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Old 11-21-2010, 09:04 PM   #8 (permalink)
Lindy
Junkie
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeSty View Post
Myself: Dependent college senior going to grad school

Desired Car: 2006 Scion xB, Envy Green, 34k miles, decent price and possibly negotiable. Let's say in the 10-12k range. A car I have wanted for some time. I am going to take a look at it next week, check the VIN and Carfax etc before anything else of course.
Desire is clouding your judgement. Make the right financial decision first. Then think about what car you lust after.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeSty View Post
Has anyone owned a Scion xB?
A good friend has one. Sorry, wrong color, it's black. It's been a great car for him, and he drives from Boston to Woonsocket three times a week. I like the original body style better than the restyle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeSty View Post
Current Car: 1996 Mazda sedan with 140k miles on it - I don't drive much
How much money I have: Enough to make a sizeable down payment on a loan to hold me off until I start making money again next summer

Driving Style: Occasional long trip to college. Occasional around-town driving (I filled up my gas tank once between August and the start of November). In the summer, a commute that will be between 10-30 minutes.

That's the lowdown. Anyone have any sagely advice?
First, you don't say what's wrong with your current car? Is it broken down? Are you embarrassed by it? Unreliable? Wrong color? Why do you want/need to make a change?
Sagely advice1: They must not teach this in college. Even English majors should learn this. Any car is a depreciating asset. Never use borrowed money to purchase a depreciating asset. Drive your old Mazda til you're through grad school and have a real job.
Sagely advice2: Buy from a private party, not a dealer.
Sagely advice3: Where are you going to grad school? I took a car to grad school in Boston. It was a dumb thing to do. Much more trouble than it was worth. Maybe you need a car at Panhandle State, not so much in Boston, Chicago, or San Francisco. Manhattan, Kansas? Yes. Manhattan, New York? Not so much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeSty View Post
I'll see if anyone replies and then I'll leave the feedback that my dad gave - I'm curious to see if anyone will independently agree iwth him.
....Thanks for the input. <3
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Lindy
Lindy is offline  
 

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