Should I buy?

[el_fefes]

Hey. Well...dad wants to get a new car...we have a '90 mazda protege, he says we can do 1500, i'm going to school right now, and can't spend too much, the car's got about 218,000kms. Just wandering if i'm better off, riding transit, and saving up for a better car or just get the car...

PS - I live in NW and go to mount royal, busing will be a bitch.:dunno:

[djfob]

I'd buy the car cause i would personally do anything to not have to take the bus. I just hate cramming onto a bus or train especially from the nw to mrc. My 0.02

[04blackMAX]

id go for the car,,,,,i hate taking the loser cruzer!!

[sxtasy]

have you checked out the insurance rates? It's always a good place to start when makind a decision like this. You don't want to be paying way more than what the car is worth

[rogue]

get the car you can prolly sell it for the same when youare done with it.

[Weapon_R]

Get the car - 1500 isn't a huge amount, and it's a relatively decent reliable form of transportation. Factor in parking rates too :)

[el_fefes]

Any ideas, for better cars for around the same price?

[JAYMEZ]

I dunno , maybe a Honda or somethin? im not sure how cheap they are , but i dont see whats wrong with the mazda? its wheels that take u from point a to point b right :D

[Bonka]

The Protege should be fine. EVEN though they are the Ford Escort equivalent, the protege has a "not as weak" engine so you'll be able to go uphill :poosie:

Frankly I have no idea how insurance rates work for you in Calgary but for us BC guys, typically the older the car the cheaper the insurance. My old 92 Escort cost around 1,100/yr for insurance, you'll probably have to scale that some..:D

Anyways, it's best if you get a car handed to you by someone familar, at least you know what's up with it

[Big_C_racing]

Damn I wish my insurance was that cheap. You'll be lucky if your insurance is only slightly more than 1500 a year without collision. Insurance in Alberta is BS especially when you compare it to BC.

[Gripenfelter]

:devil:

[RC-Cola]

Originally posted by Big_C_racing
Damn I wish my insurance was that cheap. You'll be lucky if your insurance is only slightly more than 1500 a year without collision. Insurance in Alberta is BS especially when you compare it to BC.

See the benefit of being an old guy... I pay $950 for 2003 Spec V. :clap:

You might to see if you can place your insurance under your folks name and insurance yourself as a part-time driver. You just have to be careful you don't get busted with your car outside of the city.

[hjr]

totally check out all the costs of driving the car everyday (gas, insurance, parking, etc.) then decide from there. But i would personally take the car. Its not that bad. As long as you dont try to pimp it out with an aluminum wing you should be OK.

[Xtrema]

What part of NW?

If you live anywhere close the #20 route, take the bus.

Let me run down the cost comparison (per month):

Bus pass: $50

Car:
Insurance: $200 (assuming you're male under 25 and liability only)
Gas: $60
Maintenance: $15 (oil change every 4 months, new tires every 4 years)
Parking: $80 ($4/day X 20 days/month)

Total: $355/month

Now this is also assume that the car is in excellent condition and nothing need to be fix within the next 4 years (which I highly doubt for a 200K+ km car)

So you better be pimping or something after school that'll give you that $300/month. Having your insurance under your dad's name may save you a couple of bucks but won't be much. That's the price of freedom, my friend.

P.S. when's the last time your timing belt got replaced? Sounds like it's about time for a new one. One of these job will cost up to $300 if you don't DIY.

[el_fefes]

Cool thx guys...don't wanna ride transit, but i don't think i can afford about $350 extra a month, having to pay for school and all.

haha, does any one soup up protege's? :rofl:

[el_fefes]

Originally posted by hjr
totally check out all the costs of driving the car everyday (gas, insurance, parking, etc.) then decide from there. But i would personally take the car. Its not that bad. As long as you dont try to pimp it out with an aluminum wing you should be OK.

forgot to quote ^