I own a 00' AP1 and a 90' Accord. I bought my S about two years ago and daily drove it until this winter, when I bought accord for my people hauling/campus commute purposes. I am graduating soon, and my S will be paid off come may. I didn't mind daily driving the S, I mean, c'mon, it's fun as hell. But once I got the accord, it made me want to keep the S for those nice days... I dunno... something to take care of and appreciate. So, my college career is coming to a close, I will have considerably more income, and the accord... with over 200k miles... is starting to wear on me.

I LOVE the accord... and I'd hate to give it up, but something it itching me, and that itch is a used TSX. I have yet to drive one, but everything I hear is really positive (car and driver 10 best?) and I love the standard equipment. Something tells me this would be the perfect sedan to compliment the S, and at $15-18k, I think it would be a helluva value.

Whaddya think? Is there a car I'm overlooking with similar space, standard equipment, and FUN factor? Thanks in advance.

 

No its not worth having more payments IMO. Wait a few more years and buy something really worth having payments over. I say beat that Accord into the ground man. I'm in my early 20's and I've entertained the idea of having a beater. To me its really not worth it at this point my life. Thats a bit too baller for me. I have a few friends in their mid 20's pulling six figures and they dont even have 2 cars.

 

The accord HAS been beat to the ground. She starts just fine, even in sub zero weather, but the suspension is shot, the tranny is iffy, and it feels like... oh... 75 or 80 hp, which makes the "get up and go" moments and highway passing very difficult. Heavy braking situations? scary. Especially in nasty weather. I dunno... I think I just don't feel safe in the thing.

 

TSX is just a fancy Accord, so if you want a decent beater, $15k is fine - just save up 6 mo of salary before you spring for any new car.

 

I've been considering a similar such project for some time... I say GO FOR IT!

The K24 is a great motor... they're very well-built, will probably be the last reasonably svelte Acura you're gonna see... and there's a wonderful aftermarket if you decide to step it up a bit. Amazing 6-speed, too. Plus, I think used is a good way to go - so far as I prefer the initial TSX design to the ones since they did the mid model year tweaks. It isn't a car that's usually beat to death, either.

I'm just reluctant to go forward because my other car is an EP3 Civic - another K-series (K20a3), FWD... that's just too many similarities. S2000 and a TSX is about the ultimate combo, IMO.

My dream TSX mods:

- forged 18s with good rubber
- Mugen adjustable suspension and cat-back exhaust
- StopTech's 4-wheel big brake kit

 

Just get a 1998-2002 V6 accord

it will still cost money but not as much as the TSX

 

I understand the itch, but you're better off not spending money before you have it. I'd wait until you can put a decent downpayment on it, then pull the trigger if you must. It's a fine choice for a DD though.

 

Having had a TSX, and now having an S2000 and shopping for a beater, I say, buy a newer, nicer beater. Maybe a newer Accord. Pick a level of cash you are comfortable laying out ($4k? $6k? $10k?) and save up that amount, and spend it. The TSX was a nice car, but I never felt it was so nice that it was really worth the extra $200/mo over, say, a Civic on the 5 mile drive to/from work. When I was driving 20k+ miles a year, it was great (though rough on the depreciation,) but for a daily commuter, it was a waste of the car.

My next car purchase (beater) will be in cash, and the one after that (newer car for wife) will be financed at 50% or less.


BTW, are TSXs really down to $15-18k? I traded mine in for like $16k last May, which makes me think the dealer was going to try for $18k, and mine was a high-mileage (65k) '04.

 

dont get it too quick--work half a year and save without car payments and then you'll have the car half paid off before you drive it. and in the meantime, your finances are not at all tight and you can buy a new couch or TV without having to eat out any less.

i bought my s2000 right after i graduated, before i had saved. i got married about the same time, and we haven't been able to furnish the house or take weekend trips as often as i would like. i dont regret the purchase, but it would have been easier if i would have waited 6 months and drove my beater.

 

I'm not sure if this thread is about personal/financial advice or if it's about which car to buy... Anyway, I agree with everyone else, save before springing for the new car. If you already have a job lined up, great...and maybe they're paying you a signing bonus. If not, don't spend money you don't have.

We as Americans think in terms of monthly payments too often to determine whether one can afford something or not. You should just focus on the actual purchase price plus interest required if you're going to finance it. Whatever it is, does that seem "affordable" or a "good value" to you? I think only you can determine that...

BTW, not advocating using financing or not. There's a lot of factors to be considered here...e.g. if you can get cheap money (like the ~3% deals you see for new cars sometimes), then it's probably worth investing what you have and financing the car.

BTW2: This is not financial advice...