YACT: Give me some ideas

[PurdueRy]

Ok, I am a junior in college and looking to get my first car of my own(loan from parents until I get a engineering job...). I am looking for a used car 2000-2004 around $15,000 max. What are some card that have a good reputation in this range?

Thanks car experts

 

[Sheepathon]

Camryyyyy!!!!!!

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Camryyyyy!!!!!!

That's cool for someone 40+ and just wants to get from A-B

What about a Honda Prelude?

 

[swtethan]

integra

 

[Lonyo]

Why spend $15000?
Why not going for something cheaper, and maybe a bit older, rather than having even more loans than you need? (Actually not understanding the rationale behind spending that much, I'm looking at getting a car, and I have a few £k available in non-loan form, but I am looking to spend as little as possible)

 

[Toastedlightly]

Grand Prix FTW!

 

[Looney]

Civic.

Does it snow where you live? If so, i wouldn't get integra or prelude.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
Why spend $15000?
Why not going for something cheaper, and maybe a bit older, rather than having even more loans than you need? (Actually not understanding the rationale behind spending that much, I'm looking at getting a car, and I have a few £k available in non-loan form, but I am looking to spend as little as possible)

Parents = no interest loan...and that's the max...I would rather have it be around $10-12K

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Looney
Civic.

Does it snow where you live? If so, i wouldn't get integra or prelude.

Yes, MI/IN depending on time of year

 

[Demo24]

subaru in that case

 

[GeekDrew]

What features are you looking for?

Pontiac Grand Prix & Buick Regal GS are both great cars... I prefer the latter. They'd fit in your price range... could probably get an '03 or '04 Regal GS in good condition for less than $15k. Mine is a '99, and I've not had any problems at all with it. Has almost 90,000 miles on it.

I've not driven a Grand Prix in incliment weather, but my Regal has been pretty good, here in Ohio.

There's plenty of room (you can haul people and stuff), the gas milage isn't too bad, and they're reliable!

 

[iluvtruenos]

Weinermobile.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew
What features are you looking for?

Pontiac Grand Prix & Buick Regal GS are both great cars... I prefer the latter. They'd fit in your price range... could probably get an '03 or '04 Regal GS in good condition for less than $15k. Mine is a '99, and I've not had any problems at all with it. Has almost 90,000 miles on it.

I've not driven a Grand Prix in incliment weather, but my Regal has been pretty good, here in Ohio.

There's plenty of room (you can haul people and stuff), the gas milage isn't too bad, and they're reliable!

Honestly, mostly just looking for some cars I should study up on. I would like a V-6...I like 2 doors...but doesn't really matter.

 

[Phlargo]

Buick? Pontiac? Come on... he's not 50... let alone 70.

Get a Volkswagen Golf 1.8T or a GTI - fun to drive and practical. 2-4 years old - all the kinks likely worked out - it'll probably do you well... and one can be found for just around 10k

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Phlargo
Buick? Pontiac? Come on... he's not 50... let alone 70.

Get a Volkswagen Golf 1.8T or a GTI - fun to drive and practical. 2-4 years old - all the kinks likely worked out - it'll probably do you well... and one can be found for just around 10k

you got my type of thinking Although I am not a fan of the "wagon" style

 

[Wnh5001]

subaru O_O!!, or integra?

 

[shoRunner]

i'm looking at cars in about that price range(little lower) and i'm looking primarily at 00-03 Maxima and 02+ 3.5 Altima
i also am looking at Contour SVT 98-00, Chevy Impala SS 94-96, Lexus GS 400 and IS 300

but i'm still waiting to test drive all of them before i start narrowing down.

 

[PurdueRy]

What do people think about a Acura RSX? I have no idea how much they cost used....but curious

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: Phlargo
Buick? Pontiac? Come on... he's not 50... let alone 70.

Get a Volkswagen Golf 1.8T or a GTI - fun to drive and practical. 2-4 years old - all the kinks likely worked out - it'll probably do you well... and one can be found for just around 10k

I'm only 21, and I love them.

 

[myusername]

Exactly how filthy rich are your parents? Because it would suck to buy a 15K car and then have the parents get fvcked by the IRS or have medical bills they can't cover or in some other way need the money that you are now driving around. Or maybe you don't find a job as soon as you'd like, or maybe you do, but once you live on your own you realize 45k wasn't as much as you thought it was.
I'm not saying don't take advantage of your situation .. just suggesting you assess it thoroughly before deciding you want a 15k used car.
edit: and apparently you have, and have decided 12k is your target, and I negelected to actually read the thread. oops.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: myusername
Exactly how filthy rich are your parents? Because it would suck to buy a 15K car and then have the parents get fvcked by the IRS or have medical bills they can't cover or in some other way need the money that you are now driving around. Or maybe you don't find a job as soon as you'd like, or maybe you do, but once you live on your own you realize 45k wasn't as much as you thought it was.
I'm not saying don't take advantage of your situation .. just suggesting you assess it thoroughly before deciding you want a 15k used car.

Its a loan I will be paying back in less than 3 years...I am in college so no we are not "filthy" rich. My father is an engineer however. I don't think $10-$12,000 is excessive to look at...but to each their own

EDIT: Thanks for the edit

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
What do people think about a Acura RSX? I have no idea how much they cost used....but curious

RSX-S can be found in that price range

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Get a cheap (but reliable) car and learn how they work by tinkering.

Or you could got "practical in the snow" ... get an AWD DSM.

- M4H

 

[Tommouse]

I'm in a similar spot and I'm looking at Mazda 6's. Subaru Legacy isn't bad either. Might consider the Passat as well, although VW doesn't have the greatest reliability though.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Tommouse
I'm in a similar spot and I'm looking at Mazda 6's. Subaru Legacy isn't bad either. Might consider the Passat as well, although VW doesn't have the greatest reliability though.

I have been looking at 6's too...but they are a bit on the high side