ok so im in college, aka not maiking a whole lot of money and just wondering what you guys would be the best thing to do: get a tC and hook it up, get a decent apartment, or get both a risk being hungry often...

 

R A M E N = get tC and apartment.

 

I once debated over the same thing. My options were to keep my '95 Chevy Beretta and move into a decent apartment and be broke most of the time or... I could stay at home for free, my homelife is really good actually, and be able to afford a tC, which is a great investment for your future. Unless you already have a fairly nice vehicle, buying a new car while still being able to live at home will benefit you 10 fold over living in an apartment for a few years. Thus, I obviously chose the tC, and I am very very happy with my decision.

 

You can always recline the back seats and sleep in the tC if you have to.

 

Are they teaching you anything in that college? hehe j/p

I don't see the draw of having a fancy car if you are scraping by to pay for it and are living at your parent's home or somewhere crappy. Who are you trying to impress with the new car? The impression won't last long once you can't afford to take them out to eat or too embarrassed to take them back to your place. Plan ahead, that's what you're doing by going to school. Buy something cheap and plain and easy to fix, who cares what it looks like. Get your life in order, then look at new cars. Contrary to what some people are insinuating, buying a new car is not an investment, it's probably the second largest purchase you'll make in your life and 99% of the time you are going to lose $$ on it.

Think practical until you have the income to think otherwise. If you can get an apartment close enough to school, a used car won't even be needed, saving you even more money, or giving you more spending freedom, depending on how you look at it. Sure, it's fun to drive a new car, but it's no fun scraping to get by, regardless of what kinda whip you're driving...

Look at how many threads there are on this board alone where peeps are selling the items they bought "to hook up their Scion" so they can pay the insurance or loan payments... that's no fun either and could ruin your credit for down the road when you want to do some real investing, like a house.

 

buy the car, leave with yor parents. LOL

 

like fox said live with mom & dad
you win & get all...tc, mods, bed to sleep in, laundry, food, occassional naggin to keep ya fresh...lol

 

You can sleep in your car, but can't drive your apartment.

Seriously, though, it all depends on YOUR value system: Which matters the most to you? For me, so long as I had some sort of wheels and some sort of place to say in reasonable comfort, I'd make do until my finances were more comfortable.

Once I could more easily afford what I wanted, I'd get the car, first, then the apartment...

But this is *YOUR* life, not mine - therefore your decision.

Enjoy!

"Congrats. It's an exiting time in your life.

I remember my final year in school and the glorious day of graduation. Some of the kids in my class went on to Jr. High and some even made it to High School. "

 

Being a recent college grad I gotta tell you this. College is the best time of your life. And what is a better way to enjoy that time then to be cruising in a nice car that you like across campus?

On a serious note though. Being a college student is tough on the wallet. If you have serious doubts, then forget about the car. Being in a financial crisis can seriously interfere with your concentration in school.

 

I see what you mean ScionicMan! LOL

 

i got both...the apartment and the tC...and trust me...i make no $$ either!!!

 

personaly i would say get the apartment, i'd hate to have to park my new in the ghetto somehwere. i got my apartment first and i don't regret it.

 

i'd say get the tc, skip modding it out- it while turn heads for a while more- and stay on campus if you can. usually cheaper, and then u get to show it off on campus. and nobody is really stealing oem parts, last time i checked. i hope. lol.

or you could ask for a raise, and steal your parents house and sell it.

but i'd just skip the second part of that.

 

I drove a POS Ford Fiesta once my bike and skateboard wouldn't cut it to school and/or work. When I bought my xB, I cut a check from my HELOC. Easiest time in Finance Dept. ever...

It's a personal decision, everyone's got their priorities. I see it as a little gratification right away or a lot later on.

 

I think the important distinction here is... do you already HAVE a car? if you do even if its a POS.... definately get the apartment...

if you can buy a used car cheap, and get your parents to help you with your insurance... get the apartment

but those two not withstanding, it more of a toss up... since you basically trade one freedom for another.
i hate not having a car to drive around in. but certain places don't need it... and certain places if you don't have one you are basically trapped at home all the time. So your decision may depend on a variety of factors... apartment location, insurance payments, etc...

but if its 50/50 in your mind... i'd lean towards the apartment...

 

I say get neither. If your parents are giving you a free ride you should be dumping that money into a high-interest savings or money market account. Siphon off a percentage of that into a high-yeild, long term mutual fund and you'll be looking at an early retirement (or a "very early retirement" depending on what age you start!).

I know I sound like a cranky old man, but in 10 to 15 years you will appreciate having a few months living expenses in the bank and a portfolio already built for retirement. I know I do!

edit: I'm not middle-aged, I swear!

 

Tc, bottom line.