New Car

[Jon Miller]

Well, I am here once more.

I am thinking about getting a new car. Well a first car. Now, I don't have any money, really. I don't know how my credit is, but I get accepted for credit cards and the like, so it is probably ok, but not great. I have ~500 per month I can spend, but little in the way of a savings.

I have a lot of freinds, who I live with and can occasionally hitch rides from (besides, most the time where I want to go is where they are going anyway). What I really want a car for is the times I want to go somewhere where no one else wants to go and no one has the time to take me.

What I am looking at is
a) a new cheap car (probably sometihng in the 9000 range)
b) ~ 5000 used car (99 escort, 79000)
c) ~ 3000 used car (92 Civic, 120000)
d) use a taxi?

Any advice would be good, oh I live in PG county Maryland and know next to nothing about cars. I could buy a car elsewhere also?

Jon Miller

[Asher]

The 92 civic with 120K is likely more reliable than the 99 escort with 79K.

[MrFun]

** MrFun cries about not being able to afford a good, used car at this point **

[Shi Huangdi]

e) save up money and hire me as your personal chauffer

[Jon Miller]

Jon Miluler

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by MrFun
** MrFun cries about not being able to afford a good, used car at this point **

i am 23 going on 21

Jon Miller

[Az]

Get a new used Subaru. they totally rawk.

[SpencerH]

Same advice as with MrFun, buy Honda. Actually, with good credit and a decent job you may be able to get a new car without any down payment. Just wait for the next big sales pitch - then buy a new honda.

[Jon Miller]

why is it important that I get a honda?

if I wanted a good car, yes

but I just want something that will reliably get me from point a to point b for 4-5 years

Jon Miller

[SlowwHand]

For you, Jon; a Saturn.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
why is it important that I get a honda?

if I wanted a good car, yes

but I just want something that will reliably get me from point a to point b for 4-5 years

Jon Miller

You just answered your own question. A used Honda in your price range will actually be driveable 5 years from now. There aren't many cars of which that's true.

Honda.

[Jon Miller]

are Honda's good enough that the 92 Honda Civic will work?

I was looking at a new Honda Civic's price (the MS whatever one) and it seemed to be in the ~14-15 k range which is a lot per month

Jon Miller

[Brundlefly]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
are Honda's good enough that the 92 Honda Civic will work?

I was looking at a new Honda Civic's price (the MS whatever one) and it seemed to be in the ~14-15 k range which is a lot per month

Jon Miller

The 92 Civic should last you over 200k miles if you take care of it. Of course you want to have a mechanic examine thoroughly for defects. AAA can reccommend an impartial mechanic. Get the car's VIN number from the seller and plug it into carfax.com website. This will give you title history of the car to determine how many owners, if it was junked, flooded, etc.

I had a 96 civic w/ 145k miles until I totalled it a couple of weeks ago. Bought it new - only thing I had to service on it was the brakes. It would have lasted well over 200k the way I took care of it...


PeoplesFirst.com has excellent used car loan rates....

Hope that helps...

[Japher]

Get a motorcycle! Or, as I told MrFun, a Vespa...

[Jon Miller]

here in Maryland everything that is sold has to get certified

I think it is pretty detailed and makes sure that a number of things won't cause problems

Jon Miller