Top 5 Cars for any High School Student to Consider

If you ask any high school student what they want for their birthday or holiday, chances are they'll respond in an enthusiastic way by saying, "I want a car!"... at least I would.

While there are those few that are lucky enough to have a car and hold the luxury of driving to and from school, a lot of high school students simply day dream about the vehicle that they could one day proudly own.

Many of the cars high school students own are modest, and rightfully so. Putting it bluntly, nice cars are not cheap. However, it is possible to purchase a good car within a high school student's price range (if they have a job or source of income that is).

I will now list the top 5 cars that should be considered by any high school student in the market for a vehicle. Each choice comes in at around or under $4,000. This means that are mostly pre-2002 vehicles. Don't worry though, they are good options. Do your own research as well because there are other good options out there, however, these five are the best choices, in my opinion.

(Pricing is based off of local listings on cars.com; will vary depending on mileage. The problems to watch out for were found by looking through consumer reviews on Edmunds.com)

# 5 – 1997-2000 Buick Century – Approx. $3,000

While it is definitely not the hottest car around, the Buick Century is a very good deal. You might see a few elderly people in the community driving Buick’s now defunct flagship, it still may appeal to the teenage driver. Equipped with a responsive V6 engine, the Century has enough pick-up power to pass those other elderly drivers whom are driving the same car.

The styling is admittedly obsolete and the interior has somewhat of a bland feel. Mind you, this car was marketed towards the 65+ year old crowd. Due to this, the ride is very comfortable and the seats are like plush sofas. The sound system is adequate and the layout of the dash is functional.

Overall, this car might appeal to the older crowd, it is something to check out due to its bank for the buck and comfortable ride.

Problems to watch out for: Power windows tend to fail after a certain time period (labor costs are high to fix) and some isolated transmission issues.

#4 – 1998-2002 Chevrolet Prizm – Approx. $3,200

The Prizm is a very small and economical car. Equipped with an inline four engine, it is peppy but somewhat slower than other cars.

Quite possibly the most appealing aspect about the Prizm is that it is virtually a Toyota with the Chevrolet name on it. Almost identical to the Toyota Corolla, the Prism is solely based on it. With the praised reliability of the Toyota brand, you can buy one with the Chevrolet name plastered on it, possibly saving over $1,000 instead of buying the Corolla.

On the inside, the car is very basic. You may choose between a manual or automatic transmission. Expect to search more thoroughly for manual transmissions as they are rare. Also, expect to pay a bit more for features like automatic windows, power locks, and other features that are now standard on today’s cars.

Problems to watch out for: Nothing worth mentioning.

#3 – 1998 Honda Accord – approx. $4,000

The Honda Accord has been a very good choice for families for years. It is also a good choice for first cars. With the well-known reliability of Honda, this car fits the bill for practically anyone who wants reliable no-frills transportation.

Both an inline four engine (more common) and a V6 are available. The V6 version is more powerful but harder to find because most Accords are equipped with an inline four engine.

The ride may not be as comfortable as an American counterpart; the Accord handles very well and has an overall composed ride.

Problems to watch out for: A few reports of transmission problems have occurred.

#2 – 1998 – 2002 Ford Crown Victoria – approx. $3,200

A flagship for years for Ford, the Crown Victoria is the standard definition of an American car. It’s big, it’s powerful, and it’s comfortable. Did I mention it’s huge?

As you probably already know, this vehicle has been used by police departments for years due to its very good reliability.

While the gas mileage is somewhat poor and the car is big, it has its perks. For someone who wants a powerful car, this is your opportunity to get one. You can even buy a official police “interceptor” version with the stronger engine and bigger brakes that were only originally sold to police departments.

This car is a very inexpensive option and the parts are very inexpensive to replace as well. In that respect, upkeep is very good. The interior is pretty bland and has standard amenities (basic radio, automatic transmission, etc.).

Problems to watch out for: There have been a few recalls regarding the gas tank, so make sure to check that it has been taken care of, especially on police “interceptor” models.

#1 – 1996-2000 Honda Civic – approx. $3,000

You may have guessed it, but the Honda Civic is at the top of the list. This is because it is a very economical car, it is reliable, and is very customizable.

Don’t forget however that the older the car is, the more primitive the safety features, which mean that by today’s standards, the older Civics are not as safe as they were once found to be. However, the year range specified and newer is relatively safe.

The interior is small but feels roomy enough. The engine, a four cylinder, is peppy and can get you from point A to point B.

Problems to watch out for: None worth mentioning.

Overall, this is the best option for what you can get in a car at or under the price of $4,000. However, all vehicles on this list are excellent choices for anyone that wants a car in this price range.