do you know how to drive stick or are you going to learn on this car?
my advice, get a cheap used car, not exactly a beater, but not a lightly used car.
domestic or japanese late 90's that you can actually learn how to do simple repairs on.
i learned everything on a 92 civic... how to drive stick, how to change sparks, brakes, rotors, distributor/cap, and i feel so much more knowledgeable about cars all because of that purchase. something that i probably would not have happened had i went new.
my advice, get a cheap used car, not exactly a beater, but not a lightly used car.
domestic or japanese late 90's that you can actually learn how to do simple repairs on.
i learned everything on a 92 civic... how to drive stick, how to change sparks, brakes, rotors, distributor/cap, and i feel so much more knowledgeable about cars all because of that purchase. something that i probably would not have happened had i went new.
Hah! I'll believe it when I see it. I thought I was responsible when I was a young driver, and, in fact, I probably WAS more responsible than your average 18-year-old. But I didn't have the skills I have now, and there were a few times my judgment lapsed.
IMHO ~100hp should be the maximum until you have a few years experience.
ViviTheMage
Lifer
Forget buying a new car. Buy a $2000 beater and tell your parents to put the rest of the money toward college and your retirement fund*. Spend time working on your beater and learn how to do basic maintenance so you don't have to pay megabucks to a dealer.
* Yes, really. If you start investing for retirement at 17 you'll be way ahead... compound interest is your friend!
* Yes, really. If you start investing for retirement at 17 you'll be way ahead... compound interest is your friend!
One of my buddies received free cars from his parents, this is what happened:
-90s VW cabrio 5spd - totaled (drove it into a tree hot-rodding it), and the thing only had ~110hp
-2002(?) Subaru WRX 5 spd - purchased with the insurance payout from the cabrio plus some extra $ from the parents. Totaled a year later
-1999 BMW 540i - purchased from the insurance payout from the WRX. He hasn't totalled it *yet*, but has gotten a couple speeding tickets.
-90s VW cabrio 5spd - totaled (drove it into a tree hot-rodding it), and the thing only had ~110hp
-2002(?) Subaru WRX 5 spd - purchased with the insurance payout from the cabrio plus some extra $ from the parents. Totaled a year later
-1999 BMW 540i - purchased from the insurance payout from the WRX. He hasn't totalled it *yet*, but has gotten a couple speeding tickets.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
- Jul 3, 2003
- 74,583
- 984
- 126
Yeah, I would have loved one too...trouble is a lack of skill, a desire to impress, and a high power sports car do not mix. This has been proven many times over.
No, an S2000 or a Boxster are not ok. A Miata wouldn't be bad though.
Fenixgoon
Lifer
- Jun 30, 2003
- 33,303
- 12,868
- 136
well the TT only seats two. if that doesn't bother you, definitely check out other competing coupes. the miata is a great car (or at least everyone says so). it may/may not be worthwhile checking out a pontiac solstice/saturn sky as well.
i liked the chrysler crossfire coupe, although it didn't sell well (so it is balls cheap) but they stopped production (thinking down the line for potential repairs).
pontiac GTO may be up your alley - coupe, seats 4-5 (sorta), and a 400hp 6spd, although it's a muscle car rather than a sporty coupe like the TT.
i liked the chrysler crossfire coupe, although it didn't sell well (so it is balls cheap) but they stopped production (thinking down the line for potential repairs).
pontiac GTO may be up your alley - coupe, seats 4-5 (sorta), and a 400hp 6spd, although it's a muscle car rather than a sporty coupe like the TT.
For your first car you should get something really unique and weird that stands out from the crowd. Everybody wants those BMWs, Audis, etc... they're kinda boring and stereotypical though. You need a big ass car that can be packed full of people and junk. Preferably something with weird features like these:
wire wheels
fins
wood paneling
suicide doors
t-tops
wagons
weird cars (corvairs, citroens,)
former public vehicles like police cars/ambulances/taxis (a checker would be awesome, tough to find a good one though)
A Bandit style trans-am, or a delorean ... hehehe
A big 80's Cadillac/Buick/Oldsmoboat
70's Camaro, a REO Speedwagon t-shirt, and a mullet.
... something like that.
Everybody else in your school will be driving civics, accords, taurus, eclipse, etc., and that kind of thing. Standard boring stuff. Get something different.
wire wheels
fins
wood paneling
suicide doors
t-tops
wagons
weird cars (corvairs, citroens,)
former public vehicles like police cars/ambulances/taxis (a checker would be awesome, tough to find a good one though)
A Bandit style trans-am, or a delorean ... hehehe
A big 80's Cadillac/Buick/Oldsmoboat
70's Camaro, a REO Speedwagon t-shirt, and a mullet.
... something like that.
Everybody else in your school will be driving civics, accords, taurus, eclipse, etc., and that kind of thing. Standard boring stuff. Get something different.
suse920
Diamond Member
- Feb 7, 2005
- 6,889
- 0
- 0
it seems to me that everybody's opinions of young drivers totaling cars is a bit exaggerated. I dont think the majority of people will total their first cars, i sure as hell didnt. It really depends on what kind of a person you are though.
If i were your parents i'd get you a decent truck. Not fast enough to get you in too much trouble, and big enough to keep you safe.
Hell if you want a car i'd look at an 06ish mustang GT. Around here you can get an 06 GT 5 speed with leader and 7,000 miles for 22,500.
You have a ton of options at that price range.
If i were your parents i'd get you a decent truck. Not fast enough to get you in too much trouble, and big enough to keep you safe.
Hell if you want a car i'd look at an 06ish mustang GT. Around here you can get an 06 GT 5 speed with leader and 7,000 miles for 22,500.
You have a ton of options at that price range.
Fenixgoon
Lifer
- Jun 30, 2003
- 33,303
- 12,868
- 136
no, but teens suck at driving in general, and are much more likely to crash a car, whatever it may be. throwing more power in the car only makes it easier for them to kill themselves.
i know i suggested cars for the OP because that's what he wants.
personally, i'd go with a used car and save/invest the rest.
The Boston Dangler
Lifer
- Mar 10, 2005
- 14,647
- 2
- 0
funboy6942
Lifer
- Nov 13, 2001
- 15,368
- 418
- 126
Shit, at 17 my father bought me a car, a rusty, $150 Plymouth Duster, held together with sheet metal and rivets, and I was thrilled to get it.
Someone mentioned a Mazda 3. I was thinking of that when I read the OP. That might be a good choice. The Miata is also good. I think a car with less than 100hp would be best as a first car but they are pretty uncommon these days. Maybe 140hp and down would be best, maybe 160hp and lower. Believe me, you don't need to go fast to have fun.
With the budget you've given, I'm guessing a $3k beater really is out of the question. Get a car you think looks good, is safe, and fun. Preferably not RWD. And preferably not fast. Volvo might be a good choice, except their MT vehicles are limited (do they have any?). They're not fun, but they are safe and some people like their looks.
Anyway, as I've said: looks, safety, and fun. You don't need power. Get a low powered car that's good on the turns and that's all you'll need.
Good luck.
With the budget you've given, I'm guessing a $3k beater really is out of the question. Get a car you think looks good, is safe, and fun. Preferably not RWD. And preferably not fast. Volvo might be a good choice, except their MT vehicles are limited (do they have any?). They're not fun, but they are safe and some people like their looks.
Anyway, as I've said: looks, safety, and fun. You don't need power. Get a low powered car that's good on the turns and that's all you'll need.
Good luck.
Wow,
Thanks for the awesome amount of replies to my original post.
A lot of people have been recommending the Mazda 3. I went over to a dealer to look at it. IMO it looks pretty boring. It's not really fast, nothing really special. I'm really sure its safe, but the other cars have so much more to offer.
After the mazda dealer, I headed over to the Bimmer dealer to see what they got used, and I saw the Z4's were pretty cheap too. What do you think of them ? I also saw the 325's, but I figured they were too big for my tastes.
0-60 times on the Z4 for around the 6 second mark, so I guess thats pretty decent. I was looking at the 3.0L btw.
Tell me guys what you think... Lovin' the responses, they're fun and helpful to read.
Thanks for the awesome amount of replies to my original post.
A lot of people have been recommending the Mazda 3. I went over to a dealer to look at it. IMO it looks pretty boring. It's not really fast, nothing really special. I'm really sure its safe, but the other cars have so much more to offer.
After the mazda dealer, I headed over to the Bimmer dealer to see what they got used, and I saw the Z4's were pretty cheap too. What do you think of them ? I also saw the 325's, but I figured they were too big for my tastes.
0-60 times on the Z4 for around the 6 second mark, so I guess thats pretty decent. I was looking at the 3.0L btw.
Tell me guys what you think... Lovin' the responses, they're fun and helpful to read.
For that kind of money, I would look at a 2001/2002 E39 540i 6 speed or M5. Plenty of speed with a back seat big enough to fool around in 
.
.That was me mentioning the Mazda 3
Its a good looking vehicle, its almost universally praised for excellent handling, is readily available in a manual transmission configuration, and has decent but not excessive horsepower and torque. If I was in the market for a first car, I'd probably buy one.
Some beaters are really fun to drive though. Two of my friends owned 4th generation Honda Accords. Not a whole lot of horsepower, but a good amount of torque and decent feel for the road. I prefer the 5th generation Accord. Slightly more powerful and much better safety features (driver and passenger airbags + side impact beams).
BlackTigers
Diamond Member
- Jan 15, 2006
- 4,491
- 2
- 71
I'm 17, and to be honest if I were given a car with that power I would wrap it around a pole within a week. Why not aim for something a little lower, so that when you do ram it into a guardrail/car the shock won't be as big. You can still get a decent car that's not a 'beater,' but it will obviously lack the luxury and unneeded power of a Bimmer.
The Mazda's are very nice (I want a 3 soo bad =/). But I guess if you have someone paying for all repairs, gas, and maintenance - milk that teat.
The Mazda's are very nice (I want a 3 soo bad =/). But I guess if you have someone paying for all repairs, gas, and maintenance - milk that teat.
Fine I'll give you a real suggestion because I thought about it: an old commercial van! Bolt 2 couches to the floor and have a mattress for nighttime fun. Plus they go like snot and will last forever
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