You could always just fix up the suspension on your old ride if you like everything other than the handling. Fords are good in that parts are cheaper than any of the Euro stuff, and maybe even cheaper than Japanese stuff. I'd say some new springs, shocks, & tires could get you close to where you want to be. New wheels and lower profile tires (but not too low) would be more expensive than just better tires than you've got but cheaper than a new car.
With the European cars you've listed, unless your from a wealthy family, they cost a fortune to have anything repaired. If you want domestic and 4 doors aren't a requirement, check out Chevy Monte Carlo. I'm assuming they make that car.
1967 GTO! Regimental Red, black hard top, Crager SS mags, LOTSA CHROME!! Oh, sorry. That's a recommendation for a soon-to-be 52 year old guy going through my his mid-life crisis
Yeah, what everyone else is saying. Unless you're wealthy skip the german cars you've got there, Grampa. Yes, you want to buy Grampa's car, I will call you Grampa. The BMW and Mercedes will run you a minimum of $800 for the simplest fix. Like what might be a $45 part for a Ford or GM. Honestly. It doesn't matter that they're not new, the people that can afford to buy them new don't blink at a $1000 for something ridiculous on a car that the dealer says it needs. It's an investment after all... When people talk about Jaguars having repair issues, they're talking about real Jaguars, which are smaller than what you want. The Jaguar you're looking at is what I call a Buick Jaguar. It's pretty much a standard Buick sedan, but someone put a hood ornament on it at the factory. Don't worry, they'll love to still charge you Jaguar prices for maintenance. Skip it. It's going to be the driving experience of a Buick Century and the repair bills of any of the german cars above. Stick with what you have. You're too young and in college to even be thinking about handling. If it's dangerous, get it fixed. Otherwise you probably have a lot better things to spend money on than a used car.
The VW won't be as bad a Mercedes or BMW, but it will still be more than one of your Grampa Wagon Classics. And if you're looking to stand out from what everyone else is driving, college aged is pretty much what VW Jettas, GTIs and a few others are aimed at. I'm really not a fan of GM at all, but have you looked at Impalas?
Wow, I thought we were talking about a car for a college student. With all the talk about Mercedes, BMW's and Jags we must be talking about a student going to Yale or Harvard. Both my kids drove used Toyota Yaris's and are still driving them.
I still think that Toyota Corolla, which is what I drive is the best for economy and reliability for any age bracket. Mine is a 2007 and the only expense outside of oil changes is new tires and a battery. They're dead nuts reliable and quite spacious for a small car.
Yep....I drive a VW. When I change my oil it cost me $10 a quart for the right oil. I can use a cheaper oil but if I do it will cause a sludge build up and kill the engine. Also...It wants premium fuel (92 octane) to try to get it close to the euro fuel (98 octane) standard. It will run on regular but if you don't put in a good fuel treatment every few tanks it will run sluggish. Most of all parts are higher and maintain cost as well. It does get incredible gas mileage, though.
Get a Cobalt or something else that won't make you a slave to your car. My car is an '04 Cavalier. I bought it a few years ago with 50,000 miles on it. I paid $6000 cash for it after the bank messed up my first payment and made me late.
It might be best to avoid foreign cars because replacement parts cost $$$$. Parts for American cars are much less expensive. Similarly, transmission repairs on rear wheel drive cars are often much less expensive than for front wheel drive vehicles. Those two bits of advice saved me a pile of money over the years. I used to have a big old Ford, too. It was a great car, and lasted for 250,000 miles, even after being totaled twice. Had I been in a little economy car, I would be pushing daisies now.
Speaking of cars for college students... Ha! My college car...a 1976 Capri II Ghia S—'the Sexy European,' as the marketing slogan promised. 4-speed; V6; A/C, sunroof; put a monstrous Blaupunkt stereo cassette player system w/ graphic EQ and 4 speakers in it. Quite the 'coed magnet'...the car, that is. Had it for about 13 or so years. Soon outgrew a two-door car when the kids started showing up in '87 & 89.
Before I bought the Corolla I drove a Chevy Silverado King Cab and let me tell you, when gas was over $4.00 a gallon, it cost me over $80.00 to fill it up. I don't miss that truck at all.
Aside from handling like a sled, there is nothing wrong with a crown vic. At university, I had a 1984 LTD II. That got totaled by a drunk driver when it was parked in front of my house and I replaced it with a 1987 Buick LeSabre Wagon. If your car runs, keep it going. Once you graduate, it might be time to get something with better fuel economy if you end up with a commute. I drive a 2007 Honda Fit now. It is isnt very fast, but can hold a lot of crap and averages about 32 mpg. I have been thinking about a small truck though. Not mine, but my wagon looked a lot like this...
If you were in Europe, I would recommend you Volkswagen or older Mercedes like 124 or some BMW (I love the one you posted). Merc 124 iz amazing car, although it is older, it is one of the most reliable cars ever. But since you are overseas... well, probably stick with some domestic brand as you are student, because cheap parts. Not so sure about those police cars (if I understood right, sorry if not), you never know who and how driven them...usually that cars are exploited without mercy.
+1000 on buying domestic. I hit a deer in my car a couple years ago and did $2500 worth of damage to my car. I only had to pay the deductible and finding parts for my car is easy because there were literally millions of Cavaliers made. I'll drive it til the wheels fall off or my foot falls through the floor.
You can not kill a Honda and they don't lose value like most cars. Not losing their value means they are high priced used, though. Edit: I friend of mine has a Honda Accord he lives in Mississippi goes to college every day and drives to Missouri and back almost every weekend. Other than changing oil he has had to put an alternator on it. The last time I saw the mileage it was well over 300,000 miles.
