When I was a Jr. in college, I got rid of my Grand Am that kept breaking down and got a cheap lease on a Scion tC (I thought it was cool, still do
![:stfu: :stfu:](./images/smilies/stfu.gif)
) IIRC it was $200/mo, but I wanted something reliable to get me around since I was working multiple jobs around the Lansing area.
I had a ~a year left on the lease at graduation, and my parents offered to pay that last year as a "gift" so I didn't have to worry about transportation as I started out in the workforce. It helped me get to interviews then eventually get to and from work reliably. Taking that concern out of the equation was nice, and not worrying about a car payment my first year in the real world made life easier.
Jr won't like it, but when starting out in life, nothing is more valuable than reliable transportation. You can't no-show an interview because your car broke down, and in your first job, you can't call in because the airbag broke on your hooptie VW and you're stranded at home. First impressions are critical, and solid reliable transportation is part of that.