Keep my jeep or get sports car for college?
Posted by IHATETheMaskedGeode@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 20 comments
So I’m going into college this August, and I’m thinking about getting a new car. I have a jeep that I could get 15k on roughly. Since I was little my dream car was either a challenger or a mustang. I’m not really a jeep guy anyways, so I was thinking about selling it, and getting a used challenger or GT for 10-15k. I don’t need very much storage, and I don’t plan on having very many people in my car. Only problem is I’ve only been driving off and on for about a year and I’m definitely no expert yet. Should I hold off for a few years and rack up some more driving experience before I make the jump? Should I just spend less and get a challenger? What do you guys think?
I should also mention I make 2000-3000 a month and live with my parents for free.
No-Organization-1960@reddit
When I was 17, I made $2,800 a month in a part-time commission sales job and planned on trading my beater for a sports car as well. When I got to college, a recession hit and my earnings -- no lie -- fell to $600 a month (again, I was part time). Had I made the trade, I would have had to sell it. In fact, the recession was so bad that I once sold basically every personal belonging except clothes and a TV to pay the electric bill.
Make this decision your sophomore year.
Some people get to college and completely change. Priorities shift, tastes change, things cost more or less than you think -- I could go on. There are also almost zero cool college freshmen: you'll be lost, trying to find your way around, parking in tight spots that you're not even sure you're allowed to use, and if you're really unlucky, you'll deal with mental health changes, financial situation changes, etc. You'll have big decisions to make regarding drinking and social life that NO ONE can foresee. You could wind up in a whirlwind relationship that completely changes your priorities and makes you want to be ready to get married and move in together the day you graduate. Whether you've realized it or not, your life is about to completely change.
Get that first year out of the way, and then once you're settled in and you know who you are "in your college days," make this decision.
Amarathe_@reddit
The problem with sports cars is you can never really use them to their full potential without going to track days.
On the other hand a jeep wrangler doing 65mph IS running at its full potential.
Jokes aside if youre not a jeep guy then go for a sports car and drive carefully
jdubfrdvjjbgbkkc@reddit
I was about to say a jeep full of college chicks is it’s full potential.
Amarathe_@reddit
Now thats living the jeep life
davidwal83@reddit
Those to are safer than your Jeep if it's a wrangler. I would run away from another stilantis proudcts. The Mustang is the way to go compared to the two. I have posted before I do not like young drivers owning a V8. I would recommend the smaller engine model it is plenty fast with it. Also get it in stick so can concentrate on the road and improve your driving skills.
IHATETheMaskedGeode@reddit (OP)
What’s wrong with the v8
Maleficent_Radish798@reddit
Nothing is wrong with the v8!
Some people just have insecurities and fear. They'll try to pass those on to others, even if they think they're "helping".
A 4cyl or v6 can kill you or others just as easy as a v8. They all move quickly, they can all lose traction, they all have the same safety ratings.
This is only advice that should be given if asked for, or to a parent or peer, not to an adult that did not ask.
davidwal83@reddit
I just think too much power is no good without experience. Also when owning a big engine vehicle it becomes natural to drive fast which will burn more fuel, increases chances of getting speeding tickets, and an accident. Also auto insurance is going to be higher with the V8.
renegadeindian@reddit
Dodges are easily stolen. Get a good security system like IGLA. Get a kill switch or two if you can afford that. Mustangs will be targeted also as they are keyless starting also. Look in YouTube for “America’s most wanted cat thief” for a hood education on how modern cars are stolen.
LongApprehensive890@reddit
Civic si
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
For college, you want a car that is good on gas and reliable. Typically sports cars are neither. Most kids in college aren't working, or are working only part time on minimum wage, so you want a car that costs the least amount of money to drive and maintain as possible. That means get a regular sedan or compact from a reputable brand and an older model year, to minimize insurance costs. Reliable means you'll spend less on repairs, and small typically means better fuel economy. I'd sell the jeep but don't get a sports car. Get an early 2000s camry or civic, those cars last forever
Numerous_Teacher_392@reddit
Get something with reasonable power and a manual. Learn to drive well, not just go fast.
It's more satisfying to drive well and learn a connectionto the road, and it will make you safer while you drive fast, too.
The newer Mustangs have come a long way. But you're not even looking at sports cars. You're looking at muscle cars.
HymenopusCoronatuSFF@reddit
Agreed, I chose this path and have no regrets. Bought myself a manual NB Miata, it's really a perfect car to learn how to drive. Short gearing + high revs means you can have fun on basically any road too, without breaking laws.
_Captain_Queef_@reddit
Run the numbers. Cost, taxes, insurance, and look into big ticket maintenance of all interested cars. The 6th gen mustangs are awesome cars. Older ones are good too, but the 6th gen handle the best. I personally quite dislike the challengers, but that's just my own bias. Run the numbers, if it doesn't hurt your future goals financially, send it and have fun. Be careful while you learn.
719Mitchell@reddit
Get an insurance quote before you make any decisions. You could be spending 10% of your monthly income on insurance alone.
If you want to go this route, I would recommend something like a GT86 or BRZ to get a feel for a RWD platform that won't send you straight to the nearest hedge if you make mistake.
Either-Jellyfish9865@reddit
I suggest you follow Dave Ramsey for financial advice. Under 25 driving a sports car, your insurance will be outrageous
r3dk0w@reddit
Whatever you decide, don't forget to include insurance, maintenance, and other costs in your calculation.
Insurance will be especially high on anything with a V8 or that is classified as a sports car.
Numerous_Teacher_392@reddit
More so for a young driver with no experience on the road.
moomskis@reddit
If you trust yourself with a sports car then I would just sell the Jeep and get something like a 2015-2020 Mustang GT. I think that keeping the Jeep or getting something with more mpg is going to result with about the same amount of reliability and a minor difference in actual spending on anything for the car. You only live once so use the time to enjoy it (carefully).
SpreadNo7436@reddit
I would try your best to get something with a warranty. I am older than you and had a sports car and a truck. When I decided to go back to school I sold them both and googled "fastest car for 20K". A Gen 2 Hyundai Veloster Turbo came up. Coincidently I happened to like the looks of them. I got one that was less than a year old. It has a 100k mile warranty, I used to go up and down a mountain road very fast on weekends and did burn through a set of tires. I had to replace the battery but other than that, it has not cost me a penny other than normal operating costs, It's been great, fun to drive. I will probably sell it for a nicer sports car once I finish school and start working again but for what I bought it for, it gets a an A+ easily.