Potential 2008 Accord Coupe owner

[Gary757]

Been shopping around for a new car for some time-- over 2 years to be exact. Let's just say I have a hard time committing, plus I'm also trying to buy my first house in the near future, and having that car payment limits my financing power.

But someday soon, if everything falls into place I hope to be behind the wheel of an 08 Accord Coupe--V6 preferred, but budget might limit me to the 4-banger.

Until recently, I'd been fixed on buying an Acura TSX, but with the new one coming out next spring and its expected bump in size, power, and price, I concede that--for me--the smarter money is on the Accord. The TSX is a great car but a little more than I can probably handle for now. I could probably get an 07 or 08 TSX for about what I'd pay for a nicely equipped Accord Coupe, and it's a fantastic entry luxury sedan for the money and all, but mentally I struggle with having an 'older design' with the new and improved 09 TSXes coming out this spring. And besides, the V4 coupe gives me almost all the amenities of the current TSX -- most of the HP (even more w the V6), Navi, TPMS, and Honda style and engineering for thousands less. I would only give up perks like memory seats, Xenons, and the Acura badge.

I've rambled long enough. I would love to hear others opinions (however biased) regarding the 08 Accord vs 08 TSX vs 09 TSX sometime in another thread. Cheers! :salue:

[335i2Accord]

Keep toughing it out, if you haven't bought the car yet and know you will buying a house soon then just wait and organize that large financial commitment before buying the car.

[flippco]

I would also tab a vote to buy the house first.

Not sure if this would affect the car choice, it is recommended that a persons total debt-to-income ratio not exceed 36%. In this number it is suggested that a house payment should be no more than 28% and a car payment should be no more than 8% without other debt (student loans, credit cards, lines of credit) in regards to income.

Good luck with the house and car purchases.

[SatinSilver]

What kind of car do you have now? Include year, model, miles, trans and you will get some good advice on here I'm sure.

[Gary757]

335i2Accord/flippco: To be honest I am far more excited to have a car than a house, but you are both very right in that I am better off getting the house first, and I thank you for your input. Not only that, but I have nowhere to park my car even if I did buy the car first (see below). I ran some numbers through BankRate's "how much house/car can you afford" calculators and figure I can--on my own-- safely afford a decent townhouse and my target EX-L V4 w Navi. Or maybe skimp some on the house and get me the V6 EX-L that I really want. ;)

SatinSilver: My first car was a '99 Toyota Corolla that I put a solid 100K on before handing it down to my sister. For the last 2 years, I've borrowed the parents' "weekend" SUV (2004 Toyota Sequoia) as my daily driver. On weekends I drive my brother's Civic (2002 LX) or my girlfriend's Civic (1999 EX). Other cars in the family include a 1984 Toyota Van (yes, really), 2005 Corolla S, and 2008 Honda Pilot VP. Not long ago, I had an old ipod stolen in a smash-n-grab*, so I also drove a Mazda 6 V6 for a week while the Sequoia window was replaced. After months of complacency borrowing cars, driving the 6 around renewed my desire to have my own car. (*Aside: That was partly my fault for leaving the telltale white ipod car charger plugged in its outlet. Even if the ipod wasn't in the car, I'm certain that the window still would have been smashed in just because of the car charger.)

By the way, all cars mentioned are automatics. The last stick shift we had was my father's 1987 BMW 325e. I don't know stick and as much as I always wanted to learn, I've never had the opportunity, but for now I'd probably stay with AT--even if it means less fun.

[SatinSilver]

Wow..sounds like you have a whole fleet of cars to choose from. Its probably good that you drive them all periodically so they are not just sitting their idle. They need their exercise. I would just keep things the way they are.

I bought a nicer car first then a townhouse. I had to pay extra for a garage when I was in an apt though but it all worked out fine.

[flippco]

It is a tough decision. I am not sure how the housing market is in your area but I can imagine you would get your pick and be able to pick up a nice townhouse. This would be especially true if you weren't dependent on selling a house, had good credit and a good work history (a few years with the same company).

Good luck! :thmsup:

[Amanda Moen]

Welcome and enjoy it here.

Good luck with the house purchase. And the car purchase.

[Gary757]

Amanda: Thanks! :)

SatinSilver: With the exception of the 1984 Van, all the cars at our house are driven at least 5 days a week. The Van still works, but it's not the best for driving no more than 10 minutes away and you can forget about getting it on the freeways here. Why do we still keep it? It gets my mother to 95% of the places she needs to go, and for the other 5%, she's got 5 other drivers in the household to recruit.

Flippco: You are right on the money. No house to sell, great credit, and good work history. It's just a matter of finding a place that I'll be happy with.

[princess]

Welcome & good luck with the decision making.

We do things all backwards..... we didn't have a car payment for 20 years, but we did have a boat payment. We bought it before the house. Actually we bought 2 boats before the house. :lmao: I don't recommend it.:D

So we STILL don't have a car payment or a boat payment....just an ever so wonderful California mortgage payment!!:):thumbsdow Oh well, life goes one. We did what we wanted to do......live where we can shake N bake with the rest of the fruits & nuts!:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

[flippco]

just an ever so wonderful California mortgage payment!!

I have a cousin who lives in San Diego and her and the hubby have been saving forever for a house. Just a little different market than the Midwest here.

[princess]

You can still get a fixer-upper for about a half million.....since the market is flopping!:lmao:

[MattGiaco]

From what I hear the housing market in Hampton Roads has finally started to cool off -- so maybe you can find a good deal on a house.

I moved to Virginia Beach in 2005 (and back home to Orlando last summer) and I was shocked at the cost of a home and apartment rent. It was insane.

[flippco]

You can still get a fixer-upper for about a half million.....since the market is flopping!

That is nearly twice what we paid for our house, it was in great shape and over 2,000 square feet.

[Gary757]

From what I hear the housing market in Hampton Roads has finally started to cool off -- so maybe you can find a good deal on a house.

I moved to Virginia Beach in 2005 (and back home to Orlando last summer) and I was shocked at the cost of a home and apartment rent. It was insane.

My cousin flipped a townhouse that cost him 80k in 2003 for 150k in 2005. The two biggest reasons were the bubble and proximity to the slowly growing Town Center area. Homes in this area are still up-there but from what ive read it's becoming more of a buyer's market.

[Gary757]

You can still get a fixer-upper for about a half million.....since the market is flopping!:lmao:

ah, sarcasm. Then again you're not far from the truth either! :lmao: