What is a good, reliable used car for a college kid to purchase?
I'm a college student looking to purchase my first car soon and I'm all over the place on what I want. It's definitely going to be something used and I'm a pretty picky person. I would prefer to have all the bells and whistles like leather, sunroof, etc. I would like to spend no more than $15,000. What I'm between now are cars and small suvs: Acura TSX, Acura TL, BMW 3 series, BMW X3, Chevy Cruze, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Sonata, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, Jeep Wrangler, Kia Optima, Kia Sportage, Mazda3, Nissan Altima, Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, VW Jetta.
Anyone have any suggestions, opinions, help?
You can never go wrong with honda.
I would go for a Honda. The only thing you ever have to do to a Honda is change the oil, which you have to do on any car. Hondas are among the most reliable cars ever, and they really keep their value. As for spending no more than $15,000, that won't cut it for a new Honda. I don't know anything about used ones, so I can't tell you whether it's a good idea or a bad idea. However, one car I would stay away from is a Nissan. Nissans sound good on paper and in the ads, but they are incredibly bad and pretty unsafe. Another good one may be a VW Jetta, as they start at around 16,000 and are good cars for their price, but note that Japanese cars are the most reliable. The VW could end up costing you more in the long-run to repair. Toyotas are another popular choice, but I just dislike them for being a little TOO cheap. I mean, I know one has to save money, but they really cut corners on those cars. They generally have good crash test ratings, but I don't feel safe inside those things. Hope my input helped! P.S. You may end up outgrowing the car later and upgrading. You are only in college, after all, and I'm sure you will later fancy/be able to afford something different, down the road. (no pun intended). I wouldn't worry a whole lot if the car doesn't have all the bells and whistles at THIS point; just make sure it's reliable, cost-effective, and safe.
I would go with the Honda or Toyota for best reliability, but maybe the Hyundai or VW for best bang for your buck. Stay away from used luxury cars, too costly on repairs for college student.
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