CRV--Trade In?

[Hub]

Maybe it's just me, but I love a new car smell!

[Andrea]

Hondas are jst getting broken in at 90k!!!

I drove a '98 CRV with about 128,000 miles on it. There are some slightly more expensive maintenence things you need to do (timing belt, water pump, brake rotor replacement, flush the radiator, etc) around the 120K mark, but the cost of those is less than a couple of car payments on a new one.

If you DO go with a new one, check the Element out- when they re-designed the CRV, they made it nicer inside and somewhat more expensive, thus the creation of the Element to replace the previous CRV that was more "young, active person" friendly.

I drive an '07 Fit now (the CRV is still running like a champ, but it went to Minneapolis in the divorce ). It's an awesome car as well, but I'm about to drop ~$500 on a roof rack because I don't want to get the inside dirty with my bike (although two bikes will stack in the back with the seats down, no problem)

[indysteel]

I agree that you should keep it. Assuming you've kept up on regular maintenance, that car likely has a lot of life left to it. I haven't had a car payment for over a year now and it's awesome. Admittedly, I'm driving an '01sedan that has--get this--only 32,000 miles on it. While it's not the perfect car for my bike, I couldn't justify taking on debt just so my bike had the perfect ride. I have better uses for that money. Like a new bike!

If you do decide to buy a newer car, I would serioiusly consider selling your car by private sale. You could likely get more for it.

[Tuckervill]

If you're making a car payment, you're paying interest. Just the interest put away every month could make a nice repair fund.

I had paid off my Beetle about 5 months before it got hit. I now have a payment on the Element. The Element is now 11 months old, and I already have 34,000 miles on it, mostly because I took two 5,000 mile trips this year. I hate having the payment, and I will pay it off long before the terms. I expect this car to go much much longer than the financing (although for me that's not so many years as miles).

I can't think of a better vehicle for bikes! The CRVs we looked at when we were shopping for the E didn't have near the cargo space, and there was carpet to get greasy. I love the E. I would have liked a Fit but my hubby doesn't FIT in a Fit. lol.

The only other thing is, once you drive it off the lot, you're driving a used car anyway. Go with the one you know.

Karen

[Aggie_Ama]

I agree with the keep it crowd. If you are not having major issues at 90k, I don't see the wheels falling off any time soon. I have several friends that are certified mechanics and they said there is no reason cars these days should have major failure at 100k, 150k or 200k if maintained properly. My brother has 180k on his truck, finally had to rebuild the engine at 175k. My father in law has 230k on his truck and has only had to repair the AC! I believe the 75k thinking (my parents have it) comes from the older cars of the 70's and 80's that just didn't last that long.

I absolutely love new cars and get itchy after having one over two years but I am trying to break myself of that. If your reasoning is the miles, I just don't think you should worry. Car payments suck, I was looking forward to not have one on our truck but that is my sob story.

[Mr. Bloom]

Keep It! Just plan accordingly for the expense of ongoing repairs (which will be lower than average for a Honda) and I guarantee it will be cheaper than the depreciation on a new car.

I'd challenge you to put the equivalent of a new car payment into savings every month...pay your maintenance and repairs from that pool...and then see what you have in four years!

I have a '97 Lexus with 136,000 miles on it. Silver has a '98 Toyota with 135,000 miles on it (and a cracked windshield). Silverdaughter has a '95 Jeep with 95,000 miles on it. My '69 Benz has at least 216,000 miles on it (the odometer didn't work for 20 years...).

As you can tell, I don't believe in new cars!

[pll]

I agree with the keep and save the equivalent of a car payment crowd. But, if you go for a new car, explore financing through a bank loan and negotiate on the cash value of the car, not your payment. Figure out what interest rate they are offering you... Some rates for reference: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/rate/auto_home.asp

[wannaduacentury]

Keep It! Just plan accordingly for the expense of ongoing repairs (which will be lower than average for a Honda) and I guarantee it will be cheaper than the depreciation on a new car.

I'd challenge you to put the equivalent of a new car payment into savings every month...pay your maintenance and repairs from that pool...and then see what you have in four years!

I have a '97 Lexus with 136,000 miles on it. Silver has a '98 Toyota with 135,000 miles on it (and a cracked windshield). Silverdaughter has a '95 Jeep with 95,000 miles on it. My '69 Benz has at least 216,000 miles on it (the odometer didn't work for 20 years...).

As you can tell, I don't believe in new cars!

That's us too- We love older cars and dh does a fine job keeping them up-with my help in some areas Honda and Toyotas go 4 ever and right now my 20 yr old Saab 900 and 1994 Volvo 940 do the job fine. The 940 has almost 200,000 on it and I drive it appx 300 road miles a week. I bought an 81 tercel back in the summer and now sil will be driving it- working on masters. Car runs great. dh replaced the fuel pump & carbeurator. Needs new tires. ready to go on the road. I've had 3 other Toyotas(corollas & camry) and my parents have Hondas- no complaints on either. Just pay them off and drive them. Jenn

I wouldn't mind having a Jeep for fun though

[Mr. Bloom]

We have a three car garage, but absent the Mercedes which is kept elsewhere, I think our bikes in the garage are more valuable than the cars

[Lifesgreat]

Keep it! Keep it!


My bias: I have an '05 CR-V with barely 37,000 miles on it (bought it used nearly 2 years ago with 18K on it). I LOVE IT!