Looking for a New/Newer car

I am a 19-year-old college student and I am interested in getting a new car. I have a 1993 Ford Escort that is starting to rust... When it dies, I want to know which car to buy. I am looking for a 2003-2006 economy car that will get good highway miles. The maximum amount I would pay for the car including options is $16,500. I need something that is reliable and good in snow (New Jersey snow/ice). I plan on driving about 500 miles a week to school and my two jobs.

I am interested in 4-door compacts, however, I don't care what it is as long as it is under 16ft in length.

Guidelines:
-2003-2006
-Good MPG
-Good value for the price
-Reliable
-CD Player
-No RWD
-Seats 4 comfortably
-Will last 6 years
-Has more than 88hp (my current car) (im not looking for something to race even though I am a fan of the sport compacts scene)

Please post comments about cars you think I would be interested in.

Thank you for your time.

-Brian

2004 toyota corolla's are pretty nice and have all the features and price you listed.

civics are another option but they feel "cheaper" than the corollas.



my girlfriend and I were car shopping last year for pretty much the exact same thing as you. We test drove a 2004 corolla type S, 2003 civic ex, and 2002 vw jetta gls, and a 2001? nissan altima.

The altima was the peppiest, but that is expected wiht the biggest engine of the 4, But it had that gaudy late 90's interior (big knobs.. etc.) neither of us liked it too much.

the civic was cheap and slow. and its ride was a little harsher than the others.

the jetta was smooth, somewhat quick, and has a nice interior.

The corolla was also smooth, somewhat quick, and had a nice interior as well.


So we were torn between the Type S corolla and the jetta, However even though the corolla was probably a more reliable choice we went with the jetta due to price. It has been an ok vehicle so far, not quite as reliable as we would have liked but it gets the job done. If we had had 2,500 more we would have gone for the corolla for sure.

2003 Nissan Maxima

http://www.autobytel.com/images/carpics/TestDrv/wardlaw/03Maxima/03.Nissan.Maxima.front34_500.jpg

2003 Nissan Maxima

http://www.autobytel.com/images/carpics/TestDrv/wardlaw/03Maxima/03.Nissan.Maxima.front34_500.jpg





thats not a compact...

Thanks for help knorwj.

Knorwj is right about the Maxima not being a compact.

Feel free to post comments about cars you think I would be interested in.

-Brian

Ok, now I am in a dilemma. In my research tonight I looked up financing and found that I need 6 months of work at a full time job and a credit card for at least a year. The higher the score the better the interest rate. I got my first credit card last month and I am in-between jobs right now.....hmm.

If my current car dies, I will have money; but I wont be able to finance a new car. Where are the best places to purchase cars? Should I be looking for cars along side the street, at assisted living places (look for for-sale signs), and at new/used car dealerships?

Along side the street: I never thought it was a good way buy a car. I would need many records and would have to really look at the car to make sure everything is A-Ok.

Assisted Living: I was told that old people usual don't drive much and keep most-to-all of their records. And they definitly don't beat on the car.

New and Used Car Dealerships: I don't like going to them because you never know of the history. They probly wouldn't provide all of the vehicle history. Usually over priced.

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

-Brian

You really can't go wrong with either a Honda or Toyota. The only downfall is that they are kinda slow, but safe and reliable. Good resale, parts available, easy to fix, good mileage.

Ok, now I am in a dilemma. In my research tonight I looked up financing and found that I need 6 months of work at a full time job and a credit card for at least a year. The higher the score the better the interest rate. I got my first credit card last month and I am in-between jobs right now.....hmm.


-Brian


what about a credit worthy co-signer?


When my girlfriend bought her jetta, they offered her 3.9% because she had no credit card and had only had her job for a month. she got a good cosigner and then was offered 2.9%

get a good co-signer, someone with better established credit. preferably someone who is paying a mortgage. it will be hard to find but itll get the job done. How much would you be willing to put down on a car. sometimes you may need to bite the bullet and pay cash for an older car but its 50/50 with older cars.

personally i would stick with a civic or corolla, a maxima is a good choice, its a little bigger, has more power but still gets very reasonable mileage. maybe an older galant, they are as big as a camry, sell for less, and are quite reliable.

if you have a carmax local, i would recommend maybe getting a hyndai sonata. i know its not the nicest, best looking, fastest. but its very reliable, and if you are looking in the 2003-2006 range it will still carry a warranty. Im 20 and kinda in school but i work and have hardly any money, ive been looking into hyndai's for some time. due to the fact that theyll still have a warranty. you can probably get one with ABS too, which would be nice living in snowy areas.

what about a credit worthy co-signer?


When my girlfriend bought her jetta, they offered her 3.9% because she had no credit card and had only had her job for a month. she got a good cosigner and then was offered 2.9%

^^IDK what bank you have but those are phenomonal rates especially if you she had no credit, and a job for a month, thats amazing.


In most situations, you can still get credit for a new car but the rates are usually about 15-18%.

I recommend a new Mazda 3.

Alphalanos: I don’t mind if it is slow. As long as it has good mpg and goes 65mph (to 75mph, haha), I’ll be happy.

Knorwj: The only person I know that has somewhat good credit is my sister, but she had problems when my brother co-signed a car with her. She told me she wont co-sign again.

Harrymay: I don’t have anybody close that is paying a mortgage. There are no CarMax dealerships in NJ, PA, or NY. I have liked the Hyundai Sonata, along with many other cars.

I figure that when I buy a car, I will have between $5,000 and $7,000. Any suggestions for used cars?

-Brian

^^IDK what bank you have but those are phenomonal rates especially if you she had no credit, and a job for a month, thats amazing.


In most situations, you can still get credit for a new car but the rates are usually about 15-18%.

I recommend a new Mazda 3.

well maybe i'm wrong, but i'm almost positive that those were the rates we were quoted, keep in mind this was for a used car, not new. and it was also back a year or so when interest rates were dirt cheap on used cars. Also this was right through the VW dealership, not from our bank. We asked at our bank and they couldn't match the dealership's quote.

Personally I love the new 06 Civics. I think they look great, the interior is nice, and they fit your needs perfectly. As for used cars, there's tons of options, I'd just go drive the cars you like and pick the one you like the best.

in your price range, you may want to go a little older. keep in min the car must be under 10 years old and under 100k to get a loan on it. youd want to look at anything from 06 to 06, ut for 7 grand, itll be hard to find that.

in your price range, you may want to go a little older. keep in min the car must be under 10 years old and under 100k to get a loan on it. youd want to look at anything from 06 to 06, ut for 7 grand, itll be hard to find that.

Not all car loans have that stipulation. Like through my credit unioun at work, it can be as old w/as many miles as you like, its just you only get 110% the NADA value of it.