I am looking for a car for college next year. Right now I have a slavage titled riced out 97 Automatic Accord LX sedan The accord is going to my younger brother so I am getting a "new" car. I am looking for a good reliable some what nice car to last more for at least through college. It needs to be manual and have a fair amount of power. I am looking at low $10K's max
Right now I am looking at

5th Gen Prelude
Pro's - Fast and honda quality.
Con's- Kinda lame interior and no leather. Also some of the stock stuff tends to look ugly like the exhaust and rims

Mazda 3s
Pros- NICE inside and fairly new
Con's- Alittle on the slow side

any other ideas, suggestions etc? My mom was suggesting another accord but the only one that really apeals to me is the cuurent gen V6 coupe but it looks a little pricey. I figure after college when I can really care for my car and possibly have a garage etc I will treat myself to a new civic si or something

 

Civic, Eclipse, Integra (NOT BEATEN TO SHIT), base RSX, Accord, Maxima

A perfect college car is one that will last you the whole time and also a car that, while you like it, won't cause you to kill someone after getting a door ding.

College = your car is going to get screwed up.....someway.....somehow

 

I asked a similar question in this thread for a $15k car...although I just got out of college and you are just entering.

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/i-have-%2415k-cash-find-me-car-please-329867/

Some nice suggestions so far are Civic LX, Mazda3 (my fav), Scion tC for new cars....Maxima, Acura CL, Accord coupe, RSX Type-S, Mazda6 for older cars.

 

just stay away from the teg.. if I had a dollar for every kid I know who's teg was stolen, keyed, parted, beaten...i'd have that nsx. I'd go with the accord coupe, or maybe a 99-00 civic si (I dont know why thieves dont go after them, I like them). I used to have a 'Lude, so i'm a bit partial, but I think i'd rather have the civic si than the lude, except for the whole status symbol of having the almighty prelude. Heck, i'm not going to lie. The prelude is the way to go. If i had to rank your choices, i'd go: Last gen' lude, 99-00 Civic Si, accord coupe, maybe a used legend coupe? They're way faster than 1st gen CLs, and i think you'll have a really really hard time finding a 2nd gen CL worth buying for under 10 grand. But i mean, if you're going to a college where you know your car will be okay, then i'd pick an integra-r or gsr over everything but the lude, but we warned...people driving the living daylights out of those cars so drive it before you buy it

 

the prelude is a good idea...that was a big one on my list when i was buying a 10k car the first year of college

i ended up buying a 2000 TL because of its pimp value in college, however i noticed you wanted a 5spd

RSX sounds good but might be a little pricey, you can get a nice ass 99+ integra GSR with leather seats and all taht for 10k, just put a good alarm on it

 

Its college.. it'll get beaten to shit, possibly broken into. Get an Accord

 

94-95 6MT Legend LS coupe (if you can find one). a good one w/ decent miles will run around 10k maybe less

if you want a combination of luxury/sport. Verly reliable just keep your cooling system in check so you don't get a blown head gasket. I bought my 91 for 4k during my first year of college, and it's been good to me so far.

but all the suggestions so far seem pretty good.

 

i opted for a 5th gen 'lude, and love it

 

If gas mileage is a non-issue, Legend coupe LS 6MT is definitely the right choice.

 

Get a newer, low profile car. Some of the cars listed here are great (ie Legend, 'teg, 'lude) but honestly -- you're talking about a 5-7 yr old car. Most of them will require a new timing belt/water pump (very expensive and not a DIY for most), and other sorts of 5-7yr old parts requiring replacement/repair that haven't been done already.

You might luck out and find a decent shape one with most of the major maintenance done. But if it's a near-future purchase, I'd opt for a newer car (ie Madza3, Civic). You're in college -- don't be too flashy and keep your insurance rates down with an 'average' car. Wait 'til you get your job then start rollin' in a nicer car.

My

 

Thats what i was gonna say.

 

Beaters build character.

 

Go to college along the Northeast Corridor...that way, you'll never need a car.

 

I'd try and find a used eclipse turbo- they're pretty damn quick and have a few free mods you can do to free up a few hp, and they're reliable. Also, they're not really easily distinguishable from the rest of the eclipses so it won't stick out.

 

That or an older Maxima, or Civic. Use the money you saved to get bitches drunk

 

Since alot of you suggested the maxima I looked into those and I really don't like the older ones but the 2000+ model is VERY nice and pricing is GREAT. I really think I might like that better than a prelude.

 

ok I want something like this now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-...QQcmdZViewItem
How is the reliability of the maxima? pretty good right?

 

Get a sedan for the roadtrips in college!

 

A Maxima looks like a good choice but my uncle had one exactly like the one on ebay that you're looking at and it sucked in the snow. If you are staying along the Northeast, you might want to look into getting something with AWD for the snow. That's what I might do...

Where are you going to college, btw?

 

I porbably going to UNC Charlotte in Charlotte in NC so snow isn't really a big issue at all. I will just try to stay out of the snow and if needbe get some better tires.

 

As a Freshman in college and someone who is still getting acquainted with all that college has to offer, allow me to offer you some advice.

Cars are not as big a deal as they were in high school. You don't drive it everyday(if you live on campus). All your friends don't see it everyday. Chicks don't see it everyday. Even if you do drive, you will ride with other people, or they will ride with you.

So, get a solid, reliable car, and one that you can fit people in if you want to road trip.

(or a small one so when you go out at night you won't have to drive. . ."no room guys! I can't DD...sorry" )

Because I've noticed that cars are not what they were in high school. You will expierence so many new and awesome things, you won't give three shits about the car you drive, and neither will your friends.

/That said, I still drive a TL Type S, and love every bit of it, but there is no need to stress about your car. College>any car.

from someone who loves cars and is in college, just like you are about to be

 

93 - 2000 Altima SE, 5 spd manual, 150 ponies, LSD, and leather. You can't go wrong!

 

I love old cars with Pennsylvania plates.

Yeah, 'sedans for roadtrips.' So you can bring all your idiot buddies along trying to free-ride off your dime.

5th gen Prelude if you want a used car.
'Lame' interior? The materials quality is very nice.

 

Yeah I dont get the "lame interior" comment either. I think of it as well laid out, perfection really Honda kept it simple, to me its a text book example of what to do.

Anyway, Maximas are reliable, get one if you want a practical car with some fun to go along with it. I know my uncle is pleased with his.

Oh and you dont need AWD, just get some decent snow tires.

 

I havent seen the prelude interior in person but from the pics it doesn't seem as nice as things like the maxima and I don't really know if I like the cloth interior. I really need to see it in real life though, like my accords interior looks really bad in pics but it is decent inside.

 

5sp SC300, good luck finding one

and after college, it'd make a good project car

 

preludes actually have a very good interior....much nicer than i expected

 

It looks and feels great. Its not splashy or fancy, but its well built, the controls are simple and logical.



My only issue with the Prelude is lack of headroom. I seem to be fairly tall in the upper torso. You might want to check it out and take it into consideration.

 

Don't get anything you care about-i've been hit by my idiot neighbor backing out of a parking spot, randomly hit by some asshole and had my doors dinged idk how many times. And thats with parking at the back of the lot

 

im telling you...go w/ a 'lude...I've had it for a couple months and love it! It's an awesome car to drive. As far as the interior...sure, it isn't CLASSY or luxurious. But it's well-built, laid out beautifully, and rather comfy.

 

Sedan that gets you (and 4 others) from point A to point B. Save the rest of the money because you will probably need it for "other" things. If it is going in any sort of lot prepare for damage to it.

 

if you can afford it, go with one of those new mazda 3's... holy shit they're beautiful.

 

I like playing Devil's Advocate.

05 Malibu Classic with the GM 2.2L Ecotec engine...about $10K with 25000 miles on it from Hertz. Ecotec engine is super-easy to service, also rock solid reliable.

 

man. u guys are scaring me.... i jus bought a Acura TL 06 WDP w/ navi.. i was wondering if i should drive that to college?? i'm going to a JC/CC first.. so i was wondering.. wut should i do?? i dont want my car messed up at all.. should i try and save up $$ and buy a cheap reliable car???

 

i think it really depends where you are going.

i mean, i just drive a 91' legend, but i haven't gotten a single ding or anything on my car. *knock on wood*
But my car has gotten pretty dirty, i had to park in a dirt lot quite often, and many times i didn't have a good place to wash it. I guess it's always safer to have a daily driver/beater, but it's not always necessary

 

i bought a 94 integra and dropped a jdm type r into it just so i wouldnt get bored. i didnt give a shit about the body so it worked out just fine in college. cheap and fun to drive...sold it, bought the TL

 

And then pay insurance on two cars? I'm intimately aware, as I am sure you are, of insurance rates for us males under 25. It's a car. It's not a Ferrari or a Lambo, drive it and if it gets dented and it really bugs you, get it removed. Or live with it. If you're driving it to high school now, it will get wayyyyy more fucked up in a HS parking lot than a college one

 

For 10k.... going to college.
I would pick up a used c70.
You will have a very difficult time finding one with five speed.
But it has 236hp, gets zero to 60 in the low 6's. Its very reliable.
I have had two, my neighbor has one that has 158k on the clock.
The stock audio system is probably the best that you will hear in any car, including the 3rd gen TL (MY CAR).

Look for a 98-2000, you should be able to find one in your price range.


Oh btw the car is VERY VERY safe. It's saved my life more than once.


Nes

 

If you get the two door you will ultimatly save money in college. 2 doors, 2 seats no room for the moochy passengers you would have if you had a 4 door. No one likes to ride in the back of my car, so needless to say, i never drive to lunch or anything, which works for me.

 

True, but 2 door versions are more expensive to insure than 4 door.