<p>A 2010 or 2009 Pontiac Vibe, which is the same car as a Toyota Matrix. In 2009 it was a new design - Pontiac went away after 2010, but the Vibe was a Toyota/GM joint venture, and the moving parts are all Toyota. Since it’s a Pontiac, you can get a used one cheaply. We got one with < 50,000 miles for $9,900 a year ago. It’s very versatile and gets 31 mpg highway.</p>
<p>D bought a new VW Jetta last summer, trading her 10-year-old Focus. We drove lots of cars and narrowed it down to the Toyota Corolla (my choice), Jetta, and Honda Civic. The Honda was our least favorite. The interior just looked kinda cheap and it was the most expensive one. I drive a 2003 Ford Mustang which I bought new, and it has been the best car I have ever owned. It has only had routine maintenance (battery, tires) and never been in the shop except for the power window. I don’t think you can go wrong with any Ford. My parents have an Escape which I get to drive sometimes and I like it!</p>
<p>My h puts a lot of miles on a car. he buys older model audis that look and drive great for cash. these cars are in great shpae and run forever.</p>
<p>We told our D that we are planning on taking her car shopping in May-- and want to make a hefty down payment on her first real car.</p>
<p>We are hoping to go with Honda – we own three and have owned many Hondas-- it’s the only brand we buy since 2001! They are awesome- they are reliable, safe, peppy, no compliants.</p>
<p>The nice thing about Honda and most car companies is that they have GREAT deals for graduates-- usually along the lines of $1500 off the price and/or special financing for new grads.
They want to pick up another lifetime Honda loyal consumer!</p>
<p>When we bought a Honda in 2010 - D was helping me test drive. The saleperson asks if the car was for her- as he had college deals back then and she was only a Sophomore!</p>
<p>HONDA HONDA HONDA-- hands down!</p>
<p>I got a 2010 Kia Rio last year. I’ve put almost 20k miles on it and it runs great. It was less than $10k and had less than 20k miles on it when I bought it. I was tboned (driver’s side door) about two months ago and the woman’s front end was smashed very badly whereas my car had damage, but it kept me very safe and her car definitely was in worse shape than mine. Great little car with no problems so far and great on gas. Also works great in the snow which is something I was not expecting. </p>
<p>It gets iffy reviews, but I honestly love that little car. I had a Vue before the Rio and I love it so much more. However, it is a very, very basic car.</p>
<p>Buy something at Hertz Car Sales. The cars are all late model used, well maintained, no haggling, but the only way you can get a better price is searching on Craig’s list which has never panned out for me in buying a car.</p>
<p>Bought our D ,a HS student,a new VW Jetta 2 years ago…great car…now D2 is driving it…</p>
<p>We are also planning to help buy D a new car this summer - our plan is to put down a hefty down payment and then let her pay the rest (cash or financed).</p>
<p>She will ONLY consider an American car. (“Honey, what about a Honda or Toyota? They employ American workers too.” “No!”) As Michigan residents, we know a lot about the Frod options but daughter seems particularly interested in the Chevy Cruze. Does anyone have any experience with it?</p>
<p>Beware buying ‘American’ made only…</p>
<p>In the case of the Honda Accord, its 80% USA content makes it as American as prom night. More so, in fact, than the Chevrolet Cruze whose content is a mere 45% American made. Likewise the Mitsubishi Eclipse whose 80% American content eclipses – no pun intended – the Lincoln Navigator’s 50% content.</p>
<p>love my Toyota Corrolla!</p>
<p>Was car shopping with our D who graduated in May this past weekend. Her checklist for a car includes decent gas mileage, AWD or 4WD, not too low to the ground, “cute” :), and hoping for around $20,000 or less, and doesn’t have to be new, but low miles.</p>
<p>She test drived the Suburu Imprenza Hatchback, Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. She ruled out the Rogue (felt too long/big), liked the Imprenza alot though it is more car-ish and she LOVED the Outlander Sport. She can probably land an Outlander brand new with great warranty for around $20,000. While it might not be the brand/car we would buy for ourself, it may be a good fit for someone starting out - new, good warranty and it WAS cute!!! :)</p>
<p>Consumer Reports just listed the Honda Fit as the “best new-car value” in the “small car category”, with a 44 cents cost per mile. Personally, I like the smoothness, performance, and reliability of the Toyota Corollas but you cannot argue with the resale value of the Hondas. When my D interned this past summer, I purchased her a Corolla. It had 116,000 miles on it, I paid $3,000 from a Toyota dealer, and she will drive it when she graduates next Spring. Don’t spend a lot of money or incur lots of debt!</p>
<p>The mazda3 is a great car and has new technology this year for improved fuel efficiency and performance [Mazda</a> SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY](<a href=“Mazda USA Official Site | Cars, SUVs & Crossovers | Mazda USA”>Mazda SKYACTIV Technology | Mazda USA)</p>
<p>For those who care about “buying American/Canadian made”, the American Automobile Labeling Act reports are here:</p>
<p>[Part</a> 583 American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) Reports | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)](<a href=“http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Part+583+American+Automobile+Labeling+Act+(AALA)+Reports]Part”>http://www.nhtsa.gov/Vehicle+Safety/Part+583+American+Automobile+Labeling+Act+(AALA)+Reports)</p>
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<p>The 2012 Cruze comes in several variants of engine and transmission, with different fuel economy, according to [Fuel</a> Economy](<a href=“http://www.fueleconomy.gov%5DFuel”>http://www.fueleconomy.gov) :</p>
<p>Eco 1.4 turbo manual: 28/42
Eco 1.4 turbo automatic: 26/39 (26/37 in 2011)
LT/LTZ 1.4 turbo manual: 26/38 (not available 2011)
LT/LTZ 1.4 turbo automatic: 26/38 (24/36 in 2011)
LS 1.8 manual: 25/36 (26/36 in 2011)
LS 1.8 automatic: 22/35</p>
<p>OP, my only suggestion is to refrain from buying a new car. </p>
<p>Call me sentimental, but I believe a person’s first new car should be something he or she chooses and pays for all on his own. There’s nothing like that feeling of driving off the lot when the odometer is a single digit and saying “this is my car. I got it all by myself.” When the first new car is a gift, that special milestone is a lost opportunity.</p>
<p>Plenty of good, used cars can be found for around $20k. Let your student participate in the hunt and it can be a fun experience for the two of you share.</p>