cbxqt

Hi, after deciding between the accord/camry/mazda6/tsx, i'm pretty sure about the tsx. what im not sure about is to get a used or new one. i got quotes for a 2006 non-navi for 25.5k

then i found this on autotrade: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...000&cardist=88

I'm thinking i can get 20.5k for it... what do you all think? i don't care much for bluetooth or memoryseats which i hear the 2006 has... anything else the 06 has over the 04? do you think the 04 one is a really good deal? are tsx's very reliable that reliability shouldnt be much of a concern on the 04? (i dont want to get it then have to repair it often...)

one final question.. i feel like i need to play mp3 cd's in the car... can i go to a stereo shop and have them install a mp3 cd player? or is the only option to buy the expensive oem option?

thanks

NJJT

That is an excellent, excellent deal. I would have bought it if I saw it a few weeks ago. Instead I bought a new '06, which I have no regrets buying since it is simply beautiful and I am loving my first new car purchase (leases and used cars before but I've never bought a new car). I also considered the Accord for obvious reasons as well as the Mazda6 becuase like the TSX it's sporty but still practical. But the TSX has a level of polish not seen in any car in its price range, and drives like the money. I came close to spending $23K for a black '04 with 32K miles and the 5A, so its safe to safe that deal on auto trader is gold. If you like the blue, buy it now and don't look back.

iamhomin

Things you should watch for 04: Center console failure, warped rotors, and SQUEEKS.

Otherwise the AT shouldn't give you any problem- it's VERY reliable.

mar21182

I guess it depends on how much money you have to spare. If you can spare the few extra thousand, I'd get the '06. I like the styling better (although some don't). I like the extra features like Bluetooth and the auxilary input. It's got a pretty decent HP upgrade over the previous models (around 15 HP if you standardize the measurements).

I'm sure that you can't go wrong with a good used TSX though. As long as the previous owner took good care of the car, it will drive and feel like new. In that way, it's a bargain.

BusyShifter

Quite a good deal... And I believe the 2004 TSX is still under the original 4 year/50,000 mile factory warranty even thought there was a previous owner.

Gen4MDX

I Agree

1johnp

I am also looking at the 04 models. How does the center console "fail"?

cbxqt

thanks for the replies...
question on buying used... if the car breaks down, do i bring it to any acura dealer for warranty service?

and can i go to a car stereo shop and get a mp3 player installed pretty easily/cheaply?

A Cake On

Sorry this is a little long...

For me, if I was in this exact scenario, I would buy new. You can't beat the 25,500 price they are giving you on a new one. You will get maybe two to three years roughly more life out of the new one (cause the used has 36,000 miles). More coverage under factory warranty and you get some little extra's like the mem seats and nicer OEM body moulding on the lower end. But you get those nasty '06 wheels.

Now I was in a similar case where I could've bought new, but bought used instead. I could've got a new one for about 26,500-27,000, but I opted for getting my 05 certified used for 24,500 with 5600 miles. I figured I would save a little bit of money, which amounted to $20-$40 roughly, which was big for me, because I was already at the high end of what I was looking to spend. The thing that pushed towards used, was the certified used warranty that came with mine. New is 4yr/50,000 bumper to bumper, and mine was bumped up to 5yr/62,000. The power train went from 5yr/60,000 to 7yr/100,000. That is one of the beauty's of buying from an Acura dealer.

One last thing though, with the 04 that you are looking at, you could get a supercharger installed. Can't do that with the 06 yet if I am correct. The money you save from buying new will pay for that no problem.

Howard911s

new

A Cake On

You can go to any Acura dealer, they will be happy to take your money.

You can get a factory mp3 player insalled in cubby location, or you can get an SHOND aux adapter to hook up an IPOD, that will take care of that for you. Then you don't even have to mess around with CD's.

jaobrien6

All the lights go out on the HVAC and stereo, the whole unit needs to be replaced. There's a TSB about it. Happened to mine at about 14k miles.

mrgold35

The 04’ TSX sounds like a very good deal. The price does seem a little low for a TSX. You might want to spend a little $$ and have a good mechanic check it out bumper to bumper before purchase for piece of mind.

I’ve tried to look for a used TSX at first and I could not find the one I wanted at the right price within 800 miles of NM. I purchased new because of that.

I would check into an extended warranty, very few folks have a lot of miles and wear/tear on a TSX. The extra warranty might take care of you 3-4 years down the road when you need it because it is a 1st model year 04.

Plus, when the redesign comes out in 08, you can start looking into upgrading your TSX in 2009 or 2010.

gsrthomas

I personally would stay away from an 04 tsx.

The prices difference btw new and used is $5000 as you stated. Get a new 2006 one, it is worth gushing out an additional $5k for a new 06 tsx with all the extra added features and inscrease power. Plus most of all the bugs are fixed that the 04 had.

get an 06!

derbaff

If you're worried about payments because you're on the high end, throw a couple more thousand down (if you can), and get the 06. That sounds like a great deal, plus, your interest rate will be lower on a new car, which may negate some of the price difference in the end. Check with your bank.

derbaff

Oh, and nobody has mentioned it, but I don't think the 04 has a power passenger's seat. You probably don't really care since you'll be driving, but I thought I'd throw it in there.

The 06 also has a trip computer, which is something I wanted.

cbxqt

thanks for all the replies! i think i will go with new... now i'm looking at the financing options... eloan and capitalone has an apr of 6.35% according to bankrate.com... are these good to deal with? or should i just get the dealer financing? will they match the apr?

A Cake On

Go ahead and get pre-approved through capital one. It is a very quick process, they will call you in literally 5 min of you filling out the online form. They will send the check out next day and you will have it in hand. Take it to the dealer, if they beat the rate don't use it. I'm sure the dealer should be able to beat that rate on a new car though.

derbaff

I would try applying for both, and then take the lowest rate. I think they have different criteria for who they consider a good risk. When I used them Cap One gave me a rate 2% lower than Eloan, go figure.

Reach

I gotta throw in here and say that 2004 is a great deal.

Yes, you can easily get a mp3 deck installed aftermarket, using an aux-in adapter for the headunit and the line output of the new deck.

That $5k in savings can buy you a lot! If it were apples to apples for me, $5k would make me go used (gently used, as that one appears to be). I could never get another car without navi tho, and I like the 2006's new navi and technology features too much to pass up on.

And yes, even as second owner, if the console fails while its still under warranty, any Acura dealer should do the work for you as a part of the manufacturers warranty, since it is a known issue and there is a TSB on it.

If you don't care about the new bluetooth, aux, and a few hp, grab that used one for a steal. Do have an independent mechanic inspect it though!

Ishakir

Better than new or used, have you looked into certified pre-owned?

I got a CPO for 4k less than new with 3,000 miles on it. What was even nicer was that I got the extended warranty since it's included with CPO purchases. In the end, I basically had a car with more warranty coverage on it that a brand new car for less.

cbxqt

21-22k for a CPO w/ 3k miles on it? wow! that's awesome!

i think getting a used tsx is better for me... is certified tsx more "reliable" than just pre-owned one? also, the mazda6 is looking kinda attractive after going to the dealer (they have some nice rebate deals going on right now too!).. mazda6 had pretty cool leather... the taillights look sorta funky tho!

the blue one i linked above they offered me 20.5k... imma try to get it for 20-20.2k... i also asked mazda for the grand sport i for 20k... if one of them bites, i think i'll get that

XJGrl

See if your parents or anyone in your family can get a better rate through their credit union or something -- if that would help. I got 4.75% recently through my credit union -- usually any family member can belong to anyone elses credit union.

And IMO -- def go new. I am 25 years old also and the $$ was an issue -- but, having a new car just once in your life is a nice thing The used hold their value too darn well!! The body on the 06 is better lookin -- extra HP -- and you KNOW you want the bluetooth!

TonySX

I just bought a Certified Pre-owned '05 AT, No-Nav from an individual for $22K with 22K miles on it. The car is in pristine condition, and since he bought it CPO from Acura I now have a warranty that's 5 years/62K miles and a powertrain warranty of 7 years/100K miles. Similar CPOs from Acura were in the 24K plus tax range. i paid no tax since I bought from an individual in GA.

cbxqt

no tax? lucky! in CA, we have to pay taxes still on used... sucks... anyway, i thought i'd give it a shot and offer 20k for a private seller used tsx w/ navi and 39k miles...

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...llerFirst=true

on the free carfax report it says "vehicle serviced" 2 times in the history.. is this bad? good? what you all think of this deal? i am going to go take a look at it tomorrow so quick replies would be appreciated greatly!

thanks!

cbxqt

hi, i've decided to buy a used tsx from a private seller. the seller said that the car isn't paid off yet... i'm new to this... so what exactly is supposed to happen now? thanks

derbaff

Isn't paying the car off the seller's resposibility? That shouldn't matter to you, since you'll just take out a used car loan and give a check to him/her, which he/she would use to pay back the bank.