Gary757

Landed my first respectably paying job several months ago. Time to get my first respectable car

I currently have my eyes on an 05 C.Gray AT Navi, but I also recently read up on the changes to the 06.

My only remaining questions about the 06 at this point are "what does it look like?" and "how much will it cost?"

Not knowing either, I am finding it difficult to decide between getting an 05 now or getting the first of the 06's in a couple months. The nearest dealer claims they will stop receiving 05's as early as the end of this month, so I feel this pressure to make an offer on an 05 or just hold off for the 06.

I particularly find the aux-input, bluetooth, and improved nav features particularly appealing. Other changes like memory seats and incremental power upgrades are negligible to me as I will be strictly the sole driver and probably won't feel the performance difference (especially in an AT).

Obviously the exterior changes have yet to be seen, but I can't imagine Acura putting out something so bad that I would have wished I got an 05. So assuming Acura doesn't screw up the 06 exterior and assuming the 2006 pricing remains about the same... Should I dive in now while the pricing is (supposedly) better ? Or just tough it out?

ADiGiulian

I was faced with the same decision and I dove in. Can't wait to get my car.

majin ssj eric

I'm waiting in it out for either an '06 TSX or '06 IS250/350. Of course I already have an '04 TSX so I have no problem waiting it out.

DaveWhyman

Economically speaking, since an automobile is a depreciating asset (and a fairly rapid depreciating one too), if your current vehicle is not expected to have any major costs to keep it running for a few more months and the price of the 06 is not expected to increase substantially, your best bet is to delay and save your money (invest it) and buy/lease the 06. That being said, in several months when you go to look at the 06, you might also find several lightly used 05's that could save you thousands.

NickR

Dude, you'd be crazy to buy a 2005 now and sell in less than six months. That makes no sense. If the new features are that important to you, just wait. Play it smart - drive your current car until the 06's are out and a couple of months old. You need to wait and see if there will be any major issues. And if you dont like the styling or they have problems, buy a two year old TSX anyway. You'll save a ton of money. I bet a 2004 will cost you a little more than $20K - you can either invest the rest or spend it on mods.

Irfo

(My first post here. so forgive me if I do anything wrong...)

I've gone through exactly this over the last month. Negotiated with a dealer for two hours over an '05 AT w/Nav, frankly offered him too much ($16.5K + my '03 RSX MT w/14,000 mi., although note that I was adding what retailed there for a ridiculous $2421 in accessories -- fogs, every bit of wood you can get in a parchment interior, and some little stuff), and he wouldn't take less than $17K plus my car. The dealership manager later said to me on the phone, when I told him I decided to go for the '06, "well, the deal will be the same."

I don't get the sense they feel a need to deal on '05s at all. They've actually told me "we'll just sell it to someone else."

But for me, waiting for the '06 has worked out great. I considered spoilers cuz I wanted a more aggressive look, but the '06 is getting it anyways, to the lighter degree I wanted. Fogs, $675 (!) at this dealer, are becoming standard. And I'm guessing that may be true to some extent about the wildly expensive wood console trim and steering wheel you can get with parchment, too.

By the way, the sales manager of a dealership in New Hampshire told me yesterday the TSX is next to be released by Acura, and the MSRP will go up by 1/2%.

Packrat55

I'd wait on the 06. The changes are measurable and I would not expect to cost to be much difference than previous model years.

Gary757

Thank you all for your replies. Considering everything that's been said, I will just wait it out. Besides, it's only a couple months, right?

TSX.Fury

I slightly disagree with the price comment. I'm really interested to see but I would imagine a decent price increase ($1500+) I think Acura probably knows that can charge at least that much more, its a popular car and they are adding a lot to it...

ADiGiulian

My dealer told me it would be a 1500 increase.

Irfo

I was told by a dealership manager three weeks ago that the increases across the Acura line ranged from 0.5-2.0%, and I personally expected the TSX increase to be on the high side...

But I'm quite sure I didn't mis-hear the different Acura sales manager yesterday who told me: A half a point is the MSRP increase on the '06 TSX. Half a percent. A hunnerd and fifty bucks. Which squares with the .55% I've read elsewhere here.

Whereupon I pointed out to him that my planned $600 foglights were now standard, and maximum wood in the parchment interior sounds like it may go that way, too, and swear to God he said he'd go ahead and order the '06 I wanted and call me, after all of maybe eight minutes in the dealership spec'ing my car and racing back out to help my girlfriend buy a new Tacoma.

For the TSX I'm buying, waiting for the '06 is looking like my best decision ever...

RogerPodacter

I have a CG/6MT/Navi 04 and being that i am somewhat of a gadget guy, i was jealous to hear the above goodies coming standard with the car, while i had to add them myself. I would definitely wait for the 06 model. It'll be worth the wait, trust me

DJDZ

Definitely wait a couple of months to see if you will like the 06. You can't make a really informed decision if you don't know how the car will look like first. Besides, you may be able to get a better deal on any left over 05's if it turns out you don't like the new style of the car.

Alin10123

Well... maybe you should wait for the 06's to come out. Just wait until day 1 when they are out. That way you'll get a chance to look at it and drive it. Worst case scenario you dont like the 06 and at that time there will probably be some 05's laying around that you could get.

jlukja

Once the 06 is out with the HP bump and revised look the previous year's models will be "dated". I'd wait for the 06.

GIBSON6594

buy the 06, if you don't like it i'll trade you my 04 for it, straight up