Isaiah
What is the optimal college-student vehicle?
I know that fuel efficiency is important since travelling home will be a frequent task, cheap maintenance is probably a plus; but what car would you suggest to a college student that simply wants a good car that will take him from point A to point B while in college without having to spend to much of my tuition savings?
#car #travel #efficiency
2 answers
Andrei Levcovici
Andrei’s Answer
My father in law retired as a Mercedes technician, and he has worked on every car you can think of. When someone asks him what car he recommends, he always answers "A new one!". He's reasoning is that it has not been abused and it has a warranty.
I had a Hyundai Accent that was reliable, economic and comfortable enough for long trips. It was cheap due to the color and that fact that it was a left-over model. Maintenance was not the cheapest, but luckily I was able to do most of the fixing myself.
American cars will probably the best for maintenance, parts, availability and affordability. Stay away from anything with a turbo, or very popular models that are high on the theft list.
Hi Isaiah -
Congratulations to you for being a forward thinker!!! As a college student, you're smart to look for a vehicle that will give you what you need for the best price. I could not afford a 'new' car as Alexi recommended when I was going to college and chose a used Honda Accord that had been lovingly taken care of by it's original owner. Be sure to change the oil (I used a synthetic). I would also recommend you check out Kelly Blue Book (www.KBB.com), they publish a top 10 car list. I would also suggest you check out Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org), they'll give you all the details. Best for fuel efficiency, best for repairs, etc. etc. This way when you do decide to make a purchase, you'll be an informed buyer. Good luck in your search and in college!!!
Leigh-Anne Lehn
Christine Feghali, MBA
Christine’s Answer
Hi Isaiah, great question! A lot of times college students overlook the practicality of the car they choose and pick something that's fast and shiny, so kudos to you for thinking about it this way.
The Honda Fit is a great car for college students. It relatively inexpensive, durable, and fun to drive. It gets about 40 mpg when you're on the highway, so you won't have to spend too much on fuel. It's also a hatchback so it will make carrying your belongings super easy.
I hope this helps!