I am a new grad (hopefully) beginning my first job soon. However, I will be commuting about an hour each way to my hospital. I live in NJ, and weather is four season so I need a car that is good in rain, slush, snow, etc. especially because of my long commute.
My only two other requirements for the car are affordable, obviously, because I am a new grad and am just getting on my feet, and decent/good gas mileage. I'm currently driving a 2005 Honda Civic and while it's great on gas, I can barely drive around town without skidding through at least one stop sign in the snow.
Any ideas? I've heard a lot of good things about Subarus.
Even though I have a Ford I have to agree with those that love the reliability and longevity of the Subaru. My cousin replaced her old Subaru with a new one after 300,000+ miles on the old one. The body was starting to fall apart but I bet that engine would still be going strong. My father in law was so impressed he bought an Outback last year and he loves it. It was pretty expensive though, so I don't know that I'd want to go new with that model unless you have around a $30,000 budget.
You have been given good advice, I have heard nothing but good, about the Subaru.....but do not set your self up for additional debt, this early in you career.....there is a big difference in needs and wants.....I admit, I did not realize that as soon as I should have
i had a Civic, over 190,000 miles, crash/bump. was still going well till that point. i would get your current car checked out by a mech. you trust, perhaps take some snow driving lessons, and try to keep it thru the winter and save up.
There are several types of tires. Most cars come with all-season tires. Most people replace their tires with more all-season tires when the mechanic warns them their old tires are dangerous (or, let's face it, when the mechanic warns them they won't get an inspection sticker unless they replace the tires).
There are also 3-season tires, that give more grip in wet or dry conditions, at the expense of not doing so well in the snow. There are also winter tires, which may not be so good in rainy and dry conditions (and they wear out very fast in these conditions), but get much better traction in snow.
Why am I telling you this? Because winter tires and front-wheel drive perform better on snow and ice than all-season tires and four-wheel drive. So if you want to get to work safely year-round, you could start with a set of winter tires for your Honda, then get a set of three-season tires (or all-season tires) in the spring. (Yes, it's a drag that you have to store your winter tires, and you'll probably need to buy another set of wheel rims).
You could spend a lot of money on a new car and still not fix your skidding in the snow problem. If you apply what I'm telling you above, you could fix the problem for $400-$1,000, which is a chunk of change, but much less than the cost of a reliable replacement car.
I drive a car older than that- similar commute. A 10 year old car in 2015 is VASTLY different than a 10 year old car in 2000.
Agreed. I drive a 1999 buick 80 mi one way. I live in ND, so use your imagination re: the weather. Haven't had one moment where I needed to take the truck instead, the front wheel drive granny car with good tires, great brakes, and an experienced, cautious driver have gotten me to work just fine.
I've never bought a new car, so I can't honestly say which are the best, but I truly believe that there is no reason other than vanity to buy brand new. Not saying it's bad.
My point was that in 2000, a 10 year old car was a 1990 model. The average longevity of a car then was not ten years. Now it is longer. And 'deserving' a new car? That smacks of financial immaturity.
I am now an oldy -moldy. I was never financially immature.
I am looking back regretting having a high stress job with a lot of responsibility, a family with a lot of responsibility, and finances with a lot of responsibility. And driving a beater the entire time I was being RESPONSIBLE.
Last year, I got rid of my 2002 WRX, which had >265K miles on it, because it needed quite a bit of work (for pretty much the first time in its life) and my mechanic in my current city basically refused to do the work (said the car wasn't worth what the repairs would cost and it was time to just suck it up and get another car, which was true, but, still ...). I know that, if I were still living in Western NC, my mechanic there would have done the work and never suggested that it was time to get rid of the car, and I would still be happily driving it. I replaced the WRX with a used late model, low mileage Subaru Impreza wagon (not a WRX), my sixth Subaru. I guess the "up side" of my new location is that, shockingly, there were large number of late model, low mileage, used Subarus available for purchase whereas, in my area of NC, there's basically no such thing. People there buy a Subaru new and drive it forever.
Buy Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover Book. Follow his advice. Buy a used car you can pay cash for. Best thing I ever did was GET OUT OF DEBT. I am 37 years old, don't owe anyone any money at all and IT FEELS GOOD!!! Worked overtime to pay off the student loans early and drove used cars. YOU can do it too, I promise! It takes hard work and lots of sacrifice, but so worth it in the end. Not worrying about how will I pay bills and being stress free when it comes to finances is one of the best feelings ever. Granted I do not own a house but have over $120,000 saved in investment accounts and 401k.
Alex_RN, BSN
335 Posts
I wish I could nap comfortably in my car. When I shop for my next car, I am going to think about that.