I'd buy a used Acura TSX (the model before they grew the beak) for 12-18k.
Also, for comparison, we hire our IT college hires in at $50k-55k a year, but they don't get Engineer in their title. :sneaky: Fortune 500 company, Cleveland Ohio.
Still 40k isn't bad to start out, and once you have a couple years experience, you can up that easily if you are willing to change companies.
High cost of living area, or a high-end university?Pre-degree, I made $32/hour proctoring at a University computer lab and billed $75/hour for web development. I haven't made less than $32/hour. Ever. I was having a similar conversation with my wife tonight over dinner re: average incomes. How can people afford to live on minimum wage? $7.50 x 2080 = ~$15,000. I can't imagine.
I love the new focus and especially the 2013 fusion. But most likely if I buy new they will all be over budget. With gas getting higher I keep using my truck because I'm already in a hole. Trade isn't worth much (like 5.5k tops) and even private market is lucky to see 8k. Anything that does good on mpg seems to be creeping above msrp and their not really struggling to sell them either. I plan to hit smaller dealerships if I can when I'm ready, try to find places that are more willing to haggle. I could barely talk a big Kia dealership down to just 1.5k over MSRP and they still wanted to do finders fee and all that. I flipped them the bird. 25k for a fully loaded ! Soul is just stupid.
As has been said in this thread, and having a weekend seeing alot of higher ups, I've come to the senses that it should definitely be what you want, regardless of the age bracket. So as of this time that will probably be a Soul, though with how far away a new car is probably in store for me I probably won't want its then current form, so another day I'll see what I like. Still, if money was no object, I'd take one of those Volvo C70 Inscriptions .
see if you can rent one of those. I was pretty unhappy with the one I used as a rental. The tech options (bluetooth audio standard) were cool but after the week was up I hated the look of it, and I used to like the look of it a lot. That said if you like it go for it.
are you sure about buying new? Seeing the prices on those Lexus es300's, they really seem like a steal of a deal considering they've all been well maintained (upper-middle class owned). I don't feel like you'd be trying to keep with the upper management by owning one, either, seeing as the models you're we're looking at are 10 years old and aren't Mercedes or BMW. Lexus and Acura are a step below BMWs and are "luxury" but only barely. Sorry I'm trying to persuade you into that es300 I want one myself personally! just look at this! http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/ctd/2849760151.html bit high on price, you could get it for $8500 easy if not this one then another
My main reason for buying new is the fact I need a warranty, and a good one at that. I rather pay monthly for a car at a flat rate than to have sudden surprises like a 4000$ transmission job or a 5000$ engine swap.
While it certainly can happen, and does happen, these types of failures are a rarity especially for a quality car like the early 00s ES's. I also don't get the mindset that "I can afford a $30K-40K car but can't afford a $5000 repair on a $10K car".
I'm not going tell the OP what to do, just what I did.
Last year, I made over 100k since I was overseas for half of 2011. When I got home, I needed a new car and told myself I had to get a fancy car since now I was a ''grown up'' (26) that needed to impress all the other grownups and women with. I test drove an Audi, a Mini, a BMW, looked at a Benz and spent a whole day searching for my dream car.
Drove home in a Ford Focus SE.
I wanted a sports car that got 30mpg, was grown up, and impress everyone; but, I realized that what I needed was a car that got good mileage and would get me to and from work reliably every day. Unless you have to drive clients around at least once a month or more (company should have a car for you to use if that's the case) just buy what you want, never do anything unless it's for your own betterment; trying to keep up with everyone else will leave you falling behind in the end.
This. Get something reliable and affordable and save-up cash for a fun car down the road. You can still keep the reliable car, and have something really fun on the side.
I don't have the money or time for a "fun" side car . I enjoy my cars being an appliance laden with electronics to entertain my long business drives. A car suiting every day of my life in fuel economy, power, and storage space is my fun . I love a car I can just beat day in and out, I probably leave the house 4-5 different times a day, during the summr I get us to the trails and all that. The Expedition has been a godsend for that, it's just starting to show some age at this point, and the mpg's are getting tough to swallow lol. If anything I'll probably keep the expy, continue modding it, and enjoy that even more fun weekend driver .
Buick Verano with the 2.0T
Nice car, but a base price of 23k...kind of misses the thread a little .
Yeah and as I told the poste I love them, but the price range is too high . But since this thread is a thread of generals that could actually work for someone else.Ford Focus Titanium is $23k and the 2013 Ford Fusion is $25k which someone posted earlier.
If your credit is good lease yourself a new camry or altima at ~$200 month with tax/title/fees being the only out of pocket. 12,000 miles/year and just forget it. No repairs, no maintenance other than oil changes. Now is a good time to lease. A lot of people who don't understand the total costs with a car will always say leasing is wrong, but they are not always right.
just get a throwback Acura..