So what exactly makes a car a "college car"?. First off, it does not necessarily have to be in the hall of fame as a driver's car. In fact, some of these could be the worst driver's cars possible. A college car has to be affordable, because the stereotypical non Ivy League student is supposed to be broke and living off Ramen noodles and free Chipotle burrito coupons. Other than that, it has to be at least one of the following: stylish, dependable, economical, or practical. Here are ten cars, in no particular order, that are a dime a dozen around college campuses, or could be a good choice for someone looking for a beater for school.
1. Honda Civic
Of course this isn't a surprise. It wasn't supposed to be. The fact of the matter is this: there is a Civic for just about everyone. If your family is wealthy, you take a brand new Civic to Harvard. If you are pinching pennies, you pick up a late eighties Civic with 200,000 miles on the clock and pray it still starts in the morning. If you wear Hollister polo shirts with the collar popped you pick up a 1999 Civic Si and bolt on an obnoxiously huge rear muffler. Each version still carries the practicality, reliability, economy and sometimes even style that college students expect in a car. That means it checks every box. For the college student, the Civic wins.
2. Ford Taurus
Like the Honda Accord, the Taurus has found its way on to college campuses because of the hand-me-down effect. Like the Neon, Cavalier, and Sunfire, it can be a bit embarrassing when you tell someone "I drive a Ford Taurus." That is a double win for a great college car. If you get a station wagon version you can carry enough beer to inebriate your entire block for a week. The big backseat is just icing on the cake, if you know what I mean.
3. Volvo 240
I adore these cars. Even when they are rusted in half and the wheels are about to fall off they still keep going. They came in the station wagon variant which covers the practicality requirement for those road trips college students love to go on. Some of the wagons had the "tail gunner" seat which means the DD can carry six drunkards with them. There was even a diesel version which covers the economical part, especially if its owner gets a great deal on some vegetable oil. They were safe for their time as well. The best part? You can find them for next to nothing if you look hard enough.
4. Dodge Neon
Dodge's equivalent to the Sunfire/Cavalier.
5. Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire
Economical and reliable. Those both can describe these two cars pretty well. Stylish and quality do not. What earned these cars their spot on this list is the fact that so many people will look back on their college years and laugh saying "That Cavalier (or Sunfire) I drove in my college days was just AWFUL! It was the worst car I ever owned!" It has made its name on this list by embarrassing just about everyone that had to drive one in their college days.
06. Ford Mustang
If your goal in college is to drink as much beer as possible and score as many chicks as possible, chances are you drive a used Mustang. If you want even more girls, you probably have a GT with an annoyingly loud exhaust slapped on the back. It is all about showing off and making impressions. At least, that's what those guys think.
7. Volkswagen Jetta
This is one for the ladies. Not the most reliable, economical, or practical car ever made. For some reason I cannot fathom, college girls that have any concern about style flock to Jettas. It could be in the name, as many appalling cars still were able to sell because of the name slapped on them (four-cylinder Mustangs). Either way, this one is a winner in the style department with the girls, and it is something men will probably never understand.
8. Geo Metro
Here is a car that does not satisfy the style requirement in any sense whatsoever. This car will make even George Clooney look like a nerd. However, three things make this car a big winner as a college beater. One, the fuel economy is at levels with some hybrid cars. Some hypermilers have taken these cars to astronomical fuel economy levels with ridiculous aero kits. If your goal is to be greener than everyone else but can't afford a hybrid, the Metro could be an option. Two, the tiny size means you can squeeze into the tiniest of spots on a Friday night when parking around campus is frustratingly sparse. Three, the complete lack of style and dignity this car brings means you probably won't care about all the dents it will receive during its service.
9. Honda Accord
Many College cars start out life as Mom or Dad's car before being handed down to the kids when they empty the nest and it gets replaced with Dad's mid-life crisis. The Honda Accord is a perfectly bland example of hand-me-down motoring. Their exceptional reliability means that by the time the keys are paired up with a Buckeyes key chain the engine has only gone through half its life. Plus, the four-cylinder version meant great fuel economy, and the six-cylinder version meant college boy could pretend he was driving a really fast car.
10. Jeep Wrangler
Don't ask me how, but the Jeep Wranger only checks off two from the list of college car traits. The older straight-six Wranglers are as bulletproof as Obama's limousines. Also, they have gained a sort of cult status as a stylish car. Next time you see a girl driving one in over sized sunglasses you'll see what I mean. What helps this car make it to the list is the duty it serves mankind. Spiders are to mosquitoes as Wranglers are to frat boys, an effective agent of population control. When I say "frat boy" I mean the stereotypical version that wears polo shirts with their collars popped, white Abercrombie baseball hats on backwards, call everyone "bro", constantly blast Dave Matthews band and drive Jeep Wranglers like they're sports cars. The Wrangler and its notorious ability to not stay on all four wheels have helped prevent an overpopulation of frat boys in society for years, and for that we cannot thank it enough.
Samuel Spencer