You're probably saving about $60/month in fuel & insurance cost by switching
to a new Accord. In 8 years an 05 Accord would be worth about 7K while the
2001 Maxima would be ready for the garbage heap. Assuming an additional
$2000 of maintenance cost for keeping an older Maxima on the road. In 8
years, it'll probably cost an extra $7000 to own an 05 Accord vs keeping
your old Maxima.

However, if you don't have the $$$ to make the initial investment or you
prefer the capability of your existing car, then I would stay put.. (I'm
assuming a new Accord EX is about 22K and cost of owning would go up if
you're financing)

Pars

"Dr Nick" <Drnick5@cox.net> wrote in message
news:X7wUe.8578$Ix4.8570@okepread03...
> > youre never going to make the money back that youll be losing on the 4
> > year old maxima. as for the "premium" issue? only if nissan calls for
it,
> > and even then some people run a midgrade (89) without problems.
> >
> > if you want a new car, fine... but spending over $23k to save a couple
> > hundred a year on gas is kinda nutty. and at least in california,
> > registration is based on car value and goes down yearly. insurance, too
> > for the most part. so any "savings" from the gas are likely to get wiped
> > out.
>
> well nissan does call for premium. can you use less? sure, but the knock
> sensor retards the timing which means less gas mileage and less horse
power.
> as far as doing this to save money, I'm not doing it for the short term
but
> rather the long haul. right now if I keep driving my car value will keep
> going down, if I sell it now I can get about 13k for it. and not really
> alter my montly payments. insurance isn't based solely on the value of the
> car (example, my brother drive a 2005 infinity FX35 and pays LESS in
> insurance than my 2001 maxima yet his car is easily worth 3 times the
> amount, we are twins with the SAME clean driving record). plan on getting
> this car and keeping for at LEAST 4-5 years. also, with my maxima there is
> no warranty on it so anythign that goes wrong will be my problem (one
thing
> that comes to mind are the MAF's tend to go bad as well as the ignition
> coils, total cost for both of those are over 1,000) my insurance will go
> down 80 bucks every 6 months, a total of 160 a year. plus the peace of
mind
> that anythign goes wrong with the car, it's covered are the main reasons
I'm
> doing this. I can also lease a accord, sell my car and invest the
remaining
> money (stocks,bonds, ING high yield bank account (3.3%) ext.) plus using
> less gas and less expensive gas. thsi was my MAIN reason for looking at
the
> jetta TDI orignally (40 MPG) but the cost of the car they are asking
> (26,000) isn't worth it. those are just my thoughs.
>
>