I agree with you about getting a longer rod. Combined with a reel with more line capacity will really help you with your distance. If you have a preference for what you primarily fish for and how you want to fish can make a difference. If you are going to fish with a bobber, a cheap glass rod should do the trick.
Most people on this site who crappie fish can tell you their crappie rods have caught a bunch of bass over the years. If you're going to fish around brush, you're going to need a little backbone, if not, most good crappie rods will have enough.
Be careful about leaving a rod in the car during the heat of summer. It will severely weaken most lines and could hurt your rod as well. Good luck, you should be able to find what you are looking for. You might try here for the rod, they have a good one you might be interested in that's not too high. Combined with a Phleguer spinning reed (I think it's called the Presidential, it's a good combination) I would still listen to others and shop around) Trout Magnet Online Store, Trout Magnet Fishing Lure