Help me overthink this (car)

[SoonerTexan]

We are about to replace our minivan. Long story short, it was a match made in VW/Chrysler hell and we've spent $5k fixing it over the past 4 years. (Curious how yours is holding up [MENTION=816]PrincessFiona[/MENTION]) A chain of events recently happened that made us "call it" and I'm looking for a used Honda Odyssey. It sucks because we are going to have (a not awful) car payment again and I actually still like the car, I'm just tired of dumping money into it and losing access to a car.

At any rate, I know I want a Honda Odyssey 2011 or newer (the body style that was just replaced by the 2018). I went through the listings in our area today and found two I'm interested in:

--A 2011 with 83K miles for ~$15000

--A 2014 with 40k miles for ~$18500. Same trim but fabric instead of leather.

I like to buy cars 1-3 years old and plan to drive them til they are 8-10 years old. Our current car was supposed to last us at least until the end of training, but preferably a year or so past that. Clearly $3500 will buy me 3 years and 40k miles. What what you pick?

[scrub-jay]

Depends. Check when the big services are due. Timing belt maybe?

[spotty_dog]

When I was shopping for our last car (I bought a 2009 Kia in 2011, our big post-training purchase!) I found the Edmunds True Cost to Own calculator pretty useful: https://www.edmunds.com/tco.html

All else being pretty equal, assuming they're both certified or checked out by an independent mechanic, I'd certainly keep that $3500 in the bank.

[SoonerTexan]

When I was shopping for our last car (I bought a 2009 Kia in 2011, our big post-training purchase!) I found the Edmunds True Cost to Own calculator pretty useful: https://www.edmunds.com/tco.html

Interesting tool. The difference is only $1500. I think what I'm trying to decide most is when I want to have to worry about it needing to be replaced again. The monthly payment cost for the portion we need to finance wouldn't be drastically different enough to push me to the older one. I think I can safely assume about 5 more years on the 2011 before it might have issues. That would put us 2 years into attendinghood and probably about the time we would be buying a house, whereas (in theory) the 2014 would buy us more time. Like I said, overthinking it.

And luckily I have a local trusted mechanic (who unfortunately is on a first name basis with me at this point) that will be checking out any car I buy.

Also 3 cheers for hail damage--long story, but it was the best thing to ever happen to my current van.

[MrsC]

I know Honda's last forever but I would go with the lower mileage for sure!

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[alotofyarn]

I'd be torn between the lower mileage and leather.

[Thirteen]

I'd pay more for less miles, with all service receipts and a clean car fax.


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[JDAZ11]

I'd be torn between the lower mileage and leather.

Ha! Me too / I cannot imagine what cloth seats would like in my car. 🤢. But maybe they've come a long way... and as long as your kids don't get seriously car sick, and don't drink milk in the car... I'm sure nothing a detail can't take care of.

So - I'd probably go lower miles too, just to hopefully avoid problems.

I f'ing hate the Honda dealer here though. We have a 2008 with 52K miles on it. Nothing is ever wrong with it until we take it there... (which we try to avoid, but sometimes the other shop we found is booked and it's just a day that works well). We also had such a bad experience with them during the airbag recall because we were moving, that I don't think I could ever buy another... but my sisters odyssey is so amazing.





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[MrsC]

Ah, I missed the bit about the leather. That definitely makes it harder to decide. Are there any on CarMax you could have transferred there?

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[SoonerTexan]

Ha! Me too / I cannot imagine what cloth seats would like in my car. ��. But maybe they've come a long way... and as long as your kids don't get seriously car sick, and don't drink milk in the car... I'm sure nothing a detail can't take care of.

They eat in the car, but they don't drink anything but water. I had upholstery in my first car and it was fine, but N was a toddler. I do have a portable steam vac that I have to use almost every week in my house, so it might be okay. But leather would be nicer.

Ah, I missed the bit about the leather. That definitely makes it harder to decide. Are there any on CarMax you could have transferred there?

I'm sure, but anything from CarMax seems to be quite a bit more expensive. That's why these two are on my list--they are good deals for what they are and they have clean Carfax reports. There are plenty of others out there, but quite a bit more $$$.

[MrsC]

That's a shame. If it's a great deal, I would go for the 2014 one.

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[spotty_dog]

Heh, see, I remember sticking to leather seats in your climate back when I was a kid, so fabric would be a huge plus for me!

[SoonerTexan]

Heh, see, I remember sticking to leather seats in your climate back when I was a kid, so fabric would be a huge plus for me!

I actually didn't like them when I first got the car for that reason, though having a garage helps dramatically.

[MDPhDWife]

I would go with the 2014 for sure.


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[PrincessFiona]

My 2014 is still running strong. I haven't had any engine issues, but I have had some problems with the navigation system.


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