I am in a pretty tight situation right now. I need a new car soon since the engine is pretty much gone with my current one. The problem is that I have 1 more semester of school to go (This upcoming Fall) and I forgot to apply for FASFA on time for my school and I was about a week late after the deadline and if I don't get any aid, I basically owe $5,000 plus. I had a lot going on before this such as working, taking classes, and dealing with a lot of family issues up until this month since one of my summer classes was canceled and I had to figure that out... :/ so time slipped. Anyway, I have 4 options of what I could do. 1)Find a used car on craigslist. Obvious cons: May get ripped off/have a shitty car. 2)Find a used car at a dealership and pay cash. 3)A used motorcycle since I have a motorcycle license (more than likely craigslist/dealership with this) 4) A used/new Moped and the last option is a moped which is probably the cheapest option, I would really like something reliable here... I am looking to spend around $1500-$2500 and I am not sure how much exactly yet since idk what I am buying yet. I need some advice since I am in a tight spot here and don't say to take the bus or what not since I need my own transportation to get back and forth from school and work in a short amount of time. Thanks for the help/advice blades!
Motorcycle over Moped. Moped are the most fucking dangerous things to drive in America. Big ass cars and trucks everywhere and your ability to speed or evade danger is essentially none.
If you live in an area where you can ride a motorcycle year-round, I'd opt for that. But it's inevitable that you'll get rained on if it's your only form of transportation, so you need consider your local weather. If you're commute isn't too far, a bicycle could be another option. Much cheaper, better for you, and personally I love riding anyway. If I didn't live 40 miles from my work, I'd commute on bike. And you say no public transportation, but it really would be a good option. Especially combined with a bicycle. Unless you've scheduled your days so tight that you literally have no extra time and need to go straight from work to school (or vice versa), leaving a bit earlier won't kill you. And if you are that tight on time... maybe consider scheduling classes differently, or your work hours if possible.
personally I don't know how to operate a motorcycle, and it gets cold as fuck here, so I would buy a cheap car and have one of my several close family members who is a mechanic look over it. but if you know how to ride a motorcycle and you live somewhere warm, that's probably you're best bet. a moped would be cheaper but you can take a motorcycle on streets with a higher speed limit or the highway if you need to, you know you can go more places. you probably get the most for your money with a motorcycle. plus ladies dig motorcycles. I think you can get a pretty decent one for $2000. they're probably a lot easier to maintain than a car for the same price would be. but I did buy a chevy cavalier for 2000 like 3 years ago and other than a rusted coolant pipe once (it was an easy fix, and it's easy to spot), I've never had a problem with it.
It honestly doesn't rain here that often and the winter/fall times isn't that bad riding a motorcycle since I've done that before... but I am leaning more towards a car now with this in mind.