Which to buy for a college car???

In the first post.

Acid Test wrote:

In the first post.

new car wrote:

I am going to college and would like to know which of these four cars, (if anyone has driven these), handles the best, or which car would be the best for driving 4 1/2 hours to college.

Thank you

A college runner

Doesn't say every day--it could be twice a year.

If you're driving 4.5 hours two or three times a quarter, and you can get by without buying a new car, then you should not buy one. On the other hand, if you actually are driving 4.5 hours each way, every day, you should move.

Look for a Chevy Prism. These cars are bullet proof as they were made through a joint venture with Toyota in the NUMMI plant in California, which is consistently rated one of the best plants in the world. Prisms are basically a reskined Toyota Corrola. Park one next to the other and you can't tell the difference. The Chevy has a lot lower resale value than the Toyota, thus making it more affordable.

In the $2-$3k range, look for a 1997 - 2000 model.

Also, check out Edmunds.com, go to appraise section, select the vehicle for comparison, and then select "Consumer Ratings" These are reviews by people who actually own these cars. You could do it for any of the cars you have listed.

Finally, check out autotrader.com to find some good deals.

Sincerely,

Lee

Okay seriously. Here's my final thought's on this. Find someone (family, friend, hitch hike) to take you to school. Once you get to town, go out and buy an old Jeep Wrangler. You won't have to drive much, and when you do you can pick up all those dirty little college girls in it that love guys in jeeps. They all look the same, and the more banged up they are, the more college girls you'll bang. Do that, and get a ride somewhere when you need to go far. You need to learn to be resourceful when it comes to that stuff anyway. That's part of the whole college experance.

HOPE IT COMES WITH A PACK OF CONDOMS. HIV ALERT.

Honestly, I'd get a pick up truck. It's useful to haul all your shit to and from school and you won't have people picking you to drive everywhere once you are at school, unless you get one of those extended cabs. Also, 4 wheel drive is money in the winter time.

I'd buy a 1985 model. Just make sure she owns a car.

If you only need to get to school and back for break and vacations, say every 2-3 months, don't get a car. It's a money pit on your budget. I lived 5.5-6 hours away from college. One or both my parents would make the trip down with me at the beginning and end of the school year, combining it with vacation/visiting friends, etc. For the other trips home, I would first check with friends who lived in the same hometown (or thereabouts), check the ride boards (bulletin boards in the student union) for people willing to share a ride splitting gas money, and I also took a lot of bus rides home over the years.

For transportation around school, a bike was good even for grocery shopping, though I would sometimes get rides with roommates.

After you buy your car then wreck it post the subsequent dinner here....

Buy a motorcycle. Cheaper on the gas and you can look cool for the chicks.