Decisions... buy a TSX or keep the Sentra?

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: wanmichael
Or better yet, a 2005 Corolla LE Automatic with:
ABS
Side Airbags
Alloy Wheels
Cruise Control
CD Change
Floor Mats

I was quoted $15,436 plus tax for one of these at San Francisco Toyota. I know quite a few people who have one of these and they consistently get 37-41MPG on the Highway.

Its a Toyota: It runs forever!!!

Michael

Why would he want to replace a Sentra with a Coralla ??
Hes not looking for reliability, hes looking for a step up from the Sentra and I'd say its a big step.

 

[Garion]

Why would you want to buy a TSX? It's just a slightly more refined Accord. Geeze, even the V6 Accord has it beat by ~40 HP. (200 vs. 240). Functionally, it's a lot like your Sentra with more luxury and a bit more zing.

If you want something fun, why look at a sedan? Go check out a RSX or a Integra (if you like Acuras) or something similar that is lighter, faster and handles better?

- G

 

[styrafoam]

Keep the car and move out after graduation. You will never want to live at home again and the extra money will be a huge help when you rebudget.

 

[geckojohn]

save teh money and use it for a downpayment for a condo

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Garion
Why would you want to buy a TSX? It's just a slightly more refined Accord. Geeze, even the V6 Accord has it beat by ~40 HP. (200 vs. 240). Functionally, it's a lot like your Sentra with more luxury and a bit more zing.

If you want something fun, why look at a sedan? Go check out a RSX or a Integra (if you like Acuras) or something similar that is lighter, faster and handles better?

- G

Because its better than a Sentra ??
And there was a poll and people picked the TSX over Accord V6.
THREAD

 

[MustangSVT]

no sense getting a car now

 

[Garion]

Originally posted by: CTrain

Originally posted by: Garion
Why would you want to buy a TSX? It's just a slightly more refined Accord. Geeze, even the V6 Accord has it beat by ~40 HP. (200 vs. 240). Functionally, it's a lot like your Sentra with more luxury and a bit more zing.

If you want something fun, why look at a sedan? Go check out a RSX or a Integra (if you like Acuras) or something similar that is lighter, faster and handles better?

- G

Because its better than a Sentra ??
And there was a poll and people picked the TSX over Accord V6.
THREAD

Most cars are better than a Sentra (No offense to Sentra owners). Just because it's better doesn't mean that it's the right car.

.. On the Accord vs. TSX - I took both for a drive and preferred the Accord (but ended up buying a new Maxima, instead). That's just personal preference.

- G

 

[CTrain]

Originally posted by: Garion

Originally posted by: CTrain

Originally posted by: Garion
Why would you want to buy a TSX? It's just a slightly more refined Accord. Geeze, even the V6 Accord has it beat by ~40 HP. (200 vs. 240). Functionally, it's a lot like your Sentra with more luxury and a bit more zing.

If you want something fun, why look at a sedan? Go check out a RSX or a Integra (if you like Acuras) or something similar that is lighter, faster and handles better?

- G

Because its better than a Sentra ??
And there was a poll and people picked the TSX over Accord V6.
THREAD

Most cars are better than a Sentra (No offense to Sentra owners). Just because it's better doesn't mean that it's the right car.

.. On the Accord vs. TSX - I took both for a drive and preferred the Accord (but ended up buying a new Maxima, instead). That's just personal preference.

- G

Its what he like, man.
Personally, I like the RSX too but he wants either his beat up Sentra or TSX...Accord isn't his option.
I would suggest looking at the Mazda 6 too. Pretty sure he can get a Mazda6 with 30K miles for around $16-17K.

 

[poopaskoopa]

If you're gonna put 35k miles a year on a car, I'd stick with the Sentra, and buy another beater when the Sentra dies.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
You drive almost 3000 miles a month, and you want to spend 20k on a car that's going to give roughly 2/3rds the mileage uising premium gas?

The TSX will easily get 24 MPG, if not a bit more, around 28. That's more than half, not two-thirds.

Not a chance in hell he's getting a full-blown 40 mpg regularly on a car with 140k, unless he lives on a turnpike somewhere.

Under normal city driving, windows down or AC on, you think the numbers would be anywhere near that? These were highway road trip numbers.

Those are my normal normal driving conditions.
95% highway.

 

[axnff]

I was in a similar situation about 5 years ago (out of college, lived at home, no expenses). Went for the new car. Then I moved out (no roommates) six months later. Not too long afterward, I had got used to a lifestyle that consumed all my income (surprisingly easy) with nothing left for savings/retirement. If I had started maxing out, say a Roth IRA, I could have had nearly $20k as a down payment on my house a couple months ago; and that would have cost me about $15k in after-tax dollars... You can do interesting things with 401(k) and such too...

Now that I have a 103% mortgage, I have to pay PMI and a higher rate, so my house costs a lot more than it needs to (about $240/month more than with $20k down). I still have exactly $125 in all forms of long-term savings. And my wife is about to go on maternity leave, but my income will not cover our expenses. And we need a new car. And she had a knee injury while pregnant that will require surgery (more $$) and more down-time from work (more $$).

The future seems far off, but a lot of things can change in just 2-3 years, and the decisions you make now can have a huge impact on your quality of life when things change (and they WILL change).

Run the Sentra into the ground, max your retirement, save up. You'll have a whole lot more options open to you (better cars, better homes, etc).

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: axnff
I was in a similar situation about 5 years ago (out of college, lived at home, no expenses). Went for the new car. Then I moved out (no roommates) six months later. Not too long afterward, I had got used to a lifestyle that consumed all my income (surprisingly easy) with nothing left for savings/retirement. If I had started maxing out, say a Roth IRA, I could have had nearly $20k as a down payment on my house a couple months ago; and that would have cost me about $15k in after-tax dollars... You can do interesting things with 401(k) and such too...

Now that I have a 103% mortgage, I have to pay PMI and a higher rate, so my house costs a lot more than it needs to (about $240/month more than with $20k down). I still have exactly $125 in all forms of long-term savings. And my wife is about to go on maternity leave, but my income will not cover our expenses. And we need a new car. And she had a knee injury while pregnant that will require surgery (more $$) and more down-time from work (more $$).

The future seems far off, but a lot of things can change in just 2-3 years, and the decisions you make now can have a huge impact on your quality of life when things change (and they WILL change).

Run the Sentra into the ground, max your retirement, save up. You'll have a whole lot more options open to you (better cars, better homes, etc).

Well put.



Tom

 

[bbqbread]

skip the new car unless your paying cash and have like 100k cash in the bank and your making alot of cash daily.

acquiring unnecessary debt is EVIL!

 

[CChaos]

Save your money for a house.

 

[mitaiwan82]

Originally posted by: CTrain

Originally posted by: Garion

Originally posted by: CTrain

Originally posted by: Garion
Why would you want to buy a TSX? It's just a slightly more refined Accord. Geeze, even the V6 Accord has it beat by ~40 HP. (200 vs. 240). Functionally, it's a lot like your Sentra with more luxury and a bit more zing.

If you want something fun, why look at a sedan? Go check out a RSX or a Integra (if you like Acuras) or something similar that is lighter, faster and handles better?

- G

Because its better than a Sentra ??
And there was a poll and people picked the TSX over Accord V6.
THREAD

Most cars are better than a Sentra (No offense to Sentra owners). Just because it's better doesn't mean that it's the right car.

.. On the Accord vs. TSX - I took both for a drive and preferred the Accord (but ended up buying a new Maxima, instead). That's just personal preference.

- G

Its what he like, man.
Personally, I like the RSX too but he wants either his beat up Sentra or TSX...Accord isn't his option.
I would suggest looking at the Mazda 6 too. Pretty sure he can get a Mazda6 with 30K miles for around $16-17K.

I think you can get a brand new ('04 4-bangerl) Mazda6 for ~16K