Rwd good idea for first car?

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Castiel

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2010
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Just found another one tho it's about 3 hours away. 2200 bucks and waiting on interior pictures

talon1.jpg
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
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Turbo DSM = glass trannies, along with crankwalk and weak heads. I'm a double victim, it took me two times to learn my lesson. The NA FWD models are much more reliable (they don't push the drivetrain nearly as hard), but not great.

Imho, get him something practical like an old F150 w/manual transmission. Trucks are always cool, and for the most part hold their value pretty well on the used market.
 

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
1,379
126
If you do want something sportier, perhaps find a Mk3 Supra. I've seen a few in the ~$2k range that were pretty nice, and it's 10x the car any DSM is in terms of quality.
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
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Turbo DSM = glass trannies, along with crankwalk and weak heads. I'm a double victim, it took me two times to learn my lesson. The NA FWD models are much more reliable (they don't push the drivetrain nearly as hard), but not great.

Imho, get him something practical like an old F150 w/manual transmission. Trucks are always cool, and for the most part hold their value pretty well on the used market.

trannys arent THAT bad if you treat them well.

crankwalk is a thing for 2gs running decent boost
 

SearchMaster

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2002
7,791
114
106
Just found another one tho it's about 3 hours away. 2200 bucks and waiting on interior pictures

talon1.jpg

That's the color that my 91 GS Turbo was (except the B pillars were black - weird).

God I miss that car, so much fun. It was pretty reliable too - there was a recall on the timing belt right when it was due for change so I lucked out on that repair. Other than that there were a few niggling issues (sporadic failure in cruise control, ate batteries like crazy, etc.) but I enjoyed the heck out of that car. Got rid of her at ~160K miles when family got too big for it.
 

thescreensavers

Diamond Member
Aug 3, 2005
9,916
2
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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!

LOL

I drove my parents cars for 4 years I then got my Car, G35. It was the first day it rained since I had the car. I went out of my neighborhood it was empty so I gave it some gas.

VDC kicked in like a hammer and all I heard was ABS actuating on my wheels and my power dropped. Shit worked like it was suppose too. I was only going 20mph, butI was scared shitless I granny drived that bich all the way to the party I was going to. I then looked up my tires and all the reviews said it sucked in the wet (Eagle RSA).

It was something unexpected which now I know how to avoid since I learned from that simple oh shit moment lol.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
Perhaps AWD would be better, but don't let that limit your search. FWD would do just fine if you are worried about RWD.
Get a 2wd and let him dig it out of the snow a few times. That way he will appreciate awd when he finally has it.

All i say is get a slow car. I took both of my first cars on the highway and ran them full speed just to see how fast they go. Everyone does this. My tempo could go faster than 90mph which is good. Giving some youg kid a 150mph car is the worst thing you can do.
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
Why is this even a question? Are kids these days such incredible pussies or have they just been brainwashed so badly? All we had when I started driving was rear wheel drive cars. They are superior to front wheel drive anyway so learn how to drive one properly young.
 

mb

Lifer
Jun 27, 2004
10,233
2
71
LOL

I drove my parents cars for 4 years I then got my Car, G35. It was the first day it rained since I had the car. I went out of my neighborhood it was empty so I gave it some gas.

VDC kicked in like a hammer and all I heard was ABS actuating on my wheels and my power dropped. Shit worked like it was suppose too. I was only going 20mph, butI was scared shitless I granny drived that bich all the way to the party I was going to. I then looked up my tires and all the reviews said it sucked in the wet (Eagle RSA).

It was something unexpected which now I know how to avoid since I learned from that simple oh shit moment lol.

heh I didn't have any sort of traction control to help me out. I was only 16 and fishtailed for quite a distance.. I was pretty scared I was going to run up a curb and wreck it but thankfully it calmed down.
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Turbo DSM = glass trannies, along with crankwalk and weak heads. I'm a double victim, it took me two times to learn my lesson. The NA FWD models are much more reliable (they don't push the drivetrain nearly as hard), but not great.

Imho, get him something practical like an old F150 w/manual transmission. Trucks are always cool, and for the most part hold their value pretty well on the used market.

Yea I wouldn't get a used Turbo DSM when there's so many other options out there that are more reliable.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
Holy Crap! Are you crazy! When it was new, that IROC was pushing almost as much horsepower as a Honda Civic! He'll kill himself for sure!

Seriously, the only concern here is the lack of modern safety equipment and what will happen we he gets his doors blown off by Grandpa in his Avalon.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Holy Crap! Are you crazy! When it was new, that IROC was pushing almost as much horsepower as a Honda Civic! He'll kill himself for sure!

Seriously, the only concern here is the lack of modern safety equipment and what will happen we he gets his doors blown off by Grandpa in his Avalon.

lmfao...but so true :awe:
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
lmfao...but so true :awe:
:(

Maybe a slow and heavy boat car would be best. This one car my parents had weighed probably 4000lbs but it had 150HP. Slowest vehicle ever made by any company ever, but it can destroy small cars without denting the steel bumper.
 

Itchrelief

Golden Member
Dec 20, 2005
1,398
0
71
Nah, I don't think a Crown Vic could get him into all that much trouble unless he tries to impersonate a cop.
 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
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Holy Crap! Are you crazy! When it was new, that IROC was pushing almost as much horsepower as a Honda Civic! He'll kill himself for sure!

Seriously, the only concern here is the lack of modern safety equipment and what will happen we he gets his doors blown off by Grandpa in his Avalon.
Have you driven a 3rd gen F-body? They are notoriously squirrely on wet roads and don't exactly hold power well through the corners even on a dry road. It is a *bad* choice for a first car. A V6 one would be fine.
 
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MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
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The best thing you can do is have your head examined for thinking a car is appropriate for a 16 year old. Have you really forgotten what you were like at 16?
 

Castiel

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2010
1,772
1
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GSX i looked at tonight was utter shit and the owner tried to actually tell me the timing belt was just replaced. I asked him if i looked like i was born yesterday. It looked so frail like it was going to snap anyday now. He wouldn't come down from his 2K price as well so i'm like thanks but i'll pass.
 

EightySix Four

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2004
5,122
52
91
The best thing you can do is have your head examined for thinking a car is appropriate for a 16 year old. Have you really forgotten what you were like at 16?

16 is when you get your license and learn to drive, that's not what he was asking about so go bitch somewhere else.
 

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
115
106
Go for a Crown Vic or Caprice. Big, durable, slow-ish, easy to work on, cheap to insure, floats like a cloud on the road. I learned to drive on my 87 Caprice - and still drive it every now and then.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
Go for a Crown Vic or Caprice. Big, durable, slow-ish, easy to work on, cheap to insure, floats like a cloud on the road. I learned to drive on my 87 Caprice - and still drive it every now and then.
dude what? the crown vic has a V8. those things go really fast.

The gauge on it is so shitty that it just hits the end and you have no idea how fast it's actually going :awe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDgwm1J7utQ
 

chucky2

Lifer
Dec 9, 1999
10,018
37
91
Get him a FWD Taurus, right before winter, slap some ContiExtremeContact's on it if they come in the OE size and are still available, call it a day. Cheap, reliable, parts available all over, can hold his friends and not be a total and complete dog, etc etc.

Chuck
 

Demo24

Diamond Member
Aug 5, 2004
8,356
9
81
dude what? the crown vic has a V8. those things go really fast.

The gauge on it is so shitty that it just hits the end and you have no idea how fast it's actually going :awe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDgwm1J7utQ


The v8 made like 230-40hp, it's not very quick. It is however quick enough for normal driving, built like a tank, comfortable, and actually handles decently for what it is. Actually a pretty good recommendation for a first car.
 

yh125d

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2006
6,886
0
76
1978 Cutlass with the 305 and a 2.29 rearend like I have. 145hp new, probably 100 by the time I got it. Cut the mufflers off so it sounds fast, but with that rearend it won't be.