Car shopping

[icepixie]

So, seeing as I'm going to be moving to Knoxville in less than four months, I need to get a car sharpish. (Yes, there's public transportation, but I've done the relying-on-a-bus-to-get-groceries thing, and unless you're somewhere like NYC or Chicago, IT DON'T WORK. Plus, driving home for vacations, etc., and, depending on my luck with finding nearby housing, to campus...yeah.)

I...would pretty much be okay if all we had was the modern equivalent of the Model T. No, seriously. This sucks. I have no idea what to buy, I have a relatively small budget, and seriously, all I want is four wheels, an engine that won't break down all the time, and enough steel around me to keep me from being crushed in an accident. All the different brands and models have such minute and arcane differences that do incomprehensible things to the price, and I can't even begin to wrap my mind around it. The only reason I'm not giving up and investing in a bicycle is because my dad is helping me shop, and at this point has probably done more looking than I have. (Also, biking back to Nashville would be a bit difficult.)

I'm looking solely at used cars, because my budget would allow me to get, um...a new tricycle, I think. (Well, okay, if I plunked down the entirety of my savings account, I could actually get something rather nice, but I also, you know, want to eat next year.)

Anyone have any tips? Brands you like? Bad experiences? I'm leaning towards something from Honda or Toyota because the idea of being stranded on the roadside periodically does not appeal (nor does shopping for another car for AT LEAST ten years), but of course that increased reliability and longevity comes with a corresponding increase in price. Sigh.

Comments

[icepixie]

I'm probably going to be buying whatever I get from Carmax, actually. There are two locations here, so lots of choice. And decent prices, too. Plus, no haggling! Yay!

instead of having to fork the whole price over at once, so that might help financially

I would actually prefer to fork over the whole thing at once (I have the money to do that and still live off my stipend and savings if I get something not too expensive), but I also need to start building more credit than one tiny credit card gives me, so I'll probably do half or a little less than half down and pay off the rest over time.

I'm looking more at Accords, but Civics as well. The Civic gets better mileage, but honestly, I'm not going to be driving that much over the next two years (who knows what after that will bring, though), and I don't want to be constantly chugging sloooowly up hills with a tiny engine. *g* I'll need to test drive both first and see if there's an appreciable difference in power. Also, Toyotas and Nissans are apparently very reliable, which is good...they're on my list as well.

Gah, cars. So, are you going to be shopping for one next year because you're moving out of Chicago...?

[asinpterodactyl.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Civic has a reputation as being remarkably sporty for a small car. I have a '99 Civic, and its engine is plenty powerful.

Accords? Really? I don't think you really need a car that big -- unless you buy twenty bags of groceries at a time. :-)

[icepixie]

I'm certainly willing to give the Civic a chance. (Our last four-cylinder, less than 2.0 liter engined-car was a 1984 Ford Escort that had no end of problems and could barely gasp up hills, so my parents are down on the "little putt-putt cars." I'm willing to believe they've improved since then... *g*)

The Accord...probably I don't need that much space--although I will be hauling a bunch of crap to Knoxville in August--but you never know what can happen in ten years. Also, it would assauge parental fears of OMG SUVS WILL CRUSH YOU ON THE INTERSTATE that come from smaller cars. ;) This is all academic anyway until I've test-driven any of them.

[alto2.livejournal.com]

I have a 2002 Civic and there's absolutely no problem getting that baby up a hill. I'm rather stunned that you've even mentioned it, in all honesty, because it's a damn fine automobile and it's never remotely occurred to me that such a thing might be a problem. It also goes faster than 65mph, just in case you were worried ;) I do drive a 5-speed, so I control how the car is powered and can't speak for automatics, but I can't imagine you'd have to get out and push.

The gas mileage on the Civic is excellent, too. I think it has a 13.2 gallon tank, and I can go about 350-400 miles on that. I drive about 5 miles to work and back, and various other errands. Now that I'm doing grad school I don't make as many side trips as I did before, but I only have to fill the tank about once a month. Considering the price of gas these days, that ain't nothin'.

I had Saturns before I had the Civic and I always liked them, too. The only reason I didn't get another one was that I didn't like the look of the newer models. They're very reliable, safe cars, too.

[icepixie]

(Is that Sarah Jane hiding from a Cylon? Awesome!)

but I can't imagine you'd have to get out and push

Heh. See, our old Escort? You did. Hence why we've had six-cylinders since then.

It looks like the Civic gets on average about five miles more to the gallon than an Accord of the same year. The car I share with my parents currently gets about 17, so anything above 25 average, which both are, I consider an improvement. ;) Filling up the tank only once a month would be awesome. It's certainly something to consider, given that I have no idea where I'll end up after these two years are done.

What about the OMG SUVS ARE GOING TO CRUSH ME ON THE INTERSTATE!!! factor? This is a big concern with my parents. I haven't been in a car smaller than Accord-sized since I was about nine, so I really have no frame of reference; however, my lizard brain is saying "the bigger the better."

[alto2.livejournal.com]

That is indeed Sarah Jane and a Cylon. Hadn't realized how much the Giant Robot looked like a Cylon (or vice versa) until I saw the icon, which made me laugh. Had to have it :)

I'm pretty sure I tend to get around 35 mpg. Again, though, I drive stick, and that can mean better gas mileage, so if you're not willing or able to do the same, your mileage may not be as good.

As for the SUV thing, honestly, if that's such a big concern, I don't know why you'd even get on the road. You can be smashed by an SUV while in an SUV yourself just as much as you can be in any other car. And really, the idea that an Accord is going to do anything more for you than a Civic just because it's slightly longer is rather amusing to me, because it's just not going to make any appreciable difference.

[icepixie]

The mileage I was comparing was for automatics, because I haven't the first clue how to drive sticks. :)

As for the SUV thing, honestly, if that's such a big concern, I don't know why you'd even get on the road.

Not to be facetious, but in a perfect world that would actually be my preference. I just don't want to live in a city big enough and public transported-enough to offset the need for a car.

And really, the idea that an Accord is going to do anything more for you than a Civic just because it's slightly longer is rather amusing to me, because it's just not going to make any appreciable difference.

I tend to agree with you (although I wonder, does the fact that it's heavier make any difference?). I know it's an issue for my father, though, and since my parents are going to help me pay for the car, whatever it turns out to be, that's something to consider.

[asinpterodactyl.livejournal.com]

Gas mileage: my '99 Civic is an automatic, and it always gives me between 32 and 34 mpg.

[icepixie]

Sweet; thanks.

[nickless.livejournal.com]

does the fact that it's heavier make any difference?

Yes.

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

but I also need to start building more credit than one tiny credit card gives me, so I'll probably do half or a little less than half down and pay off the rest over time.

Ooh, good plan.

Also, Toyotas and Nissans are apparently very reliable, which is good...they're on my list as well.

Eh, Mom has a '97 Nissan, and it's been in and out of the shop a lot lately. Then again, it's a minivan, and she treats it like crap. Nissans might actually be good if you take decent care of them and do maintenance and stuff.

So, are you going to be shopping for one next year because you're moving out of Chicago...?

Yes! Good lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be headed down south next summer. (My vague goal at the moment is Chattanooga, if I can find a nice job down there, so if you're gonna be in Knoxville for a few years, I might be within hanging-out distance...)

[icepixie]

Ooh, good plan.

Hopefully the next loan I get won't require a co-signer...

Eh, Mom has a '97 Nissan, and it's been in and out of the shop a lot lately. Then again, it's a minivan, and she treats it like crap. Nissans might actually be good if you take decent care of them and do maintenance and stuff.

Well, there is that. I'm irritated that you can't get ABS standard on the Nissan Altimas, which is dragging them down in my eyes. I enjoy ABS.

Yes! Good lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be headed down south next summer. (My vague goal at the moment is Chattanooga, if I can find a nice job down there, so if you're gonna be in Knoxville for a few years, I might be within hanging-out distance...)

You could always come back to Knoxville and live with meeeeee...

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the next loan I get won't require a co-signer...

I KNOW! I'm sooo hoping my new credit score and steady employment will get me out of a co-signer on my next lease. Co-signers are a pain.

I enjoy ABS.

Yup.

You could always come back to Knoxville and live with meeeeee...

Ooooh... I hadn't even thought of that... Although that might put me uncomfortably close to my mom... I do enjoy Knoxville, otherwise. Eh, I don't really have a clue what I'm doing, right now. I'm kinda just waiting around, hoping next-summer-stuff will magically fall together on its own. That works, right?

[icepixie]

I KNOW! I'm sooo hoping my new credit score and steady employment will get me out of a co-signer on my next lease. Co-signers are a pain.

Well, I have my dad, so it's not a pain for me...perhaps it is for him, although he can access my bank account, so it's not like I'd be keeping the money from him. *g*

Ooooh... I hadn't even thought of that...

YOU SHOULD COME!

Although that might put me uncomfortably close to my mom...

...Pretend you actually live in Chattanooga?

Eh, I don't really have a clue what I'm doing, right now. I'm kinda just waiting around, hoping next-summer-stuff will magically fall together on its own. That works, right?

Er, yeah, that works... On a more serious note, I will probably get an August 1-July 31 lease this year. You should come join me next August when I sign a new one... (Or run away and come live with me this fall! Hee.)

[rowdycamels.livejournal.com]

Well, I have my dad, so it's not a pain for me...

Ugh, I had to have Mom co-sign my current lease, and she gave me hell over it for *weeks*, telling me that I'd never be able to keep up with rent, and that I'd have to move back home in no time... Yeah, I don't want her co-signing this next one.

...Pretend you actually live in Chattanooga?

HA! I should just "forget" to tell her I ever left Chicago...

You should come join me next August when I sign a new one...

That is tempting... I'll keep that in mind as I start to make more concrete plans this winter.

(Or run away and come live with me this fall! Hee.)

Even more tempting, because then I wouldn't have to do my own apartment search next month! But no, I'm sticking with this job for another year, so my job history won't look so willy-nilly. (And I really don't want to have to go through a job search again so soon. Haaaaaaaate.)

[icepixie]

Yeah, I don't want her co-signing this next one.

I can see why... That's one thing to be said for living at home for two years...I have no concerns whatsoever about paying my rent for the next two years. (It helps that K'ville is CHEAP cheap cheap cheap. Wow. Studios for $375 a month plus utilities? I'm there.)

I should just "forget" to tell her I ever left Chicago...

There's an idea!

That is tempting... I'll keep that in mind as I start to make more concrete plans this winter.

Yay!

Even more tempting, because then I wouldn't have to do my own apartment search next month! But no, I'm sticking with this job for another year, so my job history won't look so willy-nilly. (And I really don't want to have to go through a job search again so soon. Haaaaaaaate.)

Willy-nilly? How many years did you spend at camp, again?