Help Me Choose!

Replying to: backy (Jun 16, 2009 2:39 pm)

If that's the car you really want and you can afford it, why not get it? Life is short.
 
Well... it really is about whether or not I can afford it. But you are correct! Life is short!

Replies to this message:
• backy (Jun 19, 2009 4:53 pm)

Replying to: jbbevel (Jun 17, 2009 1:33 pm)

Replies to this message:
• kyfdx (Jun 20, 2009 7:11 am)
• thegraduate (Jun 20, 2009 12:05 pm)
• qbrozen (Jun 20, 2009 12:17 pm)
  • BMW540 (Jun 22, 2009 7:43 pm)
    • thegraduate (Jun 22, 2009 8:37 pm) and 5 more...

Replying to: BMW540 (Jun 20, 2009 7:10 am)

Replying to: BMW540 (Jun 20, 2009 7:10 am)

Replying to: BMW540 (Jun 20, 2009 7:10 am)

Replies to this message:
• BMW540 (Jun 22, 2009 7:43 pm)
  • thegraduate (Jun 22, 2009 8:37 pm)
    • backy (Jun 23, 2009 6:58 am)
    • qbrozen (Jun 23, 2009 7:34 am) and 3 more...

Replying to: qbrozen (Jun 20, 2009 12:17 pm)

Replies to this message:
• thegraduate (Jun 22, 2009 8:37 pm)
  • backy (Jun 23, 2009 6:58 am)
  • qbrozen (Jun 23, 2009 7:34 am)
    • BMW540 (Jun 23, 2009 5:26 pm) and 2 more...

Replying to: BMW540 (Jun 22, 2009 7:43 pm)

I'm 21, and for my first car I had a 6 year old car with 120k miles on it.
 
While I'm not saying something this old is necessary, I will say that there was some relief on both the part of my parents as well as on my part, because I didn't have to worry about dings, dents, and keeping a new car in new condition. I'm pretty nit-picky about my cars so having something that is worn (not worn out though) was kind-of nice when going to HS football games, local trips to the lake, and simply in the hazards of the parking deck at the mall.
 
I'd skip the "new" route; if you can afford a new Corolla, perhaps look at a 2 year old midsize car (Altima, Fusion, Accord, Sonata - Toyotas are too dull for even my grandmother, so I'm thinking your son won't care for it either) . Generally safer than compacts, they don't use much more fuel (my dad's 07 Civic got 37 MPG while following me up the interstate on a 300 mile trip; my '06 2.4L Accord got 35 MPG; we both had cruise control set).
 
Just a few thoughts from someone who was in that position not-too-long ago. By the way; I still have my old '96 Accord. It now has 195k miles on it, and gets used in my job as a courier where fender-benders and parallel parking follies occur... I plan to take it to grad school with me along with my 2006 this fall.

Replies to this message:
• backy (Jun 23, 2009 6:58 am)
• qbrozen (Jun 23, 2009 7:34 am)
  • BMW540 (Jun 23, 2009 5:26 pm)
    • backy (Jun 23, 2009 7:45 pm)
    • kathyc2 (Jun 25, 2009 6:38 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Jun 22, 2009 8:37 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Jun 22, 2009 8:37 pm)

Replies to this message:
• BMW540 (Jun 23, 2009 5:26 pm)
  • backy (Jun 23, 2009 7:45 pm)
  • kathyc2 (Jun 25, 2009 6:38 am)