Here’s my 2020 Camry SE that I sadly wrecked after driving too much one day and falling asleep on an empty highway (thankfully no one else was around).
I’ll soon be commuting to community college and need a reliable car with good gas mileage. I’m also in the Air Force part-time and have to drive over an hour to the base 1-3 times a month.
My insurance is likely going to go up, and I’ll only be making around $1000 a month. But I do get a $6500 bonus every March, and the Air Force covers my tuition and books.
I plan to live with my parents for now. So, should I get a cheap beater car or invest in something that will last me 7+ years of reliable driving?
Did you like your Camry? Camrys are great “just need a solid car” options. They’re not cheap these days, but if you can find a used one, I’d say go for it.
Other close options are a Corolla, Civic, or Accord. It depends on whether you want to switch things up. But with your busy schedule, I’d stick with something easy and reliable.
If you go for a beater, be ready to deal with issues and fix them yourself to save money. If it’s already at 150k miles, major repairs are likely not far off.
Ellery said:
If you go for a beater, be ready to deal with issues and fix them yourself to save money. If it’s already at 150k miles, major repairs are likely not far off.
That’s why I got the Camry in the first place, but I keep hearing people say, “It’s cheaper to spend $1k a year on repairs than car payments.” I also liked having features like CarPlay for my long drives.
@Deen
I had a beater, and repairs were manageable until they weren’t. Engine failure at 180k, then the transmission started slipping. After fixing that, the radiator leaked, and now the engine has head gasket issues. Replaced the alternator three times, and that’s not counting other stuff. If I’d taken it to a shop, it would’ve cost more than the car itself.
The car is being totaled because the repairs are $4500 over the threshold, mainly due to needing to pull the engine to replace the subframe. The damage in the picture doesn’t look like much, but it’s expensive to fix.
I was paying $155 a month for insurance. I bet it’ll at least double now, but I haven’t gotten the final word yet. In my area, a 2017 Camry is only about $3k cheaper than a 2020, which seems like it’s not worth the downgrade.
@Deen
Call your insurance company with the VIN of a car you’re considering. They can give you a quote so you’ll know what to expect. They’ll adjust your next bill after you finalize everything.
Finnian said: @Deen
Call your insurance company with the VIN of a car you’re considering. They can give you a quote so you’ll know what to expect. They’ll adjust your next bill after you finalize everything.
Thanks! I found some nice options, even a fully loaded XSE for less than my old SE. If the insurance isn’t crazy, I’m getting my sporty sedan back.
Edit: My buddy pays $600/month for insurance, but he has two at-faults from last year. That’s why I thought mine might jump to $400.
