Possible first cars...?

[PsychoChimp22]

Hello friends and foes of UCP. Its just dawned upon me that in less then a month i turn 15, and well very soon after take a test to get my permit. I wanted to ask the loving (LOL) people of UCP to give me some advice on a first car. To make it more simpler, what do you think is a car (used of corse) that has power (if not out of the box, at least it should have lots of potential, something jap-cars are known for)and reliability for as low a price as possible. Obviously the first thing that came to mind was... DaDaDAAAAA HONDA CIVIC!!!! But naturaly the civic is a car that notoriously lacks any sence of individuality....

All ideas are welcome. Dont ask about money, im not sure. I have some saving bonds from my mum and da (ROFL, i love foreiners!! lol) which im still gettin, ever sence birth, which were ment for anything a really need... like transportation. By the time im 16, it well have massed quite a lot of money (most ofwhich isnt yet matured).

So, the tables open... Shoot away and thanks for your help.

[Egg Nog]

For your first car, get something cheap (to purchase and insure) that you won't really care about. You can beat the living hell out of it without having to seriously worry about anything.

Also, that's the least expensive route, which is almost always the big deciding factor when a new driver is looking to buy a car. Just get a beater. It really is the best way to go. Save your hopes and dreams for your second car, when you'll probably have more money and when you'll definitely have more experience.

[fa22_raptor]

Wow! Can you guys drive without supervision at 16?!! We can only do that at 18 (one more year for me!) We start learning at 16 though.
As for the car, I'd tend to agree with E-N, especially without much experience.

[Lagonda]

Count your money and then come back. Or take Egg Nog's sound advice and buy a beat up car. Did they ever sell the Alfa 145 and 146 in the states ? That's a really cool car. I know that the 164 was sold over there but that one is maybe a bit too big as a first car. Too bad you miss out on a lot of cool European cars. You're stuck with either good but fugly Japanese cars or semi good looking but crap American cars.

But, as stated: giving advice without a budget is pointless. Think about insurance and normal costs as well (maintenance, replacment parts and just having to money to fill her up).

PS: I said it before and I'll say it again, I'm sorry but I just can't get over it: People should never be allowed to drive a car at your age.

[shr0olvl]

Does the car have to be new or used or can it be both ? and even a estimate of how much money you can spend would help out alot

[Quiggs]

Get something you won't mind wrecking, because it's very likely that you will hit something before you're 18. I got lucky, I only broke a bumper cover and grill sliding into a fire hydrant. But had it been another car, I'd have been screwed.

Insurance and gas costs are definitely important to look at. I'd suggest looking at an older Subaru Legacy, Volvo wagons (indestructable tanks, a few of my HS friends drove them), VW Mk2 and 3 Golfs, and older Ford Tauruses. If AWD is a must, I'd go for the Legacy, or even a Justy if you can find one. My aunt had one while she was in college, and it got her to and from college (5 hours away) in many snow storms, and she didn't get stuck once.

Whatever you get, make sure to get a good service manual like a Bentley or Chilton's, and learn some basic maintenance and repair. Even little shops will nickel and dime you to death on things you could have fixed yourself.

[PsychoChimp22]

Originally Posted by Egg Nog

For your first car, get something cheap (to purchase and insure) that you won't really care about. You can beat the living hell out of it without having to seriously worry about anything.

Also, that's the least expensive route, which is almost always the big deciding factor when a new driver is looking to buy a car. Just get a beater. It really is the best way to go. Save your hopes and dreams for your second car, when you'll probably have more money and when you'll definitely have more experience.

Ya, on the way home from school everyday (a 3 mile walk.. ) some friends and i used to always see this brown Mercury Monteray, $250!! We all said that we were gonna pitch in like 50 bucks and buy it but.. ... i sold pretty quick. Anyway, ive always said, if i could get me up a hill id take it, and thats probably what ill do for my first car.


But what i was wondering, is within that catagory, whats a quick and durable car?? It would be nice to have it under $2500.

[PsychoChimp22]

Just to clarify, the monterey was the mid-late 60's modle, not the 50s one or the new minivan.. lol

[Quiggs]

Taurus SHO. You can find them dirt cheap, they're not that much to insure, good on gas. And they're suprisingly quick. Only thing is, you might have to settle for an automatic, as I'm not sure if any of the later gen models came with sticks. Check out eBay and AutoTrader.

[PsychoChimp22]

Holy crap that car is hidious... lol
Im not sure tho, it has a nice lookin engine.
I guess it could work, you ARE right about the price.

[Egg Nog]

Originally Posted by PsychoChimp22

Ya, on the way home from school everyday (a 3 mile walk.. ) some friends and i used to always see this brown Mercury Monteray, $250!! We all said that we were gonna pitch in like 50 bucks and buy it but.. ... i sold pretty quick. Anyway, ive always said, if i could get me up a hill id take it, and thats probably what ill do for my first car.


But what i was wondering, is within that catagory, whats a quick and durable car?? It would be nice to have it under $2500.

It's really awesome to actually see someone respond like you did. I must say, most of the time young enthusiasts always seem to have ridiculously high standards, and end up with a decent car and no money, and possibly in a ditch. Congratulations on having a great sense of direction and practicality.

Make sure you have loads of fun with your second car

[my porsche]

Originally Posted by Egg Nog

It's really awesome to actually see someone respond like you did. I must say, most of the time young enthusiasts always seem to have ridiculously high standards, and end up with a decent car and no money, and possibly in a ditch. Congratulations on having a great sense of direction and practicality.

Make sure you have loads of fun with your second car

ahem, are you refering to me?

[Egg Nog]

Originally Posted by my porsche

ahem, are you refering to me?

I was referring to him.

[PsychoChimp22]

Originally Posted by Egg Nog

It's really awesome to actually see someone respond like you did. I must say, most of the time young enthusiasts always seem to have ridiculously high standards, and end up with a decent car and no money, and possibly in a ditch. Congratulations on having a great sense of direction and practicality.

Make sure you have loads of fun with your second car

lol, thanks!!!

Ive always been atracted to those kinda cars, old muscle beaters. Maybe its because there are way to many used honda acords out there, everything cheap is japanese and has no style. If i had a choice between a $3000 honda or that $250 monteray.. damn... id take the merc any day, its cheap and old but it does have style. Only bad thing is the gas milage, probably even worse than when it was new...

[85RX7]

[quote=fa22_raptor]Wow! Can you guys drive without supervision at 16?!! We can only do that at 18 (one more year for me!) We start learning at 16 though.[quote]

It's 15 1/2 here .

looking back on that now, i wouldnt let a 15 1/2 year old drive