Bought a new Acura Legend 5-speed in 1986 when they first came out: paid less than $19,000. Payments were $345 a month. It was a wonderful car that lasted 10+ years & 128K with very little in the way of repairs, mostly normal maintenance and replacement of things that just wore out. Clutch, brake rotors, tires, belts, etc. Just normal things.
A new 2003 Accord is argueably a bigger, faster, better car with a base one going for $15,995, an LX Automatic @ $19,995 and a EX Automatic @ $22,860.
But it is not the "kind" of car the Legend was in 1986. For that you need to open up the ol' wallet (or crank up the ol' credit machine) and be prepared to pay a lot more for a lot longer. A lease on an S8 Volvo is $469 per month for 48 months with $1400 down & a residual of $19,050!!!
And if you didn't buy the extended warranty and the motor goes at 40K you are up the S*** creek without a paddle.
