There are a lot of reasons you buy a certain used car. For some shoppers, it’s all about the reliability. For others, it’s all about the up-front price. For others still, it’s the ongoing maintenance costs. When it comes to college cars, and shopping for one, chances are, your priorities will be somewhere in between.
I recently wrote a story for www.autoTRADER.ca with three of my top used car picks for college students, based on a combination of reasonable up-front pricing, and reasonable ongoing maintenance costs. The Kia Rio / Hyundai Accent, Chevrolet Cobalt / Pontiac G5, and Toyota Corolla might make a perfect pick for a new student ride where reasonable purchase prices and relatively low repair costs are primary priorities.
For a closer look at how to shop smart for each one, and some other useful tips for first-time car buyers, check out the full story HERE.
And HERE’s a valuable resource for used car shoppers, with tips and advice via hundreds of used-car reviews, many by yours truly.
Two Notes About Reading a Used Car Guide:
First, know that used car reliability is not an exact science. Is a Toyota more reliable than a Kia? Is a Dodge pricier to run than a Honda? It depends on a wide-reaching array of factors that exist beyond what’s typically captured in popular used-car reliability reports, and the websites that publish them. These don’t consider a wide range of factors that affect the reliability of a vehicle, so take them with a grain of salt.
Second, note that some cars rated to offer more reliability are considerably pricier to buy up front. Is a very reliable car a better choice than a moderately reliable car, if it costs $2,500 more up front, and 30% more to repair if work is needed? It all comes down to shopper priorities.
