Recommend me cars to purchase given my financial situation.

[mugs]

Originally posted by: saymyname

Originally posted by: ones3k
Just graduated, 22 years old, pay rate is approx 65k/year starting in July. I currently do NOT have a vehicle. No student loans, i don't owe anything.

Earlier i was debating going with an acura TSX for 28k.
PROs: with care it should be extremely reliable, plenty of power, options, good gas milage, and should last me 10 years easily.
CONS: A little pricey for my salary.


What do you think i should do for a car? Keep in mind i need reliability as i intend to keep my car for awhile.

Whatever you get, get it used. $65K won't go as far as you think it will and you'll appreciate the extra cash flow that buying a used car will provide.

That's a good point, OP should definitely wait until he sees how much he actually spends when he has the job. Although IIRC he said he'll be living with his parents initially so he'll be able to save a ton.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: ones3k
Just graduated, 22 years old, pay rate is approx 65k/year starting in July. I currently do NOT have a vehicle. No student loans, i don't owe anything.

Earlier i was debating going with an acura TSX for 28k.
PROs: with care it should be extremely reliable, plenty of power, options, good gas milage, and should last me 10 years easily.
CONS: A little pricey for my salary.


What do you think i should do for a car? Keep in mind i need reliability as i intend to keep my car for awhile.

Back to this topic, if you don't care about the bling, i'd get an accord or camry. If you want an I4 motor, get an accord. If you like V6, the current V6 camry is better.

 

[saymyname]

I had a friend making about $60K a year and he bought that exact same car. He regretted it. It's a big chunk of change and depending on your lifestle can be a burden. If you plan on going on vacation, living in a nice apt, buying a house, dating, etc etc, that car might break you if you go ahead and buy it at close to $30K.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Mazda 6S 5-Door

It's not boring like an Honduh or Toyota, has plenty of personality, good looks and great reliability. $23K loaded up after incentives

Not enough?

Pontiac GTO Amazing interior, very comfy, great Hwy MPG. Manly vehicle with a good persona and chicks definitely won't think your gay.

$29K new or $22K 1yr old


Saturn Sky - Absolutely uselss vehicle but for the most basic of transportation needs, but it is fvckin COOL! $25K loaded up

Pontiac G6 GTP - Coupe or 4-door. Once again the car has personality the others don't have. Plus I love the panoramic sunroof.

Toyota FJ Cruiser- major utilitarian points and its very cool! If you are all into SUV's and using them for outdoor activites from hauling mountian bikes to going camping it deserves a look, also see the Nissan Xterra.

 

[mugs]

Hyundai Sonata

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: mugs
Hyundai Sonata

I have a Kia Optima myself (same basic car, same company, different brand), and I've been nothing but content with it. Of course, I drove a minivan for 7 years before this, so maybe my expectations are out of whack with the rest of the ATOT crowd.

 

[ones3k]

what about a 2003 TL for 20k (probably can get that down) with 37k miles on it?

 

[acemcmac]

How about the car you're already driving?

 

[ones3k]

ALso that subaru GT 2005 demo with 8k on it is really tempting for just 21k.... Is it wise to purchase a demo vehicle?

 

[ones3k]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
How about the car you're already driving?

I don't have a car Right now im just borrowing my fathers car whenever i go somewhere. Unlike many other parents, mine never bought me a cheap vehicle to use as a teenager. I could of theoretically bought myself a shitbox, but then i would of paid 2k per year for insurance and i would of also had to pay for gas and mantience... no way was i going to do that making only 7k on my summer job ( i didnt work during the school year).

 

[Fritzo]

Get a BUS. Costs under $1/day to run.

 

[ones3k]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Get a BUS. Costs under $1/day to run.

I live in the suburbs.

 

[raildogg]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: ones3k
Just graduated, 22 years old, pay rate is approx 65k/year starting in July. I currently do NOT have a vehicle. No student loans, i don't owe anything.

Earlier i was debating going with an acura TSX for 28k.
PROs: with care it should be extremely reliable, plenty of power, options, good gas milage, and should last me 10 years easily.
CONS: A little pricey for my salary.


What do you think i should do for a car? Keep in mind i need reliability as i intend to keep my car for awhile.

Back to this topic, if you don't care about the bling, i'd get an accord or camry. If you want an I4 motor, get an accord. If you like V6, the current V6 camry is better.

Why not get something that is a bit more enjoyable to drive? The Camry is simply too boring to drive. The Accord maintains a nice balance between ride quality and handling and sportiness. I would also say that get a used car. Or a Mazda 3 or Honda Civic. Concentrate on your career, savings and future plans and worry about cars later. Get something simple and nicely priced.

 

[jadinolf]

Get a Rolls Royce!

 

[ddviper]

civic

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: raildogg

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: ones3k
Just graduated, 22 years old, pay rate is approx 65k/year starting in July. I currently do NOT have a vehicle. No student loans, i don't owe anything.

Earlier i was debating going with an acura TSX for 28k.
PROs: with care it should be extremely reliable, plenty of power, options, good gas milage, and should last me 10 years easily.
CONS: A little pricey for my salary.


What do you think i should do for a car? Keep in mind i need reliability as i intend to keep my car for awhile.

Back to this topic, if you don't care about the bling, i'd get an accord or camry. If you want an I4 motor, get an accord. If you like V6, the current V6 camry is better.

Why not get something that is a bit more enjoyable to drive? The Camry is simply too boring to drive. The Accord maintains a nice balance between ride quality and handling and sportiness. I would also say that get a used car. Or a Mazda 3 or Honda Civic.

The V6 camry powertrain is better than the V6 accord one. Uses a timing chain instead of belt, more power/torque and one more gear in auto.

in urban areas, fun to drive often doesn't come into play as you spend most of your driving time parked in traffic. mind you, i have a current gen accord that has several boltons and despite my modded suspension and engine stuff, half the time it's not really useful. I can see why people give up on cars and life.

 

[Rip the Jacker]

Originally posted by: bennylong
If you were smart, you would max out your saving in your IRA and 401k at age 22 and retire at age 40 and tell everyone to go to hell.
If you were to max out your 401k at $15k a year, get a 6% match, that's another 4k free, put another $4k in your roth.


In 18 years, your investment will be worth $1,314,641. Your car? It will be worth maybe $500.

I wish I saved my money when I was 22, I could have retired so much earlier. Now I have to wait till I'm age 45 before I can think of retirement.

Hah, the irony.. your post count = 45

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: ones3k
what about a 2003 TL for 20k (probably can get that down) with 37k miles on it?

Didn't you say in a previous thread that the previous body style TL is ugly? I happen to agree that it's ugly compared to the new TL. I also like the interior on our TSX MUCH better than the 2003 TLs we test drove, the leather seats are a lot nicer. If you're going to get a TL, get a 2004 or higher. 2004 is within your stated price range.

 

[MooseKnuckle]

I buy a new car every 4 yrs., God Bless you if you can keep a car for 10 yrs.; I can't I'm bored with my ride too quickly.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: MooseKnuckle
I buy a new car every 4 yrs., God Bless you if you can keep a car for 10 yrs.; I can't I'm bored with my ride too quickly.

I was going to mention the same, I doubt the OP will end up keeping this car for 10 years.

 

[boredhokie]

I'm actually in a similar boat. I got through college on scholarship/RA money and had no debt when I graduated in May. I also landed a job paying a very similar amount and needed a car, since I always just borrowed my dad's when I had to get somewhere.

I looked around and ended up with a neighbor's 1998 Lexus ES300. It's not very flashy but looks nice, has 75k miles and is perfect mechanically and cosmetically. After all the expenses I paid around 10 grand, which is a lot for that year but I needed the car loan to help my credit. My score was destroyed during my parents divorce when they forgot to pay for any of my doctor bills, so your situation may very.

I got a cheap car because a promise of a job doesn't mean I'll actually have it (I start in July). If the job goes well I can have this car paid off in a year or two, if not I can manage the payments with a crappy job till I find something better.

 

[ones3k]

bump

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: ones3k
bump

Why don't you just quit posting about this subject?

You know what the smart thing would be, but you're still looking for our permission to do something else.

Smart = Buy a cheap, reliable used car and save your money.
Dumb = Buy a nice shiny new car because you deserve it dammit.

Your call, but for god's sake quit involving us in it.

Viper GTS

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Originally posted by: ones3k
bump

I gave you about 5 choices, did you even bother reading it?

I bought a $20K car the day after I got my job offer out of college. Should have never bough the car as it was a financial burden but I still own the car some 6 1/2 yrs later so it has been a wise investment as it has yet to breakdown and been uber reliable like all Fords are.

 

[Reckoner]

How many times is the OP going to stroke his ego?