Looking to get my college age daughter a car. She's chipping in and responsible for insurance differential and maint/operating costs.

We've been kicking around a few ideas. Looking at, say, $8,000 - $12,000.

Highest on the list of needs are reliability; needs to be able to run without major issues for, say, 2 or 3 years. Safety is also up there. Finally resale/trade value in 2 or 3 years; I don't expect anyhting to hold value, but want to be able to resell it to fund a DP on the next car.

She wants a '05/'06-ish Mustang. Base/V6 model, not the V8. Depending on reliability, I don't have a problem with that. Last Ford I had (2000-ish Taurus) was bullet-proof.

We've also kicked around the idea of an Accord or Civic. Another possibity might be a TSX.


Another alternative is to get a $5000 - $7000 beater and run it into the ground.

Thoughts?

 

If she's like any other kid getting their first car, she'll beat the fuck out of it. I vote for the lesser expensive car. Some non hot-rod base model. just my 2 cents

 

Scion tc?

 

Prius? =)

 

Second this is looking for a coupe. Also a Altima Coupe can be had in the same price range as well. TSX is definitely a nice choice for sure.

If you buy an M/T TSX I will convert it to Auto for you

 

04-05 TSX. I bought mine 2 years ago and it's been rock solid. Also, it can be obtained for around the price range you mentioned. Has enough power, and the handling is great. And not to mention the tons of other features the car has.

 

Fair point. But I don't think she will.

Kid #1, yes, she beat the crap out of her first car. But kid #2 is different; more thoughtful/responsible.

Regardless, your advice is what my wife thinks too.

 

04 Accord coupe.

 

Get her a sedan. If she's going away to school she'll appreciate the ability to pack it up with stuff.

Accord, Camry, Altima, Maxima - all reliable, low insurance

 

Where do you guys search on-line? I've been looking through Autotrader.com. Other recommended sites?


Thanks for the Altima/Maxima suggestions.

 

Looks (so far, quick search) that there are not many TSX's in that range. A few, but not many.

 

In any case, the first car that anyone has gets some scuffs and scratches over the 2nd naturally. It's a learning experience with the "first" car and stuff is going to happen.

A sedan is good for the extra space and as well the slight insurance discount (coupe means sporty = higher premiums).

Depending on how good of a deal you can find, I'd say go with a TSX or go with a 2003-2008) 4 cyl. accord. A good deal of power, fuel efficency and as well they all have GREAT safety ratings!

As far as the nissan's, I can't comment to much since I've had very little experience with them. However I can say that the interior won't hold up with teenage abuse esp on some of the older ones.

Toyota is also another good option, they are pretty rock solid like honda's and you can find some good deals esp after all this BAD PR about the gas-pedals.

 

Toyota Matrix? (hatchback > coupe or Corolla)
Craigslist (dealers use it as well) and Carmax.com (negligible price negotiation & limited selection, though).

G/L.

 

2nd gen tl. itll make a mechanic out of her. one less female to rip off at the mechanic shop

 

Accord, Altima or TSX gets my votes.

 

My girlfriends brother just turned 16 and got a 2005 Jetta 2.5 5-speed. I'm really impressed with it.

 

I still find the 7th gen Accord to be a "nice" car and the prices are very reasonable.

 

Excellent site to peruse safety ratings. Euro models are included too.

www.crashtest.com

 

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/2205703899.html

 

Used Mazda3. Them fawkers hold value like crazy, as well as civics.

 

I had one before but automatic and it was pretty reliable up until the AT started to go.

 

87 jeep pioneer.

 

I'd probably go with a nice seventh gen Accord coupe 4 cyl. Nice sporty car. Safe, reliable, and good resale value. If she wants a V6 Mustang, I would recommend that as well. The 4.0 in those things are archaic, but anvil reliable. The car has an excellent platform and has been proven reliable and safe.

It's good she's willing to chip in with both the purchase and insurance. A lot of kids these days aren't so responsible. Personally, I would ask her to consider the two cars listed above and have her decide what suits her best.




Terry

 

Scion, Mazda 3, Corolla, Civic, or any Hyundai (can probably by close to new with your budget, depending on the model), Kia...

 

everycarlisted.com is a good website.


+ 3

 

4 door accord LX, that will be all she needs, fuck man my first car was a geo metro that was "handed" down to me mileage read 321021 before I sold it for 700 bucks, wish i kept it.

 

+1 on the Mazda3. Great car, it's not "dorky", and gets great gas mileage and holds a lot of shit for those moves back and forth to college.

 

Mazda3. Hadn't thought about that. I like 'em looks-wise. How do they hold up as far as reliability/durability?

Zoom. Zoom.



My first car was yellow 1973 Ford Maverick with a blue trunk lid. Damn thing was so rusty the hood skin peeled off it's frame on the freeway at about 60 mph.

 

Thanks for that. Thought they might be, but didn't know for sure.

 

In my experience, you should be able to get 200k miles out of one without major problems. That is, unless her method of driving includes "I back up until I hit something" ... It's incredibly reliable but it's not an Abrams.

 

any thoughts about an escape or tribute? I remember space being invaluable in University, people always need a ride. Not sure if she's into those though. What I think would be important is that you really let her decide, if you or we end up forcing something on her she might resent it and treat it like crap. I would take this opportunity to teach her what you know about cars so she's prepared when she has to do this on her own. Ultimately I would ask her to provide you with her short list, and you and the wife can put together yours and sit down together to look at what's on both, then book test drives accordingly.

 

Scion tc, Mazda3, Accord.

 

Did you ask her what she wants? You should give her some options out lists that we gave you to see what she thinks of it.

 

lol, my wife beat the heck out of her parents old cars when she was in high school. Man, she went though brakes like she was eating waffles. Once she started to buy her own, she was much easier when i pointed out how much it would cost to fix something from her abuse.


That is good that she'll be much easier on the car.

 

 

This former owner says they're excellent in both in both areas.

 

that might be one of the strangest automotive analogies I have ever heard

 

Mazda 3 for sure.

 

Yeah and make sure she can at least look at brakes and oil, last thing you want to hear is "Dad I took my car in for an oil change but they want 1600 bucks now."

Similar thing happened to my cousin but me and my uncle showed her how to change that stuff herself and she went from flying like a bat out of hell to a normal driver now, well now that she semi does her own maintenance but usually its brought to me.

 

I have a friend of mine that says dont buy the ford escape because its basically all plastic regardless of what they say is in it, he used to work on the assembly line here in Illinois, but he did say the trucks aka f series are actually built tough though.