Buying a new (to me) car! (updated)

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geno

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Hello everyone,
This will be my first big purchase as far as a vehicle goes. I've always paid cash for my cars, but this one will be the exception. I want something reliable, quiet, 2 door, 5 speed, and reasonably quick, so the Prelude came to mind. I'd consider a Celica GT-S, but I just can't get past the styling (inside and out), I'd love a DSM, but don't have the overhead available in case anything goes wrong, and I'd love a WRX, but I can't find any without 100,000 miles that I'd be able to afford. So, I'm pretty well versed in haggling prices when it comes to vehicles, since I know them pretty well inside and out, but does anyone have any tips for me? Like I said, I'll be financing this car, hoping to stay around 150-180 a month (I'm not the type to go out and get something brand new and dump twice that much one it, no thanks, I'll be reasonable). Any tips? Suggestions?

Well, I found a '99 Prelude SH at a small car lot with 79K on it, carfax says it was in 1 minor accident, but I didn't see any evidence of any structural damage. Otherwise it's a clean title. It has a few dings (3 that I counted), however the brakes had a pulse to them, I'll have to see what they can do for me. Otherwise it was in great shape, and I got the salesman down to $9100... I haven't put a deposit on it yet but I'm thinking of doing it within the next couple of days. Think I should chew him down more or do I have a hot enough deal on my hands? :D
 
Ryan

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Preludes make Ryan want to touch himself - especially ones in Eucalyptus Green with tan interiors and manual transmissions :)
 
A

alien42

Lifer
Nov 28, 2004
12,869
3,299
136
<--- proud owner of a 98 black prelude with 86K miles

i do have to admit it is an automatic but when buying used you cant get everything you want.

i bought it earlier this year for $8000 and paid for it on the spot with insurance money and $2000 out of pocket.
 
Fenixgoon

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,410
13,022
136
Originally posted by: Ryan
Preludes make Ryan want to touch himself - especially ones in Eucalyptus Green with tan interiors and manual transmissions :)
Click to expand...

whoa there ryan;)
 
J

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
81
240 sx?

hondas are great cars, their engines are just a little short on torque.
 
EvilYoda

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
I absolutely love the last-gen Preludes...although having gotten a GTO, it'd be weird not having ridiculous amounts of power available :p

Style-wise, I still gawk at any Ludes I see.
 
Muadib

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
18,124
912
126
How much are you putting down, and how good is your credit?

A 2001 Prelude has a blue book value of somewhere between $15k -17K. A four year loan for 15k at 7.5% would make your payments $300.57 a month. A four year loan for 10K at the same 7.5% would make your payments $200.38 a month. I haven't looked at used car rates in a couple of years, so the rate could be higher.

Maybe you want to look at a cheaper car.
 
C

Caesar

Golden Member
Nov 5, 1999
1,686
178
106
Don't have much to except to stay away from automatic. It just takes the fun away and the sportshit is notorious for breaking. I have one (see sig) and if I can go back I would have paid an extra 1k and got the manual (manual + prelude is hard to find considering there are only 20k of them). Also since you are getting a honda try to get a certified one.
 
geno

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: jtvang125
Definitely get the Type-SH
Click to expand...

I think I'm going for an SH, they're not much more expensive and there's a few nicer touches like leather steering wheel/shift knob

Originally posted by: jotosuds
what are you stepping up from?

integra or prelude seems to fit your bill well.
Click to expand...

A 90 Integra that's falling apart faster than it can drive. Yeah I'd much prefer the more solid lude over an Integra, but I'd take a nice low milage GSR if the price was a steal.

Originally posted by: Muadib
How much are you putting down, and how good is your credit?

A 2001 Prelude has a blue book value of somewhere between $15k -17K. A four year loan for 15k at 7.5% would make your payments $300.57 a month. A four year loan for 10K at the same 7.5% would make your payments $200.38 a month. I haven't looked at used car rates in a couple of years, so the rate could be higher.

Maybe you want to look at a cheaper car.
Click to expand...
There's a handful of 98-99 Ludes with low milage on them for well under 10,000, that's my price range. I'll be putting $1k down and would likely do a 5 year loan to keep the payments low for now, and I'd end up probably doubling the payments about a yr down the road once I become more financially stable
 
D

deejayshakur

Platinum Member
Aug 7, 2000
2,584
0
0
how about an accord coupe? not as speedy but a little bigger. depends on your wants. i was in your situation 6 months ago and decided on a 4door GSR. the rarer, the better.

anybody going to tell him not to get the type SH? i think i read it was overrated and the LSD only added weight if you didn't track. don't remember the fine details though.
 
R

RbSX

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
8,351
1
76
Originally posted by: geno
Hello everyone,
This will be my first big purchase as far as a vehicle goes. I've always paid cash for my cars, but this one will be the exception. I want something reliable, quiet, 2 door, 5 speed, and reasonably quick, so the Prelude came to mind. I'd consider a Celica GT-S, but I just can't get past the styling (inside and out), I'd love a DSM, but don't have the overhead available in case anything goes wrong, and I'd love a WRX, but I can't find any without 100,000 miles that I'd be able to afford. So, I'm pretty well versed in haggling prices when it comes to vehicles, since I know them pretty well inside and out, but does anyone have any tips for me? Like I said, I'll be financing this car, hoping to stay around 150-180 a month (I'm not the type to go out and get something brand new and dump twice that much one it, no thanks, I'll be reasonable). Any tips? Suggestions?
Click to expand...

CELICA GT-S = NO ROOM, but nice interior.

Prelude has a pretty UGLY interior, but it hauls ass pretty nicely.

I chose the RSX-S because it's a nice compromise, the speed of the Prelude SH with the sweet interior of the Celica.

 
M

MaxFusion16

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2001
1,512
1
0
for the same money, i'd have a sc300 anyday of the week.

the prelude is nice and all but is too little for the money.

2jz-ge supra motor in the sc300 with rwd, 2 door, sleek, and toyota(reliable).

it's just a little hard to find in manual.

I'm looking to buy one myself within the year, well either that or the 3000gt vr4.
 
geno

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: deejayshakur
how about an accord coupe? not as speedy but a little bigger. depends on your wants. i was in your situation 6 months ago and decided on a 4door GSR. the rarer, the better.

anybody going to tell him not to get the type SH? i think i read it was overrated and the LSD only added weight if you didn't track. don't remember the fine details though.
Click to expand...

I test drove an Accord coupe yesterday, nice, but not what I'm looking for, I need something a little edgier... And for the same price, I would take an SH over a base, there really doesn't seem to be a price difference around these parts, leather bits in the interior, different rims, rear wing, courtesy lights in the interior, cool little stuff like that is worth it to me, and yes I won't be ripping on the ATTS every day, but I'd like to try it out and see if it's a nice difference or not
 
geno

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: RyanSengara
Originally posted by: geno
Hello everyone,
This will be my first big purchase as far as a vehicle goes. I've always paid cash for my cars, but this one will be the exception. I want something reliable, quiet, 2 door, 5 speed, and reasonably quick, so the Prelude came to mind. I'd consider a Celica GT-S, but I just can't get past the styling (inside and out), I'd love a DSM, but don't have the overhead available in case anything goes wrong, and I'd love a WRX, but I can't find any without 100,000 miles that I'd be able to afford. So, I'm pretty well versed in haggling prices when it comes to vehicles, since I know them pretty well inside and out, but does anyone have any tips for me? Like I said, I'll be financing this car, hoping to stay around 150-180 a month (I'm not the type to go out and get something brand new and dump twice that much one it, no thanks, I'll be reasonable). Any tips? Suggestions?
Click to expand...

CELICA GT-S = NO ROOM, but nice interior.

Prelude has a pretty UGLY interior, but it hauls ass pretty nicely.

I chose the RSX-S because it's a nice compromise, the speed of the Prelude SH with the sweet interior of the Celica.
Click to expand...

I just think this looks hideous. I've been inside one before and all of the plastic was hard and felt way too artificial :(

This, while boring, is much better appointed and livable from day to day IMO
 
S

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
Originally posted by: geno

I've been inside one before and all of the plastic was hard and felt way too artificial :(
Click to expand...

you just described the interior of all modern honda's. took a ride in a loaded 04 accord coupe... with leathers and the V6. the backseat's armrest was BLACK HALLOW HARD PLASTIC... i expected better.
 
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