What kind of car are you guys planing to use or are using in school?

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sutexas said:
My dad handed me down his '06 Mercedes SLK 280. It has the smallest engine size for that car, so it's not the fastest, but I love it! I'm a huge car fanatic, and my car will always be close to me.
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Nice Car!
 
Nissan GTR said:
Yep, gift for my acceptance 🙂
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hBD8AE03B
 
Toyota corolla 2007. It's all paid off and I plan on driving it to its grave which hopefully will be mid to late residency if not later.
 
I plan on keeping my current vehicle, which is a 2012 Lexus Ct200h.

Lot of new apartment complexes that are riding this "Green" fad even give special parking to Hybrid and EV vehicles 👍👍👍

For fun, I contacted the apartment complex of choice near my top pick and they said Hybrids get the parking spots closed to the elevator 😎😎

Edit: I encourage ANYONE considering a vehicle--to consider purchasing a hybrid!
 
Buying a new car, current one is near it's deathbed. Looking at the new 2014 scion tc. Planning on keeping the car till it dies.

Sent from my Galaxy S2
 
Inifinity is fancy? Just my old Pontiac here til it dies.
 
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Hanging on to my '05 Volvo XC 90- already has 110,000 miles and its paid for. I've also got a beater Mercedes 240D I'll go back and forth with on the weekends or ride my BMW K1200LT.
 
2013 Dodge Charger R/T. Screw fuel efficiency. 'Murica!
 
LaughingMan said:
I plan on keeping my current vehicle, which is a 2012 Lexus Ct200h.

Lot of new apartment complexes that are riding this "Green" fad even give special parking to Hybrid and EV vehicles 👍👍👍

For fun, I contacted the apartment complex of choice near my top pick and they said Hybrids get the parking spots closed to the elevator 😎😎

Edit: I encourage ANYONE considering a vehicle--to consider purchasing a hybrid!
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I'd encourage anyone considering a vehicle to NOT purchase a hybrid. Unless you're loaded. In which case get whatever you want. Hybrids sounds great and all, but the technology is still relatively new. The money you save from gas is instantly gone the moment one of the fuel cells dies on you. I've seen people that aren't that well to do off buy a hybrid because they wanted to save "money" and be eco-friendly. Moment their fuel cells died, boom. Suddenly they're in a bigger hole than if they had just gotten a normal car.
 
DrZed said:
I'd encourage anyone considering a vehicle to NOT purchase a hybrid. Unless you're loaded. In which case get whatever you want. Hybrids sounds great and all, but the technology is still relatively new. The money you save from gas is instantly gone the moment one of the fuel cells dies on you. I've seen people that aren't that well to do off buy a hybrid because they wanted to save "money" and be eco-friendly. Moment their fuel cells died, boom. Suddenly they're in a bigger hole than if they had just gotten a normal car.
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Dying fuel cells are few and far between. My dad has almost 220k on his Honda civic hybrid. Still gets >40mpg combined. My family has owned 6 hybrids of different makes, and never had a battery issue.


I've got my loyal Subaru, and will probably have it for at least another decade.
 
Ravizzle said:
Buying a new car, current one is near it's deathbed. Looking at the new 2014 scion tc. Planning on keeping the car till it dies.

Sent from my Galaxy S2
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Why not a Scion FR-S instead? It is much nicer and only a few grand more.
 
I havea car question. So I am going to need a car..which loans will help pay for. I don't know what would be better. To buy a used car or lease a car? Anyone care to share their experiences? I am 25 y/o if that makes a difference with lease.
 
hoping/praying my 2001 pontiac with 150,000 miles on it makes it through school. I cant imagine taking on a car payment with borrowed money. eek
 
gmcguitar4 said:
I havea car question. So I am going to need a car..which loans will help pay for. I don't know what would be better. To buy a used car or lease a car? Anyone care to share their experiences? I am 25 y/o if that makes a difference with lease.
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Used is always the better deal financially. But depending where you go car sharing options might make good economical sense if you're in a city that has that service.
 
I'm married with kids and was before medical school, so I had a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder. Still going strong at a hair over 100K miles, never had any issues with it at all.

This year I decided I'd need a second car to get to rotations and stuff so I didn't leave my wife stranded with no transportation. I payed cash for a 2002 VW Jetta 1.8t, fun little car, but not reliable at all. Nothing but electrical gremlins since the week I bought it. But it has never refused to work, and it gets good gas mileage so I make it work.
 
With my four kids, I'm riding in the Tahoe.
 
DrZed said:
I'd encourage anyone considering a vehicle to NOT purchase a hybrid. Unless you're loaded. In which case get whatever you want. Hybrids sounds great and all, but the technology is still relatively new. The money you save from gas is instantly gone the moment one of the fuel cells dies on you. I've seen people that aren't that well to do off buy a hybrid because they wanted to save "money" and be eco-friendly. Moment their fuel cells died, boom. Suddenly they're in a bigger hole than if they had just gotten a normal car.
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Mehd School said:
Dying fuel cells are few and far between. My dad has almost 220k on his Honda civic hybrid. Still gets >40mpg combined. My family has owned 6 hybrids of different makes, and never had a battery issue.

I've got my loyal Subaru, and will probably have it for at least another decade.
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Yep--the ideas that hybrid batteries are dying left and right are a myth--most likely pushed around by the oil and gas lobby. There are priuses with 300k miles still running strong.

If not buying a hybrid people--at least buy a ULEV.

gmcguitar4 said:
I havea car question. So I am going to need a car..which loans will help pay for. I don't know what would be better. To buy a used car or lease a car? Anyone care to share their experiences? I am 25 y/o if that makes a difference with lease.
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Buy a used car.
 
100,000 mi, 110,000 mi, pshht, I've got over 220,000 mi on mine. Engine and tranny both still running strong. Gold star if you can guess the make of my 95.

gmcguitar4 said:
I havea car question. So I am going to need a car..which loans will help pay for. I don't know what would be better. To buy a used car or lease a car? Anyone care to share their experiences? I am 25 y/o if that makes a difference with lease.
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I would suggest going used. The only time I would suggest buying a new car (and I'm using suggest generously here) would be if you have a steady income and can easily get 0% APR for at least a couple years.

Leasing a car seems completely useless to me unless you own your own business and can write it off.

LaughingMan said:
Yep--the ideas that hybrid batteries are dying left and right are a myth--most likely pushed around by the oil and gas lobby. There are priuses with 300k miles still running strong.

If not buying a hybrid people--at least buy a ULEV.
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Well some may make it to 300k, but most hybrid batteries are rated for ~150,000mi. Some fail a little before, some fail after, but its highly dependent on use of the battery and number of charging/discharging cycles.

That being said, if you buy a hybrid new or close to new, usually the money you save on gas will equal the added cost of the hybrid and the battery by the time you get to it, then you have the added perks that come with it and the satisfaction to know that you are supporting something that will benefit the future (i.e. benefit production of more hybrids and electric cars that are cheaper - if no one buys them, they won't make them, they'll stay expensive, and we'll continue the excess use of gasoline when cleaner alternatives are available).

Plus, batteries are usually $2000-$3000, which is a lot, but is probably the amount many people pay for say a tranny, a few fuel pumps (if they don't do the work themselves), etc. Unfortunately, right now the cost of battery replacement at a shop is highly dependent on the number of hybrids in your area. When they become common that cost will drop just like anything.
 
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Hyundai I believe gives Lifetime Hybrid Battery Warranty


Sent from my Galaxy S2
 
Saturn SC2 affectionately known as the POS 2000
 
2006 Scion TC, my dad officially handed her over to me this year and I hope to keep her for as long as I can.

I'm overly attached to my car, so I can never imagine trading her in or getting another car.
 
hallowmann said:
Seriously? That's nice! (but then I'd have to drive a Hyundai :laugh:).

And what do they mean by "lifetime"? Do they mean like forever, or like 10-12 yrs - i.e. expected lifetime of the car?
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No idea. Probably has some sort of catch. But I'm guessing at least 10 years minimum.

Sent from my Galaxy S2
 
Depends on where we end up. I currently drive a Fit, my gf drives a Patriot. If we end up in the north east and in a city that involves a lot of driving, we might pool our resources and get a 4-wheel drive Subaru. I remember not being very fond of FWD vehicles and deep snow growing up in the mountains.
 
Brace yourselves....I've got a CHERRY 2002 dodge stratus. The thing is a beast. The paint is chipping off, the wheels are rusty, and in the summer it likes to die in the middle of traffic. Awe yeah....
 
Still rockin' my 98 firebird I've had since I turned 16.
 
I have a mid size truck that I will probably keep throughout medical school and provided it is still good, residency. Perfectly fine for KCOM or my state school.

If I do get into Rush though, not sure what I would do. Don't think I want to take my pick-up to Chicago lol
 
LaughingMan said:
Yep--the ideas that hybrid batteries are dying left and right are a myth--most likely pushed around by the oil and gas lobby. There are priuses with 300k miles still running strong.

If not buying a hybrid people--at least buy a ULEV.



Buy a used car.
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Hmm, possibly. I only know two people that had hybrids and both had problems. One was a friend who got one when they first came out. Died on her and her dad decided to just sell the car. The other was my gramps who got a hybrid camry. Fuel cell also pooped and when they told him the cost he decided to upgrade to a bmw.

Then again, hybrids are still selling so I guess they must be pretty decent.
 
hallowmann said:
Wow, you guys have some pretty nice/new cars. I'm still rockin my 95 model that I've had since I was 16.
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👍👍

gmcguitar4 said:
I havea car question. So I am going to need a car..which loans will help pay for. I don't know what would be better. To buy a used car or lease a car? Anyone care to share their experiences? I am 25 y/o if that makes a difference with lease.
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Personally, I think leasing is always a bad idea (there are exceptions, of course). I like for my money to be going towards something rather than just throwing it away renting a car (leasing). Just my two cents. 🙂
 
hallowmann said:
100,000 mi, 110,000 mi, pshht, I've got over 220,000 mi on mine. Engine and tranny both still running strong. Gold star if you can guess the make of my 95..
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I have a 95 Toyota Avalon that's still going strong, so that's my guess. I am however planning on replacing it next year with something new. I'm afraid it won't make it to see a ripe old age of 25 years by the time I graduate med school.
 
Honda Civic EX 2007. 75,000 miles and still runs perfectly. I expect it to last throughout residency since I don't plan on having to drive much for the first two years of school.
 
2008 Mazda CX-7 with 99,000 miles

Come on 8-10 more years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ignore spelling and/grammar
 
SmurfTurf said:
I have a 95 Toyota Avalon that's still going strong, so that's my guess. I am however planning on replacing it next year with something new. I'm afraid it won't make it to see a ripe old age of 25 years by the time I graduate med school.
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Good guess, but in my area rust would have eaten away at any 10-15 yr old Toyota. I don't know if my car will make it to 25, but I'm hoping it'll get to at least 20 without a >$500 repair.
 
gmcguitar4 said:
I havea car question. So I am going to need a car..which loans will help pay for. I don't know what would be better. To buy a used car or lease a car? Anyone care to share their experiences? I am 25 y/o if that makes a difference with lease.
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If you are going to use school loans to pay for a car, the cheaper the better. School loans are now at, what, 6% interest? With any kind of good credit, a car note will be 2-3%. At 6%+ interest, because you have to factor in the interest from the car note, you'd be better off saving now and buying a $2,000-$3,000 Honda for cash.
 
I just have a 2003 Saturn SLsomething (Not even sure which Saturn it is, lol). It runs, the only complaint I have about it is that sometimes the snow can be deeper than the clearance of the car -- therefore, I cannot go anywhere until the snow is cleared away. But, I'm use to driving in snow, so once I get off my street (which is the one that snow can get deeper than the clearance of my car).

For those thinking of buying a car -- I would seriously consider just buying one for cash (2000 - 3000). You're not going to get anything fabulous, but you will get something that will run for 4 years while in school. Just have it checked out by a mechanic first to make sure it's mechanically sound. As Back 5 points out - you will be paying interest on your car note, with money that you are paying interest on. Buying a car, either by getting a note or by paying it outright will cut into your living expenses, and most schools do not include a car payment into their COA allowance.
 
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