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air · Jul 17, 2006, 12:27 AM

im thinking along the lines of a 2003 jetta. What other recomendations can you make.

I want to spend around 6,000 to 8,000. I'm going to be driving mostly in upstate new york.

any suggestions...?

mduell · Jul 17, 2006, 12:36 AM

Subaru with AWD

imitchellg5 · Jul 17, 2006, 12:41 AM

golf gti instead

brassplayersrock² · Jul 17, 2006, 12:43 AM

pontiac vibe: 4 1/2 doors, plenty of space, customizable to boot

funkboy · Jul 17, 2006, 12:52 AM

For college? Something you won't care about hauling your friends around in. Seriously, if you're being uptight about some really nice car, you will be on pins and needles around your friends trying to keep your car in tip-top shape... and your friends will be on pins and needles along with you, then.

But if you're going for it... yes, Jetta, I must admit you're getting about the exact same car I would like right now

air · Jul 17, 2006, 07:02 AM

ok. im pretty much set on the jetta now.

now i need to track one down. I've been using ebay motors and autotrader.com. Are these good sites? What about auto insurance?

Goldfinger · Jul 17, 2006, 07:26 AM

Why a Jetta if I may ask ? It's not exactly a car for young people IMHO... Old peoples car.

sek929 · Jul 17, 2006, 07:37 AM

Meh, VWs, get what you want I guess.

I'd go for a used Accord or Camry though.

residentEvil · Jul 17, 2006, 08:07 AM

i'd get a mid to late 80s 4x4 jeep cherokee. lots of room (4 doors) and will help in the snow (upstate new york). you will be able to beat it around, sleep in it during road trips when you can't afford a place to stay, etc.

OreoCookie · Jul 17, 2006, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Why a Jetta if I may ask ? It's not exactly a car for young people IMHO... Old peoples car.

In the States, a Jetta has a very different image than in Europe. In my High School, someone with a Jetta was voted `person with the coolest car'.

Millennium · Jul 17, 2006, 08:21 AM

Whatever you get, do not skimp on the cargo space. When the time comes to move around -and that'll happen more often than you might think- you'll be glad you didn't.

SSharon · Jul 17, 2006, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by residentEvil

i'd get a mid to late 80s 4x4 jeep cherokee. lots of room (4 doors) and will help in the snow (upstate new york). you will be able to beat it around, sleep in it during road trips when you can't afford a place to stay, etc.

can't afford a place to stay because you spent all your money on gas for it.

no derail, it's just a joke.
Another vote for subaru from me. I would normally say accord or camry, but the extra space and awd make more sense for you.

Gossamer · Jul 17, 2006, 09:23 AM

Ditto the cargo space. My car can hold my bike with the back seats down, but for serious moving, I need something bigger. It took me four cross town trips to move this last time, a wagon would have made things much easier. Also, it sounds like some sort of AWD would reeeally come in handy for you. And definitely get something you won't be too nit-picky about. People have a tendency to not care about other peoples' cars.

imitchellg5 · Jul 17, 2006, 11:07 AM

I do like the Jetta. They are pretty sweet, especially the GLI versions. But the back seat is really cramped.

Mastrap · Jul 17, 2006, 11:10 AM

More space tends to mean higher fuel costs. You could be much better off getting smaller car for your daily driver and renting a truck for the odd occasion that you'll have to move.

Gossamer · Jul 17, 2006, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Mastrap

More space tends to mean higher fuel costs. You could be much better off getting smaller car for your daily driver and renting a truck for the odd occasion that you'll have to move.

Or make friends with people that have trucks

SpaceMonkey · Jul 17, 2006, 11:29 AM

All the votes for AWD kind of surprise me. It really depends on where you are in upstate NY. I'm originally from Ithaca, NY, and I wouldn't call AWD a necessity.

Gossamer · Jul 17, 2006, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

All the votes for AWD kind of surprise me. It really depends on where you are in upstate NY. I'm originally from Ithaca, NY, and I wouldn't call AWD a necessity.

I guess you have a good point. I heard 'upstate' and automatically thought 'snow.' It would help if we knew the general climate, but it sounds like he's got his mind made up. And Oreo's right about the Jetta having a different image here in the US. It's a lot more hip and sportier than you make it sound. My older sister thinks they're 'cute.' But I'm training my younger sister in what to like in cars.

Goldfinger · Jul 17, 2006, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

In the States, a Jetta has a very different image than in Europe. In my High School, someone with a Jetta was voted `person with the coolest car'.

Ah well, it's not a bad car I guess, economical and practical. But a Jetta is about the least cool car you can get here. I'm just wondering why it's perceived as being a cool car. It sounds really weird for a (European) car nut like me that the Jetta is "cool and sporty". Not trying to mock the owners

PS: FWD + winter tyres is good enough in the snow. AWD is overrated for normal driving.

SpaceMonkey · Jul 17, 2006, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Ah well, it's not a bad car I guess, economical and practical. But a Jetta is about the least cool car you can get here. I'm just wondering why it's perceived as being a cool car. It sounds really weird for a (European) car nut like me that the Jetta is "cool and sporty".

They have a very good marketing campaign in the U.S.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9plh...swagon%20jetta

Doofy · Jul 17, 2006, 12:40 PM

The coolest college car ever is the one Kevin Bacon drove in Flatliners. Get one of those.

OreoCookie · Jul 17, 2006, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Ah well, it's not a bad car I guess, economical and practical. But a Jetta is about the least cool car you can get here. I'm just wondering why it's perceived as being a cool car. It sounds really weird for a (European) car nut like me that the Jetta is "cool and sporty". Not trying to mock the owners

PS: FWD + winter tyres is good enough in the snow. AWD is overrated for normal driving.

Well, I don't disagree with you, I'd probably also get something else, depending on my income, of course. An Audi would be nice …

And to answer your question: marketing plus the fact that American cars are usually sold with larger engines. The Passat is sold with a 3.6 (or 3.5 l, don't remember) V6 with 280 hp instead of the 3.2 l engine for the Europeans (with measly 250 horses under the hood). If you get the `small engine' in the US, you get the 2.0T (200 hp) instead of the 1.6 l engine you can have here in Europe.

production_coordinator · Jul 17, 2006, 01:39 PM

I would simply get a Honda/Toyota. The vehicle will take a beating during those years... and sure, a flashy car would be nice, but reliability is key. I know know about your funding situation, but something that get good gas milage.

My 2 �

Stradlater · Jul 17, 2006, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Subaru with AWD

redundant?

Gossamer · Jul 17, 2006, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Stradlater

redundant?

superfluous?

Kerrigan · Jul 17, 2006, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

superfluous?

Redundaflous?

Stradlater · Jul 17, 2006, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Redundaflous?

Super rhododendron?

brassplayersrock² · Jul 17, 2006, 02:36 PM

http://www.pontiac.com/vibe/index.jsp

hickey · Jul 17, 2006, 02:53 PM

if severe winters are commonplace in your neck of the woods, get a soob.

If not, save your money and get an old toyota/honda. They get good mileage, are reliable, cheap to maintain, and will save you loads of cah.

Gossamer · Jul 17, 2006, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock

http://www.pontiac.com/vibe/index.jsp

IMO: http://www.toyota.com/matrix/index.h...N_MATRIX_INDEX
Essentially the same vehicle, but better looking.

sek929 · Jul 17, 2006, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

IMO: http://www.toyota.com/matrix/index.h...N_MATRIX_INDEX
Essentially the same vehicle, but better looking.

It isn't a Pontiac either, which is an extra 10 points.

air · Jul 17, 2006, 05:03 PM

the past winter there wasnt really that much snow. i dont do a lot of moving and have friends with trucks and minivans if i need to move crap.

any other suggestions related to online places and insurance?

Stratus Fear · Jul 17, 2006, 05:06 PM

Depending on how tight your budget is, consider gas and car maintenance as well. I've been driving an 5 speed Honda Civic for a little while now, and the fact that you can run them into the ground and get 40+ mpg with a bit of significant highway driving is a godsend if you don't work a job during the semester (hell, even if you do a lot of city driving, the fuel economy isn't bad). You also need to know stick shift, obviously -- although I don't know of a ton of people who do. I used to live in Pennsylvania, and for snow driving, if you're not driving AWD, stick is a good thing to have, as you have better control than an automatic transmission in those conditions, I find.

Gossamer · Jul 17, 2006, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Stratus Fear

I used to live in Pennsylvania, and for snow driving, if you're not driving AWD, stick is a good thing to have, as you have better control than an automatic transmission in those conditions, I find.

I've heard that before, but my auto Contour was and auto Mystique is waaay better than my 5 speed Probe in the snow.

sek929 · Jul 17, 2006, 05:15 PM

Auto tranny is worlds better to have in the snow, my FWD Intrepid auto 4-speed could go through anything not over it's hood. Not having a clutch to worry about is a godsend when driving in a city in the snow.

Stratus Fear · Jul 17, 2006, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I've heard that before, but my auto Contour was and auto Mystique is waaay better than my 5 speed Probe in the snow.

Yeah, but that's a Probe. I'd consider that somewhat on the side of a sports car. Probably didn't have good tires for that kind of weather, either. The Contour and Mystique were same car, different name, right? Those are the kinds of cars I have a lot of driving exprience with -- i.e. commuter/family cars. They seem to fare better in snow, IMO.

As far as normal commuter style cars go, I've had better luck with stick than auto. But everybody has different experiences, too.

Doofy · Jul 17, 2006, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I've heard that before, but my auto Contour was and auto Mystique is waaay better than my 5 speed Probe in the snow.

Probe was RWD, Contour and Mystique were FWD? (guessing)

sek929 · Jul 17, 2006, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Probe was RWD, Contour and Mystique were FWD? (guessing)

Nope, Probe was a FWD car. Most of them have a lower profile tire (or tyre), hence worse in the snow.

Stratus Fear · Jul 17, 2006, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Probe was RWD, Contour and Mystique were FWD? (guessing)

Is it RWD? I thought so too, Wikipedia says FWD but they might be wrong. The Contour and Mystique were FWD.

Doofy · Jul 17, 2006, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

Nope, Probe was a FWD car.

Arh. I was under the impression that they were RWD, but I stand corrected.

Originally Posted by sek929

Most of them have a lower profile tire (or tyre), hence worse in the snow.

I don't see how tyre profile affects snow performance? Section, for sure. But profile?

sek929 · Jul 17, 2006, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Arh. I was under the impression that they were RWD, but I stand corrected.

I don't see how tyre profile affects snow performance? Section, for sure. But profile?

Sorry I wasn't specific enough. Low profile tires tend to be wide and with a much less aggressive tred (hence the small sidewall) No deep channels for snow and slush to be carried away. They kinda "float" on snow while a regular FWD car with narrow deep tred tires is pure gold in the snow.