@bforbrian
No I don't think so. Then again I don't own one lol

@Kuuqi
No I don't need a lease, my parents are financially well off (not rich or poor but can retire in peace) so they can pay off most of it for me and I can take my time repaying them.

@KillaIS250
Thanks so much for the insight. My first college car was whatevers... I just wanted something that can take me from point A to B without much gas and will last long, didn't really care what it was... the corolla served that purpose very well. I guess I took it too far with deciding on a new car cause I actually am able to choose what I want, but in my situation that is still a no no. Choosing what I want can wait till after I graduate with a good income... for now I'll get a car I like better than a corolla but still reasonable and practical.

 

Just an aside, but you have the wrong idea about leasing. You almost make it sound as though leasing is gift for the financially unprivileged. It's exactly the opposite.

Leasing is for wealthy people. It's far more expensive to lease a 'new' car every 3 years than it is to buy a single car outright and keep it for 10-12 years.

What's more expensive, paying $1000 down and having a lease payment of $600/month for a $42,500 car for the rest of your life (you get a brand new leased $42.5k level car every 3 years) or paying $42,500 up front outright and keeping that same car for 10-12 years?

If you don't have the money to buy a $42,500 car outright in cash up front, you certainly can't afford to lease the car even though in the short term you're only paying a couple of thousand down with hundred dollar-level monthly lease payments. The average person simply doesn't care to do the math (and, well, the average person tends to live far beyond his or her means).

Paradoxically, most wealthy tend to accumulate their wealth by living below their means to begin with, and so they don't usually lease cars because they know leasing is far more expensive. Similarly, while leasing is intended for the very rich, the majority of people who lease tend to be middle class. They're foolishly drawn in by $x000 down and $x00 monthly payments without really thinking long term.

Note: My rant on leasing doesn't apply to people who lease a car for 3 years and then purchase the car outright at the end of their lease and keep it for ~8-10 years. That's an entirely different story. There's time value of money considerations involved in that scenario.

 

buy an is350.

 

You will like a 250. Mine is fun to drive.

 

Get the used honda accord and you done with it.my last car honda with 145K and i bought like 6 grand and after 3 years the car have like 265k miles and i sold for 2k.you dont have to pay back your parrent after all

 

The absolute last car I'd be looking at buying in your situation is a used, high mileage luxury car of ANY brand (Lexus, Acura, BMW, M-B, Audi...). Lexus is probably the most reliable of all those brands, but if even ONE part goes bad on the IS250, you might be looking at a $2,000 repair bill. On a $15,000 car you're stretching to pay for, that could be disastrous.

My cousin just bought a 2002 Honda Accord with 32k miles on it for $8,750. If I were in your position, that is EXACTLY what I'd be looking at doing. Frankly, I'm confused why you're not just driving the Corolla till the wheels fall off. It's a reliable, safe car that I presume is paid off.

 

You may get one for that price range for example last year i sold my 2007 IS250 black on black with navi 45K on the dash just for 17K! plus it was under 3 year extended warranty!
Craigslist is the best place! keep looking and you will find one !!! good luck.

 

I wouldn't buy a 250 out of warranty. The engine is prone to carbon deposits, and the fix is expensive out of warranty.

 

That's what I thought. Why do you want to change to a slightly better car to run for a couple of years? Just to be safe? I'm not sure if the Corolla is particularly unsafe ... unless I was driving a car with no AC in AZ, I won't switch. If I have to switch, I would just get a newer IS250 and work out finance with the parents.

lol, that just sounds like you got a bunch haters at your school

 

Here's an example of exactly what I'm talking about. Lexus is a reliable brand. However, it's also a complicated, expensive, luxury car and if one or two things go wrong, they can add up quickly: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...-warranty.html

This guy bought his at 90k (probably the mileage range you'd have to be looking at), and shortly thereafter had several $1000+ repair jobs. He had a warranty which was lucky, and rare on a car of that mileage.

Keep the Corolla. If you have to change cars, look at Camry, Accord, Civic, etc.

 

I think the 01 carola is a pretty good vehicle i dont see why you would think its unsafe? My friend has a 91 civic and those doors are real thin but i think by 1997 vehicles came equiped with sufficient saftey features for the most part.

but if you insist on getting something else....

Go for a 04+ TL with low miles. That car has good styling and features. Im in a similar position as a college student but have a decent job and went from a 98 accord to a 06 lex for 15k but you do notice the difference in price for oil changes and parts. I was looking at a tl but decided to go for the 250 because i felt that i could afford it making a little over 16/hr but if you making 8/hr i dont think this is a good car for you. Just be weary of Honda v6 transmissions. If you sense the slightest buck on it dont go for it.

 

This is correct. When you lease your basically paying the vehicles depreciation for the first few years which is at its highest rate. I had the option of paying 270 a month for a financed is with 100k or leasing a brand new one for 349 and went with financing just to own an asset when i was done paying the car. Over a 3 year period i would of payed 1000 more to drive a vehicle i would not own then have to come up with more money to take out another lease. no thanks.

 

I should of got a 250, i always drive in snow mode trying to save gas and then i also live in LA so id be happy for the opprotunity just to drive 65mph. But there are those rare moments where opprotunity arises where im glad i got the 350 but really 99% of time its regular driving. I bet if someone swapped my car with a 250 and i couldnt keep tabs on mpg, i probably would drive a long time without even noticing.

 

I don't know why people keeps using the excuse "need a safer than a Corolla".

No offense, OP... but that is not a very good excuse. Corolla's pretty much have a very high crash test rating and was picked the safest in it's class a few times. You'll be surprised that it has high crash test scores than luxury cars. I rolled over twice = 720 degrees in my '97 Corolla and walked out from my upside down Corolla... alive.

Just say you want one to join CL

If you only have 18K to spend on an IS250, good luck finding one with low mileage... I had a hard time finding a low mileage one under 20K. But that was like 2 years ago... As someone mentioned, avoid a high mileage luxury car. It's out of warranty which will leave you with a high repair bill. The IS250 is notorious for the carbon build-up issue.

If you can't afford to upgrade yet... hold off. I didn't upgrade until I was in a position to well afford. I went from Corolla as my first car, to Sentra Se-R, to Civic, then to IS250. I even held off from IS350...

 

Have to agree with Calvin on this....

If you want a BIGGER car....just go with the Accord / Camry (dont forget you are losing mpg due to additional weight).

Keep us posted......good luck with your car hunting...