Buying a used car for college
Oct 31 '07
The Bottom Line Low mileage, well maintained, private purchase, four cylinder, automatic, steel rims. It may sound boring, conservative and not you, but the college years arent cheap. Be smart, not cool.
So you’re on your way to college! Great, congratulations. If you’re reading this you may be looking for some advise on buying a car for school. I would like to bestow that information on you not just as a parent, but as someone that’s been highly involved in most aspects of auto repair and technology for thirty plus years now. I too have had to deal with purchasing, or maybe I should say my sons purchasing of cars while away. Notice I use plural “cars” in that sentence. You see, he didn’t follow some of my guidelines, the first or second time around and got stung. If you don’t want to listen to what Mom or Dad have to say, then at least listen to an old garage man who’s been there.
First off, purchasing a car isn’t just buying a car. You buy the car, you buy the maintenance, you buy the repairs, you buy the insurance you buy the gas. Those are all considerations you have to take into account.
When it comes to buying the car you want to start well in advance. Don’t run out and buy just any car that comes along or looks cool. Unless your parents are footing the bill “in which case stop reading now” you have to take the above-mentioned variables into account. Consider the following.
1.What is it going to cost to maintain this car? Although Japanese cars have a great reputation for long-term durability, a lot of stuff goes wrong all at once with these cars. When it does, it’s going to cost and usually more than the American equivalent car to repair and maintain. My advice as far as keeping a car up is invest in preventive maintenance and keep a slush fund for repairs. Iv always invested an annual amount equivalent to a good car payment into PM. Do those belts, fluids, filters, brakes, tires and other things that leave you stranded before they wear out. Keep some dollars set aside for breakdowns too. Again a good car payment set aside will go a long way to bailing you out when it does break. And yes, cars break. Grandma wants to know what to get you for your birthday. A membership in AAA can be a lifesaver when away and gets you discounts on towing and repairs.
2.What’s it going to cost to insure? Although you may be able to pick up that BMW 318 or Honda Civic for a great price, how does the insurance company view it? Cars that get stolen more often, street raced and crashed or in general appeal to younger people are going to command a higher premium. Insurance is a good portion of ownership expense and you should sit down with a good agent and discuss premiums and get estimates on a few different vehicles before you settle on what is best for you. If nothing else the agent will see you as a serious individual and work a little harder at juggling numbers to get your rate down. Thinking of being a rider on your parent’s policy? Maybe the folks should sit down with their agent and find out what it will cost them if you have to make a claim. It may prove one of your folk’s worst financial decisions.
3.Want a high HP stoplight to stoplight tire burner? Sounds cool, but consider what kind of gas mileage that’s going to get you. In general the higher the rated HP, the more gas it will burn. A Mustang is a great car, but a Geo Metro will take you three times as far. If you’re within walking distance of your classes, great. You’ll never have to burn an ounce except on weekends. If you’re going to be driving across town, those gallons are going to add up fast. The single biggest complaint I get from my own son who’s away at college is the cost of gas.
When it comes time to track down that elusive “right” car be sure to set some parameters. How old of a car are you willing to buy? Older doesn’t necessarily mean worse. Older cars are usually easier to work on both for yourself and for the mechanic if you take it in. That can be a huge savings when you consider what hourly service rates are now. Mileage is really a better indicator of wear than age. Think in 10’s. No more than ten thousand miles a year is a good rule of thumb. If its under ten thousand a year than it took some pretty average driving and you probably aren’t going to run up against any major problems. If it’s over ten thousand, say a 2001 model with 100K. Do the math. That’s twenty thousand miles a year. That car has had the snot driven out of it. People that drive that much are usually using the car simply as a tool with very little regard for upkeep. Expect problems no mater how nice it looks.
What make and model of car? Like I said before, Japanese cars have a really good reputation. But when something goes wrong it’s going to cost. Chances are other problems will be found or will soon appear after repair. It’s that cycle of life thing. How many times Iv told a customer of a problem or additional problem to see them get that deer in the headlight look and reply with something like “that’s never happened before” “but it’s a Hondishi Sr-Z super, how can that be?” “Why so much?” When it rains it pours.
American cars for years took a bad rap, and no matter how you feel about them I can still put one through the service bay faster than most any other car on the road. Like I said, that adds up to big savings when it comes time to maintain or repair. Euro cars are my personal favorite but not always the best choice for someone in need of a reliable daily beater. There are some really good choices in Euro cars for college students, but most of them aren’t “cool” i.e.. big old Volvos or just inaccessible in the U.S. Renault Clio, Megane. In the end though whatever you get just remember the mechanics advise. All cars are good cars if they’re maintained.
Once you’ve decided how much you can afford for insurance, gasoline and upkeep, then its time to start tracking down your car. Places to stay away from if you can. College town used car dealers. For as smart as you may have been in school your lack of life experience makes you a babe in the woods and easy target for car salesmen. Walk onto the lot in a college town and you’ll drive away with something that couldn’t get unloaded anywhere else.
Private sales are really the way to go and the closer to home the better. Look for older people that still have the “trade every few years” mentality and are first owners. You can usually find a low mileage well kept car this way.
If you do find a car and its been modified, turn and run. I know it sounds nice to get a car with a head unit, amp, booming speakers, big rims and body kits, but those cars unless professionally done usually have numerous unseen problems.
The biggest problems I see are vehicles with big sound systems. The wiring harness usually gets tapped into and creates havoc with the cars computer system. Very expensive and many times difficult to repair. Usually you won’t find any other components like alternator, battery or wiring upgraded and that causes all sorts of charging/starting problems.
Private sales can take time. You have to wait out the right car and many times someone will beat you to it. If you can’t take it any longer search around for a reputable dealer. New car dealers can usually get you the car you want, but it may be at the expense of condition. Meaning they may buy at auction, but they do only what’s needed to sell you the car. You’re left to find the other problems.
Local used car dealers can sometimes be more reliable in this respect. Their only business is selling used cars. If they don’t make sure they sell good cars, word of mouth could put them out of business. In any case it is advisable to take an older person with you. Sometimes the nice shiny appearance of a car prepped for sale can make you loose perspective. Be sure to ask if you can have an independent mechanic look at it. If they tell you that its been looked at and they have a report or flat out refuse for what ever reason, walk away.
Having a mechanic look at and advise you on a used car even if it means paying for the service could be your best move. Try to set up a time that you can take the car to be looked at. Getting a car onto the lift and in the mechanics shop, not just out in the yard can make a difference. A thorough inspection should include engine, suspension, brake, air conditioning tests and operation. Have the transmission and differential fluids looked at. The motor oil analyzed and above all else, have your mechanic do a computer diagnostics and sensor check with data stream analysis. Be sure that the car has maintenance records and have the mechanic scour them for past problems that could indicate bigger problems. Also see if there are any signs of major body repair or accidents. If there are signs of an accident move on to the next car.
All of these things will not guarantee that a breakdown isn’t going to occur but you will get an experienced and professional opinion of what you might encounter with the car. From running my own shop and seeing so many people in our area going out and buying junk heaps just astounds me. My mechanics and I are more than receptive to looking over and inspecting cars for potential buyers. Iv even done it as a community service “no charge” for people from our church and for kids at the school that I work at.
When you decide to buy the car be sure all the paperwork is with it. Tire and battery guarantee and receipts, past maintenance records, warranty and repair receipts, etc.. if you need to have warranty replacement parts or work done, you’ll need the documentation. Having all the records kept together also helps the mechanic at whatever garage you may decide to use.
If you’ve read this far and are waiting on a specific make and model car then your going to be disappointed. In the end it’s up to you to decide which is the right car for your needs. After all, if you’re a drummer in a band and plan on doing that while away, then a small van is going to suit your needs better than say a Honda civic. If you have parents that worry about you or you’ll be living in an area with a lot of blind retired people, than a big yank tank may be what you need. For most anyone under normal circumstances, I usually suggest a small four cylinder car with an automatic, steel rims, new tires and PM maintenance up to date. And like I said above, any car is a good car as long as it’s taken care of.
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