Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Worry less about what kind of car and focus on the best car in the best condition you can find and afford.
4K is kind of a lean budget for a used car today, in most areas.
This is good advice.
OP - I think the way that you are keeping an open mind and smart on the budget is really great. Too many just get straddled with debt and then stuck with poor long term situations.
If youre graduating, youll be getting a job, and start thinking about your saving strategy... So keep in mind that there are some decent $4000 cars, though you may not want them long term... But just come up with a reasonable strategy and savings plan and go with it.
If I were you, Id plan on $1000 in repairs on a used vehicle just for who knows what... So Id look for something in the $3-3500 range, and then do what you need.
Id look for well maintained "old people" cars. Im not keen on crown vics or other giant, gas sucking cars, but Ill bet you can get a low cost, real decent Buick century, regal, olds intrigue, malibu, fusion, etc. Some of the smaller economy cars would be great too, but my impression is that many of those get beat up, unless they were owned by little old widows, in which case, they can be great deals too. I think thats where the best value will lie.
I think this is good advice. Keep at least a grand on hand for unexpected repairs. I wish I had done that getting out of college, instead I took a job and moved--and then found myself without wheels altogether, and had to make a rush decision. [But I wasn't in a position to do anything until after I had taken the job.]
One thing I'll say is a hatch beats a sedan. When I was single and in an apartment, yes, a sedan worked. Most of the time. Now though I'll only own a sedan as some sort of secondary car. Just easier to move large boxes or trashcans with a proper trunk. First apartment had curb pickup, second apartment I had to take the cans to the dump myself.
But finding said hatch (or better, station wagon) is a bit harder than the run of the mill sedan. Shame. At least sedans can get good fuel economy, or at least some get better than most CUV's.
