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Hi TL community,
I'll be attending college soon (in US) and I'm looking for a car that fits the general needs of a student.
I'm looking for something that's fuel efficient, has decent storage space, and generally overall safe to drive in. It doesn't have to be luxurious, though I wouldn't mind.
I'm not sure about my budget yet...just looking for some suggestions on any prospective cars.
One of my friends recommended me the Lexus CT200, I thought it was pretty good, so something similar to that maybe?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
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United States24700 Posts
It doesn't sound like you have any need for a luxury car (Lexus). Not telling you not to get one but... you can save a fair amount of money going with a more economical car. Do you care which region the car company is from?
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Nope, I don't
Yeah, hence this blog to find more viable options =/
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United States24700 Posts
Here are used cars (up to $20,000) that you can research:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/QQFGx.png)
All of these cars have above-average reliability.
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If this is your first car and want something economical you can't go wrong with an Accord, Civic, Camry, or Corolla. Hyundai are also decent.
Don't get anything American made unless you want to risk getting a replacement every five years or 100,000 miles.
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Any pick up truck you can find
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If money is not an issue and you don't mind driving a small car. Then Volkswagen GTI Golf is fantastically economical. Not sure if it's available in the states though... Can you guys get diesel?
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I'm shocked that this is the first recommendation for a Mazda.
On a budget: Mazda 3, any of them are great. If you have friends, they're perfect because grown people can sit in the backseat (or lie down if you know what I mean) and be comfortable. (note: I don't like the new Mazda 3 because they've sacrificed some features for the sake of an 'update'. Poor decision in my opinion
+ Show Spoiler [picture] +
Mid-range: MazdaSpeed 3, a lot more HP and still great fuel economy.
+ Show Spoiler [picture] +
High-end: RX-8 it's not a secretary car, yet it's light and fast like a Miata.
+ Show Spoiler [picture] +
Or if you want a generic car, go for a civic :r
edit: image size
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On May 29 2012 08:14 haduken wrote:
If money is not an issue and you don't mind driving a small car. Then Volkswagen GTI Golf is fantastically economical. Not sure if it's available in the states though... Can you guys get diesel?
I'm pretty sure we can, it's just not very common...
Thanks everyone for the suggestions, will definitely take a look!
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United States24700 Posts
On May 29 2012 08:45 Carson wrote:I'm shocked that this is the first recommendation for a Mazda. On a budget: Mazda 3, any of them are great. If you have friends, they're perfect because grown people can sit in the backseat (or lie down if you know what I mean) and be comfortable. (note: I don't like the new Mazda 3 because they've sacrificed some features for the sake of an 'update'. Poor decision in my opinion + Show Spoiler [picture] +Mid-range: MazdaSpeed 3, a lot more HP and still great fuel economy. + Show Spoiler [picture] +High-end: RX-8 it's not a secretary car, yet it's light and fast like a Miata. + Show Spoiler [picture] +Or if you want a generic car, go for a civic :r edit: image size
Nothing wrong with a Mazda 3, although I think suggesting a MS3 or an RX8 is kinda strange given the qualities the OP said he was looking for. I mean if you want fuel efficient, spacious, and safe, RX8 isn't exactly at the top of my list.
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4(ish) Words
Certified Pre-owned Honda Civic
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I got a used '99 VW Golf for $5000 (let's say $6000 since it needed the clutch replaced). Runs like a champ; costs $50 once every two weeks in gas; and fits me, the drummer, and all of our equipment. There's only a handful of purchases I've been more happy with in my life.
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On May 29 2012 10:35 micronesia wrote:Show nested quote +On May 29 2012 08:45 Carson wrote:I'm shocked that this is the first recommendation for a Mazda. On a budget: Mazda 3, any of them are great. If you have friends, they're perfect because grown people can sit in the backseat (or lie down if you know what I mean) and be comfortable. (note: I don't like the new Mazda 3 because they've sacrificed some features for the sake of an 'update'. Poor decision in my opinion + Show Spoiler [picture] +Mid-range: MazdaSpeed 3, a lot more HP and still great fuel economy. + Show Spoiler [picture] +High-end: RX-8 it's not a secretary car, yet it's light and fast like a Miata. + Show Spoiler [picture] +Or if you want a generic car, go for a civic :r edit: image size Nothing wrong with a Mazda 3, although I think suggesting a MS3 or an RX8 is kinda strange given the qualities the OP said he was looking for. I mean if you want fuel efficient, spacious, and safe, RX8 isn't exactly at the top of my list.
RX8 has a terrible reliability history. And so does Mazda in general.
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I'm going to give you one for and one against.
For: Kia Forte! My friend drives a Forte Koup and it's an incredible car for its price. Looks compact and slick, has good MPG and comes with the cool features that a lot of American cars at the same price range don't carry. Small enough to fit into tight downtown parking spaces, large enough to look like a legit car. If you're big on storage space, maybe you should consider Forte 5 (5-door, meaning hatchback) as well. Overall I think Forte's are awesome.
Against: Mazda 3. Just don't. Every single Mazda 3 on the road (okay fine, maybe 99%) are terrible drivers. I shudder when I see a Mazda 3 and I avoid it like dog poop on the sidewalk. It's not about the car, true, but the image created by the drivers (mostly students and young adults, especially women) makes this car one of the most hated cars on the road. I fully expect terrible driving - erratic lane changes, extreme low/high speeds, zero regards for blind spots, running through late yellow, going 60 km/h on a 100 km/h highway (where everyone else is going at about 120) - ALL of these can be found in the common Mazda 3. This sentiment is shared by all of my friends, my parents, and whoever else I've talked about cars with.
I drive a used Lexus ES300 and it's nice and quiet. It's a little low on HP and doesn't accelerate as well as new cars (duh), but I'm not an aggressive driver and it suits me fine.
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EPT![[image loading]](http://images04.olx.ca/ui/4/28/78/72722078_1-Pictures-of-Take-over-Lease-2007-Mazda-3-GS.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.autospectator.com/cars/files/images/2011-Mazda-Mazdaspeed3-033.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/2714/4761/31784880007_large.jpg)
