[Laxntiga]

Ok, so..... let me explain.

I am currently a senior in college, going to graduate in January. I love cars.

When I graduate I will have to find a job, I will graduate with a double major, above a 3.0 GPA(shooting for a 3.1 or so). I will have to be frugal with my money because I will have $500 dollar payments to pay for my consolidated college loans (about 40k total) every month. I will prolly live at home for a year or so, then eventually move out to my own place as my job becomes stable and have a steady income where I can support myself. I also plan on part-timing after work to make more money to pay off those loans ASAP.

My dad and I made two different kinds of deals which involves a car.

Option A:

I pay the $40k and he buys me a car (down payment and car payments + insurance).
- I can spend probably up to 25-30k, but I cant use any leftover money for mods.

Option B:

I pay 20k, and I buy my own car (downpaymenet and montly car payments + insurance).


I been thinking alot, and I though I would save more money if I bought my own car (a beater) and started paying off my loans. I cant work this summer because I'm helping out my mom with her store bc she's not in good health(and I get paid nothing for this... kinda just helping out bc she's been paying off my interest on my loans for me so far). I have $100 to my name, I can use one of the family cars next year as long as I find a professional internship or job next semester. I plan on doing part-time work at night to start saving up for my beater, if I dont buy a beater atleast i'll have some saftey cash.

Given my conditions.. what would you do? I should be able to find a job within 6 months of graduating. If I dont have a job when I get out of college, i'll probably temp, internship, network like mad untill I find one that pays around 45-50k a year.

Which option would you pick? A? or B? and if B, would you buy a beater(under 5k) or would you buy a car, put around 3-5k down and then finance it? (Probably use maximum of 12k).

[ghost]

seeing how you are making some important payments, i'd suggest getting a beater

Gas is gonna go up again soon

[Laxntiga]

a 'beater' is something that gets you from point A to point B right? at the lowest possible cost correct?

[hailing from ny]

with that definition, mass transit is the way to go.

[azn akira]

get a beater, like a used civic or something

[marvinoppa]

get a beater. hopefully you can find something at an inexpensive price that you wont end up hating.

depending on the area that you live in, you may only end up using the car to get to your nearest center of mass transportation. most companies do reimburse mass transportation costs, or provide monthly passes for said mass transportation.

[Laxntiga]

beaters are that unreliable? 0_o use the beater to get to train and then back from train to home?

[boost]

get a cheap used car and focus on trying to pay off your loans/debts quicker.

By the time you get your debts paid off, you will most likely have a good full time job. Then you can buy expensive toys. I dont know about you, but i hate being in debt.

[Laxntiga]

Thanks for the wisdom. I think you're right. Pay off college loans -> with extra money comming in upgrade to a more sportyish car -> sell beater -> take gf out to dinner -> end night touge'ing on closest mountain road possible.

[marvinoppa]

beaters are that unreliable? 0_o use the beater to get to train and then back from train to home?

not that its unreliable. just more cost effective.

[iBoy]

go with option B and buy a beater.

its not good to mod ur car when u have a big debt because modding ur car can get expensive which could add to ur debt, especially if sumthing goes wrong, and if sumthing does go wrong u might be in more of a debt to fix up the car or u might even be carless for time being.

[sphynkter]

definitely get a beater. you're still young so you have the rest of your life to drive nice cars. what you need now is to pay off your debt. because being in debt sucks but probably when you get a steady good paying job you'll be mortgaging a new house so then you'll be in debt again but that's off topic. anyways, get a beater and pay off your school loans.

[panda]

roger to most decisions here... the beater is the way to go.

once you've accumulated enough income for a steady lifestyle, the car will come.

[Laxntiga]

hmm... i been thinking.. shouldn't i buy a car that will last me around 5-8 years? Im probably going to get married in 5-8 years, then i could get a new car. So.... get maybe like a 10-15k dollar car? like a used accord? accords last forever right? if i have to keep buying a new beater when it breaks down.. then its more money out of my pocket no? should i get an accord with like.. 60k miles on it and drive it for 5-8 years and untill it dies?

[Mr.Kuppy]

hmm... i been thinking.. shouldn't i buy a car that will last me around 5-8 years? Im probably going to get married in 5-8 years, then i could get a new car. So.... get maybe like a 10-15k dollar car? like a used accord? accords last forever right? if i have to keep buying a new beater when it breaks down.. then its more money out of my pocket no? should i get an accord with like.. 60k miles on it and drive it for 5-8 years and untill it dies?

nobody says a beater is unreliable. And 10-15k dollars for a beater? Thats a bit much. A cheap 5-6k car will be able to last you just fine with regular maintenance for another 5years. If you want to splurge alittle, then thats fine. If you want to be cost-efficient, then thats a bit much.

http://www.kbb.com/

kelley blue book is pretty much a benchmark for quoting used cars in U.S. You'll have to do some research on a car that you demand and it'll compute what is a "reasonable" price in your area.

[supad0rk]

Drive your new car for a few months before you decide to throw it off a cliff. Especially if it is going to be $10k+

But deffinitly pay off your debt first... ride a bicycle or something.

[Laxntiga]

hmmmmm

6k tops for a beater huh? that leaves me with very few options. My dad's CR-V just had a malfuction with the throttle body and its not eve 60k... it punches a pretty big dent into my head about honda's being reliable 0_o. Our nissan quest minivan ran fine with reg maintaince till 130k miles before we sold it. Hmmmm you guys think the fuel injection system was a defect that ruined the throttle body in the CR-V?

Stick with honda or go with a nissan? I dont want to go with toyota bc their "soft brakes"

[supad0rk]

Honda, save yourself some gas. What exactly would your choices be for each though?

[Laxntiga]

I think im just going to spend moderately... keep everything under 12k, and ask my parents to do the down payment.

Honda: 98-02 accord or 98-01 prelude. Im thining of going with the accord bc i dont want ppl to fxck with me in my prelude. I'll just be heart broken bc I need a faster car to keep up with today's competition and I cant afford to mod the car.

OR.... 01?-04 Civic Si?(ep3) Idk if I want the shifter in the dash ;

Nissan: Sentra R Spec V? or old school Altima 98-02? I find the Altimas a little bit more expensive than the accords on cars.com

Which would you guys pick? The sentra type R spec V? or the ep3 hatch?

I need a reliable car that can do atleast 70 on the highways consistantly, safely, without engine trouble for the next 5 years. Space is also another +
reliable, dependable, good handling, fun, spacey, good looks is what I need in that order.

Sorry, if this last post was supposed to be in the "what car should i get" section.

[FusionGT2]

get a motorcycle or a civic..both = great gas mileage