Overhaulin'

best car for new driver?

I am currently shopping around for my first owned car. I'm a college student; so money is tight. i was thinking of buying a Used car..Is that the best thing..or should I lease a new car..? i figured since it'd be my first car; i should go for a cheaper route..like a older used car ..("old" in my vocabulary being maybe from year 2000 or 2002) I have a nice wad of cash saved up...Also! with the gas going up so much; I was hoping to find a used car with a nice amount of gas per gallon!. what are some cars that fit these descriptions..? or what are your thoughts on used cars VS Leased cars..? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. Do not lease a car. You end up paying more than the car is worth. Find a good, used car -- Toyota or Honda--- even if it is a 98 model -- and save your money.
2. YOu want to go with something small and used is the way to go. For a new driver it is always a bad idea to get a new car insurance will be more expensive and a lot of new drivers wreck there first car. I would recommend a small 4 cylinder vehicle. Honda's get incredible gas mileage and are virtually indestructible. Basically anything used used with a 4 cylinder is going to get the trick done. Also i would definitely see how much it is going to cost a month to insure it. It costs quite a bit more to insure a Prelude than it does a GEO. Just some things to keep in mind. Good Luck!!!
3. As you are a rookie driver, I would recommend a car that is not over-powered. I'd say a small Toyota would be the best all around vehicle for you. The Corolla is a very nice little car. They are probably the most dependable of all small cars and get good MPG. Do not lease!!!!! Something to keep in mind is that a 2 door car is much more expensive to insure than a 4 door car, as is a 6 cyl engine vs a 4 cyl engine in the same vehicle.