Heart of a Miata?

[jsforrest]

I'm needing to find a good, dependable car to send my daughter off to college in. I'm looking for something as trustworthy as a good Miata but don't want to send an 18 year old off to Abilene in a convertible.

Any suggestions?

[ken o]

Civic

[Dave04]

Civic

+1 I've owned 2 of them in my life and both were great.

[MadMerv]

Miata with a hardtop?

[miataspeedracer]

I'm needing to find a good, dependable car to send my daughter off to college in. I'm looking for something as trustworthy as a good Miata but don't want to send an 18 year old off to Abilene in a convertible.

Any suggestions?

Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. Pick your favorite team. (I'm in the Honda camp).

[POS Racing]

Where is she going?? ACU or HSU??

I'd go with a Corolla but I'm a Toyota fan.

[jsforrest]

Hardin Simmons, thinks she wants to study Athletic Training or Physical Therapy and HSU has good schools for both. She'll also be playing Softball so there are a lot of Friday morning drives to Abiline in the Miata in my future.

[POS Racing]

Hardin Simmons, thinks she wants to study Athletic Training or Physical Therapy and HSU has good schools for both. She'll also be playing Softball so there are a lot of Friday morning drives to Abiline in the Miata in my future.

Awesome congratulations!

[CosmosMpower]

Watch out for the crickets everywhere...

[Kestrel]

Uh... Mazda 3?

[smartmx5]

Uh... Mazda 3?

+1

Seems most logical. She can then carry people or school items if needed. Plus, it truly has the "Soul of a Sports car". Zoom-Zoom

[trickyrix]

Mazda 3 would be the logical choice here... but I'm also a Civ-rolla fan (and, for the record, the Corolla has the less-dorky interior of those two).

[Titus]

Mazda 3 would be the logical choice here... but I'm also a Civ-rolla fan (and, for the record, the Corolla has the less-dorky interior of those two).

I would go with a Mazda3. My dad has had an '05 Mazda3 since late '04 as his beater. It is the base model (plus the power package) and has the smaller engine. I just love that car... fun to drive, looks good inside and out, great gas mileage, and cheap.

I have also owned Honda civics (granted the last one was a '97) and I have rented a Civic Hybrid, but I still like the Mazda3 more.

As for the Carrolla, I have never owned one but I have had a few as rental cars... yes the interior is nice, but I never cared for the handling (they feel bigger than the Mazda and Honda), and I am not a fan of the exterior styling.

[gabkwong]

Hardin Simmons, thinks she wants to study Athletic Training or Physical Therapy and HSU has good schools for both.

Study Physical Therapy if she can get into the school. It is kind of competitive. It pays really good, good hours and job security! These days, you can walk out a job in the morning and walk into a new job after lunch time the same day!

[gabkwong]

My vote is for the Mazda3 with the hatch or a Saab 9-2. I may sell the 9-2 when son done with it this Spring.

[jsforrest]

Like I told her, there are a ton of us old people who are going to need hip and knee replacements.... I thought she was going to go into Interior Decorating on the spot!!!

There are quite a few older Civic's out there and the 2 door models are not bad looking at all, that may be the way we're going.

[JuanoTejano]

The 6th gen civic coupe get my vote as well. I had a 7th gen coupe and I much preferred the look of the earlier ones. They are also lighter and therefore should get better MPG.

[jsforrest]

OK, now other than 'a really cool radio' (my daughter's only requirement) is there anything I need to be looking out for in a Civic that has 100+k miles?

[blackzx3_13]

OK, now other than 'a really cool radio' (my daughter's only requirement) is there anything I need to be looking out for in a Civic that has 100+k miles?

Make sure it has had the proper maintenance. Fluid changes, timing belts, etc.

[Dave04]

timing belts

+1 it's an interference engine, so make sure it's had a fairly recent timing belt (or budget in the price to get one done )