Get one of the Civics. If the one from the dealer is a certified pre-owned car, get that. Otherwise, you'll probably be able to talk down the private party a little more. I know that the 2005 is only a year away from the 2006 redesign. But it's always better to avoid buying a car in the 1st year of a new redesign. They tend to have more problems. That said, the opposite is also true. A car in the last model year of it's current generation is typically the most reliable. Most of the bugs have been worked out. Do your homework on what the cars are worth. And make sure you know what they are worth in both retail and private party value. There is a difference. Blue Book I'm glad ewizabeff mentioned the Mazda 3 because it is one heck of a car for the money. If you are any kind of driving enthusiast, the Mazda 3 is the way to go. I don't know what condition your old Civic is in, but you may be surprised by how much you can still get for it. If it's still in decent running condition and if you clean it up a bit, you should find a buyer for it easily.