The Carsdirect.com price for a NEW Honda Accord DX is $14,623...granted this is the el-cheap-o version, without AC, which is an option, with manual mirrors, manual seats, no steering wheel radio controls, no cruise, black plastic door handles... but the car still has ABS, power windows, SIX airbags (including side curtain head airbags), a 120 Watt AM-FM-CD, a timing CHAIN, and a 3 year warranty. After the warranty period the car is among the most reliable plus any ASE certified tech who can't fix an Accord should give it up and go to work for Starbucks.

I was just looking at a used Volvo my daughter today, the asking price was of the well-worn Volvo was close enough that.... really, this choice is just short of a no-brainer.

My Volvo is as much a hobby as anything, I'm going for the 200k "brass ring", I need to reach that threshold just ONCE in my life, but most people are a lot more rational about their transportation needs.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 156k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new, Michelin Arctic Alpins