The best and only advice I can give you is to buy a used Honda (Accord or Civic). They make the best engines in the business IMO. You will not be sorry.

IMO, I would go for a few year old Camry, Accord, or Maxima. All 3 are reliable cars that will give you plenty of room and decent mileage. Whether buying from a dealer or owner, get a carfax. There's no guarantee that they show everything, but they give you an idea. Look for regular service on that carfax. If buying from the owner, make sure they have a record of all maintenance performed. I try to buy from owners instead of dealers, but it always doesn't work out that way. I just picked up a used van from a dealer outside of Louisville as I couldn't find one for sale by an owner. The carfax showed me service records every 4,000 miles. IMO, stay away from rentals and fleet vehicles. You are going to ask for problems. Multiple people drive these cars, and a majority of those people drive them hard. With a rental, you'll do stuff that you would not do in your own car.

Buy a Toyota, if you are going to wear it out driving over the next few years don't spend a ton of money and wait until the travel is over to go high scale.

 

I guess I should've given more background on my traveling up and down the east coast. Its not like I'm going to be traveling all that often, its just that when I will be traveling it will be for very long distances. Most of my time will be spent at seperate training facilities in Rhode Island and South Carolina and New York. My daily commutes will probably be on foot as I expect to be housed by the Navy.

 

After my training I will be stationed at a Naval base, and will spend most of my time out at sea so my car will obviously be getting very few miles at that point.

 

The reason I am looking for a new car is I want one that is reliable and in better condition so when I am on a long trip I don't get stranded by myself in the middle of nowhere.

 

I'm just trying to figure out if it would be worth buying a 4 year old top of the line car with some miles vs. a 1 year old above average car with few miles.

 

I plan on using a carfax to uncover any past problems, and my dad is an outstanding auto mechanic so he will uncover any current problems.

 

My train of thought is that any car nowadays will last for quite sometime under the stress I'm going to give it so why not splurge if its possible. If there is anything else I need to consider that would make a newer car with less miles the better option I need to know so I can make the best decision for myslef.

 

Again absolutely any advice on my specific case or any car buying advice will be greatly appreciated.

I I'm just trying to figure out if it would be worth buying a 4 year old top of the line car with some miles vs. a 1 year old above average car with few miles.

 

Based on your first post, when you say top of the line car, I assume you mean high-end ($$) car?

I guess I should've given more background on my traveling up and down the east coast. Its not like I'm going to be traveling all that often, its just that when I will be traveling it will be for very long distances. Most of my time will be spent at seperate training facilities in Rhode Island and South Carolina and New York. My daily commutes will probably be on foot as I expect to be housed by the Navy.

 

After my training I will be stationed at a Naval base, and will spend most of my time out at sea so my car will obviously be getting very few miles at that point.

 

The reason I am looking for a new car is I want one that is reliable and in better condition so when I am on a long trip I don't get stranded by myself in the middle of nowhere.

 

I'm just trying to figure out if it would be worth buying a 4 year old top of the line car with some miles vs. a 1 year old above average car with few miles.

 

I plan on using a carfax to uncover any past problems, and my dad is an outstanding auto mechanic so he will uncover any current problems.

 

My train of thought is that any car nowadays will last for quite sometime under the stress I'm going to give it so why not splurge if its possible. If there is anything else I need to consider that would make a newer car with less miles the better option I need to know so I can make the best decision for myslef.

 

Again absolutely any advice on my specific case or any car buying advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

How many miles do you anticipate driving it annually?

The best and only advice I can give you is to buy a used Honda (Accord or Civic). They make the best engines in the business IMO. You will not be sorry.

 

:thumb:

Based on your first post, when you say top of the line car, I assume you mean high-end ($$) car?

 

Well high-end used... under $20,000.

How many miles do you anticipate driving it annually?

 

I have absolutely no way of telling. Since my daily commutes will either be tiny or non-existent I'm assuming less than or right about average (12,000ish) Most of my miles will be highway miles.

I have absolutely no way of telling. Since my daily commutes will either be tiny or non-existent I'm assuming less than or right about average (12,000ish) Most of my miles will be highway miles.

 

How long do you THINK you will keep this first car? 5 years? 2 years? 7 years?

 

Do you have a budget as far as what your monthly payment can be?

 

You're young so you probably have no credit history or at least not enough to qualify you for a strong rate. Probably looking at 7 to 8% interest on a 48 month loan. Expect a $350+ monthly payment for a $20k car.

How long do you THINK you will keep this first car? 5 years? 2 years? 7 years?

 

Do you have a budget as far as what your monthly payment can be?

 

You're young so you probably have no credit history or at least not enough to qualify you for a strong rate. Probably looking at 7 to 8% interest on a 48 month loan. Expect a $350+ monthly payment for a $20k car.

 

 

I have a credit score of 770. I don't know what you need for what kind of loan, but I'd like to think I could get a good rate. Also I'd be putting down a sizeable down payment... probably about 30 percent, that should help my rate. I'd also like to think that me being active duty with guaranteed full pay and benefits through college should help my rate, but I really don't know what the rate is based on.

 

My plan right now is to keep the car for 6 years... 1 year of college, and 5 years performing my Navy duties. Once I get out and get a nice job I'll get a new car.

 

Basically in my eyes, as a 21 year old, I can find no reason but to go for the glitz and glamour of a nicer used car especially since I don't plan on keeping it forever. I'm fishing for advice from people who have gone through the car buying process and objective advice from someone outside of my situation...

 

The main question to BGP is: what would you do in my situation?

Save the money for later. Buy an older, reliable car that gets good gas mileage & has cruise control.

 

It's tempting to get a good car, but why spend the money now when you're going to be taking it on road trips? Cars can deteriorate quickly and you'll wish you had the $$$ to buy a nicer car at 26 or 27 when you get out of the Navy.

Here's what I would do, which probably doesn't sit well with a 21 year old looking for the glitz and glamour.

 

I would take that 30% and buy a car, debt free. I'd then save that money that I'd be spending on a car payment and use it for a down payment on a place once I settled after the navy. I'm sure it's not the recommendation that you wanted to hear, but I would imagine many people on here would say the same thing.

 

And I'm not saying this because I have a car for sale within that 30% budget. :-)

Here's what I would do, which probably doesn't sit well with a 21 year old looking for the glitz and glamour.

 

I would take that 30% and buy a car, debt free. I'd then save that money that I'd be spending on a car payment and use it for a down payment on a place once I settled after the navy. I'm sure it's not the recommendation that you wanted to hear, but I would imagine many people on here would say the same thing.

 

And I'm not saying this because I have a car for sale within that 30% budget. :-)

 

:thumb:

I have a credit score of 770. I don't know what you need for what kind of loan, but I'd like to think I could get a good rate. Also I'd be putting down a sizeable down payment... probably about 30 percent, that should help my rate. I'd also like to think that me being active duty with guaranteed full pay and benefits through college should help my rate, but I really don't know what the rate is based on.

 

My plan right now is to keep the car for 6 years... 1 year of college, and 5 years performing my Navy duties. Once I get out and get a nice job I'll get a new car.

 

Basically in my eyes, as a 21 year old, I can find no reason but to go for the glitz and glamour of a nicer used car especially since I don't plan on keeping it forever. I'm fishing for advice from people who have gone through the car buying process and objective advice from someone outside of my situation...

 

The main question to BGP is: what would you do in my situation?

 

A couple of things:

 

Is 30% $6k? $5K?

 

Good credit score. However, the cash down doesn't really have an impact on your rate. Your job also doesn't have an impact. You'll get a solid rate at 770.

 

My advice is to look for a $10k to $12k car. You'll find some you like. Don't buy too much now. You've got the rest of your life to buy nice expensive cars.

A couple of things:

 

Is 30% $6k? $5K?

 

Good credit score. However, the cash down doesn't really have an impact on your rate. Your job also doesn't have an impact. You'll get a solid rate at 770.

 

My advice is to look for a $10k to $12k car. You'll find some you like. Don't buy too much now. You've got the rest of your life to buy nice expensive cars.

 

Theses aren't quite the answers I wanted to hear, but they probably are for the best.

 

Advice on brands of cars in that price range?