how many cars are equipped with keys and a heater and how many have a couple popular equipment packages. Equipped cars sell.

If you want the strippo, fine, I've have had a couple, but they do not sell in big numbers. But if you don't believe it for a second here is an article for you:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...201017601.html

Honda's AVERAGE transaction price is $27,000 and that includes averaging in every Fit and Civic they sell at much less than that. When I worked at a dealer back when the earth cooled, we ordered a few strippos every year for each model, and sold dozens if not hundreds of models that were heavy on options. Sunroofs, leather, automatics, fancy wheels, better stereos, heated seats, etc are not in the $20,000 model you are referring to.

Here is from the second paragraph of the article: "Manufacturers continue to benefit from consumers' insatiable appetite for highly contented new vehicles, as shown by average transaction prices exceeding $31,000 in March," said Jesse Toprak, senior analyst for TrueCar.

SlowTeg

You're either buying some real clunkers or you weren't paying market value, that's the reality. I have a 2000 honda civic VP (which is basically a DX), and its blue book value is $5k! That's freaking nuts imo. Why buy a 13yr old car with 110k miles on it which could have who knows what problems when you can get a brand new one for ~$17k OTD brand new? I do think used cars were a little undervalued especially back in ~06, but now you can't find a decent/cheap used car (at least compared to back in the day).

And yes, you can get cars for under market value, but that's hardly a fair comparison. I bought the civic for $2500 what 7 yrs ago and all it needed was a wheel bearing and tires. I was just lucky and got a steal.

deepbluejh

A new car is a luxury for most of the population and as money gets tighter, it's a luxury that more and more people are passing on.

deepbluejh

Not real sure about that. I just bought a 6 year old Acura TL for $11k that listed for $38k new. How some run of the mill civic of the same age could be worth roughly the same is pretty mind-boggling.

SlowTeg

I'd guess your TL has relatively high miles for that price, what around 100k? TL's seem to not be worth as much (relatively) because of the worse gas mileage and requiring premium. Cheaper/reliable/good gas mileage cars like honda civics lose very little value used vs new these days, look for yourself. I agree it's kinda crazy, but it is what it is. Like I said, my old ass beater civic is worth than I'd be willing to pay for it these days.

Presto123

http://www.roadandtrack.com/features...t-cars-of-2002

Road & Track's best cars of 2002. The S2000 made the cut.

FurY

Not that it shouldn't be on the list, but we are all a bit biased here