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

[vbrooksutk.livejournal.com]

Hey, sorry to not get back to you before now. I'm doing the full time thing while teaching and going to bartending school 20 hours a week, so I'm a bit crosseyed.

Sterling University heights was an awesome, awesome place to live. You never know who you're going to end up with neighbors, though, and that's something to keep in mind. The pool area (near the office) can get a bit loud during the summertime. I lived in the building next to the pool and hardly ever heard noise, though. The parking lot can get loud if people are out there blasting music and drinking, but this is an activity that is usually reserved for football games.

Something to keep in mind is that UT is, in fact, a party school. The campus itself has improved on the noise level, but off-campus housing can be hit or miss. I have a friend living at University Heights - actually, we lived together in the apartment and he's still there 4 years later - if you'd like to get in touch with him. I'd be glad to give you his contact info.

That, and you asked about the campus a little while ago. The bus from Sterling drops you off very close to McClung and Humanities, where you would probably be "living." The possible downside? If you were TAing for a freshman English class, then you could end up in the nuclear engineering building. Seriously - when they run out of room, there is no telling where a class will end up. I had mathematical economics in the nuclear engineering building... Latin American history in the social work area... marketing in the chemistry building... but traditionally, your classes should all be very close to one another.

Did you have any other questions that you can remember? I'm at work right now and seriously *off* mentally. My phone number is on Facebook if you want to send me any texts (or phone calls :) and also, Catie Stewart is still in Knoxvegas - she's starting her M.S.? in teaching. My ex-boyfriend who is still a great friend... he's still there as well.

Sorry for the rambling, but I didn't want you to think I was avoiding you or didn't want to recommend the area - I absolutely loved my time in Knoxville, and think it made me a much better person than I was beforehand.

I could also possibly hook you up with a job or two if you needed something.

And on the used car note, I'm on my second Ford Focus. Super easy to drive, you can get a used one for under $6000 that runs perfectly well, and the car insurance is very cheap. You'll want something that you can park in ANY sized-spot if you are parking anywhere at the campus, and my focus was able to turn on a dime into just about any spot. Nothing like pissing off some SUVs that can't fit into a spot, and then whipping in behind them. Booya!! The 2000 and 2001 (first two model years) had many recalls, but the recalls slowed considerably after then.

There is a Kroger, super wal-mart, and walgreens on Chapman Highway (within sneezing distance of both Sterling and NorthWood - and you totally avoid the highway traffic). And the west town mall rocks. And there are great health food stores. I'm going to stop now.

Cheers!!!

visual aids

[vbrooksutk.livejournal.com]

Ford Focus standard 4-door sedan


Ford Focus 5-door hatchback (zx5)


Ford Focus 3-door hatchback (zx3)


FOrd Focus Wagon

[icepixie]

I'm doing the full time thing while teaching and going to bartending school 20 hours a week, so I'm a bit crosseyed.

Eeeek.

You never know who you're going to end up with neighbors, though, and that's something to keep in mind.

Yeah, I thought about that. Is it entirely students? That's how the website made it sound. (Although, plus side, you didn't have to bring your own roommate.) It sounds like the neighbors would be shifting from year-to-year, and over the sumer as well. I have my tuition covered for the summer because of my TAship, so I'm going to take that opportunity to work on my Spanish so I can pass the proficiency test for my degree. I wonder if I might do better just trying to find a decent roommate on Craigslist--another grad student or young professional, maybe. Or just staying the first year in a single-bedroom somewhere that doesn't look like it has many students...rents are incredibly cheap, it seems.

Something to keep in mind is that UT is, in fact, a party school.

Alas, I have realized this. Then again, once you get over a certain number of students--about the number necessary to have a grad school attached, in fact--it seems like that element can be found in greater or lesser amounts everywhere.

I would love to talk to your friend who still lives in the apartments.

I think two of my three potential classes I'm taking are going to be in HSS, and the other is...somehwere else. I forget where it said on the timetable. And god knows where my section of freshman comp is going to be. :) I don't mind walking, though, and the campus didn't look like anything I couldn't cross in 20 minutes or so.

Re: jobs: Thanks for the offer! That would be nice; unfortunately, the department makes you jump through a lot of hoops before you can get an outside job if you're a TA, and I think there might be some kind of financial need involved as well. It sounds like it would be a strain on time even to add ten or twelve extra hours to the schedule, actually.

I'll look into the Ford Focus. My financing will only work as far back as a 2003 model of any car, though, so I would have to pay more than $6,000, probably. (I would love to just pay for the whole thing at once, but I'm also going to try to use this as a credit-building opportunity, since all the credit record I have is one very limited credit card.) I'm definitely looking at small or mid-sized cars; I for sure don't need a behemoth car anywhere, much less when trying to park on campus.

Yay for necessary stores! I believe I've told you that the only Kroger and Super Wal-Mart I had access to in college were a ten-minute drive away in the next town. This will be novel. ;)