Need help finding the right car. Lease price needs to be <$250.

[DougLikesBMW]

Hello folks,

I am in need of some help of finding the right car to lease for college. The original plan was for me to take our E46 330Ci to school, however the area in Galveston I am going to school is not a very nice area. I will only be there for a year, but after that I will be moving to College Station, Texas, where Texas A&M is located. My friend who is down at A&M right now says a lot of people get pretty rowdy and crazy at night, and having been in the parking lot myself it definitely seems like a place I would not like to park a BMW (as it is I am pretty anal about where I park, no matter where I am).

Plus as much as I love our 330Ci, I feel that it is too nice of a car for a kid to have anyways. I have a deal set up with my dad that when I get into law school, as a reward for busting my ass in college I will get an E46 M3 (dream car). So I'm planning on busting my ass in college and then I will feel more deserving of the ultimate driving machine.

Enough of the background info..

Looking for a safe, well handling, reliable car that has a bit of pep to it.
Lease price needs to be $250 or under per month, and the car will need to have a manual transmission. Obviously the car needs to be European/Japanese. American cars are trash.

Cars that I have thought about:

- Honda Civic Coupe Si - Not sure on Lease pricing.
- 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit - $189/month
- 2008 Volkswagen Jetta - $199/month
- Mazda 3 - Not sure on Lease pricing.

Out of these 4, I am leaning towards the Rabbit or Civic Si (depending on lease price).

So does anyone have any other car suggestions? Out of the cars I have listed which is the best (handling, reliability, etc)?

Thank you in advance for your help.

[TK-421]

jetta ftw

its a great car. i personally would never get a rabbit unless it was a gti

[Icedog_16]

I doubt you'll be able to get a Civic Si for under $250/month.

Originally Posted by Honda Website

2008 Civic Si Coupe
36 Months Term
12,000 Annual Mileage

$334.39
*Lease Summary: Required Refundable Security Deposit $350.00, 1st Monthly Payment $334.39, Capitalized Cost Reduction $0.00 to equal an estimate total of $684.39 due at lease signing

You'd have to throw in about $3K cash to get you there.

Jetta or Rabbit will be your best bets.

[gonzo]

They are not that bad. I grew up in Bryan and graduated from A&M. Albeit a long time ago. A lot of students have nice cars. People don't mess with stuff unless you mess with them. Still a lot of jacked up 4x4 pick ups I am sure.

I love VW but aren't the electrical bugs still buzzing in them? I would look at Honda personally. I have heard they can't keep them on the lots though.

It is exactly 200 miles from CS to far north Dallas. Gas mileage would be my priority along with payment and reliability numbers.

Football days are when people act up. Well, along with Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Check out Hurricane Harry's for hot country dancing girls and The Tap for hot sorority b's. Two good friends own each of them. Ask for Jack at Harry's and John at The Tap..tell em' Phillip sent you.

GIG EM!

[Cookiemonster]

A little more than 250 .....But well worth the extra cash.


$269/Month. 36-Month Lease
2008 GTI 2.0T with Manual Transmission
$1,999 Due at Signing
(excluding title, tax, options and dealer fees)

Or, see your local VW dealer for one of the many other great lease deals available on GTI models.
©2008 Volkswagen of America, Inc. *U.S. cars only. Based on MSRP of $23,450 for a 2008 GTI 2.0 TFSI with Manual Transmission, excluding title, taxes, options and dealer charges. Monthly payments total $9,684. Dealer contribution required, $984.25. Purchase option at lease end for $12,428.50. For all offers at lease end lessees responsible for $0.20/mile over 36,000 miles and for damage and excessive wear. Dealer sets actual prices. Lessee responsible for insurance. Closed-end lease offered to highest qualified customers by Volkswagen Credit through participating dealers. Supplies limited. Offers end July 31st, 2008. Additional charges may apply at lease end. See your Volkswagen dealer for financing details or for general product information call 1-800-Drive-VW.

[DougLikesBMW]

Originally Posted by Cookiemonster

A little more than 250 .....But well worth the extra cash.


$269/Month. 36-Month Lease
2008 GTI 2.0T with Manual Transmission
$1,999 Due at Signing
(excluding title, tax, options and dealer fees)

Or, see your local VW dealer for one of the many other great lease deals available on GTI models.
©2008 Volkswagen of America, Inc. *U.S. cars only. Based on MSRP of $23,450 for a 2008 GTI 2.0 TFSI with Manual Transmission, excluding title, taxes, options and dealer charges. Monthly payments total $9,684. Dealer contribution required, $984.25. Purchase option at lease end for $12,428.50. For all offers at lease end lessees responsible for $0.20/mile over 36,000 miles and for damage and excessive wear. Dealer sets actual prices. Lessee responsible for insurance. Closed-end lease offered to highest qualified customers by Volkswagen Credit through participating dealers. Supplies limited. Offers end July 31st, 2008. Additional charges may apply at lease end. See your Volkswagen dealer for financing details or for general product information call 1-800-Drive-VW.

Hmm, we'll see about this...may be too expensive.

But if it came down to the GTi and the Civic Si, which would be the one to go with?

If anyone else has any suggestions please feel free to post them!

[GreenThree]

Jetta FTW

Have you checked out Subi prices yet? might be able to score a good deal on a Legacy or Outback

[Zeeman]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

Hmm, we'll see about this...may be too expensive.

But if it came down to the GTi and the Civic Si, which would be the one to go with?

If anyone else has any suggestions please feel free to post them!

if you want performance go with the GTi - IMO better handling and better engine. The Civic Si is definitely no slouch tho and gets the nod on reliability.

[Icedog_16]

I'd take the GTI over the Si in a heartbeat! Plus, a nice Revo flash will give that 2.0T a good boost in power.

[Cookiemonster]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

Hmm, we'll see about this...may be too expensive.

But if it came down to the GTi and the Civic Si, which would be the one to go with?

If anyone else has any suggestions please feel free to post them!

I would go with the GTI over the SI. The GTI has a style and swagger that the SI can not match. GTI is a masculine handsome car. SI more futuristic and slightly cheap looking(imho). SI will be more reliable and probably holds its value better.

[DougLikesBMW]

Ok, so I see that you guys prefer the GTi to the Si.

What are your opinions in preference to the Rabbit or Jetta?

Remember this is a lease, so I don't think holding value is a worry?

I checked out what Subaru has to offer, and the Legacy is too expensive, and the baseline Impreza is just awful looking to me, especially compared with the Jetta, etc.

Thanks again for your help everyone.

[DasBoost]

Why lease a car when you can just buy a used one? Go with a Honda, Toyota or Nissan, they have a better resale value. Why would you want to pay $250. a month to rent a car. Plus if anything happens such as dings, dents, over milage, etc etc you will have to come out of pocket. Save yourself some money IMO.

[DougLikesBMW]

Originally Posted by DasBoost

Why lease a car when you can just buy a used one? Go with a Honda, Toyota or Nissan, they have a better resale value. Why would you would be paying $250. a month to rent a car. Plus if anything happens such as dings, dents, over milage, etc etc you will have to come out of pocket. Save yourself some money IMO.

I'm not sure of my dad's reasoning...he just said he wants to lease.

I'll talk to him and get back to you.

[DasBoost]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

I'm not sure of my dad's reasoning...he just said he wants to lease.

I'll talk to him and get back to you.

No prob...let me know what happens captain.

[jeveryday]

Jetta

[Davin]

the jetta may be the best way to go

[DougLikesBMW]

Originally Posted by Davin

the jetta may be the best way to go

jeveryday and Davin how come you guys said to go with the Jetta? Just curious of everyone's reasoning as to why they picked a certain car.


Will get back to you tomorrow DasBoost, my dad will be back in town then.

[GreenThree]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

I'm not sure of my dad's reasoning...he just said he wants to lease.

I'll talk to him and get back to you.

Owning usually costs more up front, and the mon payment is higher. Sounds like you guys are going for lower monthly payments which is exactly why a lease would work for you. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[Couch]

By the time you get into law school you'll be wanting an e92 M3.

[DougLikesBMW]

Originally Posted by GreenThree

Owning usually costs more up front, and the mon payment is higher. Sounds like you guys are going for lower monthly payments which is exactly why a lease would work for you. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Just got off the phone with him, this was pretty much exactly what he said, heh.

I think right now I am leaning towards the Jetta. I figure it's a bit bigger and safer than the Rabbit and it has decent rear seats.

Couch - I have been thinking about that! Dunno though, we'll see how my view changes in four years. I just feel the E46 M3 is so much cleaner and meaner looking, and it's always been a dream car of mine.

Once again, thanks for the help everyone!

[DasBoost]

Nice to see you are finally coming down to a decision. My co-worker has an 08 Jetta and is very happy w/ it, no probs. With any car you choose just make sure you do your research first and let us know what you get in the end!

[DougLikesBMW]

Does anyone have any opinions/thoughts on the 2008 Mitsubisihi Lancer?