What Car?? First Car For A Girl Going Away To College Edition.

I've been tasked by a friend with finding a car for her daughter to take to college in St Louis. (5+ hours away)

I've tended to stay in my lane with vehicle purchases for the most part, and obviously, am better equipped to deal with minor/major automotive issues if and when I stray into stuff I don't know.  But that isn't a good situation for a first time driver who doesn't have a Car Family.

I also know what has happened to the used car market in the past year and a half, which is why I am reaching out here for ideas.

• Needs to be reliable (duh)
• Automatic. (Rose hasn't learned to drive stick, and this probably isn't the best time to learn)
• Rose likes the BMW Mini (probably not a good choice)
• Rose hates the "Kia Soul Toaster Looking Cars"
• Rose was uncomfortable driving her parents' second gen Prius.  (which is a shame, as that would have been my first choice)
• Not a fan or silver or beige.
• Liked her mom's fusion.
• Likes 4 doors
• Likes Convertibles (who doesn't, but I don't think The Answer is the answer here)
• She LOVED her mom's '97 SC1 (this may be the best choice if we can find one that isn't rotted away, as I have owned over a half dozen of them over the years, so I know what to look for for, and what they need, which is next to nothing, aside from "reverse slam" issues, lost foam head porosity issues on the early single cams, and aforementioned rust
• 
  
  Now, the difficult parameters- $3K max, and before she leaves on the 20th would be nice.

This sounds like she has a bunch of restrictions and opinions, but honestly, she basically said she was open to anything that would be reliable that she could afford, and then I pried the rest out of her.  

So I would love to hear ideas, but as always, I value your input, but no gaurantee I will follow it.

Civic

Miata fits 10 out of 11...

If you can find a rust free protege 5, that would be it. The Prius would've been the answer. Avalon would be something to consider as well. 

VW Golf Cabriolet, white with cow-print seat covers and a Roxy sticker.

Isn't that the standard "college girl" car?

There is no standard "college girl" car, as there is no standard "college girl"

Rose, my wife's daughter, and my daughter are all in college.    They couldn't be any more different, and their choices in cars reflect that.

New York Nick said:

Miata fits 10 out of 11...

 

All but the most important one.  Well, two, if you include the "automatics only" rule.

pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

Civic

I would have no idea what to look at, or for.

I don't think either of the rust free P5's that still exist are for sale right now but maybe one of them will come onto the market in time.  Wouldn't hold my breath though.

Cooter said:

pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

Civic

I would have no idea what to look at, or for.

It's a car from Honda.  They sell about half a million of them every year.  You look at them like any other potential used car purchase.  

captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

If you can find a rust free protege 5, that would be it. The Prius would've been the answer. Avalon would be something to consider as well. 

Prius is still in the running, but would be tough (she really is more flexible with choices than I make it seem).  I find our 2010 to be very comfortable, but prices in third gens are well about $3K for reasonable ones.  Even second gens are pulling decent coin.  Plus, the colors are usually silver, silver-ish. beige, beige-ish, or white.

I feel like a CRV or a RAV-4 is the easy button here, if they don't look to much like the Kia "toaster" cars.

pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

Cooter said:

pres589 (djronnebaum) said:

Civic

I would have no idea what to look at, or for.

It's a car from Honda.  They sell about half a million of them every year.  You look at them like any other potential used car purchase.  

I look at cars that are OBD1 or older.  As that is all I own, aside from my wife's 2010 Prius that she inherited, and a '99 Wrangler that I knew what to look for since I bought the '02 Wrangler in my avatar brand new.

And I already know most of the trouble spots before I start looking.

Cooter said:

• Rose was uncomfortable driving her parents' second gen Prius.  (which is a shame, as that would have been my first choice)

Physically or emotionally uncomfortable? This needs to be better understood to avoid it in other cars.

In that price range I suggest the nicest, lowest mileage car you can find.  Preferably something made by Toyota or Honda.

How about a Solara?

In reply to Driven5 :

Very good point.

From context clues, I believed it to be physically, since she said it wasn't a deal breaker.   I've honestly never driven a second gen, so I don't know how comfortable they are compared to our 2010.

I think used car deals can still be had if you can jump on them quick enough, but we're talking within a day or so.

Regarding suggestions:

1) Honda - Pretty much any model that appeals to her.  Civic, Accord, CRV, Fit. Stay away from V6 automatic Accords because they had transmission issues for a few years.  Automatics mated to the 4 cylinder, however, were very reliable.  Something like this?  $1800 Civic

2) Anything Toyota would also apply, and Lexus's (Lexai?) seem to be cheaper but often maintained better.  The ES's are basically fancy Camry's.  $2800 Lexus ES300

3) This seems like a decent deal, too.  2009 Malibu $2500

Of those three, I bet at least two of them will be sold before end of the day tomorrow.

-Rob

OBD- I is a hard requirement to fit these days, as that means every possible car is 1) at least 25 years old and 2) difficult to diagnose.

But to me, that list says Wrangler. Which was the go-to for the sorority girls when I went to university, back when all cars were OBD-I.

Alternative view: does she NEED a car? They're expensive to maintain and park on a college budget and most colleges are set up so you don't need a car to survive. Most of my friends didn't have cars when I was in school. Saves a huge amount of cash.

APEowner said:

In that price range I suggest the nicest, one or two owner car you can find.  Preferably something made by Toyota or Honda.

Maybe.   But I don't know Honda, aside from the '89 Wagovan my wife bought new (and I hated) and the only Toyota I have even ridden in is the 2010 Prius my current wife has (which I think is wonderful)

$1500 SC1/2 is looking really good to me.
Cars keep getting more expensive, but they are still $1500.

I'm out with the statement of not liking the Gen2 Prius.

I hate to tell you but an old $3k car now costs $5k.  All you will get with present $3k is a former $1.5k car which then means it needs some repairs before "reliable".

The standard college girl car is CRV, Rav4 and the similar from Koreans.  

To find a "value" you're gonna have to buy what other people don't want.  Since everyone wants a CUV, its gonna have to be a sedan.  Since people that are willing to take a sedan often want a back seat for kids, its gonna have to be a 2 door. 

Someone said Solara...great choice.  A 2 door Ford Focus or Escort ZX2 could be good too. 

Keith Tanner said:

OBD- I is a hard requirement to fit these days, as that means every possible car is 1) at least 25 years old and 2) difficult to diagnose.

But to me, that list says Wrangler. Which was the go-to for the sorority girls when I went to university, back when all cars were OBD-I.

 

 

 

OBD-1 isn't her requirement, just mine.  (But not for her car)

There is no way I would put her in a $3K Wrangler.   I like her parents too much.

I gonna say that in the current market, if you can find a $3k Wrangler it wont be drivable. Here's a $5k'er in my market and the ad says runs fine until it heats up...asking $5k

Follow up:  ZX2 in Chicagoland asking $2,300 w/ 104k

Boy, I'd jump on that one quickly!

I kind of like the "see if she can live without a car first" idea.