decision

With rising gas prices and high insurance rates my first car is being a very hard decision, I am not really sure of many cars maintence costs,insurance and etc costs other then that of the actual car. I live in New Jersey and i like to surf alot so that a big ocnsideraiton. I also snowboard in the winters.I'm also going to be going to college in a year and will be bringing my car.I am going to get 7,000 from my parents and then the rest is my own. I am going to try to have around 11,000-13,000. Also my parents say they will pay insurce for what a regular car would be then i have to pay differance for a sportcar or whatever.So i have some questions...
1. Private party or dealer
-My parents don't want me to go private becuase they are afraif of prolblems, but i think i could pay a mechanic to check the car over, am i correct?
- Theres a delaer near me that sepcializes in auctions and oculd get me the car not too bad of price and ther would be warranties added to it
2. Which car best overal? Insurance, GAS, Maintence, SPEED, Overall looks/ interior quality
3. Car and bike
- prob bad idea with college, low quality car
Ex. Wrx wagon, wrx, 2.5i, Rsx-S, Mini Cooper-S, Maza Protege5, etc

1. Private party or dealer
-My parents don't want me to go private becuase they are afraif of prolblems, but i think i could pay a mechanic to check the car over, am i correct?
- Theres a delaer near me that sepcializes in auctions and oculd get me the car not too bad of price and ther would be warranties added to it
2. Which car best overal? Insurance, GAS, Maintence, SPEED, Overall looks/ interior quality
3. Car and bike
- prob bad idea with college, low quality car
Ex. Wrx wagon, wrx, 2.5i, Rsx-S, Mini Cooper-S, Maza Protege5, etc

I think private party...you definitely have to do all the work yourself. Check up on the car's maintenance record, if it's been in an accident, how's the chassis, the engine, transmission, etc. Everything that you cannot see and problems that could become down the line. It's all on you. He/she is not going to tell you that you'll need new brakes in 2 months. It's your job to check it out and account for that.

The best car...well, arguable, but for 11-13k, I think the sporty choices are from your list the WRX Wagon, the RSX-S, the MCS. The others are more sedate...the 2.5 Impreza, and the Protege5.

It's up to you what you can afford...

All around...I would say RSX-S if you can find one in that range that is worth having and doesnt have a billion miles on it.