I'm about to graduate from law school and get married. Woo hoo!!!! BUT, I start a one year clerkship a couple hours from school, and my fiancee will be staying here during that year. She has a car, and I plan on living within walking distance from work, but I can't really see the whole thing working if I can't drive to her every once in a while. Also, public transportation where I'm going isn't too good and there's no zip cars.
After 14 months of living apart is up, god knows what city we'll end up in. Seriously, with the jobs I'm looking at, it could be a bumfuck college town where I Need a car or New York City where I can't Have an extra car.
Bottom line, I need a car that's pretty reliable for about 14 months and then maybe afterwards, but maybe won't be able to keep it afterwards. Probably going to put pathetically few miles on it. Not picky about size, color, odor, but I need something I don't have to worry about breaking down. Oh, and I'm poor.
Options: 1. Take my chances buying a used car on craigslist for under $5,000. 2. Try to lease a Honda Civic for under $250 a month no money down (credit's probably not so good. 0% balance transfers are your friend until you need a loan). 3. Take over someone else's lease? Anyone know a good way to do this? Are the lease swap sites any good?
why spend even $5k you can get a decent used car under $3k.
You can get any variety of reliable late 90s american cars, or Think late 80s/early 90s Japanese if you are against American cars. If you dont need to impress anyone ( you have a fiancee) that should work fine.
Otherwise if you will be making professional contacts and need an image car, take over a lease on a benz or bmw.
savvyshopper2000
Member
posted: Feb. 8, 2010 @ 8:47a
Check out the Honda website - some really strong leases on new cars and just today the Honda CEO announced (in the WSJ) that they will be ramping up incentives to try and jump start sales.
On assuming a lease - swapalease is one of the better sites out there.
dcg9381
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Feb. 8, 2010 @ 1:02p
Your credit is going to play on a lease swap, unless you're doing a pass-through in which case you're going to get screwed in return for some person taking a chance on you.
Yes, there are cars that are reliable at $3k. If you're mechanically inclined and know what you're doing, give it a try.
The spot you want to hit in the used car market is a $5k-$7k Honda or Toyota. Dig for one with maintenance records and have a mechanic look at it before purchase. Corolla, Camry, Honda Civic, Accord, RAV4 - these models come to mind.
How often are you driving to her ? Weekly ? Biweekly ? Once a month ? You might want to do the math how much a rental car would cost you vs owning a car. Also is there really no option to get to her (car share rides ?) ?
I'm about to graduate from law school and get married. Woo hoo!!!! BUT, I start a one year clerkship a couple hours from school, and my fiancee will be staying here during that year. She has a car, and I plan on living within walking distance from work, but I can't really see the whole thing working if I can't drive to her every once in a while. Also, public transportation where I'm going isn't too good and there's no zip cars.
After 14 months of living apart is up, god knows what city we'll end up in. Seriously, with the jobs I'm looking at, it could be a bumfuck college town where I Need a car or New York City where I can't Have an extra car.
Bottom line, I need a car that's pretty reliable for about 14 months and then maybe afterwards, but maybe won't be able to keep it afterwards. Probably going to put pathetically few miles on it. Not picky about size, color, odor, but I need something I don't have to worry about breaking down. Oh, and I'm poor.
Options: 1. Take my chances buying a used car on craigslist for under $5,000. 2. Try to lease a Honda Civic for under $250 a month no money down (credit's probably not so good. 0% balance transfers are your friend until you need a loan). 3. Take over someone else's lease? Anyone know a good way to do this? Are the lease swap sites any good?
Open to any suggestions.
ThanksFrom my own experience (See elsewhere in this thread for my post about helping a relative).
1. If you go CL, get a car owned by a mechanic with a shop. Your chances are better. If you budget is 5k don't spend over 3k and keep 2k for repairs. (BECAUSE YOU WILL FIX THAT CAR!) haha 2. If you credit isn't good, forget about leasing a new car. 3. Take over someone's lease. Without credit you can't get a lease swap. You might be able to sublease from someone else but they will be watching you like a HAWK and probably ask for a large deposit.
So #1 is the best. There are tons of good deals on CL, and some of them are from shops.
One thing that I have had some success with in the past is calling up dealerships that only deal with cars about $5k and up and try to get a car there for like 2-3K. If they got something on the lot that hasn't gone to auction yet you got a decent chance of getting a decent car somewhat cheap because they're gonna get minimal money on it from auction if they don't. This takes a fair amount of luck though and may dealers won't even do it... it goes to auction no matter what.
Why not bring your fiancee with you to the new city? She's moving with you anyway after clerkship. One set of living expenses that way, too. Otherwise, you're basically saying, "I found a great woman! I want to spend the rest of my life (but not the next 14 months of our sexual primes) together." I don't get it.
aeiouy
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Feb. 8, 2010 @ 9:32p
She has a good relationship with the current club owner and has a regular set of customers where she is now.
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