# ANOTHER poor college student in need of a car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 25, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090 "2010-02-25T02:47:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Agrippa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@Agrippa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Agrippa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/1 "2010-02-25T02:47:11Z")
So I live in MD and we got hit hard by the snow storms recently. As a semi-direct result, my 97 Camry le (115k) has been declared totaled by my insurance company. They’re giving me $2500 for it after my deductible. So I need a new (used) car. I will be done school in 1.5 years and not in a liberal arts field! (Learned my lesson from my previous degree, which was in a liberal arts field - now going into healthcare). So heres the dilemma. I was originally thinking of buying a car around the $5,000 mark like I did when I bought my Camry (it had 85k miles then). But at that time, I spent maybe another $1,000 soon after due to repairs, tires, etc. But since, it has been running like a champ. So…should I try to find another car for $5,000 or get a newer used car for a bit more? What has been catching my eye recently is the 2006 +/- a year model Hyundai Sonatas! I’m finding them for around $8000-$10,000 with 30-50k miles on them. Now it will be a stretch for me, but maybe it will be worth it? I really can’t afford to be late for schools, being on call, etc. Im also open to any other suggestions. I have looked at Foresters, but they sound a bit more expensive to maintain and i don’t like the head gasket issues they seem to have. I’ve looked at the Toyota Matrix/Vibe but they’re expensive, higher miles, and hard to find. I’ve looked at Crown Victorias - but I don’t want to constantly be stuck behind cars doing 55mph. Thanks all! ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/2 "2010-02-25T03:34:21Z")
A Buick of some sort with a 3.8 engine might be considered. The cars are reliable, relatively cheap to maintain, and many of them have been driven a bit more gently due to the type of person who will buy a Buick. Flashy? No, but the purpose is to get through school first and if you do the right amount of legwork and play your cards right you can probably find a good used one for the amount of money that you already have. Patience in looking is the best option but many people want a car nowtodaythisminute. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/3 "2010-02-25T04:09:12Z")
Your experience with the Camry is the norm, when you buy any used car you need to have some money for repairs available. To get a car requiring no repair expenses is either pure luck, or you bought a NEW car. Even a used car only 2 or 3 years old will require something, at least tires and brake work. You are buying in a price range where you can expect some repair costs. Getting a car a couple of years newer won’t make any difference. Buying used cars is risky business, the best way to know what you getting is to see documented service records, and get a mechanic to inspect your car before you buy it. ---
**Author:** ![kb0001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@kb0001](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kb0001)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/4 "2010-02-26T18:15:43Z")
If you look at any cars with a timing belt, make sure there’s documented evidence that it was changed. If not, factor that cost into the price. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/5 "2010-02-26T23:57:44Z")
Avoid popular cars like Toytoa and Honda. They will cost a lot to buy, and you can’t afford that now. I would still buy an inexpensive car and reconsider after getting the job. What about a 2003 to 2005 Hyundai Elantra? They have a good record for repairs, too. A Chevy Cobalt has a good repair record, though 2005 was it’s first year; prices might be too high ($5000-$6000). The 2004/2005 Cavalier has a good repair record and is right at $5000. Another unpopular but decent pick is the Ford Focus. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/6 "2010-02-27T01:09:45Z")
A P71 former cop car Crown Vic (YOU brought this up) can provide a lot of car for the money. But you must do your homework and buy one RIGHT…Success in this endeavor is VERY satisfying! ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/7 "2010-02-27T02:33:48Z")
> > I’ve looked at Crown Victorias - but I don’t want to constantly be stuck behind cars doing 55mph. I don’t understand this, perhaps because it has been some years since I rode in a Crown Vic. Are they this underpowered now? ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/8 "2010-02-27T04:25:02Z")
No, but everyone thinks you’re a cop, so they slow down to the speed limit, or slower ---
**Author:** ![houstonrice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@houstonrice](https://community.cartalk.com/u/houstonrice)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/9 "2010-02-27T05:13:55Z")
Dude, search for threads with my username on it. I went through this a few months back, and all the posters helped me tremendously . In the end I got a manual Chevy Cobalt, with 24 K miles on it. ---
**Author:** ![djbrophy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@djbrophy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/djbrophy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/another-poor-college-student-in-need-of-a-car/45090/10 "2010-03-07T23:54:14Z")
I have a 2002 Hyundai Elantra with 135,000 miles. Runs great, low maintenance, Highly recommended.