Buying a car for nursing school

[johsonmichelle]

Anyone in the predicament that I am in, needing to buying a car for nursing school. Now I live Baltimore county now we do have public transportation but very un - reliable. I have used it or the past 3 years, I must walk 20 minutes to the buss stop and must leave the hours 2 hours early, to arrive my destination on time. Although I'm still attending the same school I took pre - requisites, the clinical sites are far away and will require me to be there at 6.30 am, buses don't start running until 5 am and only god knows how long it would take there. So anyways , I need to buy a car. The only debt I have is credit card , I pay that every month in full. I have been very good with that. My program is ADN, so its not expensive , my father pays for that but even decides not to pay anymore or somethings, I can still afford to pay it myself, by working full over the summer, Plus I have no rent to pay, my mother is allowing me to stay rent free, in anticipation that I will give of huge percentage of my nursing paycheck to her, ( LoL, that's not gonna happen). Anyways did you guys buy new or used? I have been looking at used car, and I have been totally disappointed in my research, all I'm looking for is something that looks decent and more importantly a car that is mechanically okay .Beaters wont work because I need something reliable. Anyways please comment your thoughts below.

[Marieh]

I am actually considering buying a 2008-2012 Toyota Camry as I heard these are great running cars. I plan to put a down payment on it. I live in Fort Wayne, IN and cars in that year range are not very expensive. I can purchase a 2010 Camry through my local dealership for only around $12,000. Putting a down payment will allow me to pay it off sooner. I am talking like $3000-$6000 down on the vehicle. I have always wanted a Camry and going through nursing school, I need a reliable vehicle.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Who said I was buying a new Honda? Read the post and analyze . The only thing your right about is that I want a Honda , never said I was going to buy new. I'm honestly looking for opinions from people are looking to buy car now, especially from those who have never owned one before.

OK. Based on posts 4, 5 and 8, it certainly sounded like you weren't amenable to purchasing a used car. Have you ever checked out Consumer Report annual automobile issue? There's a wealth of information in it.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Please if you have problem with this post,DON'T RESPOND. IF you recently bought a car , just share you experience,if not keep it moving. I don't go other people post shaming them for having thousands of dollars in school debt and not be able to paying it back. If you find these posts stupid, good and you can simply click the x buttton:smug:

It's a public forum. That means people will read and maybe respond, even if you're not interested in their input.

There is no reason to be so hostile and insulting. People were trying to give you advice based on their experience.

If this is how you react based on posts about a car, how will you handle input from others when you are in nursing school.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I bought a brand new diesel Jetta in March 2012. It is expensive but getting ~45mpg in a car that actually has power is great. It's also not a car that I will want to junk as soon as I start getting a bigger paycheck... I say buy a car that you want that you can afford. I don't really care how long I finance something for as long as the terms are good. Over the life of the loan (6 years) I am paying like 3000 in interest which in the grand scheme of things just doesn't matter to me. But some people would rather die than pay interest lol. To each their own :)

The problem with extending payments out over a long period of time is, as you noted, the interest. While 3K may not sound like much, you could put that 3K into an investment and let that money earn money for you. Why give that money to the bank/car company?

[johsonmichelle]

It's a public forum. That means people will read and maybe respond, even if you're not interested in their input.

There is no reason to be so hostile and insulting. People were trying to give you advice based on their experience.

If this is how you react based on posts about a car, how will you handle input from others when you are in nursing school.

Please , there is nothing insulting about that post.

[johsonmichelle]

OK. Based on posts 4, 5 and 8, it certainly sounded like you weren't amenable to purchasing a used car. Have you ever checked out Consumer Report annual automobile issue? There's a wealth of information in it.

It seem like you jobless, because you are just nitpicking all the posts. Have several seats please.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I am in the process of getting a new car in the next couple of weeks. I travel a lot for my son's judo competitions and my 07 Trailblazer just isn't cutting it anymore. I've probably invested around $4000 in it the past year or so and am over it. I happen to like Chevys. I live in an area where everyone owns a GM brand car because GM used to have a lot of factories here. People get mad if you buy a foreign car. Plus I get the GM employee discount. My last 3 cars have been Trailblazers. I loved that car. I am thinking about an Acadia or Traverse. I am like a mini bus sometimes and I travel with other families so I need the extra room.

I always buy new because of the warranty. That way I don't have to worry about it. If I have to spend my time worrying about getting my car fixed all the time, it isn't worth the money to me. Plus with a used car you never know what it has been through and how it has been taken care of. So I vote for new.

[SunshineDaisy, ASN, RN]

I am in the process of getting a new car in the next couple of weeks. I travel a lot for my son's judo competitions and my 07 Trailblazer just isn't cutting it anymore. I've probably invested around $4000 in it the past year or so and am over it. I happen to like Chevys. I live in an area where everyone owns a GM brand car because GM used to have a lot of factories here. People get mad if you buy a foreign car. Plus I get the GM employee discount. My last 3 cars have been Trailblazers. I loved that car. I am thinking about an Acadia or Traverse. I am like a mini bus sometimes and I travel with other families so I need the extra room.

I always buy new because of the warranty. That way I don't have to worry about it. If I have to spend my time worrying about getting my car fixed all the time, it isn't worth the money to me. Plus with a used car you never know what it has been through and how it has been taken care of. So I vote for new.

The Acadia is my dream vehicle! One day, I will own one! We need a bigger vehicle for carpool purposes with the kids, but I refuse to buy a mini van*L* We currently have a Nissan Sentra and Hyundai Sonata. Both nice vehicles, just not big enough.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

It seem like you jobless because you are just nitpicking all the posts. Have several seats please.[/quote']

Edited because I was too harsh.

You need to change your attitude if you expect to make it through nursing school and become a nurse.

[buspar]

It seem like you need English class.

Seems*

[slc1984]

The problem with extending payments out over a long period of time is, as you noted, the interest. While 3K may not sound like much, you could put that 3K into an investment and let that money earn money for you. Why give that money to the bank/car company?

I don't think of interest as just giving money to a bank. I think of interest as a big ol thankyou for allowing me to buy a good car that has a good warranty that will last me for many years. Glass half full

[Caribbean Character]

If you can afford to buy a new car, do it. If not, by a car as close to new as you can. Maybe go somewhere in between and buy a program or demo car from a dealership.