Car for My College Kid < $6K

[hammer]

What is collision waiver? I have $1k deductible too. Why so low?

Collision waiver is an add-on to the collision coverage...from http://www.massquotes.com/auto-insurance-ma.htm:

Buying Collision coverage with a "waiver of deductible" means that the collision deductible you choose will not apply when an accident is caused by another identifiable driver. This is most helpful when there is an uninsured, identifiable driver. If you are in an accident caused by another identifiable driver who is insured, their Part 4 coverage (Damage to Someone Else’s Property) will pay your automobile’s damages to the limit they purchased. You will not have to pay the deductible amount. If you are in an accident caused by another identifiable driver who is uninsured, the waiver of deductible will pay the collision deductible you selected; however, you must pay additional premium for this option.

The premium increase isn't that great and the only real benefit is when the other driver is at fault, is uninsured, and you can identify them. I have used it in the past to prevent having to go through the other party's insurance to get a collision claim paid. I'd rather deal with my own insurance when I can.

 

[snoseek]

You can pick up a civic, corrola or hyundai ect.... off cl for 5k pretty easily. I have a civic I'll be selling this summer for 1k but the but the milage is @ 200k.

 

[campgottagopee]

well.....if they don't buy a Subaru with even 90K miles, they won't have to worry about that one. :lol:

:smile:

Any Subie for 7k will have had the headgasket already done :wink:

 

[deadheadskier]

:smile:

Any Subie for 7k will have had the headgasket already done :wink:

In all seriousness, has that problem been fixed for good?

That's my biggest issue with the company. They were selling vehicles for years where a head gasket replacement was essentially a guarantee. I rack up 35K+ miles per year in my cars and tend to keep them for 6 years. I'm not hip to owning a vehicle that I know is going to need a $1300 repair eventually.

 

[wa-loaf]

In all seriousness, has that problem been fixed for good?

Apparently not. I was told recently that my headgasket is starting to leak and will need to be replaced eventually. I have about 92k on my 05. It's been pretty reliable otherwise, but the service person just shrugged and said it happens to all subi's at around 100k.

 

[Nick]

Guess you gotta know your kid. If my future children are anything like what I or my friends were like at 19, hell no on a lease. I'd end up buying anyways with how I used to beat on cars back then. I'll probably do what my dad did, "Want a car? Get a job and get a beater just like I did"

That's what my dad did. I moved into an apartment in college when I was 19 and I never got another penny from anyone in my family, hahaha.

In 1999 or 2000 I drove a '93 Passat GLX that my dad sold me, it had 115k miles on it when I bought it. He sold it to me for $7,000 (I think that's what it was) and in the 1 year I owned it it cost me almost $5,000 in repairs and I sold it for $3,000. My dad blamed it on me and told me I didn't take care of it, even though the probels were things like worn out shock absorbers and a leaking head gasket.

Worst car I ever owned. I read later that that particular year was notoriously unreliable. I have an '03 Saab 9-3 now with 155k and it runs like butter.

 

[hammer]

Apparently not. I was told recently that my headgasket is starting to leak and will need to be replaced eventually. I have about 92k on my 05. It's been pretty reliable otherwise, but the service person just shrugged and said it happens to all subi's at around 100k.

Isn't that the kind of repair that's a lot cheaper if it's done earlier?

What I don't like is when Subarus are touted as being very reliable cars even though they have this serious engine issue. Not that Japanese makes aren't reliable (and until recently I'd swear by buying a Japanese make vehicle), but I think the press has put them on a pedestal for too long.

 

[deadheadskier]

Apparently not. I was told recently that my headgasket is starting to leak and will need to be replaced eventually. I have about 92k on my 05. It's been pretty reliable otherwise, but the service person just shrugged and said it happens to all subi's at around 100k.

bummer

to me that's a major design flaw that should be a recall. Head Gaskets should be able to last the life of a vehicle. They fix that and switch the timing belt to a chain and I'll consider the brand.

I can appreciate the performance of Subarus, but I guess I just value reliability more.

 

[Nick]

Repairs suck. When I first bought my Saab it had 5,000 miles on it and an extended warranty (factory) to 100k. It was great because everthing was free for a long time. Now I have to pay

Luckily it's been pretty reliable, I've had some quirks recently but I don't expect all that much anymore now that its so old. But it's paid off and I don't want to get rid of it yet haha.

 

[wa-loaf]

Isn't that the kind of repair that's a lot cheaper if it's done earlier?

It's not noticeably losing any oil yet, when that starts to happen I'll need to do it. It's about $1700 I think mainly due to labor, the cost will only go up if you ignore it and do damage to the engine. Until I start replacing the oil a lot it's ok.

 

[hammer]

That's what my dad did. I moved into an apartment in college when I was 19 and I never got another penny from anyone in my family, hahaha.

I made it though college on numerous scholarships...think the total cost from my parents was less than $5K over 4 years. Contrast that with the costs for my first which will be over $20K/year for UMASS Amherst. I really don't mind paying though...we've saved over the years so we have it covered.

I don't know how parents handle the $50K/year schools, and I know from experience that unless your kid has an outstanding GPA and has already gone out and saved the world that scholarships aren't as plentiful as you would think.

 

[deadheadskier]

Repairs suck. When I first bought my Saab it had 5,000 miles on it and an extended warranty (factory) to 100k. It was great because everthing was free for a long time. Now I have to pay

Luckily it's been pretty reliable, I've had some quirks recently but I don't expect all that much anymore now that its so old. But it's paid off and I don't want to get rid of it yet haha.

repairs do suck. high maintenance costs in general sucks.

I beat the Hyundai drum often. Hard not to. 2007 Sonata, 140K miles on it. Oil Changes, Tires and Brakes has been pretty much it. The ABS sensor went and the Power Steering pump, but both under warranty. Even the major services at 60K and 120K miles were only like $350.

Sure the car is somewhat boring to drive, but it gets me from A to B. We have the Mazda3 hatch for a fun car to drive.

 

[mondeo]

I made it though college on numerous scholarships...think the total cost from my parents was less than $5K over 4 years. Contrast that with the costs for my first which will be over $20K/year for UMASS Amherst. I really don't mind paying though...we've saved over the years so we have it covered.

I don't know how parents handle the $50K/year schools, and I know from experience that unless your kid has an outstanding GPA and has already gone out and saved the world that scholarships aren't as plentiful as you would think.

The available for anyone scholarships aren't that plentiful. The ones that come from the school you're attending are a different story. I got $14K/year off tuition/room/board, everyone I knew at Clarkson got a pretty significant discount.

Never pay list prices.

 

[hammer]

to me that's a major design flaw that should be a recall. Head Gaskets should be able to last the life of a vehicle. They fix that and switch the timing belt to a chain and I'll consider the brand.

If they do that I want my $2000 back...

 

[deadheadskier]

I made it though college on numerous scholarships...think the total cost from my parents was less than $5K over 4 years. Contrast that with the costs for my first which will be over $20K/year for UMASS Amherst. I really don't mind paying though...we've saved over the years so we have it covered.

I don't know how parents handle the $50K/year schools, and I know from experience that unless your kid has an outstanding GPA and has already gone out and saved the world that scholarships aren't as plentiful as you would think.

I'd be interested to see the ROI on the kids that go to the 50K/year schools vs the 20K/year schools.

Seems to me with how tuitions have sky rocketed in recent decades that college almost needs to be viewed more as an investment these days than simply an education.

 

[mondeo]

bummer

to me that's a major design flaw that should be a recall. Head Gaskets should be able to last the life of a vehicle. They fix that and switch the timing belt to a chain and I'll consider the brand.

I can appreciate the performance of Subarus, but I guess I just value reliability more.

New engine has a chain.

 

[Glenn]

For under $6k, you can find a nice WJ (1999-2004) Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 inline 6. It won't sip gas, but it's a reliable vehicle. That inline 6 is a fantastic engine.

 

[WakeboardMom]

I made it though college on numerous scholarships...think the total cost from my parents was less than $5K over 4 years. Contrast that with the costs for my first which will be over $20K/year for UMASS Amherst. I really don't mind paying though...we've saved over the years so we have it covered.

I don't know how parents handle the $50K/year schools, and I know from experience that unless your kid has an outstanding GPA and has already gone out and saved the world that scholarships aren't as plentiful as you would think.

I'd be interested to see the ROI on the kids that go to the 50K/year schools vs the 20K/year schools.

Seems to me with how tuitions have sky rocketed in recent decades that college almost needs to be viewed more as an investment these days than simply an education.

My husband says, "College is a scam." He and I - state school, paid our way, including cars, etc. I wanted my kids to have a different experience; they wanted more and we did our best to help. ROTC, second mortgages, MEFA, VSAC loans for them and us...d*mn...we did all kinds of sh*t to help the first three...including making sure that they all had a good used car. (If I told you how many cars for those three, you'd really think we were crazy...and that's leaving aside boats and skis.)

I agree with DHS - I'd be interested to see the ROI. BUT I do also believe that college is all about "fit" and I know that #2 son was much better off at WPI than at UNH. #1 son went to Holy Cross and got his masters in Global Relations at the University of San Diego, another private, Catholic college. His wife was not impressed with that tuition vs. hers at San Diego State for her masters. It will be interesting to seewhat developments occur in his career. (He's also got time served as a USN officer on his resume.)

#4 wants to be a teacher. She's at Keene State. It's a good fit. There was no way I was encouraging a future teacher to take on a hefty amount of student loans. Right now we're paying most of it; she'll come out with about 20k in loans after 5 years. (She's in a 5-year Bachelor's/Masters program.) One thing that p*sses me off, though, is that she can't even get a job on-campus, because she's not eligible for that type of "financial aid." She's in Italy this semester and will work two jobs this summer. She's driving my '01 Volvo C70 convertible with 175k miles on it. I've got my fingers crossed that it lasts three more years. That seems like a lot to ask.

We're just not into leases. Have always done well with used cars and a good mechanic.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

my 2 girls (5 and 8) are taking golf lessons...the pro told my wife to keep them at it, there were 22,000 unused golf scholarships last year....thats insane...

 

[pro2860]

my 2 girls (5 and 8) are taking golf lessons...the pro told my wife to keep them at it, there were 22,000 unused golf scholarships last year....thats insane...

I'm not sure if it still holds true but for the first few years after title 9 was enacted, if a girl could break 80 she could get a full ride...