[jdogcarroll]

I am not sure if posting this, in this forum is appropriate but we will see.

I am looking to trade my 2016 ex-t civic coupe for (preferably) a 2014+ st2/st3. I would like to know how I should go about doing so, and if I even should. My gen x civic is an auto and quite frankly just isn't as fun. When I originally went car shopping I was looking for an ST but "settled" on the civic because it was new. Now however I wish I would have gone with the ST from the start. KBB has my civic listed at ~18k and I have been finding ST2/3's for less than that. My civic was originally ~23 and I have paid a couple thousand off the loan. My friend brought up a good point and that was "if you are paying as much as you are, you should be paying for something you want" (which is an ST). So I guess my question is, how would I go about doing this?

Another reason for wanting the switch is I believe it would slightly less payments than my civic both insurance and car note wise.. But I am just curious to see what you guys think. I would wait for the SI but its gonna be close to 30k and I am not about to be paying even MORE for something when I just really want an ST.

 

[Cowlynz]

Honda's usually have a better resale value than most other makes. You should wait a year or so, so that you don't take too big a hit on the trade.
Buyers remorse is a pain.
Good Luck.

 

[DookieShoes]

You'll probably be pretty far upside down on your civic. KBB says 18k, so I bet a dealer would offer you 16k or less. Are you planning on trading or selling outright? you can trade in with negative equity, but the value of the car you buy can only be borrowed against up to about 120%. At that point your really pinning yourself in a corner if you bought the ST and then decided you didn't want it. I'd pay it down a bit more and look when you are breaking even on the civic. It sucks now, but your pocket book will thank you later. There will always be something out there that you want.

 

[Duchess]

I agree with the above. You've taken the worst hit on depreciation and haven't paid off enough yet. The thing about the Honda that beats the ST is its residuals, but you'd lose that advantage dumping it so soon. It seems you bought the Honda because it makes more economic sense, so I'd recommend sticking with it for at least another year.

I got a 2012 Focus SE before the ST came out and, though I wanted to trade for an ST when those appeared, it was so cheap to run and an acceptable drive with the 5-speed and sport package that I put it off. When it was paid for, I still planned to hold it as it only had about 200k miles and was running perfect as it always had—I wouldn't get anything for a trade-in with those miles and being a Focus—so I settled on driving it until something major or even a bunch of small things signaling impending end-of-life popped up. Instead, I got rear ended by two idiots—totaling the car—and I replaced it with the ST. I do like the ST a lot and the extra cost isn't really an issue for me, but I'm cheap at heart and I do miss 36 mpg on piss gas and paid for.

 

[SearchMaster]

Keep this in mind - a direct trade is extremely unlikely, since most ST owners are performance-minded. Most threads on this forum about dumping their ST are either because (a) it's a lemon, (b) need a bigger car, (c) need a cheaper car, or (d) want more performance. You don't want the (a) car and the Civic doesn't really fit (b)-(d).

So now you're selling/re-buying. If you're selling to a dealer, they're going to get their cut on the buy and if you're buying your ST from a dealer, they'll get their cut on the sell too. So your only good chance to break even on the deal (since the value of both cars is roughly equivalent) is to sell privately and buy privately, which is a PITA and time sink.

You may have to just grin and bear it either way. If the added expense of doing the transaction is too much to bear, then just think of the gas money you're saving every month and the depreciation you're not suffering because you bought a Honda. If not, then think of it as spending a little more money to have a lot more fun.

 

[Unfitproduct]

Hmm, Keep the civic. IMO