Parent's basements are emptying and interns have again stopped bathing. Yes, students are returning to college. And many of them will drive there. But what should they drive? What's the best college car?
The parameters vary slightly by the school you're attending and the budget you have at your disposal, but we'll assume a college car needs to be affordable to buy and cheap/easy to maintain. Because you move constantly you'll need enough space to move your few hand-me-down possessions. On the other hand, if you have too much room you'll always be the designated-driver. You want it to be attractive so that you can attract members of the opposite sex, but not so attractive that you're never left alone. And it should be quick, because you're in college and you're going to drive like an idiot. It should also be easy to repair, because you're in college and you're to drive like an idiot.
Our choice is a later model non-SS El Camino. There's space to move your gear but, thankfully, not too many people. It looks hot, but you're not that douche who drives a brand new Porsche to college. Even Malaise Era El Caminos have some getup relative to your average Toyota Camry. They can be had for around $5K depending on region of the country and share enough parts to be easy to maintain. The pictured vehicle is slightly high in the $6K range, but it's already pre-painted Longhorn/Volunteer orange.
What about you? What was your college car? What's the ideal college car?
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