Are you going to be living at home during college or away from home? If you are going to be living in dorms, I will say you want something with a little room (aka not a two seater). Also not so noticeable that some one might take interest in the car. I wouldn't recommend a British car as a DD period. The Miata IMHO is not a very good college car if you are living in the dorms. Turbo Dodges are easy to make fast and very not noticeable but will suck to pick a girl up in. 
I am in dorms unfortunately. I walked past a very clean Shelby Dodge thing in the parking lot yesterday and it caught my eye, I'm not too sure if I am sold on it though. The Miata would definately not be a practical college car but I rarely drive with anything in the car and I am pretty close to home where I have access to a mini van. I don't think I would ever DD a British car either with the exception on maybe a Austin Mini, I talked to a guy from England who said he had one and it was the most reliable motor he's ever owned... I don't know if this is really true or not though.
Anybody know what MPG Mini's get? Or OG Miata's? Or Turbo Dodges?
The biggest problem with a Miata IMHO is one guy with a knife and he is in. On the Mini as with any British car, the electronics will probably be the first thing to go. I would switch to an electronic ignition and probably some other updates to get rid of Lucas. There is massive support for those cars. I don't know how they like to rust.
sachilles wrote: Get something fun and reliable. A miata can do that. MGB and a classic mini are cool, but not the most reliable for daily driver duty.
I agree with this. Just some thoughts- Miata (of course) MR2, Mustang, STS or FSP Civic. I autocross, so I think along the lines of what would work for that. But do it the same way. Think about what you'd like to do with the car for fun and then back into it from there. I did that with my MR2 and it's been great. Exactly what I wanted. I have a blast driving E Stock locally and it's a great daily driver for someone who doesn't put a lot of miles on their car.
ReverendDexter wrote: Early '80s RWD Celica or Mk II Supra.
I love that I'm not the only one who likes old Celicas. More parts came in for my FSP '84 today! The box says "Koni" on it too!
Depending on the variation, turbo dodges can get 18-35 mpg, with the later ones being better. My Shelby charger got about 18 city 22 freeway, but people have reported 38 mpg from a well tuned intercooled daytona.
99-ish Miata.
New enough to be new. Classic enough to be classic. Cheap enough to be cheap.
Turbo Dodges are easy to make fast and very not noticeable but will suck to pick a girl up in.
Oooooooooh man.. In my younger days i dropped a gf off to college in my Aries.. and when she tried to get out THE DOOR FELL OFF!!!!!!!!!!! It was my fault, i had been screwing with the hinge pins and didnt secure them properly. Anyway, she hated me ENDLESSLY for it but it is to this day ONE OF THE BEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE. It is seriously one of the funniest memories i have to treasure. 
My Shelby charger got about 18 city 22 freeway, but people have reported 38 mpg from a well tuned intercooled daytona.
Tops ive heard is 38 mpg for a shelby charger, 38 mpg for a spirit, 42 for a daytona, and somewhere in the low 40s for omnis going slowly, which is no fun.
BUT, stock tune will get you 27-30 in most of them. I dont think ive ever gotten more than 33mpg from a turbo dodge with a stock tune. YMMV
Holy crap! Over 30mpg?
I'm used to close to half that if I'm driving.. con brio.
Anybody know what Austin Mini's or Miata's get?
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