New 04 for sure. Cheaper price for the exact same car. Plus you get a year with 0 miles so you mileage will be below average if you drive normal. Good for resale someday down the road.

 

31.5k for new '05 out the door is a good deal and it is do-able.
I got my 02 back in May of 02 for the same price, and that's when most people were still selling at MSRP or above. VA has one of the lowest taxes in US (along with 1 other state, I forget which, both ~3%), so I don't know why some are thinking this is a BS.

I would get the '05 just because I like new things.

 

Saki,

Great deal especially if you keep the car forever (which with the warranty it sounds like that's your plan).

If you keep it till the bitter end, the difference in cost is worth it. More cash in your pocket. But if you're going to sell it in one year, you may wish you had gotten the 2005.

 

Tax in NC is 3%, so there's not much $$$ on the tax. And yes, I plan on keeping the car forever. By the time I need a bigger car, it will be an additional purchase, not a trade in.

 

Ummm....in the Virginia that I bought my car in tax was 4.5%.

 

i got an 04 rio yellow pearl w/front & rear spoiler and side strakes for 31K out the door. if you go with the 05 get all the accessories you can out the dealer. if you can't get the accessories go with the 04 used.