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After 16 years we are getting rid of our Honda Accord LX (base model of Accord). Time to buy a new car that we will keep for another 16 years.
My husband wants to buy the baseline cheapest Accord (in other words, another LX). I want to buy the loaded one because it has more comfortable seats and better audio/satellite radio.
He says XM/Sirius radio will be out of business soon and there's no point paying the extra 5 grand to get the loaded Accord. I say the loaded Accord will be more comfortable to drive as we age and keep its resale value better than the LX.
Invoice on an Accord LX is 21k.
Invoice on an Accord EXL is 26k
What makes more financial sense, buying the baseline model of a car, or buying the "loaded" model?
If you truly keep the car 16 years, it will make less of an issue, but if you dont keep the car that long, you will always get more back from the ex than you would get from the lx, so its not completely a loss. The base accord (at least the one you had) was a dx (roll up friggin windows!!), you had an in the middle, lx, and they are pretty nicely equipped. The ex has a sunroof i dont care so much for, and other things that i dont necessarily need. For me, it would be another lx. They are nice long term cars. You can inexpensively add sat radio to any car (but its not as nicely integrated).
I personally would not go for the base. The leather seats alone are worth it to me but the additional features certainly help seal the deal. If you can afford it, get it.
Nicely equipped, gbug??? Are you kidding? The LX (both our old 1998 one and the new 2014 one) comes with audio that sounds no better than my grandfather's old hand-cranked radio. I guess you mean nicely equipped is defined as having power windows? Because that's pretty much all our old LX has. The new LX is not much better.
Financially... the base model as after all... it is the same engine and the transmission.
In addition, most equipment/accessories can be had at half the price thru aftermarket.
However, things like moonroof and such.... I would want those factory.
Over a 16 year period the purchase price difference is not much. And in 16 years you have a long time to appreciate the nicer interior of the EX-L. If you live in a cold area heated seats are nice. For me a power drivers seat is nearly a must.
XM/Sirius is not going away, though it is unimportant to me. I am one of the people who is unwilling to subscribe to radio. But the satellite radio is probably only $50 of the EX-L's price.
My view is that it's a lot cheaper to upgrade the radio and speakers aftermarket than to buy them factory installed (unless it's one of those all-in-one units that also controls the heat & AC). A 25% increase in price for a better radio and seats isn't worth for me.
The only things I'd pay more for are mechanical (upgraded engine, transmission, or differential)
Last edited by raveabouttoast; 11-22-2013 at 11:58 AM..
I personally would not go for the base. The leather seats alone are worth it to me but the additional features certainly help seal the deal. If you can afford it, get it.
Depends on the person - I'd rather have cloth (no sticky back in hot weather).
If you are buying a new car then get what you want with the stuff in it you want. Otherwise you will spend 16 years wishing you did. That said, I would not buy it for satelite radio, but the EX has a lot the LX doesn't which may also be of value.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BeauCharles
Depends on the person - I'd rather have cloth (no sticky back in hot weather).
I am not a fan of leather at any price either. It just never lives up to my expectations of durability and appearance over the long haul, no matter how much I clean, condition, and care for the stuff.
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