Good cars for college

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I tried getting along without on freshman year, but it dint work very well at all. Im going to have to get something for the short term to hold me over until i graduate and have a good job. I have about 4,000 in my bank account. I'll probably pick up a part time job during school, and I can borrow if necessary. My family may be able to contribute a little, but I cant count that as definite money.</p>

<p>What would you all recommend if Im looking for a car to last ~ 3-4 years? I want something affordable, but not so cheap that Im driving around Texas with no air conditioner, and worried my car is going to overheat on the interstate.</p>

<p>Obviously I may as well get a used car. And I may as well go for a coupe (2 door) to save money. Mustangs are probably too expensive, and as awesome as they look, I dont know if I trust a Ford past 100k miles. Honda Civic or Accord is what I'm leaning toward, because those things seem to last forever. I've also heard of people getting great deals on Pontiacs.</p>

<p>And also, who should I buy it through? Auto-Trader? Police auction? Local dealership? I found out that with laptops, buying one at the right place can save you $1,000. I imagine all car dealerships aren't created equal either.</p>

2

<p>civic, accord, acura, etc. any of the japanese/korean brands...those are great places to look you basically answered your own questions</p>

3

<p>crap car. i'd rather spend my money on good clothing, food, electronics, poker than buy a car like a bmw 5 series for 18,000. sorry if i was you i'd buy a car for 6,000 like a maxima and put some rims + tint = same amount of "poking" power as a stock mdx.</p>

4

<p>If at all possible, I would really consider living without a car...so many expenses like gas, maintenance, insurance, registration, school parking, tickets!, etc. Paying friends gas money is a good solution if you'll only need it for trips home or once a week.</p>

<p>That said, Honda and Toyota are the most reputable brands for reliability. In the $4,000 or less price range, they are going to be quite used. Another option is to buy a new car that will have a warranty, and try to get a good deal on the financing. Maybe your parents can help you with a down payment, and you make the monthly payments? That's what mine did. Since you have that money saved, if you put it in a 5+% interest online savings account, you can better keep up with the financing charges and be able to make payments with incoming job money. Insurance will be more on a new car, but they are so much more reliable, and you will have something for many years after graduation too, rather than a used car (don't expect a less than $4,000 car to last beyond a few years).</p>

<p>Car dealerships are the most expensive place for used cars, but many do offer the "certified" options where they are almost under warrenty through them. Buying through another party will have a lot of uncertainty. You really want to get it checked out by a mechanic ($100-200), and buy something where someone kept all the records. In that case, you want to buy the car from an older person because they statistically take care of it better, and are likely to drive less miles. Sometimes you can find incredible deals from an area with a lot of senior citizens who have had to stop driving!</p>

<p>With a used car, it is important to have a budget for repairs, as some things are very expensive, past the cost of brakes or tires, etc. Once a car gets old enough to need engine work, that is when a lot of people sell it to avoid those expensive costs that are almost as much as the car is worth...another thing to watch out for.</p>

<p>Don't buy from rental car companies. People don't treat cars very nicely when they rent them. (personal experience with friends)</p>

5

<p>An older model toyota in good condition could last a long time</p>

6

<p>I tried getting along without a car and it didnt work. My college is in a rural area, and our public transportation is abysmal. It would be nice I could get a car now that lasted after graduation, but Im not really thinking that far ahead. I want to spend just enough for it to last another 3-4 years. After that, I shouldn't have any trouble affording a decent car. My major has fantastic job placement, and Im pretty determined.</p>

7

<p>I have my car that I got for my 18th birthday, which is a Toyota 4-Runner. I absolutely love it.</p>

8

<p>well have you considered leasing? if you're looking for a car for 3-4 years you might as well get a decent car and simply lease. Buying a car for 4000 dollars means its not only fairly crappy and has alot of mileage but the value will depreciate alot where u can get close to nothing back for it. So yeah, going for a lease may be a good option if you want a reliable car especially if you live in a rural car. </p>

<p>But, if leasing is something u dont prefer to do or feel like its "burning" money, then buying a older model honda civic/toyota camry would suit you best becuase those things can rack on the miles and tug away.</p>

9

<p>Don't lease. Ever.</p>

<p>Are you going to have enough to pay for gas, insurance and registration? Also, remember that any car is going to have maintenance, from getting oil changed to replacing parts that break (parts will break.) It gets expensive. You can get a decent enough car for 4k though, just look for older model cars and don't get picky. Seconding camry/civic. Also, GET IT INSPECTED BEFORE YOU BUY.</p>

10

<p>Count me as in this boat too. I got along okay without a car last year, but I don't want the hassle of the schoo shuttle this year so I too am shopping around for a car. I'm putting up a pre-determined amount of money and my mom is paying the rest up to a certain dollar point. We're looking for something no older than '03, not too many miles, and must be certified and from a dealer. W're going to see a Mitsubishi Galant on Monday. Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions on owning a Mitsubishi?</p>

11

<p>What's the problem with leasing? If I'm looking for a 3-4 year solution, would leasing end up cheaper?</p>

12

<p>Get like a cheap, solid civic or jetta or something. It should last you 4 years....and if you're interested and live within driving distance of Monterey, California I'm selling my car too. You can't go wrong with toyota or honda.</p>

13

<p>The car isn't yours after all those payments, and if you choose to buy it you end up paying more than if you bought the exact same car from a dealership.</p>

14

<p>it depends, look into the different leasing options they offer. Leasing is not always the best solution, but leasing means you are getting a dependable car you know will take u from point a to point b that 1) looks decent 2) is reliable and 3) with the right option u can get one that will take around 3000-4000 over 3-4 years. Buying a old, used car for 4000 not only is already a poor car to depend on but usually come with mechanical problems. Not only that, buying a car for 4k does come with the same expenses as gas, check ups, oil changes so that argument doesnt make sense. </p>

<p>Some feel leasing is burning money. But honestly, if you only want a car for only 3-4 years, buying a car for 4k means the value will drop alot each year as that model gets older, as new models for that same type of car comes out, as the miles rack up. In the end, u may get back some money but if im driving a car for 3-4 years id rather just lease, get a pretty nice looking car that i wont have to worry about having mechanical issues</p>

15

<p>I had a toyota camry for 3-4 years and it has been lasting (1994 toyota camry) still has airconditioning. ^^;; it's annoying tending to it though (oil change, battery change etc)</p>

<p>yeah get a reliable car company and it should be ok. just don't get a buick, those break down soo easily.</p>

16

<p>my dad reads car reviews obsessively (Consumer Reports and stuff) - yet we haven't bought a car in 13 years. strange stuff...</p>

<p>anyway, I asked him the same question (for my own nefarious purposes!) and his recommendation was the Toyota Camry. it's very reliable, quite cheap, and a better car than some of the similarly priced alternatives (for example, any American-made sedan...) the Honda Accord is also not bad.</p>

17

<p>I also forgot to mention that Im inept when it comes to car maintenance and repair, so i need something that wont have too many mechanical issues.</p>

18

<p>I have a '96 Camry with about 120,000 miles on it (hand me down car thats taken several cross country road trips) and it still runs great, things that break are always pretty minor - one door lock doesn't automatically lock, it has to be done manually, and "no big deal" stuff like that. Japanese cars are much better - I've got a lot of friends who went for pricier American cars, and have problems like not being able to have the air conditioner and the radio on, and still be able to roll down the window without blowing a fuse. Go Honda or Toyota.</p>

19

<p>Acura integra with body Kit. You can't go wrong with a honda engine. Plus it has low gas mileage.</p>

20

<p>What are car leasing companies?</p>