Featured: Seven Vintage Cars for College Freshmen

Seven Vintage Cars for College Freshmen

By Sean Lorentzen
August 22, 2013

It’s already that time of year. BBQ grills are shut off, pool toys are packed away, and incredible discounts are offered on multi-packs of Bic pens.

Summer’s coming to an end, and with it there comes a new wave of bright-eyed new college freshmen ready to start new and exciting lives. Most of them will drive off to school in boring, aging econoboxes, unaware or simply uncaring of the better transportation options out there. But what about the gearhead college freshman? What can he or she do to get to class cheaply and reliably, but also sate those fossil-fueled passions? Fear not and give ear. We’ve complied a helpful list of affordable, fun cars for the rising Petrolisti.

Click the name of each vehicle to see matching eBay listings.

Volkswagen GTI

Simply put, the GTI, especially the MkI, is the gold standard of what a college car should be. It’s still surprisingly inexpensive and incredibly practical for day-to-day use. If something does go wrong, parts for the GTI are cheap and plentiful. Perhaps most importantly, though, the GTI is one of the greatest low-cost driver’s cars ever made, with more fun to be had behind the wheel than any other car except perhaps the original Mini. You really can’t go wrong.

Volvo 245 Turbo

There comes a point in every college student’s life when he or she needs something hauled. Dorm furniture, sports equipment, intoxicated sorority girls, whatever the case may be, at some point you’ll either need to ask a friend to move something or move it yourself. The second option requires you have either a truck or a wagon, and there’s no better wagon for a freshman than the Volvo 240 Turbo. It played a huge part in establishing Volvo’s presence as a wagon builder. It’s also associated with safety, which is incredibly important when surrounded by college students. Assumedly, then, it’s a slow, boring safety cage for a people and cargo. The 240 Turbo’s racing history would beg to differ, as the sedan won the 1985 European Touring Car Championship, beating Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, and BMW.

Mercedes-Benz 300CD

The college lifestyle can take its toll on a car, as a full class schedule, extracurricular activities, and an active social life lead to plenty of miles being put on without much time for maintenance. Because of this, a car that can take some punishment is a must for a college student, and diesel Mercedes are borderline immortal. It’s not uncommon to find examples with hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock still in good running condition. The 300CD has more to offer than bulletproof reliability, however. The coupe is a handsome-looking machine, and at the end of the day, it’s still a Mercedes-Benz.

Toyota SR5 4×4

Sporting events are an integral part of college. Almost as important as the actual game, of course, is tailgating, and to do that, the freshman will need something with, well, a tailgate—a pickup truck. Pickups are useful tools to have in college: they’re low cost, can carry tons of stuff, and are bulletproof. Just because they’re practical doesn’t mean they can’t be cool, however, and one of our favorites is the mid-80’s Toyota SR5. When done right, it can be an attractive sports truck with movie-star appeal. What movie-star appeal, you might ask? While he’s much better remembered with the DeLorean, Back to the Future fans will remember that Marty McFly’s own ride was a black lifted 1985 SR5.

Ford Mustang 5.0

Going fast on a college student’s budget can be a challenge. Most cars in a college freshman’s price range are, to put it conservatively, sluggish. There are a few, however, that can be not just a joy to drive but frighteningly quick. At the top of that list is the third-generation Ford Mustang, especially the later “5.0” badged examples. 5-liter Ford V8s are strong in stock configuration, but if that’s not enough, with cheap modifications these engines can become horsepower beasts. This Mustang’s styling has also aged remarkably well, and a strong aftermarket makes them infinitely customizable. A freshman with one of these would never lose it in the campus parking lot.

Datsun 280Z

Sure, the Mustang is a fast car on the drag strip, but what if Campus Drive has corners? The obvious answer is to buy a sports car, but examples on a student’s budget are hard to find. One possible choice, however, is the Datsun 280Z. It may not be quite as desirable as the early Z-cars, but it’s still a classic and an absolute blast on the road. The 280Z is an easy way into the rear-drive sports car club.

Alfa Romeo Spider S2

Yes, there’s a certain appeal to practicality, reliability, and cargo space. Lest we forget, however, college is supposed to be a fun experience, a time for exploring our boundaries and expanding our horizons. It’s said that some of the strongest relationships of a person’s life are forged in the college years. So why not start an automotive relationship with something as charismatic, exciting, and beautiful as your first significant other? Nothing else in a college student’s budget packs as much character and style as a Series 2 Alfa Romeo Spider and nothing else is going to worm its way into your heart as much as this. Also, it’s an Alfa—it’ll give the young driver plenty of opportunities to learn all about classic car maintenance along the way.

Photo sources: oxford-royale.co.uk, classicandperformancecar.com, myblackbrick.com, netcarshow.com, pickuptrucks.com, seriouswheels.com, auto.howstuffworks.com, and alfalicio.us

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Denial Smith
Denial Smith
2 years ago

In fact, the Voltsfagen is a great car for a first car, and it can be found at an affordable price. When you are studying at a college or university, you usually do not spend extra money, and budget options are just for you. It is also necessary to take into account the cost of maintenance, various orders for writing services such as writemyresearchpaper and similar costs.

whitealex
whitealex
2 years ago

Looks like a perfect selection of cars for students) The cars are really legendary and stylish, which can be important for a student. But I tried to find a Mercedes-Benz 300CD in good condition for a reasonable price, it is extremely difficult to do so.

dipsha35aa
dipsha35aa
4 years ago

When we label these foods as ‘super’ and ‘healthy,’ people think they can eat them in unlimited quantities. But you do have to be cautious of the amount you eat, because you can gain weight from eating too much healthy food,” Hyde said.
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dipsha35aa
dipsha35aa
4 years ago

The first general criticism of the use of the term “superfood” is that, while the food itself might be healthful, the processing might not be. For example, green tea has several antioxidants. But green tea sold in the United States is generally cut with inferior teas and brewed with copious amounts of sugar. The Japanese and Chinese generally do not drink green tea with sugar. Many kinds of super-juices — acai berry, noni fruit, pomegranate — can be high in added sugar.
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dipsha35aa
dipsha35aa
4 years ago

Nuts and seeds contain high levels of minerals and healthy fats. Although these are common additions on superfood lists, the downside is that they are high in calories. Portion control is key. Shelled nuts and seeds, in this regard, are ideal because they take time to crack open and slow you down. A quick handful of shelled nuts could contain more than 100 calories, according to Hyde. [Related: Reality Check: 5 Risks of Raw Vegan Diet]
Kale
https://www.abhc.org/organifi-pure-review/

dipsha35aa
dipsha35aa
4 years ago

Beans and whole grains are standard additions to the superfood lists. Beans are a source of low-fat protein. Beans contain insoluble fiber, which lowers cholesterol; soluble fiber, which provides a longer feeling of fullness; and loads of vitamins and trace minerals largely absent in the typical American diet, such as manganese. Whole grains — named such because, unlike refined grains, they are not stripped of their nutrient-containing bran and germ during processing — have similar benefits to beans, though they don’t contain as much protein. Quinoa is not a grain, but it cooks up like one, and this too is a remarkable source of protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.
https://www.abhc.org

vedant12345
vedant12345
6 years ago

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James Hyder
James Hyder
6 years ago

I have a question, why would College Freshmen need Vintage Cars at all? Do college students visit college to show off or to earn some knowledge base?

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Emily Lopez
Emily Lopez
9 years ago

Nice and really cool cars in the list. Thanks for sharing. Also i have explored details about it’s [url=”http://www.slideshare.net/germanautospecialist/style-urban-and-amg-line-mercedesbenz-bclass”]Safety Features of Classic car[/url] . Then it’s the responsibility of our to take a good care and to be responsible for the best outcome. The owner of the vehicle should be well aware about all the basic details of his car so only he/she will be always trouble free and get a safe journey.

Mads Jensen
Mads Jensen
10 years ago

You should add that the spider is only for those in graduate school.

Sorry…

Xander Cesari
Xander Cesari
11 years ago

I think all of these are represented on my campus except for the Alfa Spider. But my GTV6 is pretty close. I think an E30 is a terrific one for this list as well.

Xander Cesari
Xander Cesari
11 years ago
Reply to  Xander Cesari

Since I commented I purchased a 1988 Saab SPG and I think it fits on campus pretty well. Any turbo 900, especially a cabriolet, would be a great college car. Safe, reliable, fun, cheap.

benjammin243
benjammin243
7 years ago
Reply to  Xander Cesari

I am a college freshman and the E30 is a great choice. They are cheap to; buy, maintain, and drive. Not to mention they are a blast to drive.

Nate Jones
Nate Jones
11 years ago

Hey! I’m a high school senior and my Toyota SR5 4×4 is on the list! 🙂

orgigeorgie
orgigeorgie
11 years ago

Ha i’m in college or ‘university’ and own 2 alfas. A modern 156 and a classic 116 series GTV. Its true what they say about alfas though:
They make good drivers into great drivers, but make poor mechanics into excellent mechanics. Give it a go, you’re right college is about having a laugh.

Andrew Holliday
Andrew Holliday
11 years ago

Great list. I’m a senior in high school and I couldn’t possibly love my 1974 BMW 2002 more.

JB21
JB21
11 years ago

I hate to throw a wrench in the day dreamin’, but most of those cars aren’t that realistic for college freshmen. Or at least if any of the freshmen we are talking about are as financially struck out as I was when I was that age. I know I know, I’m just being a killjoy, because I did have an Alfa Spider during my college years. I did work 2 jobs though, one to pay the rent and such, one to keep the Alfa on the road. Even then, I seem to spend more time on buses than in the Alfa. Didn’t matter, really, during those rare days when she was running and I had enough money for gas, it was simply glorious.

Josh Clason
Josh Clason
11 years ago
Reply to  JB21

With the exception of the Spider, all the cars above can be had for 2-5k, and most are fairly easy to wrench on with an abundance of parts available.

Jake VanCampen
Jake VanCampen
6 years ago
Reply to  JB21

Well, another thing to take into account is the school itself… A parking pass on campus would cost me $1000 every semester. Not only that, but we’re in a city with a really good public transportation system that get to use for free as students.
Of the people I know who own a car, just about no one owns a classic.
That said, a Vespa or Honda Grom makes for a lot of fun and sense. I would reccommend one of those to anyone intimidated by the prospect of owning a car.

J RIdout
J RIdout
11 years ago

Had a 280Z in college. It was great… 10 years ago… ouch. Vintage for “new” college freshmen are things from the late 80 early 90. We are talking about 300ZX here.

I do not think the Alfa is a good choice for the “new college freshman” (most will not know the movie reference). Great college cars have to be reliable (because it is the only car you own… and today’s freshman panic if the wi-fi goes down) and it has to be cheap/easy to repair (because beer money is involved and the library can only give you so many minimum wage hours). Cheap, fun, works well with high miles and is easy/cheap to repair.

Still, were are the ’80-early ’90 imports? They are now 20+ years old and built before the internet. MR2, 3000GTs, Si, Intergra, Prelude, 60/80 series Land Cruisers, heck, even a Miata if set-up for trackdays. Even some 90s Subies are cool (SVX anyone?). Afterall, this might be the “classic era” of imports for this freshman generation.

Adam Holter
Adam Holter
11 years ago

Nice list. 🙂 I went to Shepehrd University for my misspent years of higher education. Plenty of turbo Volvos there, one or two mk1 VWs, and numerous SR5s, 300Ds (not CDs, sadly), and 5.0 Mustangs. I went through 4 vehicles during college: an ’03 VW, ’01 Pontiac Montana (*shudder*), ’87 GMC K1500 ([i]loved[/i] that thing), before finally settling on a ’69 Chevy C10 for mostly the same reasons y’all suggested the SR5 (sans 4×4). It burnt to a crisp about 2 weeks after graduation. Damn, I miss that truck sometimes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89042766@N07/9599270769/

Ryan Lopez
Ryan Lopez
11 years ago

lol its the back to the future truck

CJ David
CJ David
11 years ago

I’d also add the e28 5 series to that list. I had one for half of my college years and loved it. Fun to drive, big trunk for beer, comfortable interior with room for multiple members of the opposite sex, classic shape, and most every maintenance issue could be resolved with 4 metric wrenches and a jack in the dorm parking lot (not that I’d know…).

Josh Clason
Josh Clason
11 years ago
Reply to  CJ David

Great mention! The e28 would make a great addition to the list.

Dustin Wilson
Dustin Wilson
11 years ago

wow, I would still love to have that Alfa Spider in my mid-20s to take my wife to the mtns and beach. Beautiful car.

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