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Clinton Said:

Buying a second hand car?

We Answered:

The Protege is a great pick. It's reliable, good on gas, and it maintains its value. Hondas and Toyotas are also good in those ways.

But if you're not terrified at the possibility of having the occasional car trouble, you should only spend about 1/3 of your car budget for your first car. Chances are pretty good that you'll crash your first car, so it's better if that car is a junker. Then you can spend your remaining cash on a car that you'll be able to keep for a while.

Check out this site for gas mileage for any car model, any year: http://fueleconomy.weblite.ca/specs/2002…

Insurance prices vary based on the amount of coverage you get. It could be as little as fifty bucks a month for minimum liability, or as much as two-hundred a month for comprehensive on an expensive car.

EDIT -- Don't get a 30-year-old Benz. It would be a mechanical nightmare and very expensive to repair.