Hybrid / flat bar for <$400
 

After getting discouraged by the over priced bikes on my local craigslist, i got to looking at new bikes. Unfortunately, having came across nashbar and bikesdirect, I wonder if maybe I could get a new bike at a reasonable price.
I've read some decent reviews of nashbar's flat bar road bike but the reviews were from a couple years ago and the bike looks like a different model now. The hunt is kind of difficult since some commuters, some hybrids, and some flat bar road bikes all look similar and appealing to me. I'm not against assembling the bike and figuring out its own maintenance and up keep.
I really like the looks of the fuji 1.3 flat bar road bike and if it wasn't out of my price range I would have already snagged it.
Fuji Absolute 1.3 Flat Bar Road Bike - 2013
Nashbar Flat Bar Road Bike
Save Up to 60% Off Flat Bar Wide Tire Hybrid Bikes | Fixie | Windsor Bikes - The Hour | Save up to 60% off Hybrid and Shimano bicycles
Nashbar Trekking Bike

Edit: I tried to do some formatting but my iPad won't let me. Sorry for the overwhelming paragraph.

Bikes Direct is the way to go if budget is a concern. They offer free shipping.

At Nashbar, you have to include shipping along with the price of whatever bike you buy.

If you have the mechanical skills, you can assemble your own bike.

Are they good bikes for the money though? Is there one bike offered that is better than the others? Is there something specifically I should be looking for spec-wise?

I got a Nashbar flatbar road bike. It's a pretty good bike and I would say it's the equivalent of a Trek fx 7.2. It rode fine but I thought it wasn't as fast as I wanted so I sold it and upgraded to a Giant Escape 1. For general riding, this is a very good deal for the money. It came nearly completely assembled. You will have to adjust the handlebars, put on the front wheel and pedals. It didn't need much more than that.

How long ago did you buy the bike? Also, did you sell it for a reasonable price or had it not held up very well?

They're good bikes for the money. Realistically if you can spend $600, you'll get decent mid-level quality components. An entry level bike starts there. Of course, the more you spend, the better the bike.

Nashbar's flat bar road bike is quite a bit cheaper than the decent bikes on bikesdirect, is that $100 jump worth it? Or should I just get this cheap nashbar, make sure I like the riding style then save up for a decent name-branded bike?

Why not just save up now and get a nice bike from the start?

It is because I am going stir crazy without a working bicycle, plus I am also getting tired of walking to class. You do have a good point though.

campus bike, you might be better off with a 90's mountain bike with a rigid fork and put slick tires on it. with the $ saved you could even buy a decent 80's or 90's steel framed road bike to go with it.

Over priced bikes on CL? You must be in the SF Bay Area :) If so, I would second dr1445's advice. I rode a 90s rigid Cannondale MTB for a long time with cheap Performance Bike slick tires. I think I paid $25 for the bike, put another $25 into cables/brake pads to get it working properly, then about $30 for the slick tires. Granted, it was a find, but they are out there.