phile

That's the thing with Honda resale...it sucks for buyers. I'm looking at used TSXs and they're all like 1-2K cheaper than a brand new one...

DEI99662

Congrats

DEI99662

I am sad to see this thread go.

:padlock:

TSX 'R' US

Congrats on your purchase!!

TSX 'R' US

Now go test out those back seats!!

Fibonacci

A moot point now, but did you ever check into buying a CRV from the US? I know people who've done it vice versa, figured it might be worthwhile considering the drop in value of USD compared to CAN$. Here in Motown - a CRV LX can be had at invoice - I got mine for $20,250 plus tax.

AWD, ABS, Stability Control, Side Airbags/Side Curtains for $20k - can't buy a safer car for the money.

PistonFan: surprised that domn bought domestic.

biker

That's because you can't get them before they get to the dealer - seems like most trade ins are around the 21-22K mark making them about 4K off invoice of a new one which most buyers don't get.
A one or two year old car with low miles is usually a good time to get a fast depreciating vehicle - sounds like domn hit the sweet spot.

gfxdave99

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/bui...tent..5.Buick*

Looks like pretty good reviews to me (despite a few trolls)

And the wife being happy is the most important thing. Wife happy = You happy.

Fibonacci

Can definitely vouch for that equation.

But still, I'm puzzled - the Rendezvous choice seemingly came out of nowhere - unless you plan on driving it into the ground. The higher residual value and safety features of the CRV more than makes up for the higher upfront cost.

dom

My budget was still about 20 to 25K CAD. A new CR-V purchased in the US would have cost more than that when it was all said and done. And as for the saftey features on the 05 CR-V, I was looking at buying used so an 02 or 03 doesn't have VSA or the side and curtain Airbags.

The Rendezvous was sort of out of nowhere but I have been looking at one for about a month or so. The space it has is was pushed me to buy in the end.

Viking

Congrats!

Fibonacci

Good luck with the Buick, but still hope to hear you upgrade to the Oddy soon! I almost bought a RAV4 until you correctly informed me that the '05 CRV had side curtains. Still find it strange that the '05 Pilot does not.

dom

When the second child hopefully eventually comes along and both kids are active in sports etc Moving to an Ody may be a good move at that time. Until then, hopefully the Buick holds up.

I'm still deciding wheather or not to go for the ext GM warranty. 6 years or 120,000km's is $2100 and 5 years or 100,000km's is $1700. I don't plan to put alot of km's on the thing but warranty is up in Sept 2006 or in 29,000km's as it stands.

provench

A Buick? Just kidding ... nice choice ... and congrats

Dan Martin

$1700 is a fair amount of money and the car is pretty new. You're probably better off keeping the money invested.

Fibonacci

Tough dilemma on the extended warranty domn. I've always been told that buying an extended warranty was like taking insurance at the blackjack tables - a sucker's bet.

I do recall that Buick's get the most favorable reliablity ratings of any of the GM brands, if that's any consolation to you.

dom

Nobody is more surprised than I am beleive me. I'm the "Honda Snob" as far as my freinds and family are concerned and they were quite surprised as well.

I'm leaning against the ext warranty as I figure if something expensive does break it will probly be after 120,000km's anyway. Hope I'm right.

DEI99662

Its a domestic vehicle. Of course you will need an extended warranty.

dom

What needs an extended warranty is my TSX. My warranty is up in 800km's and I've never been so scared

DEI99662

I would be more scared of the Buick not having one.

Are you going to get one for the TSX? Have you gotten any quotes for the extended warranty?

provench

Extended warranty on the Buick should give you a good piece of mind

dom

I don't think I can buy an extended warranty for the TSX at this point I didn't buy one because I figured its a Honda what could go wrong? I'm regretting that decesion today.

Peice of mind yes, but 2K? Not sure its worth it, then again it may be

DEI99662

Why dont you look into buying a third part extended warranty?

IMO, I think it is worth buying for a Buick or any domestic vehicle. This vehicle is going to be the family car, so why not have it taken care of just in case, unless you plan on getting an Ody in a few years. Remember, one repair could pay for the whole extended warranty. Plus, domestic vehicles have a better than average chance of breaking down than do foreign vehicles.

dom

Nah, don't trust those kinds of deals.

I agree, but I may be too cheap to spend the 2k.

jcg878

I wouldn't buy it. Supposedly Buicks are reliable, and extended warranties wouldn't be sold if they didn't make money. It depends on whether you can afford a major repair in the future in the less-than-likely event that one occurs. At least GM parts & service aren't as expensive as Honda/Acura. I bought an extended warranty with my Saturn because I knew I'd be a poor college student (and then resident) while I was driving it, and I wouldn't be able to afford any financial hit. Turns out expensive breakdown that I feared didn't occur. Now I'm more financially stable and have more cushion to absorb an expensive repair, so I didn't opt in for one

(knocking on wood here)

just checked on CR.org - they recommend the Rendezvous, and say it has average reliability

dom

I agree and I think you just made my decesion. I can afford the finacial hit of an expensive repair so I'm going to forgo the warranty.

As for reliability? I'm not sure how it can be any more relaible than a Pontiac Montana or Chevy Venture. It shares their chassis as well as engine Having said that, GM's 3.4L and tranny have I heard proved relibale. Underpowered but reliable. They've been making the 3.4 long enough god knows

DEI99662

IMO, the 3.4L engine is probably more reliable than the 4.3L, but not more reliable than the 3.1L.

jcg878

I WIN!

DEI

DEI99662

Its pretty much a toss up. My pops had bought a brand new 1998 Chevy Tahoe, he didnt get the $2000 extended warranty after I told him to, about a year after the basic warranty ended, he got hit with a $3500 bill that would have been covered under the extended warranty. The Tahoe at that time was recommended with an average reliability by CR.

DEI99662

I lost out on the CR-V, and now the exteneded warranty.

jcg878

So it cost him $1500 overall... and less than that if he was saving/investing money during that time.

I'm not saying they are never worth it. I'm just saying that they are net not worth it. We have one on our Passat - didn't trust VW enough not to get one, though I think even that is probably a mistake :shrugh:

DEI99662

I am not trying say that we were poor, but $1500 is a lot money to our family. My pops sure didnt have that money sitting around and no he didnt have extra money to invest.

Other than Honda/Toyota, I would be very hesitant to not consider/buy an extended warranty. I definitely would not buy it at the time of purchase for the vehicle, but rather later on before the basic warranty expires.

DEI99662

Finally I am able to win something in this thread against you:

domn 136
DEI99662 117
TSX 'R' US 27
jcg878 16



Take that my friend.

dom

Not sure about the 3.1. The 3800 series I think is their most reliable engine.

My dad has a 90 Safari with the 4.3 and 324,000km's (202,000 miles) and its been problem free until recently where it started leaking oil from a bad gasket.

DEI99662

I knew a bunch of people who had those S-10 Blazers/Jimmys with the 4.3L and had nothing but problems.