Accord or Camry?

OK people, I'm about to purchase a pre-owned vehicle, and I've narrowed it down to two choices -- a 2004 Toyota Camry LE, or a 2003 Honda Accord EX.

The Camry has 31k miles, 4 cyl engine, cloth seats, plastic wheel covers (I hate those), new tires, plus about 5000 miles remaining on the factory warranty. Overall, nothing fancy -- just your basic Camry that you see 4 billion times a day.

Price: $15,599

The Accord has 37k miles, 240-horsepower V-6 engine, leather heated seats, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a sunroof.

Price: $17,599

Both vehicles have power seat adjustment, power windows and locks.

The obvious choice is the Camry, but the Accord is sportier, has a bit more 'get up and go' ... you know, it just "has it".

I'm especially interested to hear from Accord and Camry owners. What would you do?

I'm a toyota guy, but in this case, I'd probably go with the accord....

gas mileage will be decent, even with the V6, and the accords were nicer cars in those generations...

Just seriously try to get a better deal on it.... you should be considering that car for around 15k-16k depending condition

Get a price quote on a brand new one right now and see where you end up...

I'm positive you can get a BRAND NEW accord 4cyl for close to what you're buying the V6 for right now... and I can help you with that if you need...

The accord is a better car, but it is overpriced... There was a time when I was selling camry's like the one you are looking at (4cyl. le) 2006 models brand new (before the new 07 redesign hit the ground) for around 18K...

cars.com: 2004 Honda Accord EX (http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=22&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=250&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-ALL%7CM-_18_%7CB-18000%7CH-%7CD-_212_%7CN-N%7CR-100%7CI-1%7CP-PRICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CY-_2006-2005-2004-2003_%7CX-popular%7CZ-20186&aff=national&paId=133839497&recnum=148&leadExists=true)

Go with the Accord. Good mileage. The V6 in the accord will zip you around all over the place and its gonna give you good gas mileage. I personally perfer the sporty look of the accords over a camry any day. Honestly, its a personal preferance. Your getting quality car for your money with either choice.

cars.com: 2003 Honda Accord EX V6 (http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=22&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=250&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-ALL%7CM-_18_%7CB-18000%7CH-%7CD-_212_%7CN-N%7CR-100%7CI-1%7CP-PRICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CY-_2006-2005-2004-2003_%7CX-popular%7CZ-20186&aff=national&paId=227169466&recnum=187&leadExists=true)

Yes, you can get a brand new Accord 4cyl, 5speed, Special Edition for the asking price of the Accord you referred to. It would have alloy wheels - ie, no plastic wheel covers (they're not hub caps). :) A 4cyl Accord would also have a timing chain rather than the timing belt found in the J30A4 V6. Being as it is also in its 6th year of this particular model run, it will be a very very reliable car.

If I *had* to choose between the Accord and Camry you presented above, I'd probably go for the Camry. Mileage being the key factor for me. Real world, though, I wouldn't choose either.

cars.com: 2003 Honda Accord EX V6 (http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=22&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=250&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-ALL%7CM-_18_%7CB-18000%7CH-%7CD-_212_%7CN-N%7CR-100%7CI-1%7CP-PRICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CY-_2006-2005-2004-2003_%7CX-popular%7CZ-20186&aff=national&paId=134208915&recnum=216&leadExists=false)

cars.com: 2004 Honda Accord EX (http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=22&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=250&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-ALL%7CM-_18_%7CB-18000%7CH-%7CD-_212_%7CN-N%7CR-100%7CI-1%7CP-PRICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CY-_2006-2005-2004-2003_%7CX-popular%7CZ-20186&aff=national&paId=227086964&recnum=206&leadExists=false)

hard to make a bad decision... but be sure to shop around and do business where you feel comfortable.

a couple of the cars I'm finding have half the miles, and with better finance rates on new cars that may be an avenue you may want to persue...

I saw a coupe v6 6speed ex-l accord with no navigation for sale for 22k the other day. it was brand new and had a sticker of 30k.

Hell there's even a rebate on a camry now and I can sell a brand new 2007 camry to you for around 19K...

Hubcaps, yes... but brand new new bodystyle with 7 airbags, ipod hookup, tilt/telescopic wheel, power driver's seat, etc...

I could even have it delivered to your door so you wouldn't have to drive...

I DARE you to take me up on it ;)

Well, I won't be financing -- I'm selling my '05 F-150 because gas is killing me. I'm keeping the price under $18k -- I really don't want a car payment.

I'm not into shifting. I'll have two little ones in the back seat, so it's got to be automatic and a 4-door.

I saw these two at CarMax -- it's one of those "no hassle" places, so according to them, there's no negotiation.

don't limite yorself to carmax... you won't get a great deal on a used car... shop around. I trade cars and sell them everyday... This is how I feed my kids... you can do better.

Carmax is a great place to take your car to sell it....

They pay more money for cars than dealers do... which.,. in turn means that typically you'll pay more money to buy the cars from them...



I can sell you a brand new automatic CE Camry sedan for around 18,500. but if you want the power drivers seat and remotes built into the key its gonna be around 19k...

Personally, I'd try to come up with the extra cash and buy a brand new one, or try to really save some cash with the used one...

to me one thousand dollars does not justify 30k miles... and if you're invested that much in that car you better love it....

but i'm sure you already know that since your'e getting rid of a 2005 F-150