Nine great cars for back to school

- Andrew P. Collins, Contributor

The BMW 318i was produced between 1982-1994 has great styling and reasonable ownership costs, especially for the student who appreciates cars. (S.Mielke/Wikimedia Commons/File)

4. BMW 3-Series

Vintage: Late 1980s to early 1990s

Price Range: $2,000 to $6,000

Parents may remember these original “hip-to-be-square” BMWs as the rolling embodiment of the decade of greed. However, reasonable ownership costs, sharp (but not too sharp) performance, and timeless styling have kept this car relevant among enthusiasts and budget-conscious car buyers alike.

The 3-Series really is an all-around great car, and for a student who enjoys and appreciates automobiles, forget that flat-black Camaro, this Bimmer is the best place to spend that summer job money.

Be wary of cheap and tattered examples. As with all second- or third-hand European autos, it’s worth paying a premium for one that’s been cared for. Make sure the seller has some service records for the car, or at least get a specialist mechanic’s opinion.

Parents will like: If it doesn’t start, at least it will still look good in the driveway.

Students will like: Come on, dad … it’s a Bimmer!

Downsides: Not the easiest machine to control in rough weather, and will become unreliable quickly if routine maintenance is overlooked.

– The original photo can be found here on Wikimedia Commons.