What brand/model car for say $8k for collge student

imho, with apologies to the Tennesssee Cadillac People whom assembled my Fine Frontier.

Consider the Hyundai Elantra and/or Accent, especially when they're closing-out 2006 in late summer and fall/winter.

Possible 0 percent financing if you can't afford cash--there is seemingly a $2,000---$3,000 principal built-into the price for offering that terrific 0 percent.

They're no longer Yugo jokes as they were circa 1989.

Note: side air bags in Elantra (not sure about Accent).

Disadvantage: 30,000 and 60,000 mile timing belt service, approx $400--$900 at each mileage. Not great in re-sale value yet, except perhaps at an Hyundai dealer as trade-in.

Advantage: The new value-packed machine is covered 10 year/100,000 for transmission & drive train.

Vehicle is under-rated imho, perhaps because of image of 1988-9 when they first arrived in USA.

The Korean Hyundai vehicles have steadily increased in quality.

Nevertheless: You oughta also get their bumper to bumper coverage for AFTER the 3 year/36,000 mile that comes basically with new vehicle, approx price apparently is another $700--$1200.

p.s. Wait for Chinese export: They're probably gonna eat everybody's lunch including Korea's, but I betcha their quality will be their initial problem too.

snipped-for-privacy@privacy.net wrote:

Came across a 2005 Elantra at local dealer

I don't know anything abt Hyundai

We drove it and it seems like a nice vehicle

Had 19k miles on it..... AC... power door locks and windows

Nothing fancy.... just basic accessories

Advice?

Especially if you buy from an Hyundai dealer's used car stock:

So, obtain an extended service contract.

The vehicle was apparently traded-in: Why?

Because its owner wanted something newer.

Why?

Because s(he) got tired of it.

Why?

Anything, perhaps:

Tires are wearing down. Vehicle shimmies at 60mph--that was another car I owned. Upcoming scheduled service requires $500--$900 Noise Won lotto I dunno

Any of these except the Taurus. A Hyundai might also be a good choice as long as you're not looking for something with a resale value.

Caveat Emptor in our political economy: A very similar extended service contract story also happened to me & my 1998 Daewoo Nubira: The warranty company went out of bidness: as did Daewoo North America ditto bankrupted.

Read this NY TIMES article because it's not an exaggeration-distortion, and explains why you should try to obtain an extended service contract from an established, reliable maker (not American Daewoo nor a Fools Gold/*Plated-Platinum Bullshiteski Warranty Co.).

I was just thinking that even tho the Taurus doesn't have quality control of the other brands..... that there is a TON of them out there and he could get one cheap as well as cheap parts

You'd still avoid the Taurus anyway?

There's a reason a ton of them are out there cheap...