Congrats on your decision!
1) Since you're going to buy this on your own (little/no parental donation?) and you're in school, you should seriously consider a used car. I don't know if there are places like carmax.com up there, but these places are great! My friend's husband got a 2000 BMW for half of its cost, still under warranty. No haggling either.
2) You want something that can get repaired cheaply & quick. This was one of my mistakes when I bought a Saab in 1995. When I broke down in Kissimmee, FL, there was only one Saab place miles away in Orlando. So, go for something like Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Acura. VW might be good, but the repairs might be slightly more, so I'd stick with a Japanese car for your first. (You'll probably get a new one when you start working & that's only 2 or so years!)
3)
www.vehix.com
How much Car Can You Afford?
4) this would be a question to ask your parents' insurance agent. Just call them - this is part of what they do. . And actually, if you're going to purchase a used car, get the VIN & your agent could look up its history.
Good luck! And remember:
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