<p>Looking at buying a new car for college grad – something that’s cheap (relatively speaking, anyway) and reliable. Suggestions?</p>
<p>What type of price range?</p>
<p>I know several friends who have gotten their college grads Honda’s because the last forever.</p>
<p>My husband wanted a Honda the last time he bought a new car (last year) but gave up on the idea after driving one around for a while. The seats on the new models were very uncomfortable. It has something to do with reinforcing the seats for safety reasons, but the results were unpleasant.</p>
<p>I have a Honda CRV that I have had for a few years, and I think it is junk. I liked my 12 year old Hyundai better. Should have bought a Hyundai instead of the Honda, but thought I was moving up in quality. Look at Hyundai. Good mileage, good prices, and dependable cars/suv’s. Plus cheap maintenance.</p>
<p>Less than $20,000.</p>
<p>We bought a Hyundai Elantra and love it. Great gas mileage, easy to drive, and a plus, not too bad in the snow. Our just graduated S bought the Ford Focus, loves it, wanted to buy American. We paid about $4000 less for a similarly equipped Elantra and that was our decision maker, the Elantra gets a little better gas mileage.</p>
<p>S feels that his Focus is a bit more sporty than ours, I agree with him.</p>
<p>1995 Saturn SL2. Great little car. Will last forever with a little care, and looks sporty too. Run you about $2,500 in excellent condition.</p>
<p>Let me guess, mini: You got one you want to sell me? ;)</p>
<p>You are NOT getting mine. No way, shape, or form. I LOVE my car (as much as I love cars at all). It’s a a great car, easily a match of cars costing 8 times as much. (tell him/her it’s also a magnet for the opposite gender - and great for gay folks too!)</p>
<p>One of the nice things is that because of its unique body material, it NEVER rusts. And if you are ever in an accident, you simply replace the lightweight panels are are good to go.</p>
<p>Oh, and I bought mine six years ago, and it is now worth significantly more than what I paid for it.</p>
<p>Be careful with the old Saturns if you live in an area with petty criminals. Several years ago, petty criminals figured out that it was easy unlock and start most old Saturns, resulting in the cars going from low theft rate to high theft rate (though they were usually recovered intact instead of parted-out at chop shops, as they were used as transportation by petty criminals).</p>
<p>[Saturns</a> are easy theft targets? [Archive] - SaturnFans Forums](<a href=“Saturns are easy theft targets? [Archive] - SaturnFans.com Forums”>Saturns are easy theft targets? [Archive] - SaturnFans.com Forums)</p>
<p>Cheap and reliable are not compatible in the same sentence. </p>
<p>What are you trying to do? Revenge? The cost of a new car is not the initial cost but the future carrying expenses- like having a baby then raising it and educating it. </p>
<p>We gave the kid our old car in Oregon, where he promptly had to Washington license the 11 year old camry, that has had the front bumper replaced, the left rear quarter panel, trunk package, bumper, front right quarter panel, right doors replaced. This car had 75% of the exterior replaced over the years, and he still had to pay $300 in vehicle taxes. </p>
<p>Insurance costs would be my concern for any graduate who is unsure of his landing after college.</p>
<p>Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra or Sonata, VW Jetta. Stay away from Honda civics—junk! We replaced son’s used Focus (after it was totaled from flash flood in his college parking lot) with a Honda Civic. The Ford Focus is exponentially better than the Honda.</p>
<p>Ford Fiesta. Great mpg. Easy to park. Holds more than one might think.</p>
<p>Nissan Sentra- 3 college kids in extended family have them. No problems at all.</p>
<p>Hard to argue against a Toyota. Apparently they are immortal: [Killing</a> a Toyota part 1 - Top Gear - BBC - YouTube](<a href=“Killing a Toyota Part 1 | Top Gear | BBC - YouTube”>Killing a Toyota Part 1 | Top Gear | BBC - YouTube)</p>
<p>But seriously, we’ve had nothing but fantastic experience with all forms of Toyota/Lexus. However, I’d recommend you look at a late-model used car. According to brother who researches things to death, 2.5 years is the optimal age to buy a used car. New cars lose something like 25% of value when you drive them off the lot. I’d let somebody else eat that.</p>
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<p>However, much of that is “bid ask spread”, since what a car dealer will buy a used car from you for is significantly less than what it will sell the same used car to you. Private party sales, of course, split the “bid ask spread” between the seller and the buyer.</p>
<p>In some cases, I have seen car dealer ads for new cars with big rebates and discounts for a net cost less than what the same car dealer was advertising the same make and model used car for. If considering new and recent used, be sure to check carefully to see which is the better deal.</p>
<p>I am a new grad and am presently drooling over the hyundai elantra. Just saying. I’ve also always been a fan of the focus, that was my first car.</p>
<p>I like the Toyota/Scion tc. Sporty yet safe. Carries lots of stuff with rear seat down. Very reliable.
[Scion</a> tC | Prices & Information | Scion.com](<a href=“http://www.scion.com/cars/tC/]Scion”>http://www.scion.com/cars/tC/)</p>
<p>Mazda 2 or Ford Fiesta</p>
<p>“Be careful with the old Saturns if you live in an area with petty criminals.”</p>
<p>That’s 'cause criminals have good taste. (I get around that by never locking mine.)</p>
<p>Seriously, last week I drove a 2011 Versa, a 2011 Fiesta, and a 1995 Saturn. I’d take the Saturn any date of the week. (oh, and did I mention 38 highway mpg?)</p>