Im in the market for my first car...

[AFK]

I have narrowed it down to 3 choices.

Honda Civic
Nissan Sentra
Mazda Protoge

My price range is around 15,000

What would you recomend?

 

[Viper GTS]

You could pick up a nice 3rd generation Nissan 300ZX for that kind of money. Or, if you shopped around, a RX7.

Why get boring cars?

Viper GTS

 

[AFK]

I dont HAVE 15,000 Its the ammount I can afford to finance.

 

[Viper GTS]

OK, why FINANCE a boring car?



Viper GTS

 

[geno]

Get a 300ZX, they're fairly inexpensive, and you can get the Twin Turbo for WELL under 15k (looking at around 10k probably for around 93). Get the latest and strongest model you can find - you will not regret it - I promise!

 

[AFK]

I was thinking of getting a new car. 2001.

 

[SuperGroove]

Until he sees how much it costs to insure the car :Q

Paul

 

[AFK]

How much?

Im 21, have been driving for 4.5 years, and have a perfect driving record. I live in a Boston suburb.

 

[geno]

I'm not sure about you - but I'd rather have something that's really nice, and a little older (just as long as it's in good shape), rather than something newer and less fun. It's your call though, if you're going for brand new and looking for a civic - get an Si, but the power you're gonna get will be NOTHING compared to a Twin turboed V6....

 

[Mister T]

He probably does want to pay out the @ss in maintaince and repairs.
With a brand new car you have no headaches for a few years.

You consider a Ford Focus - heard alot of good things about them

 

[xero]

i'd suggest you go buy an older (90-94) used car.....cars back in the day were built a whole lot more solidly then the sh!tty plastic cars you buy today....just my $0.2

 

[Suicidal]

Get a used bmw... 92-96 or something 3-series. Built like tanks and handle like butter.

 

[yakko]

Buy a VW Golf IV.

 

[geno]

Trust me, you can buy something REALLY nice - but used. My mom has an Infinity J30t, sweet car, and she paid 10k for it. We've had no problems with it at all, since the car was well taken care of. The thing runs like a watch. My point is - you can find something really nice for low $$$. Buying brand new always brings up the possibility of getting a lemon, which my father pretty much got screwed with when he bought a new Ford - the thing spent more time in the shop than it did out on the road. I'd go used though, only if it's in tip top shape though...

 

[BiB]

Viper

Sure he could get a 300ZX for that price - but when the transmission goes guess who pays for it? Him. When the radiator blows guess who pays for it? When the engine dies guess who pays for it?

I, too, have thought about a 300ZX - but this year I was given my first wonderful experience with owning a used car. I paid $3500 for it. 6 months later I'd sunk in $2k in repairs. When you buy a new car you pay ONLY the sticker price. Buy an old car, especially a sports car, and you're going to be looking at sticker plus pretty wicked maintenance costs.

That said I don't think its worth buying a brand new car, you'll get a much better deal for a 1-2 year old model and its still well under warranty.

genocide

Buying new you have chance of lemon?! And old cars aren't lemons? Your dad's car may be in the shop a lot but at least its under warranty. When I bought a nice condition honda accord this year the damn thing was a lemon - and all repairs were out of my pocket. It was a good looking car too, it was easy to sell after, but it was a lemon nonetheless.

--

My advice would be if a person has, say, $15k - but either a pretty new car (1-2 years old), or spend only $10-12k at the absolute bloody most so that the difference can go towards inevitable non-warranteed repairs.

BiB

 

[AFK]

The thing is, I make a 40 mile round trip daily to work. That is why I want a newer car.

 

[Atomicman]

Get the honda if you want to, you can always sell it for more than the other cars! If you have to go buy a new car. (Recommend buying an expensive old car)

 

[Nessoldaccount]

Buy a white 2000 Civic CX hatchback. Dealers will want to get rid of the 2000's so you might even be able to pick up a new one under $10k. Then over time use your money to convert it to a japanese-spec Civic Type-R. :ucks flames:: Oh well here's a pic of the final product:

Civic Type-R

185HP, yum. Good commuter car too.

 

[Lvis]

I recently test drove a 2000 sentra, it's a really sweet car. This or something like it would be a good choice. The maintance and insurance will be reasonable. Before you buy, be sure to check the insurance costs, they can vary greatly by model.

 

[lowtech1]

The cars you name all are good cheap cars, but you migh want to check out the 97~98 Acura Integra Type R.

 

[Ferocious]

Avoid the new Hondas like the plague.

All three of your choices aren't very good at safety tests. Though the Mazda isn't as bad as the others. Nissan Altima is a (relatively) much safer car than those three.

 

[rigmah]

Get a 300ZX if you can find one around. I think an SI would be out of your price range though. A nice 300ZX or a Integra would be my reccomendation.

 

[Napalm381]

Man, what's your guys deal with 300ZXs? Not everyone wants a sports car.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Not everyone can afford them either. Compare insurance on the 3 cars he originally mentioned to the cars you guys are mentioning

 

[novon]

Integra all the way. Why buy a civic when for 15K you can get a Integra that's in almost-new shape, it's a much sweeter ride. 300ZX will cost a lot to maintain/run/repair. the mazda and nissan are ugly compared to the Acura.