I've come to the same conclusion. Now I'm looking at the corolla or the Nissan sentra, but would still rather be driving a GM.

I already though of the GA but I looked a few last night and they want way too much for that car. Mind you it was the GT version, but they wanted $29,000CAD for it, while you can get a new vibe or Toyota Matrix(same damn thing hehe)for around $20,000.
But I'm gonna keep the cars till I find out what I want or till my parents decide how much they want to spend.

So for now I'm keeping what I have and hope I don't have to sink too much more $$$ into it ( 1990 Cutlass Supreme SL).
Time will tell.

By the way I just have to thank everybody for the support especially since it involved selling a bonne and maybe going Foreign

Wow I'm surprised about the 3100 intake gasket problem. I have a 92 Sunbird with the 3.1 that I bought new and have never had a problem with the intake. It now has 110,000 miles on it with the original intake gasket....I guess its running on borrowed time. The only problems that I've had with it were the water pump, fuel pressure regulator, and the starter....all died under warranty. Its been driven hard too, lots of stop light grand prix, and some time at the track. I've run Mobile 1 in it since day one and I think that has helped.

Abuse I resemble that remark. I have no complaints about the 3.1 mine has been very reliable and it really moves the light sunird body down the road. Hopefully the 3800 will be just as dependable as I only buy new cars every 10 years.

SSE1990,

Speedguy, Wilwren, Bonneville_blue, and Turtle_SSE are correct! Pay down your debt first, Buy a house second, Buy a Bonneville of your choice third.

You will reduce the duration of your loan payment if you make double payments on you loan(*). Most people think "well I can't afford to pay $800 payments every month. What they fail to realize is that they can get an amortization schedule from there lender which shows all of their future payments broken down by due date, principle amount, interest amount, and remaining balance after making a payment. These generally cost $10 USD and in some cases are provided free from your lender. Order one. Then, when you make your first payment (lets assume that your payments are $400 per month), you would go to your copy of the amortization schedule and you add your first payment of $400 to the PRINCIPLE portion of your second month'* payment (assume that it is $100). Write your payment out for $500 and you just saved $300. Not only did you save $300, you just shortened the duration of your loan by one month! Do this every month paying months 1 and 2 the first month (highlight the payments you made on your copy of the amortization schedule so you know which payments you have made), then pay months 3 and 4 on the second month (highlight those on your schedule) etc. The key to this is never be late for a payment, always make payments every month in at least the amount of the minimum monthly amount due (in this example the $400), all extra payments should be made in the full amount of the next unpaid principle amount (which will increase as the loan is paid off), and finally, explicitly indicate what the extra amount of the payment is for, in the US, writing "extra payment to go to principle only" in the information line of your check is sufficient. If you can do this consistantly, you will save yourself thousands of dollars in interest payments, and you will cut your 5-year loan down to a 2 1/2 year loan.

Once you have paid off your loan(*) in this manner, you can then purchase a house. When the lending agency sees your 'excellent' credit rating, you will be in a better buying position for your homeowners loan.

After a year in you house you will have accomplished three things. You will have eliminated debt, purchased a larger (or at least a more expensive) house (without the student loan debt you will have more debt-free income to go toward your house payment), and finally, you will have established excellent credit that will enable you to purchase the first RWD Bonneville SSEi in Ottawa (or on this forum)! This will have taken you a mere 3 1/2 years to do.

Now as far as the Kia is concerned. If that is what your folks are willing to spring for, go ahead. The Kia had the Mazda drivetrain when they first came out. The Mazda engine (if Kia is still using them) is a good, reliable engine. The warrenty will cover any breakdowns you may experience so you shouldn't be afraid of out of pocket expenses. finally, it is more economical than many other cars (depending on engine and body size), not to mention the fact that you will have no payments save insurance, fuel, maintenance.

To me, this is a no brainer. We all know the old addage "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"? Let your folks do this for you, put up with it for a while. In 3 1/2 years or so, buy the 'thorough bread', until then use the 'mule'.

BTW, I am an accountant. I know what I am talking about when it comes to the financial sense of this deal. I know in an ealier post you said that you had already made up your mind to hold on to the gutless and the poncho, but I would strongly advise you to reconsider. It is always easier to spend someone elses money, a lot harder to convince someone to save there own!

Good luck in whatever you decide.

I've actually already had a house. We sold it to move up here. I already have good credit ( which is a bonus). So we have 5 years to pay our line of credit(school loan) and it'* set at 225 bi-weekly. SO we will pay it down and move on from there.