by "flyingmetalbird" (jonsavage)
Published 05/30/2017 at 10:55
by "flyingmetalbird" (jonsavage)
Published 05/30/2017 at 10:55
No Tags
STARS: 0
So this August I’m off to college at Northern Michigan University, and I’m looking for a car to bring along with me. It has to be simple, able hold things, be relatively interesting, and cheap.
Before I get the, “You don’t need a car in college that’s just a waste of money!” shpeel, I don’t see myself living without a car for an extended period of time and that’s just me. I love cars, and having something to get to and from skiing, adventure around in, and tinker with is very important to me.
I considered bringing the Miata, but that’s a pretty bad idea with the leangth of winter and the amount of lake effect snow they get in the UP. So here’s where you come in.
I need you to give me some ideas on what might be a good college car. Fire away.
"jasmits" (jasmits)
05/30/2017 at 11:03, STARS: 0
My 2nd gen 4Runner made a good college car. Kinda sucks to DD something that uses so much fuel and doesn’t handle for a long time but it did a good job of everything you want in college.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
05/30/2017 at 11:03, STARS: 4
Don’t get too hung up on what the car *is*. Think more about what it can *become*. College is the one time in your life where it is socially acceptable to use duct tape, a sawzall, and questionably wired subwoofers to decorate and modify a car.
In the words of Red Green you want a car that is cheap, plentiful, and has a sense of revenge.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
05/30/2017 at 11:04, STARS: 0
As a college student I have found my Mini to be the perfect car for me. It’s efficient (I can get 35+ mpg when I am careful but it is hard to be careful with a car as fun as the Mini), it is capable of moving me and my stuff around, it’s not so nice that I worry about door dings, and is all together just the right amount of car for this time in my life.
"RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht" (ramblininexile)
05/30/2017 at 11:06, STARS: 0
My own experience can recommend both the VW Rabbit pickup and an older Buick Century. Granted, both were a little more plentiful a decade ago and both may be further down in classiness than you desire.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
05/30/2017 at 11:07, STARS: 1
Corolla. You don’t need something interesting, you need something that will survive on a shoestring budget.
"vondon302" (vondon302)
05/30/2017 at 11:07, STARS: 1
Northern Michigan University?
All you need is a dirt bike and a snow mobile.
"facw" (facw)
05/30/2017 at 11:10, STARS: 0
Northern Michigan University
having something to get to and from skiing
In any event, am sort of one of those why would you need are a car at college types (though I did keep one junior and senior year, mainly just as a convenient way to get to and from home).
I don’t have any specific recommendations, but since you’ll be moving around, and hopefully carrying friends, I’d lean towards practical over sporty. Hatchback/Wagon/CUV/SUV/Minivan. Don’t worry too much about whether it is cool, just get whatever is cheap, useful, and reliable.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
05/30/2017 at 11:11, STARS: 0
My first college car was a mini pickup, a Mazda B-2000. Lots of hauling capability, plenty of room for two, and great mileage. Perfect. My second college car was a Subaru GL wagon. It was perfect for what I needed, nevertheless, I hated it.
"jimz" (jimz)
05/30/2017 at 11:13, STARS: 0
the school is in Marquette MI, which gets on average 150" of snow every year.
"jimz" (jimz)
05/30/2017 at 11:13, STARS: 0
I’d say a 4-cylinder 2008-2012 Escape.
and budget for winter tires too!
"CalzoneGolem" (calzonegolem)
05/30/2017 at 11:15, STARS: 1
Minivan. Can haul your shit and your friends. Makes you popular with everyone needing furniture that isn’t inflatable.
"vicali" (vicali)
05/30/2017 at 11:16, STARS: 0
My toyota pickup did me well in college, carried all my stuff there and back, made it to every field lab, got groceries, with only one other seat I never turned into a taxi driver.
Plus the bed in the back, say no more.
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
05/30/2017 at 11:17, STARS: 0
My school is in Burlington VT which gets 90" snow annually.
"Chuckles" (chucklesw37)
05/30/2017 at 11:18, STARS: 3
Having a car at college can be pretty great, but I really wouldn’t focus on the “interesting” aspect. You need something cheap, reliable, and roomy enough for stuff/people. Be prepared to give rides to lots of your car-less friends, so 4 doors is way better than 2 in this case. A decent sized trunk will come in handy for holding cases of beverages. When you go on your big once a month trip to Walmart or wherever, you don’t want to be cramming stuff into the back of a small coupe. And nobody at college will judge you based on what you drive, they’ll just be happy to get a ride. My advice? Find a decent Civic Sedan or Corolla, or if you’re really a social butterfly, rock a minivan. The ability to legally transport you and 6 of your friends will make you pretty popular.
"jimz" (jimz)
05/30/2017 at 11:21, STARS: 0
well nevermind then
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
05/30/2017 at 11:23, STARS: 2
Minivans are very conductive to sexy times. There is no better time to learn this than college.
"miadaman? yes please" (wanjoe)
05/30/2017 at 11:23, STARS: 0
Mazda3 Hatchback with a stick
"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
05/30/2017 at 11:24, STARS: 0
Suzuki SX4 hatchback, if you can find one...
"Sweet Trav" (thespunbearing)
05/30/2017 at 11:26, STARS: 0
Naturally aspirated Subaru Wagon everyone in the UP loves em. You want something with AWD/4WD. Maybe an Explorer or a TrailBlazer?
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/30/2017 at 11:26, STARS: 0
Will you have somewhere to park it? My freshman year at the University of Wisconsin I lived in the dorms and there was little to no parking for kids who lived in the dorms. I did have cars for some of the other years I was in school but not while I was in the dorms.
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
05/30/2017 at 11:44, STARS: 0
They get a lot of shit for being ugly and otherwise uninteresting, but a Chevy Cavalier isn’t a bad college car. They’re cheap and easy to maintain. And they can take a LOT of abuse and still keep right on trucking. Plus, for a compact car, they are surprisingly roomy. You can comfortably fit 4-5 adults in one and still haul all your junk in the trunk. And the little four banger engine is easy on your wallet when it comes to filling up.
Can you tell I drove a Cavalier in college? Heh.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
05/30/2017 at 11:45, STARS: 3
and nobody will steal it
"Xyl0c41n3" (i-am-xyl0c41n3)
05/30/2017 at 11:46, STARS: 0
That, too. Heh.
"LastFirstMI is my name" (donstone13)
05/30/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 0
In no particular order:
Toyota Matrix
Mazda or Nissan pickup- the cheap 2 door ones
Honda Civic (Older SI if in the budget)
1970's Camaro- but you’ll need a mustache
Actually I like the dirt bike/ snowmobile idea. Covers both seasons there- winter and mud.
My personal advice- do not EVER remove the spare tire to make room for more beer before driving on a deserted road in the middle of the night. Karma will slap you and laugh....
"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
05/30/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 0
Here’s what I drove through high school and college, I miss this truck so much:
Churned through snow like it didn’t exist, got terrible gas mileage thanks do building up the 4.3L V6 in it (60 over bore, head work, etc, etc)
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
05/30/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 0
Mine is going to be an XC70. It seems pretty well suited for college.
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
05/30/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 0
4th gen Civic Wagon 4wd. It kind of ticks all of the boxes for you.
"nermal" (nermal)
05/30/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 0
You need an XJ.