# First Car after Graduation **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask the Hackrs\ **Tags:** suv, sedan, tx\ **Created:** [November 24, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711 "2020-11-24T02:26:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![paranoidgarliclover](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/paranoidgarliclover/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@paranoidgarliclover](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/paranoidgarliclover)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 8:32am UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/21 "2020-11-24T08:32:46Z")
> [@RuttedTrain](#): > > They are super different Not necessarily. The K5 and Camry are in the same class, and the RAV4 is basically the SUV version of a Camry. All will be practical and reasonably reliable. I’d personally go w/ whichever has the best deal. ---
**Author:** ![anon50755977](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/anon50755977/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@anon50755977](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/anon50755977)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 8:32am UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/22 "2020-11-24T08:32:49Z")
I had a brand new RAV4 XLE rental the other week and thought it was a fantastic car for the price. Very good safety ratings too. Camrys are nice, but I agree that parking and maneuvering in the city is easier in a small SUV. You really can’t go wrong with either. And props to you for being so responsible! I’m sure many of us wish we could go back in time and make more responsible financial decisions. Enjoy your new car and congrats on almost graduating! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![forbs](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/forbs/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@forbs](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/forbs)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/23 "2020-11-24T13:00:33Z")
> [@nycsimone](#): > > Who cares why? It’s his/her car. You weren’t asked to suggest another car and make assumptions on possible driving habits obviously you dont visit this site much, tons of requests get mocked and told to buy other things. What i said was based on his info, and it is valid, without knowing a bit more, i do not recommend any of the three he said. Just like when someone posts a CX9 lots of people say get MDX. Now that he has added info, im not sure about rav4 for a first timer, the other two are imho better. Though i still think he shouldnt lease. And Toyota doesnt include gap, so if he goes toyota he should make sure it has gap ---
**Author:** ![DistrictCars](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/districtcars/32/158551_2.png) [@DistrictCars](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/DistrictCars)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/24 "2020-11-24T13:39:24Z")
First off, congratulations on your graduation! I’ll never forget that amazing feeling once I walked out of my last class! I am not privy about Kia, but the RAV4 and Camry SE are both excellent choices when it comes to reliability and low maintenance costs. I recommend test driving each car and reviewing their options/packages. ---
**Author:** ![Siejammy](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/siejammy/32/4245_2.png) [@Siejammy](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/Siejammy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/25 "2020-11-24T13:52:33Z")
I was expecting this thread to be about leasing your first M3…why so practical?? ---
**Author:** ![max\_g](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/max_g/32/9426_2.png) [@max\_g](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/max_g)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/26 "2020-11-24T14:03:30Z")
Congrats, now you’ve got internet strangers arguing over _their_ preferences instead of the crux of your question > [@RuttedTrain](#): > > All around the same price, all FWD. Same price as defined by what? MSRP? That doesn’t mean much. What are the details of leasing each one of these cars? ---
**Author:** ![EC99](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ec99/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@EC99](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/EC99)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/27 "2020-11-24T14:41:44Z")
> [@max\_g](#): > > Same price as defined by what? MSRP? That doesn’t mean much. What are the details of leasing each one of these cars? Well @Jrouleau426 is a good resource here. He has Camry SE for $249 39/12 and $293 for a RAV4 XLE 39/10. Both are great first cars. Based on above examples Camry is cheaper with more more miles but I can certainly see the value of a crossover for a young person who will move at least once in course of lease. As for people criticizing OPs car choice, that seems like an old man saying get off my lawn. In times past, my grandfather certainly harped on ones first car should be a used beater/real cheap car. Except times change. I would feel much better at $249 a month for a Camry than any used car deal. That is 9K over three years with top notch safety and fuel economy and little risk of unexpected costs. Plus if you happen to avoid accidents you have a real chance of equity at end of lease. ---
**Author:** ![mp11477](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/mp11477/32/9283_2.png) [@mp11477](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/mp11477)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/28 "2020-11-24T14:46:22Z")
> [@RuttedTrain](#): > > Does anyone have any suggestions or opinions on which would be best? Have YOU actually driven any of these 3 cars? I’d start there, as it’s possible after you drive them, this thread could be moot. That said, asking a bunch of internet strangers what you should buy is an exercise in futility. 10 people are going to have 10 different opinions. ---
**Author:** ![derekoh1991](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/derekoh1991/32/198657_2.png) [@derekoh1991](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/derekoh1991)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/29 "2020-11-24T14:51:46Z")
He’s in Texas, my guy! I will take care of him ---
**Author:** ![EC99](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ec99/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@EC99](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/EC99)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:11pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/30 "2020-11-24T15:11:57Z")
Apologies, wasn’t sure how we knew he was in texas. ---
**Author:** ![forbs](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/forbs/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@forbs](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/forbs)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/31 "2020-11-24T15:13:10Z")
There’s a TX tag up there after [ask the hackers] tag ---
**Author:** ![max\_g](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/max_g/32/9426_2.png) [@max\_g](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/max_g)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/32 "2020-11-24T15:13:43Z")
> [@EC99](#): > > Well @Jrouleau426 is a good resource here Not in this instance since the OP is in Texas, where captive lease credits make a big impact on reducing the state’s high taxes on leases. That’s like ~$1,800 in savings if available ---
**Author:** ![EC99](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ec99/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@EC99](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/EC99)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/33 "2020-11-24T15:36:33Z")
Will dealers use tax credits for low margin deals like this? Interesting to see what @derekoh1991 says but assuming you have a limited amount of tax credit money using it on a deal like this seems like poor allotment of tax credit funds. It seems to me like you would rather save it for a higher gross Highlander or Tundra deal. ---
**Author:** ![HersheySweet](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/hersheysweet/32/201247_2.png) [@HersheySweet](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/HersheySweet)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/34 "2020-11-24T15:39:13Z")
It’s not a dealer’s profit margin, it’s from the Financial Service. To my understanding from Derek, the financial service allocates tax credits for individual models and it’s up to the dealer to use them. IE USBANK gives 1500 Tundra credits, 500 Corolla credits, and 250 Camry credits. But I could be wrong. @derekoh1991 ---
**Author:** ![derekoh1991](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/derekoh1991/32/198657_2.png) [@derekoh1991](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/derekoh1991)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:42pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/35 "2020-11-24T15:42:39Z")
For Toyota, it’s unlimited For US Bank and Ally, it’s capped at like 40 (I think) ---
**Author:** ![RuttedTrain](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ruttedtrain/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@RuttedTrain](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/RuttedTrain)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/36 "2020-11-24T16:14:47Z")
The reason why I am planning on leasing instead of buying is because of the lower upfront costs. I will not start my job until July or September of 2021 but I will still need a car for second semester of university. If I buy, and finance over 60 months, I am looking at $470/month ($26k car, 3.2% interest) payments before I have even started my job. I might be thinking wrong here, but I just feel “safer” if I do a lease, pay the ~$260/month payments and save the $210/month as I start my career. Then, once I have 3 years on the job, after the lease is done, I can buy a car. Is it a bad idea to be “scared” of the high monthly payments of owning a car? I am just hesitant to commit so much money I think. ---
**Author:** ![RuttedTrain](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ruttedtrain/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@RuttedTrain](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/RuttedTrain)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/37 "2020-11-24T16:16:03Z")
Thank you! I am trying to get a few years of work under my belt before I get something fancy, maybe in 3 years! lol ---
**Author:** ![RuttedTrain](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ruttedtrain/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@RuttedTrain](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/RuttedTrain)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/38 "2020-11-24T16:18:02Z")
Sorry, I was unclear. WHen I talked to dealers, I could get all for around $260-270/month with $2k down (Tax, tags, fees, rest CCR). That is why the trims are a little different, I tried to make $270/mo with 2k down as my absolute ceiling. MSRP wise they are not the same, the incentives, MF, and discounts bring them close though. ---
**Author:** ![RuttedTrain](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ruttedtrain/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@RuttedTrain](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/RuttedTrain)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/39 "2020-11-24T16:19:42Z")
I am actually not in Texas, I should have been more clear with my tag. I will be working in Texas and the “large southern city” is in Texas, where I will be post graduation. I am currently in the Carolinas. I was thinking of tagging the state I would be driving the car in since I was concerned about city driving. ---
**Author:** ![RuttedTrain](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/ruttedtrain/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@RuttedTrain](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/RuttedTrain)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711/40 "2020-11-24T16:22:02Z")
Sorry, I tagged Texas since that is where I will be driving the car post-graduation. I am in the Carolinas, where there are far fewer dealers. [Previous page](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/first-car-after-graduation/312711.md?page=3)