Car purchase decisions - Accord?

miguelk

Hi All,

I'm driving myself mad here looking at cars and I'd like to get some opinions.

Here's the deal.

I drive approx 25k miles per year.

My current car is a 00 reg 320d with 210k miles on the clock. Well minded and driving great - BUT its at that stage of its life where fixing bits and pieces is happenning more regularly, and with this kind of a car it costs quite a bit. Put €1,000 into servicing it (injector replacement, heater switch, window regulator, few bushings etc) and it is now NCT'd for the next year. Love the car but I'm not going to do the same next time the NCT comes around.

So - decisions. I'm finding it VERY difficult in looking at cars to stick to what I lay out as my budget, and I keep looking at younger and better ones. I'm not fond of getting out loans so I've regularly been saving with this day in mind, so I've a budget of approx 10k. I'm not in a hurry as my 320d is running fine but I think it is wise to look to change it before I've to pump more money into it, which may not be for a while but still, that day is coming.

Looking for diesal saloon, I'm just not gone on a mondeo/avensis, and since I'm spending a few euro feck it I'm gonna get a model I want to drive.
I've done a lot of research on the VAG diesels (in the years I'd be able to afford) and there's numberous horror stories, especially on the passats.
BMW are a no no, love them but don't want a rear wheel drive this time.

So, the Accord. Really nice cars, one of the, if not the most reliable car makers. They come with plenty of extra's. Look good, have good reports from owners, and I just like them. I find them a little on the pricey side to be honest but i can take that if they stand up to their reputation on reliability. I'd want the exec model with full leather seats + sat nav if possible, but I may go for an s-type, depends on the car and the history also.

So, where to buy - I'd rather deal with an Irish dealer, I'd prefer not to go up north but that would be preferable before going to the UK which is more or less out of the question. I want to be able to meat a dealer face to face and have the ease of access to him if anything goes wrong etc. I'd like to keep the money in the country but there's a limit to my patriocy!

Here's the catch -

For 10k, in Ireland, I reckon I could get a 2006 Accord with the spec I want.
But the tax is crazy, must be almost 900 for the year now.

Which gets me thinking about the 08 model. I could stick to the 03-08 model and not go with the new one,but either way I'm talking busting my budget altogether, 15k+ I'd be looking at I'd say.

So, can I justify spending €900 a year on tax?
or can I justify spending 5k over budget for cheap tax?

If I did go for an 08 model, and held out until mid 2012, then they'd surely come down a bit, but no where near my budget.

If that was the case - any opinions on which model? Budget would say the old one, but would you think its a bad idea to do that when there is a new model out that year?

Tigger

the 08 might change its tax next year

miguelk

Tigger wrote: »

the 08 might change its tax next year

True - must take that into account.

Still there's a €600 difference, I can't see the gap closing that much.

On the other hand, I'm paying over €600 as it is for the 2 litre 320d already so its not that much extra, but still €900 its a considerable overhead to pay on a car every year in its lifetime.

Jimdagym

miguelk wrote: »

True - must take that into account.

Still there's a €600 difference, I can't see the gap closing that much.

On the other hand, I'm paying over €600 as it is for the 2 litre 320d already so its not that much extra, but still €900 its a considerable overhead to pay on a car every year in its lifetime.

You are talking about spending c. €5000 extra to save €600 a year. Thats insane. How long do you plan on keeping it?

mathepac

Three diesel Accords here 08/09. Anything tickle your fancy?

http://www.woodlandmotorco.ie/WMC_Home.htm

Timmaay

Jimdagym wrote: »

You are talking about spending c. €5000 extra to save €600 a year. Thats insane. How long do you plan on keeping it?

That wouldn't be quite the full story in my view. Ok lets do some maths! Assuming (and this is a big assumption!), that the tax rates stay the same for the next few years, and this gap stays at 600euros a year, 04-07 diesel accords on the old system will be almost worthless as the ratio of tax per year to the value of the car becomes higher and high.

Say the OP gets an 06 accord for 10k now, in 4years time that car will be 10 years old almost, with tax cost of close on 1000 a yr, it would be worth about 1000/1500 in my view, with the total tax cost for the 4 years standing at 4x925 = 3700, so:

total tax + depreciation = 8500+3700 = 12200

Ok the OP goes and buys an 08 for 15k, which in 4yrs will be 8years old Diesel with cheap tax, worth about 4k, (11000 deprecation), and total tax of 4x330 = 1320

Total tax + depreciation = 11000+1320 = 12320

Now thats a very very rough calculation, with used valuations of 1500 and 4k pulled off the top of my head, and assuming that the gap of 600euros is going to stay!! I for one was certain that the government would fix this this budget, however they actually made it worse!, and the gap actually between an 07 and 08 accord diesel got bigger!! (old: 860-302 = 558, new: 925-330 = 595).

Of course the other assumption is that the OP has the extra 5k in his pocket to blow on the car, and does not need to borrow the money and have the extra interest associated with this!!

miguelk

mathepac wrote: »

Three diesel Accords here 08/09. Anything tickle your fancy?

http://www.woodlandmotorco.ie/WMC_Home.htm

Oh yes, this one

http://woodlandmotorco.webzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=213226497900340

Ticks all the boxes. I'd missed this dealer in my search, hadn't heard of them and had filtered non simi dealers out.

Any insight into them? Are they around long? Done a good search on them and found little on discussions, nothing on boards. On the internet only found their listings on various websites, nothing else.

I'd be wary/paranoid of dealers I didn't know much about unless I had a recommendation from someone I trusted. Any experience dealing with them?

But ya, thats the kind of car I'm looking for. €14,750 is a reasonable asking price for that miles/spec...In a Honda dealership that would be pushing 16k I'd say.

Timmaay wrote: »

That wouldn't be quite the full story in my view. Ok lets do some maths! Assuming (and this is a big assumption!), that the tax rates stay the same for the next few years, and this gap stays at 600euros a year, 04-07 diesel accords on the old system will be almost worthless as the ratio of tax per year to the value of the car becomes higher and high.

Say the OP gets an 06 accord for 10k now, in 4years time that car will be 10 years old almost, with tax cost of close on 1000 a yr, it would be worth about 1000/1500 in my view, with the total tax cost for the 4 years standing at 4x925 = 3700, so:

total tax + depreciation = 8500+3700 = 12200

Ok the OP goes and buys an 08 for 15k, which in 4yrs will be 8years old Diesel with cheap tax, worth about 4k, (11000 deprecation), and total tax of 4x330 = 1320

Total tax + depreciation = 11000+1320 = 12320

Now thats a very very rough calculation, with used valuations of 1500 and 4k pulled off the top of my head, and assuming that the gap of 600euros is going to stay!! I for one was certain that the government would fix this this budget, however they actually made it worse!, and the gap actually between an 07 and 08 accord diesel got bigger!! (old: 860-302 = 558, new: 925-330 = 595).

Of course the other assumption is that the OP has the extra 5k in his pocket to blow on the car, and does not need to borrow the money and have the extra interest associated with this!!

Timaay, nail on the head - thanks a lot for that.

I've decided I'm going to behave and be patient for an 08 and put my trust in the 320d, and not buy one just yet - to avoid getting a loan. I said to myself some time ago I'd only get a loan when I absolutely needed to and otherwise I'd make do with what I have, I need to stick to that principle, but its so hard to restrain yourself when you start car shopping though!

So I'll keep saving my €50 each week and eventually my 10k budget will rise, the value of an 08 will fall, and when they meet in the middle I'll go then!

puppetmaster

Id be havin a look at this one, pre facelift so i imagine thats the price difference, i personally rather prefacelift though.

Dunno if u wanted to buy privatley but there's some good deals out there
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2722863

miguelk

puppetmaster wrote: »

Id be havin a look at this one, pre facelift so i imagine thats the price difference, i personally rather prefacelift though.

Dunno if u wanted to buy privatley but there's some good deals out there
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2722863

I prefer the pre-face lift myself Puppetmaster. More solid shape, there's something about the rear end of the new model that I don't like!

That price is very good, if I'm spending a good bit of money on a recent enough vehicle I was thinking of the security of a warranty etc, which I why I was looking at dealerships, but at that price would certainly make me consider, thanks!

I may go half way and give my requirements to my local indy mechanic who I trust to source one, I'd def pay a bit on top of the likes of your example to have peace of mind.

commited

You say you love the car, why don't you just keep it? Spending 10k so you don't have to spent 1k/year on servicing - this doesn't really make any sense. If you want to change it because you want a new car, that's a totally different story, but make sure you factor depreciation into your yearly costs. If I was you, I'd stick with the 320d - the great thing about replacing parts is that they are now new and not likely to go wrong for another x years. Buying a 4 year old car now will undoubtedly result in replacement of parts anyway, especially considering how complex diesels have become.

miguelk

commited wrote: »

You say you love the car, why don't you just keep it? Spending 10k so you don't have to spent 1k/year on servicing - this doesn't really make any sense. If you want to change it because you want a new car, that's a totally different story, but make sure you factor depreciation into your yearly costs. If I was you, I'd stick with the 320d - the great thing about replacing parts is that they are now new and not likely to go wrong for another x years. Buying a 4 year old car now will undoubtedly result in replacement of parts anyway, especially considering how complex diesels have become.

Valid points there Commited.
Wanting a new car Vs what is financially the best option are very different things, I've thought about it a bit over the weekend and tried to take a step back from oogling at the gadgets and shine of the 08 Honda Accods. The 1k bill for my 320d lit the flames under me to get a new one sorted and once you start looking you can get taken over! As per my earlier post I'm going to put my trust in the 320d and stay saving as long as nothing major goes wrong with it, and when running it becomes financially unsustainable I can rethink. Its hard to justify the approx 25% depreciation py, e.g. if I spent 10k I'll have lost €2,500 in one year.

So thanks for your suggestions but I'll have to park the car search for now.

FrontDoor

I think that private sale deserves a closer look.

Perhaps spend a few quid getting it checked out if it looks ok? You could do a lot of repairs for 3k.

600 quid tax difference a year is not inconsiderable. 4 years and its 2.5k, so a 2008 car over 4 years is maybe 2k more than a 2006?

Obviously changing a car to save 150 quid tax is nuts, but 600 a year is a serious saving.

Soarer

I know you said you don't want to go to the UK, but money talks!;)

This 2008 Executive is good value.
Granted the mileage is on the high side, but it's got a full Honda service history and 135k miles over there isn't the same as 135k miles over here.

So asking price is £5250. You'd definitely get the £250 off that, but we'll leave it as is. Exchange rate on XE at the minute comes in at €6240. Giving te bank a huge cut, we'll round that up to €6500.
VRT on that car comes in at €2940.
If you give yourself a budget of €500 for planes/boats/etc., you're total to get her on the road over here is a shade under €10k.:D

Of course, if you get the £250 off the price, you'll save yourself another €300.
And if you wait until January to VRT her, you'd save yourself another €500 on VRT. So she'd be standing you arounf €9200. A whole pile of car for that money.

Patriotism or €4k in your back pocket??

robd

I drive a 04 Accord 2.0 Exec Auto. Petrol though not Diesel and I only do low enough mileage. 40,000 over the 6 years I've owned it.

I've found it to be a great car in general. Had ZERO problems with it mechanically. Interior and all electronics still in top condition. Drives well. Soft enough suspension but firms up nicely if you throw it into a corner. Very fast. Low noise from outside. More understated than a BMW which tends to single you out as a type of person. Took me to work every day in snow once I was careful moving off (see traction control comment below), unlike a colleague in his 3 series.

Negatives I have are that it drinks petrol particularly if you push accelerator hard enough for VTEC to kick in. That's obviously the petrol though and not the diesel model that you're thinking of. 2.2 diesel may be a little thirsty compared to other smaller engines such as the 1.9 VAG diesel. It's also depreciated like a stone due to changes to CO2 emissions. Not sure how this effects the diesel. Lack of traction control requires caution too. In truth it's a little to powerful to not have it. Easy to get carried away pulling off if you're not careful.

vengeance52

I have a 2004 2.2 Honda Accord Diesel Exe with touch screen sat nav, and without question it is the nicest car I have ever owned.

Mechanically it is perfect, as long as you use OEM parts for service esp the fuel filter and the correct 0W30 oil.

Its a great driver and eats up the miles, esp with the cruise control while having plenty of power for overtaking.

The only thing I noticed is it slightly wears the front tyres a little faster than other cars, but its not major difference.

I got my car in JC Campbell outside Newry in rostrevor and they were a sound buch of lads and helpful in every way.

Also take a look at http://typeaccord.co.uk/forum/ as its a great resource for accord owners and ive been a member and the help and info I gained from here is fantastic.

civileng2008

Got the 2008 Honda Accord 2.2 Sport last October. 64K on the clock €13,500. 60Ltr diesel tank €80-€85 to fill 500-600 miles per tank pending on driving.

A few points
The Bad points:
1: The 17" alloys seem a little big and if you hit a bump on the road the steering wheel will pull a little, even if you only drive on the white line. On a bad road two hands on the wheel is recommended.
2: The battery runs down very quickly if the radio is left on 4-5mins and you will need a jump start. I hear ( from the Irish Times) there is a recall on a chip in the car which runs down the battery, waiting for main dealer to get back to me on this. Has any one else heard of this??
3: The 2.2 is a little heavy on diesel in urban driving and short runs.
4: Can be a little rough on the road over bumps pending on the wheels you have.

On the Plus side:
1: Lovely car to drive
2: Plenty of power
3: Great room in the car back and front
4: Big Boot
5:Folding split back seats
6: €302 a year to tax (old tax bracket will rise from Jan 2012)
7: Cruise Control & air-con
8: Built in Sat-nav
9: Comfortable seats
10: Nice looking car, chrome touches on the exterior finish off the car well.
11: Good MPG at 60mph on long run with cruise control. I got 50mpg so far.
12:Touch screen radio
13:In built Hands free kit
14: Voice command features for radio hands free and climate control
15: Quiet in car when driving