It's that time of the year again; back to school time... If you've got a third-grader, you're probably thinking about note books and pencils. If you have a kid in high school you might be thinking about clothes or a computer—or at least your kid is. If you're shipping your offspring off to college, besides everything else he or she needs, maybe a cheap but reliable car is also on the list?..
(Notice how the dollar figure of the child's "needs" increases in direct proportion to their age?)
If that's the case, CNNMoney.com has put together a list of the best college cars.
Check them out here.
Snippet: We restricted our choices to vehicles with starting base sticker prices below $16,000. There is a surprising number of good choices, helped by the recent introduction of the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa. (No, we didn't choose all three.)
We figured that, for these purposes, a car needs to get great fuel economy since college students or recent grads probably won't want to put all of their hard-earned cash directly into their tanks. Fortunately, that's not hard since cars in this range tend to be, to put it mildly, on the small side.
If that's the case, CNNMoney.com has put together a list of the best college cars.
Check them out here.
Snippet: We restricted our choices to vehicles with starting base sticker prices below $16,000. There is a surprising number of good choices, helped by the recent introduction of the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa. (No, we didn't choose all three.)
We figured that, for these purposes, a car needs to get great fuel economy since college students or recent grads probably won't want to put all of their hard-earned cash directly into their tanks. Fortunately, that's not hard since cars in this range tend to be, to put it mildly, on the small side.
mirth says:
08:35 AM, 08/16/06
What college kid gets a brand new car, no matter how "cheap" it is? I didn't get a car until junior year, and it was only a $4500 used Cavalier.
If you're talking a "first new car after college", then maybe that list is okay.
jerrywimer says:
12:01 PM, 08/16/06
I've noticed the trend toward what I consider "spoiled" kids too, mirth. My first car was a used Ford Escort, and *I* had to make the car payment, gas, and insurance myself from the money I earned in my part time after school job. My daughter may get off from the paying for it (she'll still end up with gas and insurance though). But it won't be a brand new car!
carlisimo says:
09:22 PM, 08/16/06
Shouldn't be a surprise. The current generation of parents seems to be quite well off, distrusting of others (previous owners of used cars), and overly concerned with safety (better in new cars).
In any case it's still not common. Hardly any of my housemates or classmates in Berkeley had cars new or newish cars. It looks like my little sister will be getting one though (she's about to start). I don't know how she pulled that off... I bought a $300 car four years into college and my brother (junior in college) just bought one with only a little help.
But it's worth noting that currently, it's very hard for a student to study and work enough to pay for school, housing, and books, and have anything left over for a car. (Could depend on your major and local cost of living, of course.)
jerrywimer says:
09:07 AM, 08/17/06
If she's lucky I'll buy a small car for my own personal use in two or three more years (as I get near or just after my military retirement, when I can stop worrying about a move and so deal with three vehicles). So it will be a well trusted vehicle before it becomes hers, whether I buy new or used. It will also be mostly (if not completely) paid off at that point too. That leaves just the maintenance, fuel, and insurance for her to deal with.
frontier2k7 says:
08:43 AM, 09/ 3/06
This is just another outgrowth of todays overfed, overprotected, over coddled, overpriced kids. I think instead of saying they are the X or Y Gen they should be referred to the $ Gen.
chrisducati says:
07:08 AM, 09/ 7/06
I think most college students that get cars from their parents are still getting hand me downs. Most of my friends had old sedans that were their old family cars. The % that get new cars is small but growing.
puristsoul says:
01:40 AM, 09/27/07
The best car for college will always be VW camper. Just buy that aftermarket DVD/ipod/satelite stereo and you are set! Second choice: the Element. You need that bed when you're in college.