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College Cars
Akilae729
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm in the market for a car that I can take with me down to college next year and I need something cheep (<$4500) and reliable that can make it back and forth between Seattle and Los Angeles.
I've started looking at late model Hondas and Toyotas because they are known for their reliability, but I'm not really sure of what else is out there.
What do you guys think are some good cars for this purpose IYO? I'm really just trying to get a feel for my options.
I've started looking at late model Hondas and Toyotas because they are known for their reliability, but I'm not really sure of what else is out there.
What do you guys think are some good cars for this purpose IYO? I'm really just trying to get a feel for my options.
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I have a 2002 Camry that I am about to hit 100k miles with on Monday or so, and the only thing (ONLY thing) that has gone wrong with it so far is an AC relay switch that causes my AC to switch off after a few seconds. A minor part, and it isn't going to cost me more than $100.
My point here is that they tend to not break, and they last for quite a while.
Sentras are always nice.
The Focus is a bad car from what I've read and heard from friends/acquaintances who have had them.
If you're going to and from a lot, you might be better off with a smaller car or a fuel efficient family sedan, like a Camry or Altima. Especially in California, the fuel prices will eat you alive.
In other words, Toyota is awesome.
I have heard nothing but horror stories with Jettas. Passats are solid, but the Jetta and previous Golf models have been on a few auto lists for least reliable.
Volkswagen is one of the most polarizing car manufacturers out there.
Plus if you go to those web sites, you can find some decent cars/parts for cheap.
I don't know how much of an object money is. The drive from Seattle - > LA
A) sucks
I only know cas costs from my MPG; Google maps says it's about 1200 miles. Assuming you get 30 MPG, that's 40 gallons of gas each way. 80 gallons * 3.20 = $256 on gas alone.
You can book a round-trip flight on southwest for less than $200 - probably about $185 or so. I think it takes about 3 hours.
If you were to go for spring break, you would take 4 of your 9 days in driving time, be exhausted, and out $80 dollars.
If you want to just monetarize it,
$260 for gas
15 lost hours * min wage, assuming your time isn't valuable (8.25) = ~125
Food, lodging for a night = ~60
So driving to seattle in lost time + expenses = $420
Flying = $215 (supershuttle ($15 from campuses) + plane +(185) plus snacks ($15)
Gas = expensive
Insurance = $~4000 a year.
Also, if you get a cheap car doing that kind of mileage is going to wear it out even quicker. You're best off getting a beater you can leave around LA when you're back home for a week or whatever. Me, I just use flexcar. It's gas + ins + car rental for 8 bucks an hour when I need to do something. It's hard to go out on the town with it in LA because you pay even when it's parked somewhere, but I usually cab to bars, etc. anyway.
Looking more into it, i'll probably end up with a 1993 ish Honda accord. However, im also looking at these 1994 Volvo 850s. I think they look so nice, but i think that would be a stupid idea, due to expensive repair costs and what not
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I have a neon at home actually (bought for my as my first car), however, can't bring it down as my sister is just learning to drive
But since you are looking for recommendations: I have a 2000 Honda Civic that I bought new and put 75k miles on -- I'd recommend it. They're probably around the $5k or less mark at this point.
I would really only be driving back and forth between Seattle and LA once a year, and I plan to get an internship down in LA next summer anyway.
The more I look at it, the Honda seems like it will be worth the money.
Has anyone had experience with the Volvo 850s?
The thing about a Volvo is that they don't break very often, but when they do it's pretty catastrophic.
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Yeah thats what id recommend. I bought a 99 civic last year, nothing but good times driving that car. They go for approximately 5-10k depending on miles/year/condition, but anything under 150k miles should last you well into 300k if you take care of it.
If you want a new car, id recommend a Honda Fit though. I just bought one (pending credit approval tomorrow), and i find them even nicer than the Civic. Better gas mileage, cheaper insurance and way more room inside, surprisingly, for both cargo and passengers (You can fit a fucking couch in one if youre alone). Theyre pretty cheap too and of course you get a warranty.
However, if youre deadset on going used, Civic would be my first choice, hands down. Just make sure no matter what you get, you have someone check it out. As good as civics are, like any car if its abused it will die. And make sure any upcoming maintenance is done before you buy the car. I bought mine at just under 100k, which is the timing belt/water pump change, and unfortunately it wasnt done. Cost me like 450 dollars which i didnt really have to spare at the time. Ask for maintenance records, and if they dont have them, buy from someone else.
Oh, i missed your post above. Yes, volvos are pretty damn good. I had a friend who bought one at 350k miles, it STILL runs strong, and he drove it from Ontario, canada to fucking alabama once a month. I think it only broke down once, and its sitting around 500k miles now. But like typhoid said, when they break, its usually pretty fucking expensive.
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I just wanted to echo this statement. I was condemned to drive a Focus for a year and a half. It was hell.
I've owned 3 VW's in my life, and they were all pretty reliable. Then again, two are Passats, and the third was an 03 Jetta GLI, so that doesn't really help.
VW Diesels are pretty rock solid, but that's out of the OP's price range.
Volvos are a good choice.
I have no prior experience, but I've heard that VW diesels are insanely reliable. A 1985-1992 diesel should run about your price range and you can do biodiesel and save the environment (and a little cash).
A 20 year old car is not a worthwhile investment for the average consumer.
It's possible, although highly improbable, that my one Focus is the anomaly here. It's a 2000 and about to hit 200,000 miles. It has been a very solid car and incredibly reliable. The only thing that has been replaced is the water pump. Everything else is 100% original. I beat the stuffing out of it, as the only reason I have it is to keep miles off my Impala. I could not be more pleased with the little car.
When buying a used car, it's not about who makes it. It all comes down to how the vehicle has been maintained. Any vehicle that has been properly taken care of should do you well; as long as you keep up that maintenance yourself.
More and more my heart is being set on the Volvo, I think they are soooooo nice.
I would say that you're an anomly only because your Focus is a 2000. That was the first year, and is the worst. Mine was a 2000 as well.
I know I can't speak for every focus made when bitch about mine. Prior treatment is indeed key.
Granted My focus is an 06, so it is brand new, but it survived a trip to indianapolis and back, and I have had zero problems in the year I have owned the vehicle. Before that Mrs Arbiter drove a Focus as well and she had no problems