ONLY at Keith Pierson Toyota as low as 0% 36 months on Camry, Corolla and RAV4.
We congratulate students upon graduating college. You’ve put in years of study and earned your degree in a field you enjoy. So what comes next for the college graduate? You can say goodbye to the dorm and campus life and begin the next phase of your life. That means you must find your own place to live, which necessitates a job to pay for it, and of course, now you need a car to get you to and from work. Welcome to adulthood.
Keith Pierson Toyota understands what the next few years represent to recent college graduates living in Jacksonville, Florida. So many former students have loans to pay off, jobs to find, and, yes, cars to buy to make adult life possible. So, we’ve created this list of the best cars for college graduates to help you make an informed decision that enables you to build a solid foundation for the next decade or longer.
Should You Buy a New or Used Car?
New graduates ask this question a lot, and there’s no right or wrong answer. A new car offers you more long-term reliability. You get to drive the vehicle in its peak condition, without any prior wear and tear, and with the protection of a manufacturer’s warranty. Your new life requires a dependable car. If you’d rather not worry about repairs and maintenance, buying a new car makes sense. In addition, Keith Pierson Toyota currently offers a $500 rebate to college graduates.
New cars cost more money, though. They also depreciate faster, making them less valuable in the short term. So if you plan on upgrading your vehicle in the next three years, you could end up underwater on a new car loan when you go to trade it in.
In that case buying used can save you money. New cars depreciate the most during the first three years of ownership. Some brands will lose as much as 40% while Toyota models depreciate around 20%-25% over the same timeframe.
Purchasing a used car that’s beyond this depreciation point will save you money at the time of purchase. After a few years, the used car will hold its value better, making it worth more when it’s time to trade-in and trade up. So, when shopping for cars, buying a new or used Toyota makes more sense than other brands.
Many dealerships sell extended warranties on used cars, protecting you against future breakdowns and repairs. For example, at Keith Pierson Toyota, we have an expansive inventory of used Toyota models. Also, we offer a lifetime warranty on all of our used cars that have less than 50,000 miles and are under 10 years old. You won’t find coverage like that at other dealerships in Jacksonville.
Features To Look For in a Used Vehicle
As a recent college graduate, are not likely to have an extensive driving history. However, experience comes with time, and that’s okay. Statistics show that drivers under the age of 25 are three times more likely to be involved in a crash than older drivers. Therefore, you should look for a safe vehicle. Car safety comes in many forms, such as seat restraint systems, air bags, crash crumple zones, and steel cabin cages.
Modern vehicles have advanced mechanical systems like anti-lock braking systems that help reduce the risk of an accident. In addition, many cars produced in the last 5-10 years have driver-assist technologies that alert drivers to certain hazards and help mitigate or prevent crashes.
New graduates should be concerned with fuel economy as well. After all, you’ve got student loans to pay off along with rent, utilities, and other bills you didn’t have while in school. Why pay more in gas if you can avoid it? In addition, most young people connect with the world through technology. Recent graduates have social media accounts on multiple platforms, use various audio and video streaming services, and have spent most of their lives searching the web for answers. In this scenario, finding a car with the latest connectivity makes sense.
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius may not win the Indy 500, but when it comes to safe, reliable, economic performance, the Prius checks all the boxes. You can find a used Prius for around $15,000 that has the advanced safety and driver-assist features to keep you safe and the in-vehicle tech to keep you connected. Plus, the Prius’ hybrid powertrain can get you up to 50 mpg, which will keep your fuel costs low.
A new Toyota Prius starts at around $24,000, keeping your monthly payments affordable when you decide to take out a loan. The latest hybrid range and charging technology can turn your daily commute entirely electric, too, saving you even more money. Cutting-edge connectivity and driver-assist systems make the Prius a great option for new graduates.
Honda Civic
Honda has long had a reputation for building dependable vehicles, and the Civic lives up to the brand expectation. You can find a late-model Honda Civic for under $20,000 if you’d rather buy a used model. While the Civic is not as inexpensive as the Prius, you will still have an affordable monthly payment. Also, the Civic comes in a gas-only powertrain, which is the most significant difference between the Civic and the Prius. If you want a new Civic, be prepared to pay around $25,000, but as Honda doesn’t offer a hybrid Civic model, you won’t see the same fuel economy.
Toyota Corolla
The Corolla comes in both sedan and hatchback models. In either case, you can find a late-model Corolla with low mileage for under $20,000 that has modern technology, driver-assist systems, and over 40 mpg on the highway. For instance, Keith Pierson Toyota has several Corolla models from 2017 and newer with less than 50,000 miles and priced under $20,000.
As you take this next important step in life, you need a vehicle you can rely on. At Keith Pierson Toyota, we have a vast inventory of new and late-model Toyota cars, trucks, and SUVs with the latest tech, safety features, and comfortable amenities that fit your budget and lifestyle. In addition, we have many other brands available in our used inventory that make sense for new graduates.
We encourage you to browse our inventory online. Then, when you’re ready for a personalized demonstration, you can visit our dealership on Youngerman Circle. One of our friendly, professional staff will show you around and let you test drive your favorite Toyota model.
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