Hey guys,

I was thinkin about getting an '09 Ralliart for just daily driving. I was wondering if I should even get it. I'm going to be in college next year and I want a fun, sporty car to drive. I have a couple of questions. Is the insurance expensive? Is the car worth it? How much do you guys think I can get the Ralliart for? I'm not sure if I want recaro or navi.

My parents have 800+ credit score if that helps any.

I'm not planning to mod the car or anything, maybe just tint the windows and change the tires and wheels.

Thanks!

 

First, I'd like to say that it must be nice. My parents never bought me a car, so having a $20k + car at that age was never even a consideration. Out of curiosity, though, is this your first car? If so, I would not recommend your getting it. I think this is a bad idea unless you are the exception, rather than the rule, for 18 year olds; extremely mature for your age; and have regularly driven a car with similar capabilities. Don't be fooled: You will see a lot of people complaining about the lack luster power, tame nature, etc., etc. But I've heard of way too many 18-19 year olds who have killed themselves or their passengers because, let's face it, they were out of their league. If your parents decide to buy you this car, please build about $600-800 into the price and have your parents pay for you for a day at a performance driving school. But, anyway, I'm not your parents so I won't continue to lecture.

Now, onto the numbers. This is assuming that you were being honest about your parents' credit and the 0% APR is still available. Even a base model is going to cost over $400 a month. You could get the payments lower with a larger down payment or with doing a non-0% APR loan and rebates (though I would not recommend that option because your parents would be held to a longer term and ultimately may more).

As for insurance, it will depend mostly on you and your driving history. My '09 Ralliart costs less to insure than my '05 WRX by about $10/month. Of course, that being said, if enough people who don't know how to drive and who violate the rules of the road start driving the car, I'm sure that insurance is going to go up for everyone.

Yikes. I've turned into a grumpy old man.

 

I've told my parents that I wanted a used car but they didn't want one.

I wouldn't lie about the credit because that wouldn't help me would it? :P

Anyways yeah I've considered trying to get a different car but I still like this one the most :/

 

Reminds me of when I was buying my first car a few years back, I had wanted a used one..but my parents for whatever reason (I say its cause they're asian) absolutely abhorred the idea of buying used. You wouldn't happen to be asian...?

Anyway, I drive my RA as my DD to and from school/work/play. Its a great car, fun when needed, and tame when driving spirited is unnecessary. You say this is going to be your first year in college, are you going to be commuting or dorming there? I ask, because, on many college campuses there are idiots around..all the time. And, when they see a nice car (sometimes, not always, a nice foreign car), they think its funny to mess with it. Aside from that, you have all the other students who don't care and fling their doors open carelessly (my one and only doording was from when I was parked on campus -never again).

Insurance...its not bad. Its slightly higher than a GTS - for obvious reasons. I'm unsure of how your driving record is..but that will play a large part in the prices.

And, as Lagodaboy stated - if this is your first car I would agree with him in saying you may want to stray away from it. Since you're in the market for a new car...maybe a GTS would even suffice. For a first car, the GTS (even a DE...) would be great.

Hope this sheds some light on your subject, and good luck with your decision

 

which is why I will be parking my RA in the corner of the lot away from everyone else. If a passenger complains, they can walk.

 

Hahahah spot on my parents are indeed Asian. I don't know I still want to get this car though. I have a clean driving record. We'll see. When I go test drive it then I'll decide. I won't know until then!

 

Get something newish and cheap. Your gonna be at college and you would probably wanna have your friends riding with you and going out. I reccomend getting something cheap because you already are gonna have debt from school. The ralliart is a very nice car to get and fun to drive but you have to consider you will have to pay for gas and extra. Also like what was stated above in regards to your car being scratched from other no consideration I am not gonna take care of what I got schoolmates it will happen. Then there is the fact that you will rarely get to clean the car and get it properly maintenaced as well as wash it until you are back home on break.

these are just some things to consider. If you have the money and means to do so go right ahead. If not, just consider some of the finer points and make a decision that will benefit you the best.

 

Oh no, not a thread like this again... anyway

Regardless of payments i'm not going to preach. My parents help with me half and i am extremely grateful for it. I actually had the same problem i wanted a used car and my mother just would not allow it. That or a manual. My first car was an 09 RSX, which was a great car but after a while did leave me desiring...more. Like some have stated you may want to start out with something with a little less "oomph" but hey, it's your choice. If you truly feel you won't drive like an a$s with it, then go ahead. I'm of the opinion that not ALL teenage drivers are bad, so you may be that percentage that is fully capable of doing it.

Maintenance-wise the gas can get pricey, don't know far your school is or what not but nevertheless it's not cheap with premium these days any way you slice it. As for maintenance at school in terms of dings, i've never had an issue but i feel that lends more in terms of the schools surroundings.

Either way, good luck with whatever you choose and drive safely with whatever it is.

 

My driving style isn't *******ish. I'm a nice driver hahaha. I don't know, there's so many *******s on the road today I just don't want to be part of that. I don't drive that fast either I tend to stay near the speed limit, but just higher by a little bit.

How long did you have your RSX for?

 

I'm going to be extremely nice....
Go get yourself a nice 99-2000 honda civic 4 door that runs well and call it a day. believe me, having a Nice car through College is not a good idea, it will be all tore up after just a couple months.

 

A little over three years. Got it midway through Junior year high school, it was an 06.


False. I don't know what you people did or allowed people to do. If you don't want people screwing it up. DON'T LET THEM IN. Tell them to wipe their feet etc. I returned my car and was praised by the dealership who even asked if the car was used at all (joking obviously). If doing that is too much for you then idk what to tell you...

 

This is GREAT advice. As soon as your friends/ppl will find out you have a car its gonna suck. You will be asked everyday to drive to the corner store/head shop/beer store/party/down the street/campus/abortion clinic etc etc and it will get destroyed. Ppl WILL puke in it, no matter how hard you try. Dirt, mess, cigarette burns, holes, slashes. I learned my lesson in high school. Once i went to college i parked in a far clorner lot no one could see, and i always said i didn't have a car.

Then i puked in my buddies car, so it DOES happen!

My best advice, get a old civic or neon for dirt cheap that will last you the 3, 4 years of college. Beat the **** out of it, and when you are done college and you move on to better things get a Evo or a car of your choosing.

 

I had a semi-fixed up '00 Civic in college, and believe me, you don't want to park a nice car there (especially if you're planning on living in the dorms).

I've had my tail lights smashed in, mysterious liquid spilled onto it, and a fair share of dents and dings.

If you do bring a nice car to college, park in the furthest lot away from the late-night drunk routes. You may still get the occasional jackass who wants to screw with your ride, though..

 

What in the eff were you guys doing. It's pretty easy to say no, you drive. Not like i was some kind of recluse, i went out every weekend. Really not hard to work around not being the go-to guy to drive to parties. Who wants to DD anyway?

Don't know where you guys went to school but i have never had that happen to me. I guess it depends highly on where you go to school. I also assumed that parking far away from local drunk areas would be a given regardless of how "nice" your car is...

 

I wasn't running a campus taxi service or anything...in fact, the only time I drove it was for visiting the folks and maybe 2-3 times a week on top of that. All of the damage that incurred was simply from being parked in an area where morons had access to it.