A New Leaf

"JGutz164" (JGutz164)
05/17/2016 at 07:15 • Filed to: None

Hey Oppo!

I don’t post very often (or much at all), but a new opportunity just arose in my life and this is the only place I thought to go. I will be a college freshman next fall, and my parents told me that they don’t think my current car will able to make multiple drives there and back if I wanted to come home. They told me they wanted to help me get a new one to last me through college. This is where I could use some help from you guys.

They asked me to help do research on what I should get, but I have no clue where to start, as I have never done this before. So what better place to go than here! So my question to all of you is; what is a good car for a college kid making semi-regular commutes home (thirty-ish miles), last four to five years, and gets good gas mileage? My price range is around $10,000. Now, this last part is a little more of a luxury I’d like to have, but if it could meet all those criterion and still be fun to drive/have, that would be wonderful! I am open to any and all suggestions, thanks so much!

DISCUSSION (16)

Stapleface > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 07:21

For 10k, you can get yourself a decent used Civic or Corolla. Or, if you want something a little more fun, a Mazda 3.

While these might not be the most exciting choices on the road, they'll pretty much always work, and you won't ever have to worry about the car leaving you stranded somewhere, while still netting decent gas mileage.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 07:23

What’s your current car, and why don’t they think it’ll last?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 07:26

For a second there I thought you’d bought a Nissan leaf.

Do you have any idea of what body style you want?

JGutz164 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/17/2016 at 07:48

I would prefer a sedan, or something along those lines.

JGutz164 > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/17/2016 at 07:49

A 2002 Cadillac Seville. She has ~142,000 miles and as of recently has had fairly frequent engine issues.

JGutz164 > Stapleface
05/17/2016 at 07:52

Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll look into those!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 07:58

Seeing as Mazda3 has already been pitched, I’ll throw in a different type of fun. A beater you don’t really care about. Find a Chevy Cavalier. Crap in every respect except the engine. You can beat the tar out of it and it’ll keep ticking. Bonus: If you DO manage to make it kill itself, you can still get 4-5 Cavaliers for 10k.

Or, Cobalt SS. But make sure the ignition switch was fixed.

McMike > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 08:26

Wait, your school will only be 30 miles away?

JR1 > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 08:41

10,000 pens a lot of doors. Cadillac STS with the V8 and 325hp would probably be good, safe, and reliable. Other stuff in that range that might be fun and reliable are Civic Si’s, Golf GTI’s, Subaru WRX, Dodge Charger R/T, Chrysler 300, and I'm sure there is stuff I am missing

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 08:50

Crown Vic / Grand Marquis, 2004+.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/17/2016 at 09:57

Funny you mention that. My friend and I bought cars at the same time, within about two months of each other. He bought a 2001 Cavalier, I bought a 2003 530i. He was making fun of me for buying an unreliable car. Since then, his has broken down three times leaving him stranded, and mine has been absolutely fine.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest.
05/17/2016 at 10:22

Weird. That 2.4 is normally bulletproof, but there are lemons in every barrel I guess.

Still, like I said you could get 4 or 5 of them for that 10k.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
05/17/2016 at 10:30

His is the 2.2, not sure which one. There was a variety of problems, the major one being the power steering pump failing while he was driving.

JGutz164 > McMike
05/17/2016 at 15:06

Yes sir.

McMike > JGutz164
05/17/2016 at 15:21

I guess I was expecting a longer distance.

I can’t believe you’re still driving it if there are concerns about it not making it 30 miles without breaking down.

I’m with the folks suggesting Civic/Corolla/Cobalt.

JGutz164 > McMike
05/17/2016 at 15:39

Well, it’s not so much the distance as it is the years. I need this thing to last me a while. But I’ll definitely look into those three, as they seem to be popular.