I'm about to be a colledge student in one year, but i want to know 2 things.?

Question

1. What to expect in college what i should do to prepare.

2. I'm planning to buy a hybrid compact car.

Should i get a civic 08 hybrid

Or a prius toyota?

ppl who have the car or know ppl who own one can you tell me what is a bettter deal what looks bettter and over all better car?

Answer 1

For college - bring lots of quarters!  You'll need them for laundry, or vending machines.  Also, bring lots of underwear - you'll usually only do laundry when you're out of underwear.  Sounds strange, but that was the best advice for college that I got from a college student while I was on a campus tour in high school.  Anything else was just common sense.

Most colleges that I'm aware of have limited parking, and often do not give out parking stickers to freshmen.  Can you even have a car at your school? (contact campus police to find out)  Most of your time will be taken up by classes and studying, and most things you'll need are on campus or in close walking distance - do you even need a car?  Will you be holding down a job while at college, to help you pay for the car's insurance, registration, gas, and regular maintenance?  College students are notoriously cash-poor (so don't expect "friends" to chip in for gas money).

If you want a hybrid car that is in the compact category, then you really only have 3 options:

Honda Civic Hybrid

used 2001-2003 Prius (NHW11 sedan model)

Lexus GS450h

(but since you're going to college, I assume that the pricey performance-based Lexus hybrid is out!)

The 2004-current NHW20 model of the Toyota Prius is in the larger midsize category, along with many other hybrid choices (such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Nissan Altima Hybrid, the Saturn Aura Hybrid, the Chevy Malibu Hybrid, and the now discontinued Honda Accord Hybrid).

Both the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid are great cars. Nothing wrong with either choice. Take both for a test drive, and see which one fits you better.

Other than size (Civic is a compact, 2004-current Prius is a larger midsize) and styling, be aware that both hybrid choices are different. Honda's IMA is primarily a gasoline engine with electric assist (the newer HCH II has little electric-only propulsion), while Toyota's HSD is a full hybrid design that can be gasoline, electric, or a combination of the two. Some people like the simplicity of one hybrid design over another, but that's a personal choice. Same goes for the instrumentation gages in the HCH vs. the touchscreen in the Prius.

Pricing wise, I'd say go with the Prius.

Toyota Prius, starting at $21,100: http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/

Honda Civic Hybrid, starting at $22,600: http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-hybri...

(even the US federal income tax credit for this Honda (new purchases only) doesn't make up the initial price difference...)

Hybrids do cost less in the long term than their conventional counterparts. (Intellichoice used a 5 year ownership comparison in 2006) See http://www.intellichoice.com/press/Hybri... and http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying10...

While Consumer Reports in 2006 only found the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid would pay off within the same 5 year frame. The Honda Accord Hybrid, the Ford Escape Hybrid, the Lexus RX400h, and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also studied. (I'll note that there was a mathematical error in the initial publication of Consumer Reports' hybrid vehicle cost analysis, which a retraction was published later... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11637968/ ) Since this publication, many more hybrid models have become available, so I can't use this to say about hybrids "in general." However, in the US, the Toyota hybrids have sold so many that they no longer qualify for the US Federal hybrid vehicle income tax credit, but Honda and others still have theirs.

Check out the April issue of Consumer Reports if you want reliability information. Both the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius make their best bets for new cars and for used cars.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/...

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/...

In the US, hybrid models (like the Prius and HCH II) tend to be the best in fuel economy in their respective classes, using the same testing procedure to compare all cars (hybrid/gasoline/diesel/flex-fuel/etc.), and that is for BOTH highway and city driving:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/f*g/best/best...

2008 Toyota Prius: 48 mpg city/45mpg highway/46mpg combined, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/f*g/noframes/...

Owners report average mpg in the mid-high 40s:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?ac... (remember that the 2004-current Prius are the same)

http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/milea...

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid: 40mpg city/45mpg highway/42mpg combined

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/f*g/noframes/...

Owners report average mpg in the 40s:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?ac... (remember that the 2006-current model year are the same)

http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/milea...

Both are rated an AT-PZEV in CA emission states, so they have Super Ultra Low Emissions, zero evaporative emissions, plus a long warranty (10 years/150,000 miles) on the hybrid battery in CA emission states. (outside of CA, it's 8 years or 80,000 miles (Honda)/100,000 miles (Toyota).) (The gasoline-only Civics are only ULEV in comparison.)

The Prius and Honda Civic are also in Kelley Blue Book's 2007 Best Resale Value Awards:

http://www.kbb.com/kbb/ReviewsAndRatings...

(Though the Prius was dropped in the 2008 list...)

The Prius is also in edmunds' used cars best bets list as well, and their lowest true cost to own list (2007 and 2008).

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/bestbet/a...

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2007/...

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/tco/2008/...

Both the Prius and HCH are great cars. But, only you can decide which will work out best for you. Take both for a test drive, and see which one you like better, which you like the seating better, and/or like the available options better... Do you prefer a sedan (Honda Civic Hybrid or 2001-2003 Toyota Prius), or do you like a hatchback (2004-current Toyota Prius)? Is a compact OK with you (Honda Civic Hybrid or 2001-2003 Toyota Prius), or would you prefer a larger midsized vehicle (2004-current Toyota Prius)? If you want a manual transmission, then you'll have to look for a used HCH. Do you want to show off that you have a hybrid or not? The Prius is only available as a hybrid and its distinctive aerodynamic design gives it away, while the HCH blends in and looks like most every other Civic on the road...

It's not that difficult to find a comparison site, such as:

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/nvc/edmunds/...

although the Toyota Prius has Edmund's lowest true cost to own in its segment of cars under $25,000, the HCH has an even lower TCO (which is almost identical to that of the comparable Honda Civic EX sedan (similar to the HCH)).

Answer 2

if you've gone to a good high school College won't be that much more difficult but with one exception.

You will have a great deal of freedom, you can do what you want. Some classes will only allow freshman to miss say 3 classes for a 3 hour course.

But they don't care if you fail or get drunk, You have to keep it under control, no parents to keep you on the ball.

I'd suggest buying a used car, Hybrid technology is changing

quickly.

Freshman parking is either non existent or the farthest away from everything.

Unless your commuting back and forth, It might be better to not have a car at all. using your bike and walking are often quicker than finding a parking spot.

words of wisdom: don't schedule 8 am classes

go to class, every class.

don't drink so much

bring toilet paper, wear flip flops in the shower, lock your door, don't lend books, money or clothes unless you don't ever want them back.

do your homework as soon as you can.

avoid the guys that want to smoke weed and play video games all night and day.

avoid buying used books that have been highlighted, how do you know the previous owner wasn't an idiot?

no condom = no s*x

Answer 3

Well Its been a long so can't help with 1. I should be able to help with 2.

Here's Something to help you.

Hybrid Buying Guide -

http://www.edmunds.com/hybrid/2008/buyin...

2008 Civic Review -

http://www.edmunds.com/honda/civic/2008/...

2008 Prius Review -

http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/prius/2008...

I don't have either one but I can tell you from friend's experience.

Well IMHO, Prius is better Hybrid of the two. People I know are in head over heels love with their Prius. The Civic doesn't get as much gas mileage as Prius. So if its the mileage you are interested in, Prius is the way to go. For 2008 the Base price of the Prius is lowered. But the Civic will beat on the Price point.