no idea what to do...

ok.. i am looking at getting a car...

i don't know what to do.. get a new car, get a 2 year old car, or get something cheap..

basically.. i am working.. i will make about $8k between now and the end of the year.. and have $2k saved..

starting in early january i will go to school for one semeseter.. i plan on not having to have a job.. so i will be living off that money basically..

so.. i could spend 5 - 6k on a car.. and then live off that 4-5k for a semeseter which is 5 months.. rent at my school will probably cost me between 300 and 400 a month...

now.. i also could get soemthing for say $10k pay half, finance half.. or finanace the whole thing..

or i could get a new car and finanace it.. or maybe a $13k car..

jsut to give you an idea of what kind of cars i am looking at

mazda 3 wagon (maybe i cna get one)
camry
accord
civic
corolla
subaru wagon legacy or impreza
volvo v70
mazda millenia
mazda 6
maxima
sentra
lexus es300
audi a4 / a6 wagon or sedan
jetta (especially a TDI)

so you might notice a few trends here.. i am practical for some reason, even though i am young.. i should be trying to get something small and sporty because i am young.. also i like wagons.. usually.. i would want a cool looking wagon.. oh and you might notice there are no american cars, but i am not against one.. i just can't think of one that i would really like.. and suvs and trucks jsut aren't something i would think to get..

so... where do i start? i know i have decisions to make..

what cars on that list should i just outright avoid, and what cars are similar to those on the list that i should consider

oh, being in DC right now, and at school in the near future, i don't have a place to work on cars.. i jsut need something reliable.. which makes me think i need to get something more expensive, lower miles, and finance it.. but i would like to just buy cash and work on a car if it needs it.. i really can't though..

thanks

scott