If your kid has not beaten you up yet for a car while in high school or college, here are the best used cars for high school graduates as they prepare for college or college graduates as they prepare for the real world.
Do not feel guilty about not buying them a new car. It is totally unnecessary for young people just starting out to drive a new car. Plus with college expenses you have probably bought them the equivalent of a new car by now.
Regardless of what used car you select, make sure it’s thoroughly inspected by a trained mechanic before purchase.
Does your child have a long drive to school and little financial aid? A 2007 Honda Fit is the perfect used car. It has great fuel economy at 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with the 5-speed manual transmission. The interior space is simply amazing for such a small car. The Fit also has an abundance of safety and technology features as standard equipment like six standard airbags and anti-lock brakes. Dealer prices start at $12,695.
There is no need for cars with lots of storage capacity if your high school grad is sleeping in her upstairs bedroom. What you want is a good solid car with room for passengers in case the grad wants to carpool. A 2006 Hyundai Elantra is the solution. Fuel economy is 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Plus, Consumer Reports gives it high marks in every category. Dealer price starts at $9,374. You could pick up a 2005 for about $1800 less. Its Consumer Reports grades are almost as high.
In a couple of years, they will probably be buying you cars with the demand so high for skilled tradespeople. In the meantime, a nice utility van like the 2002 Chevrolet Express Cargo 1500 could do the trick. Cargo vans are not my specialty, but
Edmunds.com does select it as an Editors Wanted for 2002. It has a lot of functionality and should serve any trade student until they get a company van. Dealer retail starts at $6635.
Well, they are not going to need a car for the first few months, are they? But when they are finished with basic get them a good pickup like the 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 short bed with a standard cab. It will be good for moving from base to base. Dealer retail is $10,994. The secret here, though, is to buy the truck after your child is in the military. Then, have him or her apply for a military-rate loan through
Bank of America (for example). You can make the payments and save money with an interest rate that is typically 1% lower. The overall terms are a lot friendlier for people with little or no credit.
OK, we all were either like this at one point or have had kids who were or are. The surest way to turn them into hard-working souls is to buy them a big SUV like the 2002 Ford Expedition. You buy the vehicle but they pay for the gas. With fuel economy of 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway, they will become masters at planning and learning the value of a buck. If they do not, you can always kick them out and tell them to sleep in the back. Dealer retail is $9393, but the more expensive fuel gets, the lower this price is going to plummet.
Ideally for college grads with no loans, you would not buy them a car because they can afford to finance. Lacking that, if the grad has a good job now is the time to splurge on something a little reckless. A 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is slightly reckless because it is a convertible. Plus, convertibles are not the most practical cars, but that is not a big deal if you are young and carefree. Dealer retail is $9726.
I am a big fan of the 2003 Kia Rio wagon as good basic transportation. It has a great price at $4798 that is not going to break the bank. The one caveat is to make sure it has a good pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic. Kias have a mixed reputation for reliability but can be good little cars.
Buy an urban grad something small that is not showing up on any Top 10 list of most stolen used cars. Those tend to be older vehicles with security systems that are easy to beat. A 2004 Toyota Corolla sedan is easy to park, surprisingly comfortable to drive, economical to own, and not on most car thieves' radar. Just remind your graduate not to leave a portable navigation system visible and to remove the stereo. Dealer retail starts about $8994.
Grad students do not tend to be rolling in the dough. So, they need something reliable and easy to maintain. Here is my personal recommendation (because I own one): a 2002 Dodge Neon. It is not exciting to drive, but it is dependable and gets good fuel economy at 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Dealer price is $4994 for the relatively loaded R/T.
They do not want any headaches. Give them something reliable to own like a 2005 Honda Civic sedan. Dealer retail is $10,432, but it is a car that should last at least another 8-10 years with the right maintenance. It is a practical car with the space to get things moved, plus it can seat 4 adults comfortably.
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
| 