on the automotive question (an actual update will come some other time)

[enthusiastick]

OK everyone, I need advice.

My mother is sick of sharing her car with me and driving one of my father's, and in any event come about Thanksgiving my Dad will put the convertible away for the winter. My parents have therefore declared that its time for me to buy my own car. As my college graduation present I am given $10K with which to do so. Both of my sisters received the same deal, and it apparently ended poorly for both of them. I do not, however, have the luxury of making one of their mistakes: given my lack of gainful employment, whatever car I buy I have to buy outright rather than simply making a sizeable down payment on.

Factoring out tax and a year's worth of insurance, I figure I have (roughly) between $6,000-$7,000 to spend on this car. My mother tells me she'd prefer I were driving a car that was around 5 years old. I am currently gathering information to explain to her that's pretty much patently impossible given what I have to work with. My father is pushing fairly heavily in the direction of a Nissan Altima or Maxima, probably a 1998 model to fit within my budget. While I think his intentions are good (I definitely want a sedan of about that vintage) I really think Nissans are stupid ugly cars.

I've looked at the sort of cars I actually like (in no particular order: Honda Civic, Volkswagon Golf or Passat, Subaru Outback, Toyota Carolla) and discovered to my creeping horror that I'm not sure I can actually afford any of them. It becomes easier to come close if I look at 1998 or '97 models instead of the '99-2000 ones. But at this point I'm shooting in the dark here.

So I would strongly appreciate any helpful thoughts or suggestions.

Comments

[rollick.livejournal.com]

We've pretty much stuck with a straight run of used, eight-year-old Honda Civics, with the occasional Accord thrown in, over the past 15 years. Chris accuses us of buying disposable cars, which may be true — if I pay $2,000 for a car, I really only expect it to last a couple of years, but four or five is more the average, and we're always in better financial shape by the time we need to buy a new one. Our limited experience makes us bad people to talk to about exploring all your options, but good people to talk to about the reliability of used Hondas, and the good/bad factors thereof.

[asparas.livejournal.com]

we actually just bought a car from Carmax, and had pretty good luck finding a size and type we wanted in our price range. We ended up with a 2000 Madza Protege (which of course, we looked up in consumer reports to make sure it was a reliable model, and a good deal) It's fairly easy to at least do some looking online, even if there's not a location near you, they will transfer cars for you. And we had such a good experience, Andy's dad went and bought his next car there.

Nissan Cars do not STINK

[(Anonymous)]

Eben - Nissan's are not stupid ugly cars... take it from someone who drives one! Yes - they might not be the most attractive car - but you can definetly get a nice one for $6-7,000... and they require almost no maintenance, are decent in the snow, and seem to last forever (a little too long if you ask me!). Just a thought.... go actually look at one - drive it and see what you think - I was pleasantly surprised when I did! That's all the sisterly advice I'm offering today! - Kate

****** ROCKS (or rings)

[juineve.livejournal.com]

Ok... My advice...
I was in your situation, only I had 3.5k, not 10.
My dad is nudging me to get an old accord or an old camry. Is he on drugs? I do not think so but obviously something is not right there.
I find a 2000 (This was in early 03) four door sedan, AC, CD player, manual (I def't wanted manual), and it got up to 38 miles per gallon.

What was the catch? It was a.... a...

SATURN! OH NO!

Actually they're the some of the safest ranked cars... I've talked to one person who flipped hers over a guard rail on the merrit and just scratched up her arm a little.. another who was in a pile up in one, and while the car was totalled.. she just broke her glasses but didn't get a scratch.
I've put about 40,000 miles on mine and I haven't had a single problem.. and my maintenence isn't that-that great... I don't change my oil every 3k I'll say that. I've ran into people who have put over 200,000 miles on their Saturn and have had the same total lack of problems.

Also, my dad grimaced when he heard that the car I wanted was a Saturn... "Are you sure you didn't see any nice used hondas or anything?" he inserted, sounding as if he was trying to gently burst my bubble back into the reality of reliable cars... For 3.5k, I don't think so.

Over a year later, when my brother's Cadillac broke down, "What about a Saturn like your sister?" was my dad's advice.

[calhin.livejournal.com]

Dont forget, that often times you can have the cost of tax title and license included in the final price, and not have it tacked on to the end. You just need to be firm on the max price of what you can spend, including tax and license and the like, and have them work with you on what ever car you are trying to get.

Also, the end of the month is a good time to hit places up so they can try to up their month end sales for their commissions and the like. They seem to be able to help people alot more at that time.

This is information I have used, and gained from a friend who has gone through many cars just because he doesnt like keeping one for more than 6 months. *shakes head* Not that there was anything wrong with them in the least. They were fine perfect cars. Amazing

So maybe Im crazy...

[(Anonymous)]

I know your under the money crunch but are considering buying something from a dealer thats new and making payments? With 6k you could make a down payment on something new (er) and still be able to pay at least the first year or two of payments with the rest depending on what you get.

Personally I have to make a case for the ford focus hatchback. I LOVE my mine... hell Ill bring her up there if you want to test drive. You two havent met yet but her name is Mabel and yes she is the bomb. Anyway I got her new as a 2004 over the summer and she was 12k. With a little (very little) downpayment and paying over 5 years I have about 160$ a month for a payment. I just figured since your taking ideas I would throw that out there. Le shrug.

- Kat

[pooka-madness.livejournal.com]

What model Saturn do you have? Consumer reports does grudgingly admit that in certain years the S series are actually respectable cars. A 2001 SL-2 is, in point of fact, on my current short list. Its not even that far from the top. ;)

[pooka-madness.livejournal.com]

Duly noted, thanks.

[pooka-madness.livejournal.com]

Yeah I don't like debt. Particularly not when I'm unemployed. And the whole point of the $6K figure is that it leaves a respectable pile of money with which to pay tax, title and a year's worth of insurance. I mean, admittedly, I have temp work now that I expect to bring in well more than $160 a month, but I'm trying to save as much of that money as I can to get my ass back home to Chicago. Currently at the top of my short list is a Subaru Outback, which is almost like a hatchback except that it is instead a station wagon.

[juineve.livejournal.com]

I have a 2000 SL-1... If you got 10k, go SL-2 all the way.. I don't have power locks, windows, or power-assisted steering.. but then again my car was only 4.5k... and I still love it like nobody knows.

oooh and with 10k you can get to pick the green too... What's consumer report's words on the 2001 SC-2?

[juineve.livejournal.com]

Yeah those are my other best possible car.. step up from Saturns in most regards except appearance.. station wagon="not exactly super-totally-cool!" also the milleage isn't as good and they retain higher resale rates (re:more expensive)