I Just Bought a 2025 Honda Civic Sport With Only $1K Down, a Co-Signer and Have a $558 Payment, Because I Wanted a Brand New Car With CarPlay

What advice would you give this young car buyer?

I found this unbelievable post while I was researching the 2025 Honda Civic. A young woman, Jime (@_menalicious) posted this on her TikTok saying she purchased a 2025 Honda Civic Sport because she wanted Apple CarPlay. The young woman clearly cannot afford the new Honda because she needed a co-signer which is a red flag, she only put $1,000 down and has a car payment of $558. 

Wait, There’s More

And that’s not the worst part. She’ll be paying for this car for the next seven years. She bought the car with an 84-month car note from the bank.  

Jime says on her TikTok video, “Me with my $558 monthly car payment just because I wanted a brand new car with CarPlay.” 

Was buying the new Honda Civic a good idea? 

Before you answer here is what else she said about her new car purchase. 

“Just make sure you talk about the payments and what you can afford to the person helping you, and they can show you reasonable options based on what you think you can handle, she says.”

"My 2025 Honda Civic Sport is brand new with zero miles, I get free oil changes, free tire rotation and a 3 year warranty. Plus, it’s a very reliable car. It only costs me $30 to fill up the tank, and I only fill it up like once every 2 weeks. I got a 6% APR financing with no credit history, I think it’s a win. My last car was crap, I’m happy with my decision.” 

“I used to have an 2004 BMW, but it had so many problems , it just wasn’t worth fixing anymore, it was time for a new car.”

“I put $1,000 down (from her BMW trade-in) had to have my mom co-sign to get the car because I have no credit.” 

Here Is the Worst Part

Some one in the comments asked Jime, “How long is the term of your loan?” 

She responds, “GIRL, 7 YEARS KILL ME NOW.”

So she knows she’ll be locked in to this payment for seven years. 

Wait, There’s Still More

Jime says, “Oh yeah, and my parents pay my insurance because they love me. It’s my decision, and I wouldn’t have gotten it if i couldn’t afford it”

Let’s Review Jime’s Honda Civic Car Purchase. 

First mistake. 

She had an older BMW that needed some work, it was still drivable and the Honda dealer gave her $1,000 for it. She could likely have sold it to a private party for $5,000 as is. 

Can she really afford this new Civic Sport?

Second mistake. 

Jime has no credit or poor credit so she has to have her mom co-sign for the loan. That means if Jime doesn’t make her $558 per month car payments, her mom must foot the bill or risk her credit going south with a car repossession. This is her mom’s mistake. 

Third mistake.  

A 84 month car loan is offered to anyone who is trying the get their car payment down. Her mom must have good credit or she wouldn’t have qualified. However, it’s never wise to go betting a 60 month five year car loan. There’s just too much risk that you’ll have negative equity if you trade in the car or need to get rid of it. 

Fourth mistake.

She clearly cannot afford this new 2025 Honda Civic because she cannot even afford to pay for car insurance. It takes full coverage which is expensive, and her mom is footing the bill for this too. This is her mom’s mistake. 

What Should Jime Have Done Differently?

I recently wrote a report about Michael who is probably about Jime’s age.

He says, "I had an older Honda CR-V, sold that for a profit, and got another CR-V with that same money; if it ain't broke, don't fix it."   

Michael is a financial wealth management advisor who is wiser than his years. He's a Millennial who "practices what he preaches." He lives a no-car-payment life and keeps his paid-off Honda CR-V as long as possible.

He proudly states, "I'm driving a paid-off ten-year-old car because it costs nothing to run, and who wants a $500 per month car payment?" 

Michael's financial freedom and control over his expenses are things he wouldn't trade for the world. This sense of empowerment is a key benefit of driving a paid-off car. Check out Michael’s story here. 

Final Thoughts and Questions For You

Most people like Jime want to drive a new car with the latest features and new technology like Apple CarPlay, but it comes at a steep price. You have a large car payment, higher maintenance costs, license plates, taxes, and insurance. 

What Jime should have done is kept her BMW running, saved that $558 a month and applied it to good ten year old Honda Civic. In two years she would have saved over $13,000 and could have paid cash for a reliable Honda Civic. 

It's Your Turn

What advice would you give this young car buyer if she had not already bought the 2025 Honda Civic? Click the red Add New Comment link below and share your thoughts and ideas.

Check out my Honda report titled; Honda Tech Says, “I Would Never Buy These Model Year Honda Accord, Pilot, Odyssey, or Ridgeline They are a Blemish On the Brand”

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Jime