The summer is quickly drawing to a close and fall seems to already rear its crisp and cool head. This means back to jackets, early sunsets and for about 2.1 million kids across the country, it also means time to hit the books in one our nations many great colleges. Now’s the time to do some last minute school supply shopping. We thought we’d help with that a little bit and, while we may not be able to tell you how many subjects your college ruled notebooks should contain, or which Ikea sets are the most beer-stain resistant, we can sure help you figure out what to buy to replace that old hand me down jalopy mom and dad gave you and go back to school in style. Don your togas, throw some Otis Knight on the iPod, set the GPS for Faber College and don’t forget your pledge pin: this is AK’s Top 5 Cars for College Students.
What makes the perfect college ride ? It’s important to start from a place of utility. This vehicle needs to serve many roles, from grocery runner, to people hauler, cargo mover and occasionally even a good place to catch a few hours of shut eye. Most importantly it must be affordable. For those of you in college now, or who remember what it was like, you know that money is usually tight. It is hard enough to afford college, books, booze, lattes and whatever this week’s must have thing is. Your car needs to be cheap to buy and cheap to own. So let’s get to it.
5) Honda Civic Si
This classic standby is a great way to start off our list. The Honda Civic has been a staple in the college community for about as long as oversized hoodies have been a staple in 8 AM classes. It looks great, moves pretty quick and saves you money at the pump.
Stats:
Power: 201-hp, 2.4-liter, DOHC i-VTEC 4-Cylinder Engine
Doors: 4 (Coupe Also Available)
Fuel Economy: 22/31 (City/Highway)
Price: Under $24,000 decently equipped
Pros: Its a quick car for not that much scratch. The gas mileage is very good and it is a versatile vehicle. It has a good amount of room for four adults and a mainly plastic and cloth interior means that it is easy to clean and maintain. If you get the 4-door version, which is what we recommend, it makes it a great car pool car to the party on Friday night or the fast food taco place at 2 am when your room smells like “incense”. While you are driving, feel free to plug in your phone to the 7 speaker entertainment system with conveniently placed i-MID multi-functional display in place of the instrument cluster. The best part is that almost all the bells and whistles on this trim level are standard. almost.
Cons: The first one that we can see is that it is only available in with a standard transmission. This is something we tend like around here, but if you can’t drive stick, it may be a deal breaker. This also means it’s not that easy to simply give your keys to a friend. Not if you like your clutch. Also, despite its small size, it is not exactly the most agile of vehicles and tends to have a good bit of roll. Add in front wheel drive and the driving experience may not always be race like.
Final Thought: Perfect for the student who wants enough power to never worry about merging into traffic but maybe doesn’t have a need to find his way over to the drag strip on a Friday night. Being a favorite in the modding and customization community means there is a ton of great stuff out there to “personalize” (pronounced: ruin) this car. In a world of Facebook, Twitter and never-ending bad fashion, shouldn’t your car been yet another unnecessary statement of “individuality” ?
4) VW GTI – 4 Door
Like that 11 am Action Movie Appreciation class, this is something that everyone wants to get into. The Golf’s faster and most well-known cousin, it is small, nimble, quick and gas efficient. Though it is less powerful than its muscular big brother, the Golf R, for the price it’s hard to beat. Currently in its 6th generation, the GTI is a tried and true classic of the young motoring scene.
Stats:
Power: 200-hp, 2.0L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, TSI
Doors: 4 (5 if you count the hatch, Coupe Also Available)
Fuel Economy: 24/33 (City/Highway)
Price: Under $26,000 decently equipped
Pros: A turbocharged 2.0 L, 4 cylinder puts out an ample 200 hp. Sporty and aggressive styling will always get you noticed. With great brakes and great shocks the car really can move through a crowd. The back allows for ample head and leg room for such a small car. Cargo room is also surprisingly large and the back seat fold down nearly flat to fit all those boxes for moving into the dorms (or a keg full of … juice for that study session ::liberal use of air quotes::). Finally, should that socially awkward freshman in the beat up red sedan crash into you because they were too busy texting, the airbags and safety features are, pardon the pun, best in class.
Cons: We start with the interior appointments. While most of the cars on this list are not the be all end all of luxury interiors, I expect a bit more from the German auto giant. The seats are not always the most comfortable and aren’t exactly what you would call form-fitting. The stock entertainment system is slightly lackluster. Despite the 8 speakers and the smart media console, the iOS integration isn’t what you would call smooth. Also, due to the ample safety features, this car weighs a hefty amount. This means that you and three members of that D1 football team will add enough weight to make both acceleration and braking significantly slower, and handling much clunkier.
Final Thought: A great ‘college life’ car with the versatility that most other cars in this price point can only dream of. While it seats four, I might stick to you and your current flavor of the week for the most part. While the back seat will make do in a pinch, it is not something I would want full of people all the time. It is an easy car to just get in and drive. With a “tiptronic” automatic gearbox, it is great for novices, and experienced wheelmen alike. Like the Civic, this is an easy car to mod. Finding cheap aftermarket body kits, lights and even custom fitted vinyls are pretty easy. Throw in oversized wheels, lowered aftermarket suspension and an obnoxious paint job and you might be able to get your car into the next cinematic opus from Paul Walker.
3) Ford Focus ST
Our own Alex K. got up close and personal with this hot hatch quite recently. After quite a few years watching our mates from across the pond enjoy Ford’s more creative and performance fueled options, this all new beast is ours for the taking. With a punchy acceleration, strikingly sporty look and equally aggressive handling, this hatch would be hard to miss as you pull up to the frat house.
Stats:
Power: 247-hp, 5 cylinder Eco-Boost
Doors: 4 (5 if you count the hatch)
Fuel Economy: 23/32 (City/Highway)
Price: Under $25,000 decently equipped
Pros: There is quite a lot to love about this car. It definitely has enough power to get you moving and thanks to Ford’s exclusive Eco-Boost system, it can do so without empty your tank and wallet. As a hatch it enjoys all the perks that hatches get. This included comfortable seating for 4 (5 if you squeeze or are quite skinny) and a sizable amount of cargo space. This means once again its perfect for trips to the clubs with roommates and trips to Walmart for frozen pizza and margarita mix. ( DO NOT operate a vehicle after consumption of margaritas). I could go on about how great this car is, but Alex has already done that, so check that out.
Cons: The only down side to this great little hot hatch is the pricing situation. While the vehicle itself is quite well priced, almost everything is considered an extra. Throw in some nice seats, a fancy nav system, HID headlights and Ford’s exclusive Ford MyTouch system and you are pushing so close as makes no difference $30,000. That said, none of those were even offered as options on the others so I guess it balances out.
Final Thought: The Focus has had a long history of looking great and performing beautifully in Europe. This time we can have that precision handling and plucky but powerful engine stateside. It’s a great get around town vehicle and can handle the longer drives pretty easily too. As a domestic breed, maintenance is cost effective. It’s hard to look, sound and perform this well for this little. I like to think of this as the state school of college cars. It is what you make of it, but there is something great for those who want it.
2) American Muscle Car
I was having trouble deciding between the Mustang, Camaro, Charger and other deep rumbling Detroit made thoroughbreds. Then I realized, while each car is unique and great in its own way, for the purpose of this comparison, they could each fill this spot for similar reasons.
Stats:
Power: Between 290-325 hp V6
Doors: 2
Fuel Economy: approx. 19/31 (City/Highway)
Price: Under $26.5-$29K
Pros: This is the ultimate accessory to any cool kid routine in college. The 2 door American sports car in a look at me yellow, lava orange or candy apple red. As a guy, you will definitely feel compelled to peacock around the ladies in your rear-drive toy. For women, I would tell you how men respond to girls in pony cars, but I am already lost in my own mental fantasy. You can always be heard before you are seen and will always make an entrance.
Cons: First off, guys, if you think a cool car pulls girls at school, take some Women’s Studies courses and wise up (which might get you some action, coincidentally). More importantly, it’s mostly impractical. Very little to no back seat space and the same goes for any cargo more than a couple of bags from Whole Foods. They aren’t exactly environmentally friendly, which will hurt you in the pocket and with the neo-hippies playing hacky-sack in the quad. If you school upstate, prepare yourself for the battle between RWD and snow. With a young driver at the wheel, it tends to draw the wrong kind of attention from law enforcement and unwanted glares of deans as well. The worst part is, you always run the risk of looking like a complete tool if you play the loud, powerful car routine. Not to mention the actual car guys all know that to price it under $30k, you are driving the bare bones baby version of your car.
Final Thought: Despite all those negatives, it is somehow hard to see past the loud noise, bright colors and aggressive styling of these American classics. In today’s hipster driven, non-conformist (yet completely conformist) college social scene, this set of vehicles seems to transcend over the years. As I mentioned before, its not hard to over do it and look like a fool. Ride the line. Be loud from time to time, but try and avoid the doughnuts and peel outs.
1) Subaru WRX
This rally legend makes almost as much sense in a college parking lot as it does on a dirt track. It says “I like speed, but I’m not an idiot” ( oh yeah? hmmm… -ed.). It allows you to break social norms a little, without being so far out that no one wants to make eye contact. Power under the hood, room in the back for friends and in the trunk for supplies. It is great on the highway, in city traffic and off the beaten path.
Stats:
Power: 265-hp, DOHC Turbocharged Subaru Boxer 4 Cyl.
Doors: 4 (5 Door hatch available)
Fuel Economy: 18/25 (City/Highway)
Price: Under $30,000 well equipped
Pros: Its hard to find things not to love about this car. Its got tons of power and a great manual 6 speed to get the power to the wheels. The sound can be near deafening at high revs, but seems to play a symphony all through the gears. It has more than enough room for 5 comfortable adults and a large trunk. Should you opt for the hatchback, that room get even bigger. While the mid-line premium edition comes in at a little over $28K, the top of the line Premium still keeps you under $30K. This is an impressive bang for the buck, while staying out of the high performance and more expensive STI line up. It also has one of the nicest interiors of any of the mentioned vehicles thus far and all standard on the Premium version.
Cons: It is at the top of the price line up between today’s vehicles. Value or no value, this car is not an easy expense to swallow. As a car guy, people will notice the lack of STI badge. This means that most slightly boastful moves behind the wheel will be seen as social posturing. It is once again a loud car, which again means attention from the wrong element. Namely law enforcement. Something about this car seems to beckon idiots around you to attempt to race you. Like the well endowed girl in the low cut shit, you may not be looking for the attention, but most eyes are on you as you pass. It also isn’t easy on the your pocket. Not only is it the most expensive car here, but it has the lowest combined gas mileage. A price you pay for the performance.
Final Thought: This is one of my favorite cars both in and out of college. It might be one of the best cars to drive to, on and home from the track and all the while never regretting the time you spend in your car. If you can swing this car, you will be king on campus in no time at all. Its hard to ignore such a perfect car. If you do get the hatchback, its not a bad spot to crash in a pinch. Maybe you want to go camping, maybe you just need to sleep it off or maybe you need somewhere private to take a … friend. Just leave a sock on the antenna.
So there it is. The next four years are going to be full of great and terrible moments that you will never forget (or don’t remember the next morning). No matter what you do, drive responsibly and have a great semester. AutoKinesis will be with you the whole time.
Words By – Hari Mani