New Car Search

[NJ346]

Looking to take the money I got from the Camaro sale and put it towards a 24 month lease. I plan on test driving some cars this week to get a feel for what I like but the early front runner is the Cruze. I also like the fusion. I have 7k to spend over that 24 month period(between down payment and monthly payments). Criteria for what I'm looking for:


Domestics only
At least 30-35 mpg Hwy
A little bit fun to drive
2 or 4 doors


Any other cars I should look at other than the Cruze and Fusion? And yes, I understand the Fusion is a midsize compared to the Cruze being a compact. Al, sell me on the Malibu if it's something worth looking at.

[MyFirstZ]

That leaves you with a payment of around 250$ a month and putting 1000$ upfront for taxes, registration and all that happy horse crap.

dodge dart rallye or focus hatch? gonna have very few choices with limited options

[grazi]

The new darts are pretty cool looking

[NJ346]

I don't really like the dart. I have family that can cosign with me to easily get the best financing rates possible so I don't think it will be all that hard to get the deal I'm looking for. I figured throw $2k down and look for a payment around $200/month. I will consider looking at some foreign cars since I only plan on keeping it for the 24 months and dumping it.

[MyFirstZ]

I think for the price and styling the cruze may be your best bet. That was one of my choices as well.

I had to have my father cosign since my credit is more then good enough for them but since I have never had such a large payment besides school....... I am still paying 251 with the extras I added for the tire insurance with 1700$ down in taxes and such

[NJ346]

I may have to take a look at that kia. Definitely like the styling. Where'd you purchase it from?

[MyFirstZ]

kia of West Nyack.

up here by the palisades mall. Salesman you want to see is Greg if you go.

1000$ cash for leasing a car and 2500$ for having a competitors vehicle in the household. So have to keep that stuff in mind to

[NJ346]

Alright, well my search is only going to last until I go back to school in two weeks. If I don't find anything in that time I will just invest the money for after I graduate college.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Why do you want a new car for 2 years? Why not just keep the truck and save/invest the money?

[NJ346]

Why do you want a new car for 2 years? Why not just keep the truck and save/invest the money?

Because I want to treat myself to something nice for a bit. And I want something that would only get me through college. At the end of the 2 years I should be settled at my full time job making good $$ and then get something worth owning. Or buy-out whatever I lease for cheap.

[NJ346]

Also, have you looked at investment options lately? With inflation generally at 2.5%, I'd have to tie the money up into something pretty good to try and get any type of appreciation.

[sweetbmxrider]

Volt

[MyFirstZ]

didn't think they were that affordable

[LTb1ow]

Buy used?

[mc73nova]

What trim levels are you looking at? Base, middle of the road, loaded?

[NJ346]

Haven't really decided. Id say middle trim level. Something with a sunroof and a FI engine. I'm gonna go dealer hunting tomorrow and find out what's really in my price range

[WayFast84]

The cruze is a really nice car. I'd get one if I wasn't so unhappy with my cobalt with 83k on it.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

Also, have you looked at investment options lately? With inflation generally at 2.5%, I'd have to tie the money up into something pretty good to try and get any type of appreciation.

You obviously don't need the money, and have 2+ years on your hands. You're a college student, you have plenty of time on your hands to research :lol:.

I'm just offering up counter-opinions.

[PolarBear]

At the end of the 2 years I should be settled at my full time job making good $$ and then get something worth owning.

You really think you're going to find a well paying job right after school? :rofl: Ask some of the other people who can wipe his/her ass with that degree are doing after school :kneeslap:

I am mostly kidding, but good luck!

[V]

Have you considered taking over a lease? That way you don't have the cost of initial down payment and a shorter term in case you want to move onto something newer or you have trouble affording it after a while.

If you're interested, I partly looking to get rid of my one car which is a lease. I have no need for 2 car payments and now that im back in nj I don't need 3+ cars. It's a 2011 cruze lt, auto, Bluetooth, cruise, cloth, taupe grey ext. black/grey interior . Lease ends march 28 2014. about 14k miles left, 245 a month.

[Mike]

If you have a reliable dd and also have a way to ensure you don't spend the money on stupid little ****. I would save it until you finish school. Then when you are making good money you can use it as a dp on a nicer new car. Or even part of a dp on a house. I wish I would have done this

[KevinW]

The cruze is a really nice car. I'd get one if I wasn't so unhappy with my cobalt with 83k on it.

WayFast, you are unhappy with your cobalt? why is that? I will be looking for a small car for my kid in a while and the cobalt is on the short list. What problems are you having? thx

[1320B4U]

Just a question, but are you figuring in insurance in your estimate...new car w/full coverage and depending on your driving record etc?

[WayFast84]

WayFast, you are unhappy with your cobalt? why is that? I will be looking for a small car for my kid in a while and the cobalt is on the short list. What problems are you having? thx
Pmed.

[NJ346]

If you have a reliable dd and also have a way to ensure you don't spend the money on stupid little ****. I would save it until you finish school. Then when you are making good money you can use it as a dp on a nicer new car. Or even part of a dp on a house. I wish I would have done this

Best response of this thread. This is my exact thinking but the truck is getting up there in miles and I question how much longer it will continue to be a reliable DD and gas mileage is a killer which is why I'm considering something new.

I don't want to buy used. As of now it's either lease new or keep the truck until it breaks and then lease something new.

Another part of the puzzle is I have to check insurance quotes. I don't think it will be that big of an issue since I have a clean record and NJM is my insurance company

[MyFirstZ]

how old ?

my insurance on the kia is more then my camaro 8/ brand new car under 25yrs old

[NJ346]

I'm 21 but I'm fine if insurance is more. I have much more than 7k to throw at a car but then Id consider buying and not leasing. This thread was more about cars I should consider than how I go about financing.

[qwikz28]

Vin- I know you are in college, so my advice to you is buy used if you are like me and are paranoid and will worry about dents and scratches. I know how Rutgers lots can be, and to me, a new car would just be an extra worry. Finances be damned, I just wouldn't want to watch a nice car get dinged up and scratched and make you resent your purchase.

[NJ346]

Vin- I know you are in college, so my advice to you is buy used if you are like me and are paranoid and will worry about dents and scratches. I know how Rutgers lots can be, and to me, a new car would just be an extra worry. Finances be damned, I just wouldn't want to watch a nice car get dinged up and scratched and make you resent your purchase.

I do agree about that but i have an off campus house starting june first with off street parking thats fenced in so i think id be good. Honestly this is the first time I can comfortable afford to drive something nice so I'm going to venture out and test drive some cars. If I go back to school in two weeks with nothing I'll be perfectly fine with that decision.

[WildBillyT]

Vin- I know you are in college, so my advice to you is buy used if you are like me and are paranoid and will worry about dents and scratches. I know how Rutgers lots can be, and to me, a new car would just be an extra worry. Finances be damned, I just wouldn't want to watch a nice car get dinged up and scratched and make you resent your purchase.

FWIW this is great advice.

You will be in New Brunswick with it at the end of the day.

[BonzoHansen]

and they can ding you for damage when you return it at the end of the lease.

[NJ346]

Valid points made which is something to consider. At this point I'm leaning towards just investing the money. I have some relatives that can help me get good investment options and put the money away for two years. I still plan on test driving some cars just for the hell of it. So besides the Cruze, Fusion, and now the optima, are there any other cars out there that I'm missing? I'm not interested in the Civic or anything Hyundia offers currently

[LTb1ow]

Valid points made which is something to consider. At this point I'm leaning towards just investing the money. I have some relatives that can help me get good investment options and put the money away for two years. I still plan on test driving some cars just for the hell of it. So besides the Cruze, Fusion, and now the optima, are there any other cars out there that I'm missing? I'm not interested in the Civic or anything Hyundia offers currently

House > car

[1320B4U]

Just an fyi, with my ford/mercury lease we had for my wife, i had up to 1k damage allowment included in the lease. They sent me out a template on what would not be considered damage, but normal wear and tear about 3 months before the lease was up. Dings, windshield chips etc can all be passed off w/out hitting you unless its more severe. If the tires aren't down to the wear indicators you are also ok. I only ever leased mercurys so unsure of other manufacturers....and i'll tell you 1 thing, out of the 2 blue ovals we leased, they were the best cars ever..not 1 single, f'ing issue at all, i was amazed in over 60k leased miles.

[sweetbmxrider]

Volt.

[WayFast84]

Just put it into a CD. You worked hard for your money, and even though you will barely get a return for it, it will always be there.

[NJ346]

Just put it into a CD. You worked hard for your money, and even though you will barely get a return for it, it will always be there.

Current CD rates are the exact reason why I'm considering spending the money NOW and not saving it. In case you're wondering what I'm talking about, you'd be losing $ if your investment doesnt return atleast enough interest to cover inflation(typically between 2 and 3 percent a year).

Anyway, I'd still like to look at some cars. Does anyway have any suggestions similar to the cars I have previously mentioned?

[1320B4U]

Volt would be crazy money to lease new and to buy one would be over 25k used (from what i've seen). Further, how would you charge the volt if you don't have a off street parking. Granted, the op said he's getting off campus housing and not sure if that means house, apt, condo or whatever. I wouldn't want an extension cord running out the front door and over the sidewalk to charge a car everynight in certain areas around campus that i would assume cater to college age renters.

Just a question.

[JW]

Put it in a Roth IRA and continue to drive your DD.

JW :D

[NJ346]

Went and test drove both the Cruze and Fusion today. The Chevy dealer I went to was willing to negotiate the price where as ford was firm. For a pretty much loaded 2013 cruze lt I was able to get them down to 21,400 plus tax tags and title. For a Fusion Se with leather and heated seats it would have been 27,600. The Cruze had the 1.4L turbo and the fusion had the 1.6L ecoboost. Both cars were really nice and I got my credit score ran for the first time in my life...lets just say I'll be getting the best financing options available if I go that route. 😀

[MyFirstZ]

I would go for the cruze. I like the new fusions front end but that's it for styling.

besides the heated seats and leather is it pretty well loaded ?

the more you get for the money is the route I'd go

[NJ346]

The cruze definitely gave more for the money but I did like the fusions styling better. To me the cruze felt more of like a colleges kids car where as the fusion was a step or two above that. Looking at my financing options id most likely lean towards purchasing and not leasing. For 21,400 the cruze had a sunroof, upgraded stereo, remote start, reverse backup camera, some dealer installed interior and exterior packages and it had the turbo motor. The only options on the fusion for 27,600 were the ecoboost motor and the leather and heated seats and a sunroof.