Rwd good idea for first car?

[Castiel]

Or is it just asking for trouble? I have a younger cousin who i try and be a big brother too since his father died and i'm considering buying him his first car when he turns 16 next month. A friend of mine is selling an original Iroc Z for 2K which IMO would be a decent first car. T Tops, Auto, 350TPI, It's very torquey but it's pretty slow but i'm a little wary about giving him RWD for his first vehicle. Should i consider it or find him a nice DSM?

 

[Demo24]

I would be less concerned about the drive wheels and more concerned about the safety of the actual vehicle. Although, you do live somewhere where it snows so RWD without teaching him how to control it would be a bad idea.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Well, it will be VERY easy for him to put the IROC in a ditch or around a tree. And considering it will crumple around him in a bad wreck, I wouldn't do it.

If you want to get him a fun little car like that, get a V6 F-body. Still fun to drive, but slow enough to keep it on the road and hopefully out of trouble.

I rode in my buddy's V6 F-Body's in high school all the time, a slow-ass 2.8L V6 83 Camaro and then a not-as-slow-ass 3.4L V6 93. Still fun to tool around in for high school kids, but slow enough to be safe.

I had a 92 Camaro with the 350 TPI as a project car for a while and the stump pulling torque will slide that rear end out at low speed with little trouble. Especially if the road is wet. I really don't recommend it.

IMO, a cool car is secondary for a child. Safe and reliable are at the top of my book for that, but for $2K you probably won't get both of those things.

 

[Vette73]

^

Yep~!~!

Don't get a V8 for a first car. Look for a later model 3.8L V6 F-Body. Quick and reliable. Not sure you will find one for 2k but might be able to if oyu look hard.

 

[NAC]

I had a Mustang when I was 16. Came very close to wrapping it around a tree twice. I wouldn't advise anyone that young have a car like that.

 

[mb]

My first car was RWD and it was fine.

Although I wish someone taught me that trying to make a quick left turn across traffic on a rainy day can lead to fishtailing!

 

[Castiel]

You guys have convinced me it was a bad idea. I think maybe AWD would be better. Found a 91 GSX on CL for 2K.

 

[Skitzer]

What's the problem with RWD?
FWD is a relatively new thing. People drove RWD vehicles for decades without any problems. IROCs are cool. For a first car it would be fine.
My first car was a 1965 GTO.

 

[evident]

wow, you're a really good person for buying your cousin a car.:thumbsup:

 

[mb]

You guys have convinced me it was a bad idea. I think maybe AWD would be better. Found a 91 GSX on CL for 2K.

Perhaps AWD would be better, but don't let that limit your search. FWD would do just fine if you are worried about RWD.

 

[EightySix Four]

As a few others have stated, the drive wheels of the car really don't matter too much in this situation unless you have a lot of snow/ice in your region. What matters is how much power the car makes, how responsive it is (too much is as dangerous as too little), and how safe it is in a wreck.

That said, I was driving a C5 Corvette a month after turning 17.

 

[Castiel]

As much as i think he'll be responsible i think back to being 16 and how i would do crazy and wild shit with my car. Yeah i think the gsx is looking like a perfect car for him.

 

[MiataNC]

You can go too fast and lose control in any car. Even the most underwhelming econ-box sold can be pushed past the limits of control by an impulsive driver with little experience.

For a new driver I would focus on safety features. I would get something with as many airbags in as many areas as possible, ABS, traction/stability control, and a high crash rating.

 

[Vette73]

As a few others have stated, the drive wheels of the car really don't matter too much in this situation unless you have a lot of snow/ice in your region. What matters is how much power the car makes, how responsive it is (too much is as dangerous as too little), and how safe it is in a wreck.

That said, I was driving a C5 Corvette a month after turning 17.

Yea but a C5 has stablia-trak and other safety systems that keep you from ditch driving.
A older F-Body did not have that.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Might want to check the insurance on that first.

My first car was RWD and I drove it in the snow but it wasn't anything sporty in the least.

 

[Castiel]

Do we have any DSM experts on the forum? With an Iroc i know what to look for but when it comes to this car i'm totally lost on what to look for or what it might need.

 

[Vette73]

Do we have any DSM experts on the forum? With an Iroc i know what to look for but when it comes to this car i'm totally lost on what to look for or what it might need.

You have one in mind?


The none turbo FWD ones were not to bad if I remember correct. Had timing belt and other maintaince items that can add up.
But would make a ok first car.
I would not get a Turbo/AWD model though.

I would try to find a 96+ car. That way it has the OBD2 system so it be a little easier to fix, let alone the newwer safety equipment.

 

[Demo24]

I don't know anything specific apart from the 'crankwalk' problems that seemed to plague them. Don't believe they were considered to be wonderfully reliable vehicles.

 

[Castiel]

You have one in mind?


The none turbo FWD ones were not to bad if I remember correct. Had timing belt and other maintaince items that can add up.
But would make a ok first car.
I would not get a Turbo/AWD model though.

I would try to find a 96+ car. That way it has the OBD2 system so it be a little easier to fix, let alone the newwer safety equipment.

91 Eclipse GSX is what i'm probably going to go look at after work. 133K miles, says it's all maintained but we'll see. Timing belt is the first thing i'm going to check. Wants 2K but it's more worth 1K and i can use the other 1K i had originally planned on spending on maintenance.

Other cheap cars i've found have been a 1990 Civic SI for 2200 but no mileage listed. There are slim pickings around here.

 

[Vette73]

91 Eclipse GSX is what i'm probably going to go look at after work. 133K miles, says it's all maintained but we'll see. Timing belt is the first thing i'm going to check. Wants 2K but it's more worth 1K and i can use the other 1K i had originally planned on spending on maintenance.

Well the GSX is AWD and Turbo so they keep their price up due to the ricer's. That and its a early model so it ahs the older body and popup headlights.

I sold my Saab for more than it should have gone for just because it had a turbo. For some reason that gets all the kids rilled up.

 

[Zargon]

91 gsx?

yes please!

 

[RU482]

2k Z28...for a 16 yr old. My god man, he'll pay more for insurance than he does for the car.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Are you just trying to find cars that will cost a crap load to insure for a 16 year old ?

 

[Castiel]

Are you just trying to find cars that will cost a crap load to insure for a 16 year old ?

Deal is he'll go under his mom's plan but has to pay her 20 a week for insurance and keep up his GPA.

 

[simonizor]

Get him somethig fuel efficient unless he's got a job with nothing else to spend his money on. It sure as hell won't be cheap driving around with that motor under the hood.