Car for graduation; need advice please!

[zioxide]

I always hear people raving about the Impreza, perhaps I should check it out.. Why are they so popular???

They've always been popular among the sports/outdoors crowd and people who live in rural areas/snowy areas because of the standard AWD on all models, but never really made it mainstream because of gas mileage (only used to get 20-25).

The 2012 is a complete re-design that fixed almost all of the complaints people used to have. A smaller engine and the new CVT (continuously variable) transmission gives the '12 Impreza 10 MPG better than the '11. (26 city 36 highway 30 combined IIRC). They added bluetooth phone link, bluetooth audio streaming, ipod integration, redesigned the body to look nicer and give way more interior room.

It's got 7 airbags standard, vehicle dynamic control (for stability), traction control, electronic brake assist. Got one of the highest ratings for 2012 compact sedans for crash ratings.

Sorry if I sound like a sales guy, I drove one a couple of weeks ago and am just trying to remember what the guy told me. I have a bunch of friends who drive Subaru's (some out in the mountains in Colorado and also up in VT/NH) and they all love them. Very reliable, not crazy expensive to get parts for (like some german cars), and they are a blast to drive.

I originally was leaning towards the '12 Civic until the '12 Impreza came out and I got to drive it.. now I'm 99.7% sure I'm getting the Impreza. Go check it out.. it seems like exactly what you are looking for, and once you drive it you probably won't be disappointed. The sales guy I talked to at the dealership said they are selling like crazy, they can't keep them in stock. I drove the only one on the lot the day I was there, and he they get about 10 a week and sell them right away.

 

[wordoflife]

Again, I'm so surprised by how unreliable BMW are (said to be)!

It's not that they're unreliable, it's just that they are expensive to upkeep without a warranty.

Hondas, for example, are more reliable and less expensive to maintain.

 

[Demosthenes X]

$20K limit
Sedan or SUV
Good audio system (this is important.. I really enjoy my music in my car and I really don't want to spend money on an aftermarket system)
Something fun/sporty/respectable
AWD/4WD
Decent MPG.. nothing that gets <15 mpg
Model year 2007+
<60,000 miles
Reliable, obviously
Not super expensive to maintain

With those criteria, I'd be looking for a Honda Civic Si, MazdaSpeed 3, or Subaru Impreza WRX. The Subaru is the only one with AWD, but unless you live in the snow belt AWD is a luxury. Even in the snow belt, with good winter tires any front-wheel drive car can handle the snow.

Depending on your income, I'd be wary of a used German car. You can buy them for good prices, but they tend to cost more to keep running. If you do decide to go with a BMW or other German car, look for a Certified Pre-Owned one from a dealer. It'll cost more than buying privately, but they're inspected by the dealership and usually carry an extended CPO warranty, so you get some peace of mind.

As others have said, I'd stay away from SUVs. But that's partly because I personally just don't like SUVs. If you do decide to go that route, though, the Subaru Forrester would be a good bet.

 

[senseless]

Depending on the SUV, it likely does use more gas than a sedan - my Expedition averages a bit over 18 mpg. The wife gets about 21 mpg in her Flex.

The fallacy is insurance - my $38k Expedition costs exactly three dollars more per six months to insure than my old 1995 Hyundai Sonata, and that's simply based on the value of the vehicle more than anything. My liability coverage went way, way down when I traded up.

As far as being "fun/sporty/respectable," that's really up to the OP more than anything. The S in SUV does stand for "sport," after all. And while I hate driving in general, mine is much more pleasant to drive than my wife's Flex (she would disagree with me on that point).

Expedition will average only 13mpg, no way 18 unless it's almost all highway at 55 mph. Sedans are more economical and handle better, if you don't need the large cargo capacity.

 

[Tomorrow]

Expedition will average only 13mpg, no way 18 unless it's almost all highway at 55 mph. Sedans are more economical and handle better, if you don't need the large cargo capacity.

So...do you think I'm lying or that I can't tell the difference between 18 and 13 on my instrument panel?

 

[Abstract]

They've always been popular among the sports/outdoors crowd and people who live in rural areas/snowy areas because of the standard AWD on all models, but never really made it mainstream because of gas mileage (only used to get 20-25).

The 2012 is a complete re-design that fixed almost all of the complaints people used to have. A smaller engine and the new CVT (continuously variable) transmission gives the '12 Impreza 10 MPG better than the '11. (26 city 36 highway 30 combined IIRC). They added bluetooth phone link, bluetooth audio streaming, ipod integration, redesigned the body to look nicer and give way more interior room.

It's got 7 airbags standard, vehicle dynamic control (for stability), traction control, electronic brake assist. Got one of the highest ratings for 2012 compact sedans for crash ratings.

Sorry if I sound like a sales guy, I drove one a couple of weeks ago and am just trying to remember what the guy told me. I have a bunch of friends who drive Subaru's (some out in the mountains in Colorado and also up in VT/NH) and they all love them. Very reliable, not crazy expensive to get parts for (like some german cars), and they are a blast to drive.

I originally was leaning towards the '12 Civic until the '12 Impreza came out and I got to drive it.. now I'm 99.7% sure I'm getting the Impreza. Go check it out.. it seems like exactly what you are looking for, and once you drive it you probably won't be disappointed. The sales guy I talked to at the dealership said they are selling like crazy, they can't keep them in stock. I drove the only one on the lot the day I was there, and he they get about 10 a week and sell them right away.

SOLD! Your commission cheque is in the mail.

 

[senseless]

So...do you think I'm lying or that I can't tell the difference between 18 and 13 on my instrument panel?

Don't trust the instrument panel for mpg. Let's just say that it's not typical for a very large v8 suv like the Expedition to get 18mpg overall. But you could be unusual.

 

[SporkLover]

Nice gift, congrats!

How much rain and snow will you get? I've found that in most places AWD and 4WD are unnecessary, and usually doesn't pay off in the long run. I would recommend you to not paint yourself in that corner if the only reason you want it is for safety and you aren't moving/living in rural conditions.

That being said a brand new Honda Civic/Hyundai elantra/Scion tC would make excellent cars for College grads. Low maintenance, holds value well, and very reliable. You can divert your finances elsewhere while you establish yourself as a contributing member of society.

Another thing that might be worth mentioning.... although new cars are exciting...if you already have a car, any chance your parents would gift you that money? You could place it in a high yield account until you are ready to buy a house in a year or two.

Only reason I bring it up is when I graduated college my parents made the same offer to me, and I opted to take the money and save until I was ready to buy a house. It helped me put down a good down payment in a time when everyone was financing @ 100% value or more (eeeek), and I was able to buy a nice house with a very manageable payment on favorable terms, and I was able to buy the car I wanted anywho! Victory!

 

[Jb07]

How do you guys feel about a 2008+ Cadillac CTS?

Yes! I was actually thinking about that. You could get a used '08 CTS for around $20,000-22,000 with <60,000 miles. Cadillacs are pretty reliable and maintenance isn't as expensive as their German luxury counterparts.

 

[Tomorrow]

Don't trust the instrument panel for mpg. Let's just say that it's not typical for a very large v8 suv like the Expedition to get 18mpg overall. But you could be unusual.

I just did the math - 468 miles on my last fill up, 26.1 gallons, that's right at 17.9 mpg.

Is it okay to trust the fuel pump and my odometer to give me good numbers? Or is it my calculator?

This is my second Expedition. If the mileage was as poor as you say on the first one, I wouldn't have bought this one.

 

[Moyank24]

I just did the math - 468 miles on my last fill up, 26.1 gallons, that's right at 17.9 mpg.

Is it okay to trust the fuel pump and my odometer to give me good numbers? Or is it my calculator?

This is my second Expedition. If the mileage was as poor as you say on the first one, I wouldn't have bought this one.

Don't trust the instrument panel for mpg. Let's just say that it's not typical for a very large v8 suv like the Expedition to get 18mpg overall. But you could be unusual.

I think you're just unusual.

 

[PigDog]

Eos VW convertible?

I think that this is a nice car, and the price is about right.

Saw this one on Ebay Item number: 110833091371

 

[dmr727]

I think you're just unusual.

Tomorrow is a Sooner. They're both unusual!

 

[puma1552]

SUVs get better mileage than people think. My dad's Expo gets pretty good mileage with the 5.4.

Why? Because they have torquey V8s that don't have to work very hard at all to sail down the freeway.

 

[notjustjay]

Definitely look into the incidental costs of an SUV versus a smaller care. Tires will be more expensive. Insurance will be more expensive. 4WD/AWD vehicles have more parts to service.

 

[dukebound85]

So...do you think I'm lying or that I can't tell the difference between 18 and 13 on my instrument panel?

does your instrument panel behave in a conservative fashion? I know mine overestimates my actual fairly consistintly by 1.5-2 mpg

 

[dmr727]

does your instrument panel behave in a conservative fashion? I know mine overestimates my actual fairly consistintly by 1.5-2 mpg

I'm the last guy to defend a stinkin' Sooner, but he did the math. 461 miles on 26.1 gallons. How much more accurate do you want the guy to be?

 

[dukebound85]

I'm the last guy to defend a stinkin' Sooner, but he did the math. 461 miles on 26.1 gallons. How much more accurate do you want the guy to be?

Didn't see his post when I replied lol

I just dont like when my car says 28mpg when I fill up but when I run the numbers, I always get maybe 26.

Are all sensors biased like this?
Argh!

 

[JoeG4]

Nah, mine usually states 1mpg less than it really gets (sometimes more).

 

[Tomorrow]

I'm the last guy to defend a stinkin' Sooner, but he did the math. 461 miles on 26.1 gallons. How much more accurate do you want the guy to be?

And this morning it said I was averaging 17.7 mpg. Dammit!!

I need to quit idling the engine when I'm waiting on my Route 44 Cherry Vanilla Coke Zero from Sonic.

 

[waloshin]

Used Volkswagen TDI

 

[scottness]

Get a Subaru.

 

[yg17]

Nah, mine usually states 1mpg less than it really gets (sometimes more).

Eh, the fact of the matter is that unless you're going to completely drain the fuel tank and put in a precise amount of fuel you have already measured, there's not an accurate way to measure fuel economy.

I believe the usual method used is to fill up the tank until the pump shuts off and reset the trip odometer. Then when you get gas again, fill it up again, and then divide the odo reading by fuel put in. That's not perfect either because different pumps at different gas stations might be calibrated to shut off at different times. I like to top off (I know you're not supposed to) and after it shuts off, squeeze the handle until it shuts off again. Sometimes when I squeeze again, it shuts off immediately, sometimes I can get almost another gallon in.

Trip computers on a car might not be 100% accurate, but neither is the method I described.

 

[zioxide]

I like to top off (I know you're not supposed to) and after it shuts off, squeeze the handle until it shuts off again. Sometimes when I squeeze again, it shuts off immediately, sometimes I can get almost another gallon in.

You do realize that once it shuts off the first time, it's off for good. Any fuel pumped after that goes back in to the station's tanks and not in to your car. It's a safety measure. Every cent after that you are donating to the gas station because you are definitely not getting any more gas.

 

[Biff...]

1997 Toyota Landcruiser, I still have mine. Bought it new and has over 400,000 miles on it running like a champ. I currently get 16mpg and the truck is in stock form.