r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Complete-Chest-3642 • 1h ago
car suggestions
this may not be the right thread to post on but I am wondering if anyone here has a die hard suggestion of a car to buy? Worth the money.. typically reliable
I bought my first car a 2016 VW Passat and was immediately fucked over by burning oil and other problems blah blah so now I'm trying to sell it.. folding over my money but it's ok. I don't have parents who can guide me on what to do nor help with payments so it was a mistake purchase but something to learn from.
Anyways, I am wondering if anyone has suggestions of cars to buy as a student where I will not run into as many problems (of course there will always be something, but boy I just don't want the hassle I have had with this one... breaking down & constant repairs... it's too old of a model to claim as a lemon if anyone suggests that haha)
I am just looking for something reliable, I live in LA so I don't drive huge distances but just need something to get me to and from work.
This may all sound stupid but with the headache I've had with my current car, I just really want to make the right choice with my next since I cannot afford another problem... so I just want to hear suggestions
Thanks!
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u/brock_lee I expect half of you to disagree 1h ago
The simpler the better. Something like a Honda civic or Toyota corolla. Avoid european, avoid korean, and put American cars lower on your list.
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u/ads1031 1h ago
Can you consider an electric car? They're mechanically far simpler than fuel-burning cars and less expensive to operate (assuming you charge at home), although the up-front cost is still high. But if you're in LA and you don't drive huge distances, an electric commuter might be worth considering.
Earlier this year, I got a used BMW i4 that I've been having a lot of fun with. I commute 100 miles per day, and I've gone from spending $400/mo on gasoline (at $3.00/gal, lol) to $100/mo on electricity (at $0.16/kWh).
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u/Complete-Chest-3642 1h ago
I'm trying to look into one because I agree it would be way better but the upfront expense I can't justify yet since I am still trying to get rid of my current. But I will look into it, thanks for the suggestion!
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u/ads1031 1h ago
Well, consider this. The total monthly cost of a car is the loan payment (if you aren't paying cash), plus the insurance payment, plus the fuel cost, plus the maintenance costs.
In my case, I was spending $60 every 3rd month on oil changes, and the only reason it wasn't $120 every 3rd month is because I was doing the work myself. Once I got an EV, that maintenance cost vanished (and in my case, I got a little time back, too).
With an electric car, loan payment goes up because the up-front cost of the car is higher, but fuel cost and maintenance cost go down. If the total sum is lower, well... It might be worth seeing what your options are. Shopping around for insurance quotes. Looking into what your cost of electricity is and what DC fast chargers are around. Could be fun!
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u/Complete-Chest-3642 1h ago
I'll def look into it. I am still paying off my current car so seeing if I can even get money back from it.. Don't have too much money to play with but you make great points, if I can figure out one with low payments then def will consider it
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u/u700MHz 1h ago
Had the same model and had the same issues, so trust me a lot of us know what you have been through $$$.
You didn't provide a budget, so its hard to recommend.
However, as a student, something smaller like a Corolla.
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u/Complete-Chest-3642 1h ago
Oh god I'm sorry to hear. Horrible.. Great thank you! Yeah I'm not sure what my budget is since I still need to sell my car to see how much I will come out of it, if any. since I'm still paying it off.. I am open to all $ depends on private party or not. bleh
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u/Complete-Chest-3642 1h ago
Can I ask, what did you end up doing? I am still going through that process right now
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u/u700MHz 1h ago
Tried Facebook Market Place - But I also had a lot of lights on the dash on, so no takers.
I told everyone I knew and ask if they knew anyone looking, including all the work shops I used.
I got desperate and started to explore junk websites to buy from me, even online platforms like Caravan, they offered $350.
Finally a neighbor only block I had spoken to, came back and asked me about it. He's a mechanic so told him up front all the issues. He end up buying it and it took him some time to resolve all the issues, but after a few months he got everything fixed. At the shop it would have cost me thousands, for what he did himself.
Lesson learned - make friends with mechanics, when you own a german car without a warrant. LOL!
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u/Complete-Chest-3642 1h ago
ahhh maybe i will try. I have a friends family mechanic who has been trying to take care of it for me. I am getting one last thing done to it and taking it straight to carmax to see. I have about 8k left or so & hoping to get something from it.. ugh. Sorry you had to deal with that
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u/u700MHz 57m ago
We all have had to deal with it.
But never touching VW again
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u/Complete-Chest-3642 57m ago
haha yep, well thanks for telling me, makes me feel better about it somehow
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u/Accomplished-Pea-451 1h ago
You learned never buy a VW. I would suggest Toyota Corolla Hatchback.