Need a Car

[Circlenaut]

Well, I think it's about time my wife and I start looking to getting a car. She's 20 I'm 21 and we're both still undergrads. Next summer we'll defiantly need a car for internships. She doesn't know how to drive yet and neither do I (we both lived in Boston, the T took us everywhere we needed to go). This upcoming Christmas break my dad will teach us both how to drive. We both have MA permits. What should we look for? Used vs new. Price (cheapest if possible) and especially reliable. I've always personally liked the volkswagon Jetta (dunno if they make it anymore) or beatle but dunno if they're the best to get for us (really expensive right? and the beatle is too small me things).

Thanks in advance,


- Pip

 

[Arkaign]

Corolla or Civic

Reliable, safe, great fuel economy, low insurance costs, maintains value well.

 

[Circlenaut]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Corolla or Civic

Reliable, safe, great fuel economy, low insurance costs, maintains value well.

If we were to get used, how many years is it safe to go back. Or how many miles would be "safe"?

 

[Arkaign]

Those cars are near bulletproof. But to get the best lifespan, I'd try to get something with 75k miles or less, then just make sure regular maintenance is done and it should last to 200k miles easily.

Besides proper maintenance : timing belt (usually @ 75k-90k miles), plugs & wires, brakes, and fluids, you shouldn't run into any problems. Far less so than with VW, etc.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I'll give you a tip:
cheap and small

cheap so you don't care so much about the dings, and small so you're less likely to get them. Learning in land yachts isn't as easy as in 2 door specks.

<-- learned to drive in both an '80 Plymouth Champ and a '78 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4. I could park the champ anywhere, but there were some places where parking the truck was literally impossible (the spaces were narrower than the axles)

 

[nakedfrog]

An older Prizm or Pontiac Vibe would probably be good.

 

[maddogchen]

The jetta is not cheap or reliable.

How are you 21 and not know how to drive yet? You never tried learning in HS?

 

[Gibson486]

For a car noob, I 'd just stick to a used toyota or Honda. You cannot go wrong with and the insurance premiums will not murder you.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Pippy

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Corolla or Civic

Reliable, safe, great fuel economy, low insurance costs, maintains value well.

If we were to get used, how many years is it safe to go back. Or how many miles would be "safe"?

Most cars will go beyond 100K if they were taken care of, but my last car (an Altima) went above that I treated it like crap.

 

[Arkaign]

Gibson speaks wisdom! You came to a good place, Pippy! AT Garage has great members!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
For a car noob, I 'd just stick to a used toyota or Honda. You cannot go wrong with and the insurance premiums will not murder you.

Going with an American rebadge of a Toyota can save you some decent money, hence my suggestions

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Gibson486
For a car noob, I 'd just stick to a used toyota or Honda. You cannot go wrong with and the insurance premiums will not murder you.

Going with an American rebadge of a Toyota can save you some decent money, hence my suggestions

Definately, but any amount reasearch will uncover it for him. We need to teach him how to fish and not just feed him.

 

[Vetterin]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
An older Prizm or Pontiac Vibe would probably be good.

Definitely agree on the Prizm (a Corolla that doesn't cost as much). Might also want to look at an older Escort (very reliable and easy/cheap to fix). Good luck!

 

[ViviTheMage]

haha, that's cute...you dont know how to drive!

I have been hearing a lot this lately.