Topic: Recommend a $2-3K car for university student?

[sirAQUAMAN64]

'92 was the new model year for the redesigned and vastly improved Camry. That's when the Camry as we know it came into being, and why the '92 would be priced much higher than an earlier model year. Just about the highest quality car you could ever get.  

Integra is based on the Civic platform, with even sharper handling.  

The Protege and Escort were similar but with some differences, the 323 even more distanced. 82hp (I think that's what it had) doesn't give you much grunt, but she's a trusty one.

[safristi]

A little Birdie told me there is a WRX in Sudbury;A Honda 2000 just outside Ottawa and a nice,pristine Bullit Mustang in B.C...ALL JUST SITTING ABOUT...Can we talk some numbers $$$'s oVr a latte..dah...?

[Wrekk]

This is hilarious, I read this thread from the start, and what began as a search for a car in the 2-3k range and 4 doors, has now evolved (including looking at a 2 door integra), to a $5-7k mid-size family sedan! Tercel - Camry, lol

There is such a huge difference in what kind of car you can get when you jump into the $6-8k range from the $2-3k range.  A post 92 Camry would be an excellent car.  Does it have rust though??

[Straysheepie]

@ Wrekk, how long did it take you to read the whole thing?

I originally wanted something to just run and preferred a 2-door but didn't say so because I figure a 4-door is practical... but after awhile I decided heck, it's MY car so I may as well go for 2 doors

The Camry's not my first choice but I'll look at it anyway on Sunday... and I think the mechanic has a Civic and a Corolla in the garage for sale as well.  I don't know if any of them have rust...

But now I'm thinking mid-late '90s Honda Civic hatchback or Integra if I can find one in my price range... I'm not sure how likely it is for the Integra though.  I saw an ad for another '95 one in my price range but there was $10k in damage from two accidents!!!    It hasn't been written off though... but still!

@ Safristi, do any of those cars hold 4+ people?  I don't even know what a WRX is ;)

[Mdxtasy]

When in University, all cars held 4 people.  

I had 7 people fit in my 2 door Accord.  We had 4 in a friend's CRX.  I had 6 in my Pontiac Tempest.    Ah good times....

[Black Hatch]

So you had people stuffed in the trunk eh?

[Mdxtasy]

Just once....usually we just pile them one on top of the other in the back.  But I've also put some people in the hatch portion of my old 82 Accord hatchback.  Nobody got pregnant so I assume it was clean fun back there.  

[Straysheepie]

Yes, looking forward to good times in the good ol' student car... now if only I can find one!

I don't think I'll stick anyone in the hatch though, there probably isn't even any room for dirty fun!

[Barrie1]

The right car will come along and you will enjoy the car alot. It is worth waiting for as this is a large investment.

[Brig]

Wow.  A young person who doesn't know what a WRX is.  

I think I'll go buy another lottery ticket...

[Winson]

Guess what Brigitte, I like cars but I duno how to drive standard.

[Straysheepie]

Hey let's not be mean now!  Brigitte, if you win the lotto do you promise to donate some of it to straysheepie's car fund?

Update on the car hunt...

My Mom and I visited a few dealerships today, we wanted to go look at one on Kingsway as well for comparison (good ol' 888 Auto Sales) but they were closed by the time we got there.  We went to mostly new dealerships since my Mom was lured by the thought of buying peoples' trade-ins but they were expensive for the most part.  I test drove a '01 Nissan Sentra at one of the Honda dealerships  but didn't like it, and the other ones all had something 'wrong' with them - e.g. a '01 Civic hatchback had > $10k in damages!

Our last stop was the Toyota dealership where my Mom bought her '04 Corolla, the salesperson who helped her last time was there and we chatted for a long time because the leasing options are quite attractive.  

I fell in love with the 4-door hatchback!  However, a new one is still $20,000 and now we're thinking maybe we should just find one a few years old closer to $10k and just take out a small loan - still works out better than leasing because I prefer owning a car.  The Echo also caught my eye because I read good things about it in the Lemon-Aid and other online reviews as well.  Also a car a few years old should still be under warranty and I won't have to worry about mechanical problems yet (fingers crossed).

This is good and bad though, I started off with a $3000 budget and now I'm looking at a $10k car!  I guess I'll just join the legions of students in debt... oh well

[Winson]

Wow. 3k to 10k. That's a big difference there.

[Gpw11]

The thing about a civic, especially a newer one, in Vancouver is that you're going to be paying a ton in insurance fees.  ICBC charges more for a civic then any other car in the same class because of the very high theft rate (which could be another problem).  

Apart from that they're great cars.  If you do get one I'd suggest anti-theft devices.  Check with ICBC to find out which anti-theft devices will earn you a discount on insurance.  I imagine you're probalby starting at base or -5 on your insurance, and anything that can keep the cost down will be a great idea.

Your mom probably has the right idea with wanting to deal with new dealerships if you have the money.  Check the North Shore Auto mall.  They have a large stock of used cars from trade-ins, but I'd check online first since the majority of them are probably out of your price range.  

And like I said before, check out the Budget Car Sales lot on Marine by Boundry in Burnaby.  If you're looking for a car that's only a few years old, they have a couple gems, and everything on their lot should be pre-inspected by BCAA, so you won't waste any time looking at a car that will turn out to have some hidden defects.

[Brig]

Just read your profile, and you're a girl!  I thought you were a guy.  That's why you don't know what a WRX is.  Most 18 year-old boys looking for a car DEFINITELY do.  Hence, my comment, which definitely didn't come out right.  

My apologies, Florence.  Good luck with the search!

Brigitte

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I'm sometimes surprised at the number of people who still don't know what a WRX is. Or much about Subaru at all.

Start to wonder if the ad campaigns could be different somehow to raise awareness.
Find myself asking: "What exactly WOULD it take???"

The Echo hatch is an excellent buy. But yes, I've found this thread amusing as well because we're all over the map. If you can afford a car like the Echo hatch, do it. If not, stick to some of the recommendations earlier. Best of luck!

(Message edited by sirAQUAMAN64 on December 13, 2004)

[Gpw11]

I hear you.  Subaru doesn't get the respect it deserves.


And yeah, Echos are great.  If you're looking at spending more and leasing or whatever, have you considered looking at a 02-04 Hyundai?  I've heard great things about them (especially the price and warrenty).  I was definitly considering but decided to stay out of serious debt for as long as possible, so the best I could do was a 99 Accent, and as far as I was concerned those are still somewhat questionable.
 

[Straysheepie]

@ Siraquaman64, I only know the Subaru brand but not  the cars they have... I guess they *do* need to work on effective advertising for the uneducated public!

@ Gpw11, thanks for the Budget suggestion, I'll try to go there this weekend, it turns out my Mom knows someone who works there actually

I test drove a 2004 Echo hatchback at Mr. Rent a Car (Chinese rental place, where my Mom sort of knows someone there too :p ) and really liked it - the brakes are very sensitive though, I felt like I was slamming the brakes on!  Much more sensitive than the family '93 Civic was, but the age difference probably has something to do with it.

I'm also looking at a 1993 Mazda 323 hatchback for $2700 obo, is that a fair price?  And maybe a 1997 Integra as well... and yes I'm all over the map since my parents still haven't agreed on a definitive budget yet!  Sigh...

[Winson]

Decisions, decisions! I hope you find the car you want soon...

[EV-Light]

Geezzz u didnt buy a car yet? J/K

seems that ur the right kind of customer that search, search, search until find something that will really like!!

enjoy your time shopping...its fun!!