Cars with a professional look at a college price

[JackBurton]

How about you buy a Toyota and slap a Lexus badge on it. Done.

 

[Throckmorton]

It's a generals thread, not just me. Just was seeing what was considered more of the standard cars that stood out on the entry to middle class level. Again a hypothetical thread meant to breed discussion over the class of cars, not settle in on my paychecks



Wow what United States do you live in where college students are getting out of college with no experience other than remedial jobs and getting handed 50k salaries on a silver platter? Programmers/mathematics? maybe. IT? nah. And I'm still getting my masters so that doesn't help either. A majority of it will get better when I'm not locked to FW. For personal reasons I'm stuck here for another year or so, and by then I'll have about 2 years of professional work under my belt where I should be able to move to a better location more giving of those large salaries. Right now, I certainly don't do anything worth a higher pay scale. VmWare View and the like isn't rocket science by any stretch of the imagination, nor are thin clients/thin app setups.

Have you looked at job listings? Paying an engineer $40k is ridiculous.

 

[heymrdj]

You have some strange notions about your profession. You're technical, not sales. And if you're just out of college and think you'll be doing a 1 on 1 with the client anytime soon, you're going to be surprised. If you're with any kind of decent sized, reputable company you'll have a couple of software guys (OS, SQL, Exchange, etc) plus a salesman or two.

I met with a virtualization team a month or two ago while they were putting in some hardware for me. Most of them were wearing company polo shirts. I don't even know what kind of cars they drove and I didn't care.

You sound eager, and that's good, but be realistic about your position.

I do meet with them, before sales, to get a good idea of where they are at. My proposal goes to sales, they do what they need to do according to the specs I have worked out with the other branches (which does include OS, SQL, Exchange at the local office, then on a larger inter-office scale, old systems migrations, mobile solutions, the ThinAPP team and Networking), which then goes back to the client. If the client has any uneasyness about a part of the system, I or someone dedicated to the field they are uneasy in comes in to calm their nerves. I am but a small cog in the larger machine. My title is Virtualization Engineer. What else can I say. :thumbsup:

 

[Ferzerp]

Fort Wayne appears to have a 95 cost of living index, so you should be seeing salaries within 5% of the national average in that area.

edit: well, now that i research more, i see values between 85 and 95... who knows what is correct, though the state itself is advertizing 94.9 for the area.

 

[heymrdj]

Everywhere I read says 20k-45k is the average starting salary for an entry level engineering position. Seems like I fall right in the middle lol. Seeing as I don't pay for my benefits (full dental, 85% med coverage with 2 checkups per year free, and eye exams with 50% pay on glasses/contacts). I think I'm doing pretty good for 2.5 months in this job. Especially compared to my last job as a basic sql writer.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Less flash than showing up to work in a new Civic. Avoids the "I'm poor" of the smaller subcompacts. Nobody's gonna question an engineer in a Prius.

 

[Jeff7]

Obligatory "$25k is a college price??!!?!?!"

My Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium is my "college price" car - I also got an engineeringish job straight out of college, similar pay range. That was in 2009 that I graduated. The new car came this year, just a week or two ago actually - after all my student loans were paid off.

It's alright. There are some usability things I don't like though. For example, the dials to control the temperature and fan speed lack any manner of tactile feedback to communicate their status - I can't determine their position without looking at them. And the ventilation system tries to be helpful, specifically by not allowing inside air to be used when on defrost mode. If the air is already quite dry outside, the AC can be used to keep the interior humidity down; I like to be able to defrost the window without being treated to the exhaust of a hundred other cars.

Yeah well....otherwise, it's nice, though that might be the heated seats talking. The "all-weather package" consists of those, heated side mirrors, and heater traces beneath where the windshield wipers rest, which is very nice when everything gets all iced up.
It's been a frighteningly warm and tame winter here, so the AWD hasn't gotten much use yet. But there has been enough slushy salted snow to get the car looking like it belongs in this city.

The side view mirrors are big, too. Me like.
Rear-view mirror: It might be a matter of preference, but if you have the option, I'd vote to skip the automatic dimming. I got it thrown in as an extra at no extra charge because the dealership wanted me to buy one of the stock cars they had coming in, rather than the specific one I wanted to have customized, so I didn't turn it down. But...while it works, my eyes are rather sensitive to light, and its threshold for deciding to dim isn't quite where I'd like it to be. Oh well, it's reasonably adequate.

I don't know if it's "professional" looking, but it's new, I'll give it that. I bought it more for the practical features that it offered. (And I like the fact that the front of the car doesn't have a "face" on it like so many cars seem to have now.) It claimed it would get 27mpg city. The car's trip meter says 27.0mpg, and I've been doing city driving since I bought it, so that seems to be where it should be.

You could always go for the WRX STI though, for a slightly more distinctive look.

Everywhere I read says 20k-45k is the average starting salary for an entry level engineering position. Seems like I fall right in the middle lol. Seeing as I don't pay for my benefits (full dental, 85% med coverage with 2 checkups per year free, and eye exams with 50% pay on glasses/contacts). I think I'm doing pretty good for 2.5 months in this job. Especially compared to my last job as a basic sql writer.

Any student loans?
Maybe be sure that your job is at least somewhat stable before taking on a car - unless you can pay for it right away in cash.

I drove my Hyundai...well, since 2000. And yes, part of the exhaust system was nearly dragging on the ground for a brief period; the O2 sensor's wire kept it from hitting the pavement. But, I got it all nice and welded up, drove it for awhile longer, and decided that I was finally ready for something new. I'm back in debt again, but I expect to have it paid off in less than a year.

I'm also a drive-it-into-the-ground sort, though that may change. There was a time some years ago when I would have never even considered buying a new car. Money screws with your head.

 

[senseamp]

You should drive a POS to work so your boss knows you need a raise

 

[overst33r]

heymrdj, don't listen to the haters. you have a job in this economy and that's all that matters. be smart with your money, i'd get a used lexus-something for $15k and get some experience and move up.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Less flash than showing up to work in a new Civic. Avoids the "I'm poor" of the smaller subcompacts. Nobody's gonna question an engineer in a Prius.

Do you know many engineers? Every engineer who finds out you own a Prius will feel obliged to tell you that the fuel savings will never cover the additional cost over a similar compact car.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Do you know many engineers? Every engineer who finds out you own a Prius will feel obliged to tell you that the fuel savings will never cover the additional cost over a similar compact car.

More fuel = more greenhouse gasses. So similarity fail.
You're looking for the ~2000 Honda Insight, which is similar enough for a commuter vehicle.

 

[Fenixgoon]

seeing as you'll be the one buying a car, what do you want in your vehicle?

how many people should it seat? cargo room? FWD, AWD, RWD? sedan? coupe? fuel economy? power/torque? is your car going to be an appliance do you want it to be more sporty?

there are a bazillion vehicles you could get under $25k. without answering some basic questions, we can only help you so much.

 

[Via]

Call me crazy, but I like these:

http://www.bing.com/autos/overview/...=Kia&model=Optima&FORM=DTPAUA&qpvt=Kia+Optima

They look professional enough to me.

 

[Howard]

Everywhere I read says 20k-45k is the average starting salary for an entry level engineering position. Seems like I fall right in the middle lol. Seeing as I don't pay for my benefits (full dental, 85% med coverage with 2 checkups per year free, and eye exams with 50% pay on glasses/contacts). I think I'm doing pretty good for 2.5 months in this job. Especially compared to my last job as a basic sql writer.

Entry level engineering starts at 40k+, and even that's piddly. Engineers are worth more than secretaries.

 

[masteryoda34]

Everywhere I read says 20k-45k is the average starting salary for an entry level engineering position.

You might want to look at the information on this page: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm

 

[SparkyJJO]

I wouldn't spend $25k on a car on a $20/hr job. That's over half a year's gross income. BAD idea.

Oh, and a pet peeve of mine - the dollar sign goes before the amount, not after

 

[Doppel]

Almost $20/hour looking at a $25,000 car, what am I missing? There are few professions in which a nice vehicle matters, and engineering isn't one of them. I work with plenty of people making 6 figures and most are driving the same car everybody else does. Out of hundreds of employees we have only a handful of luxury cars. To be honest, I'd feel embarrassed pulling up in a new BMW, for example. It would stick out like a sore thumb since even the boss isn't driving one. Your future at the company has nothing to do with the vehicle you're driving.

At my place we have blue and white collar workers and on the whole I'd say the blue collar workers drive worse cars, as expected, but that there is a disproportionate amount of nice vehicles among them, too. These are people trying to put up an image nobody believes. For example a new G35 coupe if you're making 30-35k/year we know you're a stupid idiot with money, nothing more, you fool nobody.

BTW, there are some cars that totally hide your actual willingness to spend money on a car. For example a Prius, it doesn't really say if you're doing ok or stinking rich, since even rich people drive them. Or an older Jeep that just looks cool even though it may not be worth much.

 

[jlee]

Used CTS / CTS-V?

 

[DougK62]

OP, don't worry about the people saying that's a poor income just out of college. They're out of touch with reality and likely live in a big city that is a drastically different market. I live in Indiana not far from you, and can absolutely tell you that any grad with a 4-year degree would be super stoked to be getting $40k per year to start. That's great.

But don't buy a new car.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Engineering degree nets you just shy of $20/hour?? Seriously? That's the biggest load of crap I've ever seen.

At my old job, my assistant made $23 an hour + full medical, and she didn't even have a college degree. Her position pay started at 18 an hour.

Shit I made $19 an hour in college as an SAT tutor.

 

[Anubis]

the most expensive car in the parking lot here is most likely the brand new Ford raptor pickup that someone just got,

i work with like 100 or so engineers. most of them drive something 5 years old or so, TON of subarus WVs and Prisus's (prii?) few 3 series but the pickup cost more

 

[heymrdj]

Again I will repeat myself, this is a general thread, not related to me, so please stop relating it so closely. I said I was in nearly the same boat as the question asked. I know my expeditions age, its 125k mileage, and its quirks enough to know that the next 2 years are probably giong to be its full available lifespan before it costs me money to keep the wheels turning. That at 14mpg. I, in that time, however, will probably purchase another used car in the sub 10k range that is in decent shape and won't cost too much to upkeep. But for those that want to buy new and have lower debt (again I'm looking to be paid off about 8 months in this year) it's a question aimed for those people.

Used CTS / CTS-V?

Love em Probably could find some decent deals on some used ones.

OP, don't worry about the people saying that's a poor income just out of college. They're out of touch with reality and likely live in a big city that is a drastically different market. I live in Indiana not far from you, and can absolutely tell you that any grad with a 4-year degree would be super stoked to be getting $40k per year to start. That's great.

But don't buy a new car.

Thank you for understanding that.

Engineering degree nets you just shy of $20/hour?? Seriously? That's the biggest load of crap I've ever seen.

At my old job, my assistant made $23 an hour + full medical, and she didn't even have a college degree. Her position pay started at 18 an hour.

Shit I made $19 an hour in college as an SAT tutor.

Read fail, not an Engineering degree, an Information Tehnology degree, big difference, I'm not mathematical. Just because me position title says engineering doesn't mean it's engineering in your understanding of the word. There's an opening here at a car lot nearby for a Automotive Industry Sales Professional. Fancy title for a salesman.

Oh and most of the colleges I've seen pay min. wage for student tutors. Then again the colleges provide the tutoring free to students and tuition is sub 7k per semester in state.

 

[heymrdj]

Call me crazy, but I like these:

http://www.bing.com/autos/overview/...=Kia&model=Optima&FORM=DTPAUA&qpvt=Kia+Optima

They look professional enough to me.

I love them myself . That and the Hyundai Elantras, pretty sexy cars. I kind of liek the Veloster as well, but again its appearance still gets more of a teenage point of view than up and coming professional.

seeing as you'll be the one buying a car, what do you want in your vehicle?

how many people should it seat? cargo room? FWD, AWD, RWD? sedan? coupe? fuel economy? power/torque? is your car going to be an appliance do you want it to be more sporty?

there are a bazillion vehicles you could get under $25k. without answering some basic questions, we can only help you so much.

I'm not really interested in one right now. It would be (for me) probably FWD commuting with excellent fuel economy, and enough power to be an interstate cruiser that has the ability to climb an onramp (0-60 in 8 seconds or so? I mean I'm used to a 12-14 second SUV ). Mostly an appliance. My drive is bettered by the performance in the car, not under the hood really. I want tech, I want a radio with a big easy to read display for long drives, bluetooth built in, informational dash, ergonomic design (arm rest, interior lighting ect). That's alot of the reason I'm likeing the new Kia's an Hyundai's right now.

the most expensive car in the parking lot here is most likely the brand new Ford raptor pickup that someone just got,

i work with like 100 or so engineers. most of them drive something 5 years old or so, TON of subarus WVs and Prisus's (prii?) few 3 series but the pickup cost more

Supervisor 1 drives a WRX STi that he's modded a heck of alot an supervisor 2 drives a new F150 Platinum 4x4. They are nice

 

[SearchMaster]

Yeah, don't take anything I said in the wrong way. $40K is a fine starting salary, nothing to be ashamed of...you just should be buying a $25K car with it

 

[JCH13]

Everywhere I read says 20k-45k is the average starting salary for an entry level engineering position. Seems like I fall right in the middle lol. Seeing as I don't pay for my benefits (full dental, 85% med coverage with 2 checkups per year free, and eye exams with 50% pay on glasses/contacts). I think I'm doing pretty good for 2.5 months in this job. Especially compared to my last job as a basic sql writer.

Someone is doing it wrong. Average starting salary for an engineer from my college is $61k... but that might be skewed by NYC salaries.