WUSTL Class of 2013 Forum

[camstant]

Hey maybe you all will have an opinion on this. I'm looking at used cars for school (specifically I want a used Prius):

Basically this is my first car purchase, so it's hard for me to gauge my "gut feeling" about things since i don't have a ton of experience.

I basically need to buy my car before the end of the month, since I'll be moving around August 12th (because you get better deals at month-end). That being said, I really only have about 7 days to find the right one. I've found one dealership that consistently has better pricing than others (that's where I'm going today).

The thing I'm struggling with is knowing what number should make me say "deal". Their pricing is already better than other dealers, so I'm already happy about that. Then that makes me feel like if I can pay 1k under sticker (including all taxes and fees) then I'll be happy... but maybe that's because I'm naive. I have 16k to spend. The most expensive car I'm looking at is 15k, and I'm hoping to get it for 13k-14k (bottom line after all taxes and fees). Does that sound sane?

Here's a couple I was looking at:
--LinkRemoved--

--LinkRemoved--

Thanks for any input you guys can provide!

I love the Prius, my dad has one and it's nothing like what I expected when he first told me he got one. I think it's definitely a good decision if you've got that much to spend. I would be a little wary of both of those, though. 43k and 50k on cars that are 2 and 3 years old?? that's a shit ton of miles. Toyotas are super reliable, but I would tend to think you could find a much better deal out there. If nothing else, newer carollas get 30+ mpg and I would bet you could get a find a pretty good price for lower mileage, just a thought...

[romothesavior]

I would love to buy a Toyota Prius (or any car other than my own current one, for that matter). They drive smooth and the gas mileage saves you so much money.

[finalaspects]

I would love to buy a Toyota Prius (or any car other than my own current one, for that matter). They drive smooth and the gas mileage saves you so much money.

what car do you have now? im worried about my rwd in the snow...

[fl0w]

Hey maybe you all will have an opinion on this. I'm looking at used cars for school (specifically I want a used Prius):

Basically this is my first car purchase, so it's hard for me to gauge my "gut feeling" about things since i don't have a ton of experience.

I basically need to buy my car before the end of the month, since I'll be moving around August 12th (because you get better deals at month-end). That being said, I really only have about 7 days to find the right one. I've found one dealership that consistently has better pricing than others (that's where I'm going today).

The thing I'm struggling with is knowing what number should make me say "deal". Their pricing is already better than other dealers, so I'm already happy about that. Then that makes me feel like if I can pay 1k under sticker (including all taxes and fees) then I'll be happy... but maybe that's because I'm naive. I have 16k to spend. The most expensive car I'm looking at is 15k, and I'm hoping to get it for 13k-14k (bottom line after all taxes and fees). Does that sound sane?

Here's a couple I was looking at:
--LinkRemoved--

--LinkRemoved--

Thanks for any input you guys can provide!

I love the Prius, my dad has one and it's nothing like what I expected when he first told me he got one. I think it's definitely a good decision if you've got that much to spend. I would be a little wary of both of those, though. 43k and 50k on cars that are 2 and 3 years old?? that's a shit ton of miles. Toyotas are super reliable, but I would tend to think you could find a much better deal out there. If nothing else, newer carollas get 30+ mpg and I would bet you could get a find a pretty good price for lower mileage, just a thought...

Thanks for the advice. I agree with you completely on the miles. the 2008 is a little better. it's 2yrs old and has the mileage of maybe a 3yr old car. But I think i would make that up over time since I wont be putting heavy miles on it over the next 3 years. I'm also going to see about talking them down a little bit more on the price there. I think the 2008 is my target.

Thanks so much for the input. We'll see if i'm a new (used) owner in a few hours!

[publiuspublicola]

Hey maybe you all will have an opinion on this. I'm looking at used cars for school (specifically I want a used Prius):

Basically this is my first car purchase, so it's hard for me to gauge my "gut feeling" about things since i don't have a ton of experience.

I basically need to buy my car before the end of the month, since I'll be moving around August 12th (because you get better deals at month-end). That being said, I really only have about 7 days to find the right one. I've found one dealership that consistently has better pricing than others (that's where I'm going today).

The thing I'm struggling with is knowing what number should make me say "deal". Their pricing is already better than other dealers, so I'm already happy about that. Then that makes me feel like if I can pay 1k under sticker (including all taxes and fees) then I'll be happy... but maybe that's because I'm naive. I have 16k to spend. The most expensive car I'm looking at is 15k, and I'm hoping to get it for 13k-14k (bottom line after all taxes and fees). Does that sound sane?

Here's a couple I was looking at:
--LinkRemoved--

--LinkRemoved--

Thanks for any input you guys can provide!

I love the Prius, my dad has one and it's nothing like what I expected when he first told me he got one. I think it's definitely a good decision if you've got that much to spend. I would be a little wary of both of those, though. 43k and 50k on cars that are 2 and 3 years old?? that's a shit ton of miles. Toyotas are super reliable, but I would tend to think you could find a much better deal out there. If nothing else, newer carollas get 30+ mpg and I would bet you could get a find a pretty good price for lower mileage, just a thought...

Thanks for the advice. I agree with you completely on the miles. the 2008 is a little better. it's 2yrs old and has the mileage of maybe a 3yr old car. But I think i would make that up over time since I wont be putting heavy miles on it over the next 3 years. I'm also going to see about talking them down a little bit more on the price there. I think the 2008 is my target.

Thanks so much for the input. We'll see if i'm a new (used) owner in a few hours!

I don't have a car, but my wife's 2001 Civic gets 40+ miles/gallon on the highway -- not as much as a Prius, but pretty damn good. They are also less expensive than a Prius, and just as reliable.

[romothesavior]

I would love to buy a Toyota Prius (or any car other than my own current one, for that matter). They drive smooth and the gas mileage saves you so much money.

what car do you have now? im worried about my rwd in the snow...

I have a 97 Grand Am. Just a total POS.

And I wouldn't worry too much about the snow. St. Louis doesn't get a ton, and I've never had any problems with my little Grand Am or my old Camry in the snow. Investing in a few sandbags to put in your trunk helps a lot if your car is light and RWD.

[b0dylanguage]

Ha, funny, I just leased (3 years for school) a new 2010 Prius. Was able to negotiate a really great deal. I've driven it for about 1.5 months now and I've averaged 53 mpg. It's also great to pull away from the gas station with a full tank of gas for $20 (I live in NJ, not sure what the price of gas will be like in MO). Anyway, fl0w, PM me if you want to talk specifics, but I think it's a great investment.

[Flyin]

Hey guys and gals, long time lurker in this thread. I'm actually a grad student on the medical campus right now, but my girlfriend will be joining this class.

Just thought I'd post the Groupon website here for those that aren't aware of it. It's a legit site that gives out really great deals on St. Louis fare. Today it's for the Triumph Grill in midtown, which is a fantastic place to eat. You pay $15, you get $35 worth of food. It's a new deal every day, and a great way to save money and still have some sort of social life.

Linky: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu810670

I get $10 if any of you signs up and purchases a Groupon, so I guess this isn't entirely altruistic . But PM me and I'll be sure to pay you back with a beer.

[b0dylanguage]

Slight shift in discussion: has anyone heard anything about the Castlereagh in University City? Quadrangle owns the building, but I haven't been able to find any reviews online...

[NU_Jet55]

Slight shift in discussion: has anyone heard anything about the Castlereagh in University City? Quadrangle owns the building, but I haven't been able to find any reviews online...

FFFWI: (For Fellow Future Wustler's Info:) If you're amenable to going through WUSTL's housing company (Quadrangle) and looking for a cost-effective, walkable, relatively nice option, ask about Castlereagh. Units are as nice as anything I found at places like Fairmont/Monticello/Barron Realty, and it's all inclusive for <$700. I may still inquire about the Carleton (thanks Fl0w, unfortunately I missed this thread while I was hunting for places the last 2 days ), but I think it's the best combo of close/cheap/safe (police station and fire stations are less than a block away)/well-located (next to the Loop and by extension par-tay) I've found thus far.

I was very impressed with the Castlereagh as well. I would say I 100% agree with strat's assessment here.

[fl0w]

Owner of a 2008 Toyota Prius.

Cash Money.

Can check that one off of the list of "Things to do before I move to St. Louis."

The nice thing is I didn't have to pay tax because I already have a residence in MO. Suck it Chicago tax!

edit:
got them to come down 2Gs in price.

[NU_Jet55]

got them to come down 2Gs in price.

Nice.

[kdw94780]

Slight shift in discussion: has anyone heard anything about the Castlereagh in University City? Quadrangle owns the building, but I haven't been able to find any reviews online...

FFFWI: (For Fellow Future Wustler's Info:) If you're amenable to going through WUSTL's housing company (Quadrangle) and looking for a cost-effective, walkable, relatively nice option, ask about Castlereagh. Units are as nice as anything I found at places like Fairmont/Monticello/Barron Realty, and it's all inclusive for <$700. I may still inquire about the Carleton (thanks Fl0w, unfortunately I missed this thread while I was hunting for places the last 2 days ), but I think it's the best combo of close/cheap/safe (police station and fire stations are less than a block away)/well-located (next to the Loop and by extension par-tay) I've found thus far.

I was very impressed with the Castlereagh as well. I would say I 100% agree with strat's assessment here.

I'm on the 6th floor there. I originally wanted the Loop Lofts, but I couldn't find a co-signer with good credit. I'm happy though since it's about $160 less and is in a better location. The only downside is that you have to reserve a spot in the parking lot, and I've been told it's already full through the end of the semester.

[JCougar]

Really starting to feel like us law school girls are second class citizens ITT....Lol I was a wee bit tipsy when I wrote that so sorry for the harshness, but in all reality, you boys really need to take this girl rating thing outside the main thread. I really don't want to be a debby downer, but it doesn't make us girls feel the greatest when you talk about us like we're not here.

Hey...come on! This is the perfect opportunity for you law school girls to prove us wrong!

Besides, picking up girls is like hitting a home run in baseball. The more you try, the worse you do. So if I have my sights set on a future doctor, chances are I'll find a future lawyer by accident.

[nyyankees]

Besides, picking up girls is like hitting a home run.

I say we come up with as many unintended ways to explain this analogy as possible...

ill start:

Besides, picking up girls is like hitting a home run, just cuz you couldnt do it in little league doesnt mean you cant do it now

Besides, picking up girls is like hitting a home run, you gotta nail it with the sweet spot of your wood

Besides, picking up girls is like hitting a home run, doing it inside the park only feels like it should count more

Besides, picking up girls is like hitting a home run, power hitters get 40-50 a year, but strike out a lot

Besides, picking up girls is like hitting a home run, even the little guys get one or two a year

[stratocophic]

Slight shift in discussion: has anyone heard anything about the Castlereagh in University City? Quadrangle owns the building, but I haven't been able to find any reviews online...

FFFWI: (For Fellow Future Wustler's Info:) If you're amenable to going through WUSTL's housing company (Quadrangle) and looking for a cost-effective, walkable, relatively nice option, ask about Castlereagh. Units are as nice as anything I found at places like Fairmont/Monticello/Barron Realty, and it's all inclusive for <$700. I may still inquire about the Carleton (thanks Fl0w, unfortunately I missed this thread while I was hunting for places the last 2 days ), but I think it's the best combo of close/cheap/safe (police station and fire stations are less than a block away)/well-located (next to the Loop and by extension par-tay) I've found thus far.

I was very impressed with the Castlereagh as well. I would say I 100% agree with strat's assessment here.

I'm on the 6th floor there. I originally wanted the Loop Lofts, but I couldn't find a co-signer with good credit. I'm happy though since it's about $160 less and is in a better location. The only downside is that you have to reserve a spot in the parking lot, and I've been told it's already full through the end of the semester.

5th here, and parking FTL I'll be there in less than a week so not even street parking can make me unhappy!

[romothesavior]

nyyankees, your last two posts have been comedic gold.

[mbaino]

Well since you've outed yourselves as losers anyway, I have to ask: Does anyone here like to settle Catan?

If you don't know what that means, don't worry about it.

[fl0w]

is there a group of people that would want to play dungeons and dragons on a regular basis?

[ta06fsu]

Just moved to St. Louis the other day! Here are some interesting happenings since I've been here. Didn't bring the car so I've been relying on Wecar. Two thumbs up on Wecar btw. On my way to WashU to pick up the Wecar the first time, I had to take the Metro. Cant count how many times I was solicited lol but used to it, growing up in the rougher parts of Ft. Lauderdale. On the second day I decided to get a haircut so went to the local shop where I reside by SLU's campus. The barber notices my FSU apparel and proceeds to cut my hair. We talk about FSU football of course and without warning he stops, comes in front of me and throws up the "U" sign, of course, referring to the hated Canes. Seeing as that he will most likely be my barber for the next three years it is interesting to note that my barber in Tallahasse is a die hard Gator fan who keeps a shrine in honor of Tebow, Leak, and everything that is Gator. Just my luck lol. Anyways, moved in early for the Sonnenchein program. Seriously need to get my brain back in school mode, so I'll be in the library later this week to read the cases we're supposed to read before the 2nd. Anyone who wants to join, PM me. Also, Anybody who just wants to catch a few drinks or something lemme know b/c I know no one in this city lol. Look forward to meeting you all!

[nyyankees]

is there a group of people that would want to play dungeons and dragons on a regular basis?

im a level 37 dungeon master ... welcome to a world of pain

[fl0w]

is there a group of people that would want to play dungeons and dragons on a regular basis?

im a level 37 dungeon master ... welcome to a world of pain

i don't really know what that means (or if you were joking). I've only actually played the game once about a year ago and it turned out to be a lot of fun. And an opportunity to just totally geek out with people.

I'd be down for playing maybe once a week if there was a group that would be willing to start something fresh. I dunno if true D&D guys like to play more often.

[nyyankees]

is there a group of people that would want to play dungeons and dragons on a regular basis?

im a level 37 dungeon master ... welcome to a world of pain

i don't really know what that means (or if you were joking). I've only actually played the game once about a year ago and it turned out to be a lot of fun. And an opportunity to just totally geek out with people.

I'd be down for playing maybe once a week if there was a group that would be willing to start something fresh. I dunno if true D&D guys like to play more often.

hahaha more sarcasm than you know. i remember some movie or something where someone bragged about being a level 14 dungeon master or something, so i figured id kick it up a notch. i have since looked it up, and apparently there are no levels in dungeon mastery

[2013esq]

Just moved to St. Louis the other day! Here are some interesting happenings since I've been here. Didn't bring the car so I've been relying on Wecar. Two thumbs up on Wecar btw. On my way to WashU to pick up the Wecar the first time, I had to take the Metro. Cant count how many times I was solicited lol but used to it, growing up in the rougher parts of Ft. Lauderdale. On the second day I decided to get a haircut so went to the local shop where I reside by SLU's campus. The barber notices my FSU apparel and proceeds to cut my hair. We talk about FSU football of course and without warning he stops, comes in front of me and throws up the "U" sign, of course, referring to the hated Canes. Seeing as that he will most likely be my barber for the next three years it is interesting to note that my barber in Tallahasse is a die hard Gator fan who keeps a shrine in honor of Tebow, Leak, and everything that is Gator. Just my luck lol. Anyways, moved in early for the Sonnenchein program. Seriously need to get my brain back in school mode, so I'll be in the library later this week to read the cases we're supposed to read before the 2nd. Anyone who wants to join, PM me. Also, Anybody who just wants to catch a few drinks or something lemme know b/c I know no one in this city lol. Look forward to meeting you all!

I'll be there for Sonnenschein, too. Planning to arrive STL on Tuesday. Meet you in the library!

[publiuspublicola]

I'm going to be hitting up the Big Muddy Blues Festival @ the Landing on Labor Day weekend. Anybody else up for it?

http://bigmuddybluesfestival.wordpress.com/