Help Billfred Find a Ride!

[Billfred]

Well, as great as the help's been, it looks like I'm going to have to hunt this thread out again when we get closer to build season.

Mom's decided that I really don't need a car for college, although she's willing to reconsider at the end of the semester.

Unless, of course, any of y'all who live on campus can testify otherwise.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Mom's decided that I really don't need a car for college, although she's willing to reconsider at the end of the semester.

So, is she going to let you get a Segway?

I lived on campus at University of California, Irvine, all my four years there. My senior year, I got an old Schwinn bicycle from a friend. He only wanted $20 for it. Prior to that, I walked everywhere on campus. I got acquainted with the bus system for off-campus jaunts, but riding the Orange County and Los Angeles buses home on weekends took four times as long as driving, and fully as long as riding a bicycle those 40 miles. So, I usually arranged a ride if I needed to go home. My parents did let me borrow a car for one week when I had a seminar 20 miles from campus.

It pays to research your options on your particular campus--some are bicycle-friendly; at others you "need" to have a car. According to locals, USC, the California version, stands for University of Spoiled Children, and you should hear what some of THEM drive (sounds like lamb-bore-gheenee) --and in a high-crime neighborhood!

I must balance the above statement: I do know one student there who is NOT particularly spoiled, and he doesn't drive one of THOSE kinds of cars. I hear that he is grateful for his four years' experience with Team 330 (Beach Bots), which helped him learn how to manage projects--a necessary skill for his architecture major. He did very well on his assignments, and provided valuable assistance to his fellow students on their projects. Sound familiar?

[evulish]

Heh. My 1996 Ford Contour hasn't failed me yet. A few years ago, we bought it used for maybe $5k.. Now it probably couldn't get more than $2.5k. It runs great, has NEVER failed (minus the snowy hills of Erie, PA and when it got covered in a 1/3"-1" layer of ice.. but I guess I can't blame that on the car ). It's a sedan and a peppy car. I recently filled the 12-gallon tank and headed to Buffalo, NY.. and as a round trip, it's probably 340 miles or so.. and I still have a quarter of a tank left. With 108k miles, the only current problems with it is the cupholder is broken and the back seat squeaks.

[Amanda Morrison]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Unless, of course, any of y'all who live on campus can testify otherwise.

Really, I could have gone without my car this semester. I only used it for some late-night Meijer trips, the occasional trip shopping, going home, and robotics trips.

However, if you live an hour or more away from home, I guarantee that it's in your mom's best interest to let you find a vehicle. I live three hours away, and not having a car (for that reason) was impossible. There's no way to justify having to make my mom drive 6 hours in a day to come get me.

[Billfred]

Rats...for my mom, she'd have to drive .6 (yes, point six) hours. Unless it's rush hour.

Those fall meetings are going to be fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun.

[Ashley Weed]

Are you required to live on campus? If I lived that close to school, I'd give up my apartment, electric, internet, bills, bills, bills, in a minute. They really add up if you have to live at or near campus. Just think, if the only thing you had to pay was tuition, and books and supplies, and spend the rest of the money over the four years towards a vehicle??

I live just outside of Wilkes-Barre, and without a vehicle it's a 4 mile walk to even find a soda and a sandwich. The little town of Lehman has a population of less than 100. I started driving a stick shift 2 years ago, and it was perfectly fine in my little muddin' truck in the country, however, if I wanted to drive into the city - FORGET IT! It's a nightmare to go through 12 redlights during rush hour!

I just got a Jeep Grand Cherokee. It took me just over two months to find what I wanted. It had to have the moonroof, Infinity system, tinted windows, etc, etc. I watched ebay tentatively, and also autotrader.com. Just be careful, and do your research. My mom has been a very avid user of ebay for years, and knows the tricks of the trade. I ended up with what I wanted, plus over the next year or so I will have to have body work done on the door due to rusting on the door skin. So just be careful when searching!!!

[Matt Attallah]

Heh.

Get a Cherokee. They are decent on gas, and you have the legendary 4x4 option at your control.

My ex-roomate ruined Cavys for me, and I work for a GM dealership, so I see the little querks with them. Kia parts are a PITA to get ahold of when something does go wrong. Imports can cost ya' a nice penny (atleast around here) to fix. With my heavy foot and my heavy car (93 Grand Cherokee [ZJ] w/ all wheel drive and the 4.0 I-6) I still get around 14-15 mpg city and about 21-22 highway.

As you can tell, when I drive (even if it's to the corner store) I gotta have my space... Maybe I'm not the right guy to be talking about some car that gets good gas mileage...

Ashley - Get the 5.2 (318) V-8 in that? I'm looking for a 1998 ZJ that's the 5.9 Limited Edition. I'm droolin' just thinking about it. Hit me up w/ a PM and tell me how ya' like it (and let me drool over the list of options that you got! )

[Frank(Aflak)]

Originally Posted by Matt Attallah

Heh.

Get a Cherokee. They are decent on gas, and you have the legendary 4x4 option at your control.

My ex-roomate ruined Cavys for me, and I work for a GM dealership, so I see the little querks with them. Kia parts are a PITA to get ahold of when something does go wrong. Imports can cost ya' a nice penny (atleast around here) to fix. With my heavy foot and my heavy car (93 Grand Cherokee [ZJ] w/ all wheel drive and the 4.0 I-6) I still get around 14-15 mpg city and about 21-22 highway.

As you can tell, when I drive (even if it's to the corner store) I gotta have my space... Maybe I'm not the right guy to be talking about some car that gets good gas mileage...

Ashley - Get the 5.2 (318) V-8 in that? I'm looking for a 1998 ZJ that's the 5.9 Limited Edition. I'm droolin' just thinking about it. Hit me up w/ a PM and tell me how ya' like it (and let me drool over the list of options that you got! )

crown vic polic package. It totally rocks, and will seat zix in comfort, seven or even eight if you really need to, and thats without putting anyone in the trunk (at least ten if you do that). On top of that, you get the police package which means your car is a decent performer (don't expect good 1/4 mile times, it is a huge car, but its got a good top speed and good high speed handling. And you get a spotlight. And american full size sedans are totally awesome. Also look into a town car or a grandmarquis (crown vic with some extra options). Cheap, reliable (don't believe the fix or repair daily nonsense, mid and late 90's crown vics are about as reliable as cars get. I've got a 15 year old ford that has never had a major problem.)

But you gotta pay for gas. Beats an SUV, but not a civic.

[Clark Gilbert]

Originally Posted by Frank(Aflak)

crown vic polic package. It totally rocks.....

Someone my brother had class with last semester at Purdue picked up something very similar to this near the end of the year. His dad got him a 2000 (or '01 / '02 not sure) Ford Crown Victoria, FBI retired car. This thing was awesome. It was all black w/ tinted windows and the black police wheels. It had the police search light and everything on the door. The odd thing was that this vehicle didnt have a VIN number on it so the kid had special paperwork from the government incase he ever got pulled over. I believe he picked up this car at an auction for $6000.

[Greg Needel]

just my .02 look at buick lesabre


from 91-95 they didn;t change much and they are all very very reliable...all the parts are GM regulars that were used so much they are proven conept. you can pick one up for under 3,000. i have had mine (94) for a few years now and i love it. i know you might say yuck a buick but this car has been through the works with very little problems. also note that i live in rochester NY, the weather is probably the most sparatic ever so it is truely in my mine a tested concept...you can also find them anywhere, trust me you wont be disappointed

[Billfred]

Excuse my Iron Chef, but...

Originally Posted by Myself

The car hunt battle is ov-ah!

Details will follow soon.

[MattK]

Coming from a family in law enforcement- That is a great car

Originally Posted by Clark Gilbert

Someone my brother had class with last semester at Purdue picked up something very similar to this near the end of the year. His dad got him a 2000 (or '01 / '02 not sure) Ford Crown Victoria, FBI retired car. This thing was awesome. It was all black w/ tinted windows and the black police wheels. It had the police search light and everything on the door. The odd thing was that this vehicle didnt have a VIN number on it so the kid had special paperwork from the government incase he ever got pulled over. I believe he picked up this car at an auction for $6000.