honest opinion needed: inside!

[homestar5]

hey guys, i'm stuck in kind of a dillemma here and i need some third party advice...

i used to own a ford mustang and i sold it for $6.5, used about $500 to pay off some debt. I was originally looking for a nice Protege or Protege5, but as the 5's are a bit elusive in my price range I started looking at Proteges. I was looking for a fully loaded one, with sunroof, etc...but I found one with 24k miles, an '03, with every option BUT the sunroof (i can live with that). dealer wants $9.7, i can probably negotiate that a bit and still be OK.

Now, my dad has been pushing me to get a '99-'02 accord, and while the accord is pretty cool (more HP and more torque, but a heavier car, mom used to own one) I'd be looking at spending about $2k more than a protege...but i believe i'm getting a lot more car. i was pretty set on a well handling compact though, never been a fan of the mid-sizes, but my dad brings up good points 1) resale value on the accord would be better and 2) accord is bigger and i can haul more stuff/people and 3) more hp and torque does make it more peppy.

i'm not all too happy about paying my bank back for another $2k, but interest rates are rather low...

what to do? the accord really doesnt handle well IMO, and we all know about the protege (zoom zoom)

[Leppy]

My opinion, I'd say get the Protege. An 03 with 24k you can probably get for around $8k. $8.5k IF it had the sunroof...

i've actually pondered getting a 99 accord V6 before i bought this one, but I loved the Pro SO much better.

[solid_snake]

what kind of accord, Sedan or coupe, L4 or V6, EX or LX

[Pretzellogic]

Well, you are asking a slightly biased crowd. :D

That being said, you will get more jollies on your day-to-day commute with a Protege than you will with an Accord. They're both fine cars, but the Accord is more of an appliance, whereas the Protege is an econobox with a little bit of soul.

[CasopoliS]

the Accord is more of an appliance, whereas the Protege is an econobox with a little bit of soul.

This should be needle-pointed on a pillow. Wonderfully said.

[Hughes412]

If your gona mod the honda then the resale point is out. So it depends on what you want to do. I say go for a civic if your gona to a honda.

[Thug541]

Yea, resale value of honda's are higher, but with that said, i dont' think they are worth the price dealers sell them for. I was looking at accords when i was car shopping and could've gotten one in my price range, but it would've been a 2000....i'd rather have a new car that is one of the best in its class, and cheaper. Also, honda's alternators suck....so if u are planning on having a nice system, i would go with the pro.

[Action Jackson]

I considered a '02 Accord 4cyl 5 spd before my P5.

Depends on what you want. The Accord engine is smoother and it's a quieter ride. They are not the same class of vehicle so go with what YOU want.

[trbomp5]

i actually currently own a 97 accord ex 4cyl, along with the P5 and a 300c. And before the P5 I had a 93 accord and a 91. I love my protege but the accord was an overall nicer car. But nice doesnt always mean the best. Why do you think girls all want a bad boy?

They are not even really the same class of cars. I dont mean to offend anyone but its true. The Accord is the top of the line Honda. The protege is the bottom of the line Mazda.

Dont get me wrong I will never sell my P5, but I've already went through 3 accords. Mazda's have personality. I still have my 86 323 that needs a tranny and i will never sell it either.

(anybody have a tranny :))

[miss_steele_msp]

i say get the accord they last they dont have a lot of problems and when you go to sell it you;ll get money for it

[trbomp5]

i say get the accord they last they dont have a lot of problems and when you go to sell it you;ll get money for it

good point also, my 91 accord had 240,000 on it, was overall in perfect condition (unfortunatly it did have the accord rear wheel well rust problem though) and i sold it about 2 yrs ago, to a guy who offered my $4000 for it. Now thats good resale!

[brealmp3]

i've had two civic's before my mp3 (and i know that is quite a big step) and i must say i will drive this car till the wheels fall off. i love it cause it's so rare, hardly do i ever see another fixed up protege. and if i do more than likely i already know them from here! insurance on honda's seem to be pretty high also. so my vote goes for the p5!

[Protephile]

If you are looking for a heartless piece of machinery for transportation only, or a vehicle that can be modded with cheapo Pep Boys parts, get the Honda. They are good, reliable cars.
But if you want something with a little bit of heart, and prefer driving to just getting there, buy the Protege.
I've got one of each in my driveway, but I'll rarely take the Honda...

[SilverBulletES]

Get the car that speaks to you. But the Accord will probably say something like
http://farm.tucows.com/2004/11/office_space.jpg

[homestar5]

if ANYONE cares...i ended up with a hyundai elantra gt hatchback...in black

reason being...i got it for $7k, great condition (only gripe is a tear in the floor mat!) so...

i guess i should...head outta here...go find the elantra forums :D

[Lord_Zath]

LOL you ask for our opinion then go for a 3rd option you didn't even bring up.

I would've also said protege though. Why care about resale value if you're below 10k anyways?

[homestar5]

the 3rd option wasnt brought up because they (were) impossible to find around here. and my dad brought up resale value, not me...i could care less, coz ive got to drive this car for a few years

its pretty fun to drive actually, and the hatchback is pretty sweet! does anyone like them?

[Brad]

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

[mooS mooS]

Hertz tried to give me a Hyundai Elantra as my rental car for my trip to Monterey ..... I drove it about 2 miles out of the Airport and turned right back around and exchanged it for a Mazda6 V6 ...... Spongy Brakes, weeble wobble suspension and no CD player would have made me kill people before my trip was over.