Story Comments

Strom,
You need to understand that if you continue to buy inferior products for nationalistic reasons, you're doing more harm than good. Buying American might make you feel good inside, but what you're really doing is sending a signal to the American car companies that they are doing things right.

If everyone starts buying cars based on good quality and pleasing aesthetics, it will certainly hurt the American car companies' bottom lines in the near term. But in the long term, they will have to change the way they do business and bring the cars they produce up to the standard of their competitors. That is the beauty of capitalism and if left alone, it will only help the American car companies.

That is what everyone keeps saying. You wont buy a substandard American car to support our local economy. If every time you get a dollar you spend it in Japan then it(dollars) will all run out. It is already happening, foreign countries are already buying up American assets everywhere you look. American mortgage companies are trying to sell their bad loans to South Korea. What do you think the South Koreans are going to do with a forclosed mortgage? They are going to collect on it! Do you think they will ask nicely? What I'm trying to tell you is that your choices and your behavior will lead to the loss of your country and your freedom.

The last car I bought was a Chevy Equinox. I would put it up against any foreign car around. Before that I had a Taurus and my son is using it to drive to college, he's pre-med and does not feel the need to be cool. Before that I had an Impala and that was also a great car. I have a Ford F250 and a friend of mine asked me to haul his b...(Read more of this comment)oat out of the lake for him because his Tundra couldn't pull it up the steep ramp. I suspect his truck would have pulled it out, but he just didn't want to use it like a truck. He bought because he thought it looked cool. You people buy these foreign cars because it's what you want and that's the bottom line.

I met a man who runs a crane at the port of New Orleans. I asked him what is the major export he sees leaving the US? He said our main export is empty shipping containers. (Show less of this comment)

To strom1: We've owned all American cars until the Honda and currently also own a Chevy Trailblazer and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. We bought the Honda and the Mazda because they were best in (economy) class at the time in terms of quality, value, looks, etc. I'm all for supporting American manufacturers but I'm not going to buy a substandard product just to subsidize them; they have to be competitive in this global economy.

To naervez375: So what's cooler than at least some of the cars on the list that still meet the criteria...economy class, quality, value, etc. AND under ~$15-20,000? I think you'll be walking, biking, or bumming rides from anybody unless you're willing to pony up $25,000+ for a 'cooler' car.

who picked these cars for 'coolness'???? when did steve urkel get a chance to say what is 'cool'?? maybe these cars are practical and budget friendly for out-of-touch, budget-conscious parents... but a ford focus? a honda fit????? it would almost be cooler to just ride a bike or bum a ride from the dude with the mustang. next time, maybe you should interview some actual college students or recent grads.

To: strom1. I like to purchase American when reasonable to do so. To that end I currently own a Dodge 2500 and a Ford Taurus and the Scion xB is the first non-American car I've purchased. Since I've been buying cars since 1981 I think I qualify as supporting the American auto industry. But now I'm a Toyota/Scion owner and I'm giving Honda a serious look on a new purchase for myself. I'm not going to purchase a sub-standard American auto out of loyalty alone. If I can get a better value buying an American car I will, otherwise I'll look overseas.

Should an American move to a poor neighborhood that has a bad public school to financially support that school even though they could afford a more expensive home in a better school district? Of course not. The failing government school should implement processes to improve education and not just throw good money after bad by pumping even more money into broken policies. They have to improve their product. In the same way if ...(Read more of this comment)American auto companies improved their products to be more competitive with foreign autos they'd have people 'moving into their neighborhood'. No need for protectionist loyalty continuing to buy lemons out of a sense of duty, or fear as you propose.

Unfortunately, the NEA and the UAW are respectively damaging government schools and Detroit…but that's another discussion.(Show less of this comment)

Here is an idea worth thinking about. When investing in your child's college education, why not invest in your childs future ability to get a job by purchasing an American car.

The economic stimulus act of 2008 gave $300 to the poorest Americans as a desperate attempt of getting our economy back in gear. Think how much a $15,000 to $25,000 purchase to an American company would help.

If you think that somehow your family is immune to the trainwreck we call our economy you are wrong. If you choose to do nothing to help when you have a chance then please don't complain about loosing your job, or the increase in crime, or the loss of your retirement benefits,.........

Also, dont remind me that many foreign cars are assembled in the US. Assembling a car in the US only employs a tiny fraction of the people it takes to design, manufacture, and sell a new vehicle. Foreign car manufacturers don't assemble in the US because they care about us, they only do it...(Read more of this comment) because you can ship the parts to make a thousand cars in the same space it would take to ship one hundred fully assembled cars.

If you can't see that the choice is yours to make and not an act of magic by some political party, then don't bother sending your kid to college.

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To puchalski: Thanks for the words of wisdom but we're on the same page and have it covered...we started saving regularly for college when our two daughters were born and have one graduating next spring with no loans/debt. She interned with Morgan Stanley this summer and just accepted a full time position with them upon graduation (by the way, we bought her a new Honda Civic in 2004 for college). The other (Mazda 3) daughter's college expenses are also covered. We're far from rich; it just took proper planning, commitment, and yes, some sacrifice, as you said.

Hopefully your kid going to college doesn't sneak up on you and you've been budgeting and saving for as many costs you can think of (tuition, fees, room & board, books, car, gas, insurance, license/tag, etc.).

It's important for everyone to create a home budget that includes your kids college expenses, and don't dip into it for vacations!

Make sure you include your kids in the budgeting process so when they want expensive shoes or handbag you can ask them: 'How much money is in your budget for that type of thing?' If they're part of the budget process then you'll be giving them a gift even bigger than a college education in their ability to live within their means even after college.

For those who say they don't have enough money to save anything, I say that's the same excuse I used 14 years ago when I was living paycheck to paycheck until I decided to create a budget and stick to it. We went without some things to be sure (I can't remember what they are no...(Read more of this comment)w) but I'm paying for my daughters college and I bought her a new 2009 xB that will last her not only the next 4 years but for many years after college.

I wonder how much money those who can't afford a decent car for their kid spent eating out last month, not sticking to their budgets? Or worse, they have no written budget because 'I keep my budget in my mind'.(Show less of this comment)

...comparable economy cars as best in its class in terms of style, sportiness, and value. It really is a cool, sporty, fun to drive little car. Zoom, zoom!

I agree and understand that the best value in terms of absolute dollars spent is to buy a used car over a new one. However, there are some pretty compelling reasons to buy new right now and I just bought a new Mazda 3 for my daughter's college years. I compared prices of the same model 2-3 years older and they were not half the cost a new one...more like 70-80%. I felt that for an extra $3-4,000 I could get a brand new car with no history and no miles versus one that I know nothing about and has 30-60,000 miles on it. Also, it is under warranty for the first 3 years/36,000 miles, while most used vehicles have little or no warranty left. Finally, given the dire conditions of the car manufacturers, this it a tremendous time to buy a new car...I negotiated a tremendous deal and obtained 0% financing for 36 months on the portion I financed. I also researched the Mazda 3 and, as with your picks, Motor Trend and others chose it hands down over the Civic, Corolla, Subaru, and other comp...(Read more of this comment)arable economy cars as the best value, sportiest, fun to drive, etc. in its class...it is a cool, fun, good looking little car. Zoom, zoom!(Show less of this comment)

NEW??? NEW??? How many of you readers got a new car when going off to school? I agree with the previous comments - What's a good 3-5 year old car. btw my first car was a 10 year old, and I was happy to get it. Got me and my buddies around.

How about a decent 3-year old USED car, at half the cost of a new one? How many parents can afford a new car for THEMSELVES, much less for their kids, with the higher insurance and incredible depreciation while paying for COLLEGE?

GET REAL.

These parents buying 2008 car models for their college-aged 'kids' are in some other universe than mine. It is beyond my comprehension that a family can justify buying a vehicle in that price range AND afford to help out with college bills, car insurance, and their kids' living expenses.

Model years of 2004-06 are much more reasonable in price and value. Let the kids buy their own brand new cars when they have full time jobs...I don't think parents should feel guilty about buying used vehicles. And that whole 'coolness' factor doesn't help in keeping car insurance rates down...let them drive safer cars and learn how to drive responsibly and get their slick race cars during their mid-life crises in their 40's and 50's and BEYOND. A car is a pragmatic means of transportation, and parents can choose NOT to continue the idea of car as 'status symbol' or as symbol of self-worth.

Most college kids would disagree with your picks except for the VW. Look around campus and you will see mainly Corollas, Jettas, Passats, some older cars parents 'gave' to their kids and a total lack of new american cars for lack of 'coolness'.