help w/ selecting first car

Hi, I am a student and will be buying a car soon. I am thinking about the Accent, Honda Civic or PT Cruiser. What I really need is a car that is reliable, has good mileage, is safe and not expensive. I would also need space since i will be moving alot in the next few years. Could you please recommend me a car if not from that list and tell me why you like it or dislike the cars I am thinking about, it would be a great help, thanks.

Ok so whats your budget your looking at? I assume its below 20K. Well your asking this in a civic forum but we are not biased here at all. But fact is fact the Honda Civic would be the best all around car to purchase. By this I mean fuel economy, crash tests, power train longevity. The car will also hold its resale value when your ready to sell it better then most cars out there. honda is knows for that aspect. If your loking to buy a Civic now you decided at a good time. Honda is now having there end of the year clearance which means they are getting the lots ready for the new 06' body style. So the 05 civic models well be a bit cheaper. SPeaking of 06' I dont know if you knew but Honda is redesigning there civic line up with all an all new body and interior style. this might want you to hold off a bit and perhapse purchse a new 06. Plenty of space in the civic as well weather it be the 2 or 4 door models. Do some coparisons on your own between your 2-3 choices and you will see the civic will surpass the competition. I know all of us here on the forums our happy with our cars. Now if you had said " I am buying my first car to race" I would refrain from getting a Honda but thats just me :)

Thanks for the quick reply.
Actually I agree with you when it comes down to statistics it seems that Honda Civics win all around. The only problems I have with them is that they come no where near to the PT Cruiser in terms of space and looks, at least for me, and every single person seems to have a civic. Which is probably a good sign. Civics also seem to be a bit pricey for what they are. Also in terms of my budget I would like to stay under 14k. I am also really into music and a good sound system would be nice. Do you know which of the cars has the best one? Base one, not an expensive option.

When it comes to the Civic the system is good no problems here. Honestly tho dont let that influence your decision worry more about the value of the car and its safety features. You can always add a new speaker or head unit to any car. The PT cruiser is rather big, not sure how much space you need but that would be alot in the cruiser lol. The Pt is also based on a Dodge neon frame if i'm not mistaken. You can get a base model Civic maybe an lx for your price range. Have you considered maybe a Scion? Very cheap cars with great reviews. Your right about everyone and there mom driving a civic. That was one of the big reasons why I am selling mine currently. The other being I have more money then I did when I bought it so I can afford a better car.

From someone that doesn't even own a honda. If you want reliability then the civic is definetly the way to go. Don't know if you have ever heard the saying but honda last for ever. They are not the fast thing on the street but since that doesn't really seem like that big of a deal for you then it would be a really good car for you. However spaces size I would say that the pt cruiser is going to give you more space that the civic will. Be probably won't last as long. Personally I think the pt cruiser are ugly. But I said that is my opinion. The Accent is probably going to be the least reliable and the smallest out of the 3. If i would be picking the car I would pick the civic.

Out of your choices, the Civic shines. The Accent is an ok car but no where near as refined as the Civic nor will it hold it's resale value. The PT cruiser is nice but may not hold it's resale value either. Maybe save yourself some money by buying a certified used Civic.

I am drunk

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For the Honda Civic 4-Door, is their good amount of room in back or is it as cramped as the 2-Door?

^Ahh its a 4 door theres room. Check it out at the dealer if your unsure.

how about the Scion xB?

Thats what I had in mind for ya..that car is cool and big and cheap..You can hook it up with a crazy system with all that space.

thx. i think im prob gonna either go for scion or pt cruiser since they are unique and have alot of space. scion is nice too since it has close to the mileage of a civic

Cool man good luck with it!!

You'll wish you bought the Civic IMO.

You'll wish you bought the Civic IMO.

I agree. I think the Scions (xA and xB) and the PT Cruisers are ugly.

Well if i like the way they look I hardly think that is a good reason to give me not to buy em. I will agree that the xB isn't the greatest looking car but it tends to grow on you.

Ugly?!?!, no,...im sorry, but you're incorrect. the XB and PT are unique, and they have style!

The Xb looks ok. I personally think it's underpowered and faddish. i've never been a fan of driving a box shaped vehicle. Crosswinds, passing semi's, high center of gravity, etc... The PT looks ok but what about resale value, reliability, and performance upgrades? To each his/her own I guess. What ever you choose, remember you have to live with it. I'd rent each one and drive them for a day or two and see which one fits you before buying though.