Need help with picking out a car to buy

In September I am doing a placement so I need a car to get to work. I have three kind of options and I am looking for some feedback. 1. My mom said she would maybe give me her car. She lives 4000KM away, so it would cost about 500$ to drive back and then I would have a 2001 Impala. Car is meh because it has no AC, turning lights don't always work, and acts funny sometimes. Seems to work ok, but probably would not be able to sell it for more than 2000$ afterwards and I don't know how interested I would be in keeping it in the long run. 2. Read consumer reviews in-depth and buy a used car for about 7-12k. I am looking at Ford fusions/focuses right now, they are nice, cheap, and some of the most reliable cars built in North America according to consumer reports. I would get like a 2006-2008 car with 40,000-80,000k at that price range. 3. They have a crazy deal on Pontiacs right now because they are cutting the brand out. For 12-13k I can get a brand new Pontiac G5 taxes/shipped everything. For 12k I get NOTHING extra, no AC, nothing. I could potentially pay more and get AC.+ AC. For 15k I can get lots of things like bluetooth USB, remote start/locks/etc. My concern is its reliability and the cars "ugliness". What are your thoughts? I don't usually ask others for car advice, but I want to hear some opinions. I will not drive the car much after my placement, I will walk to school. I am pretty poor, but I can get a loan. I do not want to spend money on a car and then drop money on the thing to repair it etc. My basic question is cheap out and take my mothers car, or for the same price get a brand new car under 5 year 160,00km powertrain warranty that I think is "OK", or get an older car that is not under warranty (2006-2007) that I think is cooler, looks better, has AC etc.... but also has 60,000-90,000 and may have been driven badly. Cheerio Edit: Also, the Pontiac deal from GM ends in about 2 weeks or less. Wish that was not the case, but hey. Edit 2: Also, a friend of mine is selling her Toyota Yaris sedan for 13,000$ maybe I could bring her down to 12. It has 40,000km and extended warranty apparently to 120,000km.

I don't have the dough. I think I could just get a good line of credit with low interest that would be added to be principal that I wouldn't have to pay back until I graduate in years from now.

Thanks, and it is noted. That may certainly be the best option. I do somewhat need a car though, to get groceries, be social, and do things. To date I have just bumbed off my friends who have cars like a hobo, and it makes me feel uncomfortable sometimes.

Also, I am a graduate student with decent funding, and I am fairly confident I will remain funded for a number of years to come that could support such an expense. Then again, I will not really "need" one after my internship, either.

Thanks for your feedback. Lets see if my mom is into it when she gets back from Paris.

Hi everyone, Free car is no longer an option, actually, since it cannot start at this time! This car is no longer worth the trouble. I will be in school for another 5 years, the last year I will need a car because I will be on a one year internship, but could be anywhere in Canada. So I need a car for September-January. I can buy one of the options I mentioned in the first post, but, probably not the Pontiac since the deal ends too soon. I can rent a car for 300$ a month or something, but that is just money lost like rent. I could buy a 5000-6000$ and sell it afterwards, but then I am left without a car. I am not currently in debt, and I can get a good loan with decent interest (~2.5%). I plan to be well funded for the rest of my graduate training and I could potentially most or all of it off. Also, I do not need to pay interest until I graduate. Cars only depreciate by 47% in the first three years that they are purchased new. With a used car, this is completely different. Also, in my province I would not need to pay tax on a used car, saving 10%. Rent, buy cheap and sell, buy cheap and keep, buy "expensive (10-13k)" and sell, buy expensive and keep. I have posted on a few other forums, but to be honest you gentlemen are far more useful. I know it sounds as if I have made my decision already perhaps because I am "arguing" for a used car etc... but I am only saying these things to provide you guys with information. I am still quite open! Maybe a hummer H3!?