Hey guys, it's time for me to get a new car!

Up until a week ago I've been dead set on a used 2005+ Infiniti G35! My budget was around $25,000 more or less, and i'd be putting in $10,000 of my hard earned money while my mom threw in the other $15,000. But after talking to my cousin and often reading about various stories about how peoples cars got fucked up in college, I decided that buying the G35 wouldn't be the best choice.

I'm going to be moving out of the house for college and getting a room, so that's like atleast $400 dollars a month. So if I were to get a car + the apartment then I would really be putting a strain on money. So i'm fine with the 01 TL that I have now but theres a problem.

The 88 camry that my mom is driving around now is dying, so she's going to take back the 01 TL and help me get a car.

So finally... to the car decision

I think ideally I want to spend $5-10k that will meet these requirements

1. Reliable
2. Good gas mileage
3. FUN!
4. Will still hold decent resale value in 2-4 years

#4 because I plan on getting a nice used car in 2-4 years after the 2nd gen g35/37, IS, and maybe 3 series drop into my range, so i plan to dump whatever car I'm getting now

So the cars I had in mind now are

98-01 Integra GS-R
99-00 Civic EX/Si
Mazda Miata (whatever year for 5k or less)
00-02 Accord

Anyone else have any other suggestions?


**Oh and feel free to offer advice that's different from what i'm planning now.

 

Hyundai Sonata V6 (current generation) - 235-hp V6, peppy performance, great warranty, 30+ mpg on the highway, and they're great cars. You can get one fully loaded with the V6, leather, sunroof and all the trinkets for $25,000. With their 'Big Duh' sales event right now you could probably knock $3K off that.

 

in college I had a 91' Acura Legend w/ 100k mi. I bought for 3k. Got me through college just fine, although I did have a few maintenance issues (overheated once, but no BHG thank god).

my only concern w/ gsr's and civic si is the high possibility of theft. Everyone I know with either of those cars had them stolen. But I think those would be the top choices based on your criteria.

How about a eg or ek civic hatch. You can fit a suprisingly large amount of stuff in them.
or a lexus SC300/400. Might be a little old and not get that great milage though, but they are still
240sx. Everyone seems to want these, so i'm guessing they're fun to drive?

I think I personally would just buy like a new, or lightly used honda fit, scion xa/xb/xd, or toyota yaris, just to be very reliable, gas milage, and peace of mind. but that might be more than you want to spend.

 

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/car/409103749.html

 

The Integra will be prone to theft, and the Miata is just kinda gay

I'd go with a 96-00 6th gen civic... You can find a decent mileage example for short money (for a EX, the SI's are still pricey IMHO).

Can't beat a civic for a college commuter car

I agree that you should wait till you get out of school to get a G37c If you got a g35, there's a big chance that people would just fuck it you anyways.

 

what my portuguese brother said

 

why not a scion tc i have seen few at least around my area for 10 or
rsx,

accord coupe,

legend coupe if you can find one in good condition

you can even get a tl 99-01 i have seen many for 7-12 k but the tranny problems??

moped lol





civics,integras, get stolen all the time for stupid crap...

 

If you are paying for the car insurance...stay away from the Honda Civics and Integras...Pomona and Hondas don't mix.

 

Whats exactly wrong with the 88 camry? Fix that up and drive it, you really wont be driving all that much in college. Unless you go home a lot. (how long is that commute?)

Plus im sure the camry is free.

 

^^

What he said. I don't think a car payment in college is a good idea. There are all kinds of unforeseen expenses that come up like pizza at 3am when you're in the middle of a 8-man Madden tourney and shit like that.

If your car is a busted hoopdie, so what? Chicks in college don't care about what you drive. They're going apeshit just like the guys are now that mom and dad aren't all in their shit.

Don't forget, that "room" for $400 probably doesn't include your share of cable, electricity/gas, phone, hookers, whatever.

 

Get a CRX Si. Not only are there still great condition CRXs available out there, but quick, great handling, awesome mpg, easily tunable, and best of all it's a two seater so you'll never have to drive far when it's a group of 2+ going on a road trip. I had one through out college, no car payment, kept up with a lot of decently fast cars and the thing was bullet proof. Good luck!

 

out of the cars you mentioned, i'd get the accord.

but if it were me, i'd be looking at a 4g maxima.

 

I have a 15-20 minute commute and the Camry feels like it's going to break at any moment, I'm guessing it's going to cost more than it's worth to fix it in good condition.

I'll be living in the 626 area (La Puente, West Convina, North El Monte) somewhere around there, so I don't know if that's still bad for insurance.

Bleh I have no clue what to get.

Quick side question, if I'm the 2nd owner, will resale value suck when I try to sell it, or does it really not matter that much?

 

Well this might not qualify for reliability but there's an 01 CL type S for $7600 in Black market but that seems like a good deal.

 

Civic Si if you don't mind driving stick.

 

Prelude *wink*

 

Won't matter unless it's a salvage title.

You're going to have difficulty getting an unmolested Integra GSR, and insurance will suck. The Miata is probably over $5K for any you would want to buy.
I suggest looking for a stick-shift Civic.