Hey all, This fall I'm traveling from Denmark to New York to do an exchange semester at RPI. Since RPI is located in Troy, New York I will be needing a car. Currently I don't even have a license - so my knowledge of cars is minimal. I am an American citizen (dual) so I'm planning on living with parts of my family in Missouri - for a month or so before the semester starts and obtaining my drivers license. Then the plan would be to buy the cheapest possible used car and drive it up to New York. What brand/models/years should I be looking at that are cheap - and won't break down after a few 100 miles? No frills needed - just transportation ability. I'm trying to lay down a budget for the trip - so need some ballpark figure for the car. Will there be any problems taking a Missouri drivers license with me to New York? Thanks.

Get like a 199x Toyota Camry. They last forever and will do the trick. You'd be looking at $1500 to $3000 tops.

There shouldn't be any problems with your license as long as you don't live in NY for more than 2 years (IIRC).

Quote: Original post by Programmer One
Get like a 199x Toyota Camry. They last forever and will do the trick. You'd be looking at $1500 to $3000 tops.

There shouldn't be any problems with your license as long as you don't live in NY for more than 2 years (IIRC).

Thanks - will be on the lookout for that.

I tried out one online car insurance estimater. As a first time owner, male, 24 years old it came out to about $1000 for 6 months. Does this seem right?

I will be buying insurance and car cash. Is there any reason that the insurance company would ask for Credit history (which I don't have - haven't lived in the US since 94).

Japanese, Honda or Toyota are usually a good bet.

Quote: Original post by denver
I tried out one online car insurance estimater. As a first time owner, male, 24 years old it came out to about $1000 for 6 months. Does this seem right?

I will be buying insurance and car cash. Is there any reason that the insurance company would ask for Credit history (which I don't have - haven't lived in the US since 94).

Credit history proves you can make payments on time and having bad / no credit increases your rate, because you're seen as a risk. If you have the time, you should try to build your credit.

At 25, your rates go down, but 1K/ 6 months seems about right. If you're going for a really cheap car, make sure you drop collision insurance from your own car to save money, if you're legally allowed to.

Quote: Original post by Binomine

Quote: Original post by denver
I tried out one online car insurance estimater. As a first time owner, male, 24 years old it came out to about $1000 for 6 months. Does this seem right?

I will be buying insurance and car cash. Is there any reason that the insurance company would ask for Credit history (which I don't have - haven't lived in the US since 94).

Credit history proves you can make payments on time and having bad / no credit increases your rate, because you're seen as a risk. If you have the time, you should try to build your credit.

At 25, your rates go down, but 1K/ 6 months seems about right. If you're going for a really cheap car, make sure you drop collision insurance from your own car to save money, if you're legally allowed to.

Thanks for the heads up about collision. Will look out for that.

It's not possible for me to build up credit as I live in Denmark now and don't have a US bank account.

You looked into renting a car? It may end up being cheaper (Plus less worries about it breaking down).

Hyundai make very good, cheap cars as well. One even just 5 years old would probably be under 4k. In 2006, I bought an '04 Accent for 5800 and it now has over 150k miles and is still going strong :).

You can probably get a long term rental for about $500/month. Other than that, your best bet is a Honda Civic or Accord, or a Toyota Corolla or Camry. Plentiful, inexpensive, fairly reliable.

I picked up a 2001 Hyundai Elantra with 90,000 miles for $5K in 2007. It's never had a single mechanical problem since it was manufactured, except I let it overheat once by stupidly letting the radiator run out of fluid :-p You could probably get it now for $4,000 or less. So another vote for Hyundai.