I'm very happy with my 2005 HCH CVT, but after reading about the 2006 and how much better it is, I'm thinking aboout trading up. My current car is only 6 months old, in perfect conditions, 4000 miles on it. I'm hoping I can get like $20K trade in for it if I decide to do this.

Is the 2006 worth it? Is the MPG that much better? How's the GPS system?

 

Even though it does get better mileage than the '05, the best thing about it is simply that it's a better car. Same reason why buying the regular '06 civic is better than buying an '05: it's better. I find it more comfortable, vastly better steering, better handling, much better interior and exterior, etc. Take one for a test drive and see if you like it more.

 

Yeah, from what I am reading, it's just better all around. My main problem will be convincing the wife that a trade up is a good thing! I wonder how much my payments per month will go up?

 

My vote is no. This early in the game, you'll lose too much money on the trade. Not to mention, you'll have to pay sales tax all over again. In CA, wasn't the tax around $2K for your '05? You'd be paying that again with the '06. Although, some of it will be offset by the tax deduction you'll take this year with your '05 and the tax credit you'll take next year with your '06.

 

Oh you're married! Good. Sell the wife's car, let her drive the '05, and get you the new '06!

 

Hahaha! Yeah right, my wife will NOT get rid of her 1998 Toyota 4-Runner! It's her baby, gas guzzling and all. Actually, for SUVs it's not terrible with gas, but it's mostly in the teens (ouch).

I hadn't thought about the tax implications, although it would be cool to get a tax deduction 2 years in a row

Is waiting better? I mean, the car will get more miles on it and trade-in value will drop. What's the benefit of waiting? Sorry, I'm not too good with the financials...wifey takes care of those things

 

Then let the wife decide.

Seriously, there's absolutely no economic sense to trading in a new car that has 4000 miles on it. It's financial harakiri. If you're going to do it, recognize that you're spending a lot of good money to stroke your ego. Some people don't mind doing that. If you do, you'd be a lot better off selling your vehicle on the open market than trading it in. At least that won't be harakiri with a dull knife.

 

My advice, if you are hankering for the 06 bad enough:

Wait until Jan 1 2006 and get the fatter, better tax benefit.
Sell your 05 yourself, do not rely on the dealer to give top value.
Get the non-Nav 2006 and pay $600 for a TomTom.
Have Fun...........

 

[QUOTE=lars-ss] and pay $600 for a TomTom. /QUOTE]

How are those TomToms anyway? Care to put up a review?

Don

 

Have not used one myself, but they are apparently pretty nice. Here are a couple of reviews:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1706805,00.asp

http://reviews.cnet.com/TomTom_GO/45...2.html?tag=nav