Good, First time car?

[kosmo]

Set yourself a budget of 500 bucks for something that runs and starts on a cold day. Also important criteria are the smell of the car, and whether or not it will be able to hold what you need to put in it, if anything. Beyond that, for a first car, it really really really doesnt matter. Do not get car A because it has a faster 1/4 time than car B, youll have more time, experience, and money to be able to worry about that later.

[kosmo]

Oh yeah I forgot to add, when you feel like a new car, you can always blow up the 500 dollar car and report it stolen. That will be enough fun to make up for any slacking in the HP department. And for the love of god, dont get something more than a few grand for your first car. Totalling your first car is a part of life. Celebrate it like you would celebrate your first.... nevermind not gonna go there.

[MadPSIence]

Firebird, Camaro, Mustang, Eclipse, 3000GT.... CIVIC? Wtf? How does that fit in there.

ohhh right.. I forgot.. 2f2f generation.. thinks civic = sportcar...

[Lohman446]

Well, the time is near. Im looking for my first car. And, Im looking for opinions.
I can spend anywhere between 0-15,000. I would like to keep it near 10,000 though.

The cars that I am looking at (as any teenage male would)
1998- 2003 Camaro, 1998-2003 Firebird, Newer mustangs, 3000GTs, Elipises, Hondas Civics (2-doors).

Im looking for opinions on what car would be a good, first time car.

With the exception of the Civic, unless you are looking at the six, four cylinder or non-turbo charged variants of the above vehicles none of them would be what would be considered a good car for a first time driver.

[MicroMiniMe]

Odds are in NJ, for first time drivers, that the car won't make past the first year.

So get something cheap. like 5k cheap, so if or when it gets totaled, you're not out 10k and only out a few.

If you can fix cars yourself, go old, (pre fuel-injection) so they are cheaper (and easier) to fix. If you can't fix cars, maybe it's about time you learned.

However, buying a car with a warrenty is also very nice. Balance that with the likelyhood of totaling the car.

Set yourself a budget of 500 bucks for something that runs and starts on a cold day. Also important criteria are the smell of the car, and whether or not it will be able to hold what you need to put in it, if anything. Beyond that, for a first car, it really really really doesnt matter. Do not get car A because it has a faster 1/4 time than car B, youll have more time, experience, and money to be able to worry about that later.

Best statements for a first time car. Get something you can fix, or is cheap enough to afford totaling. My first car I was lucky enough to only burn out two clutches putting it in the ditch in winter and then trying to drive it out. That 82 Nissan was a piece, but it started in -40 and had a good heater. My old man sold it for the same price he got it from the salvage yard after I drove it 4 years. And it was 12 years old and still running the same.

[wad04]

saab 9-3

[i_baked_cookies]

dont buy any jap crap

get something european, like a used vw or saab

or volvo, but theyre not quick or anything

[Maksimus54]

if you want something fast buy yourself a new hayabusa. If you want a good first car, buy something reliable and used. Sports cars cost a whole lot to fix and keep running. You don't want to burn 12k on a quick car and then have to spend 3k to get it running right. get a cheap honda or toyota that runs great and drive it tll it dies. if you are the typical teenager looking for fast, don't. you'll only get yourself killed quicker.

Live fast die young, drive a honda live longer.

[SCpoloRicker]

I recently decided to 'downgrade' my personal vehicle... I've had a Jeep TJ, Turbo 944, Turbo Volvo and a few Camaros over the years. Had a lot of driving to do for work, so I picked up a two-year old Ford Focus with 34k for 7K (w00t).

Its great, I get 30+ mpg, cops ignore me, I don't freak out about the condition/looks of the car.

I think I've washed it a total of four times in the year and a half I've had it.

[BobTheCow]

"One of these things is not like the others
One of these things just doesn't belong"

Firebirds, mustangs, camaros... civics? eclipses?

Wrong.

[MadPSIence]

"One of these things is not like the others
One of these things just doesn't belong"

Firebirds, mustangs, camaros... civics? eclipses?

Wrong.

a GSX or newer GTS is pretty quick for stock.. at least compared to a civic *cough*

[kosmo]

Yeah good idea, get a mitsubishi product. Then while youre at it you can pay me a ton of money to let you shoot yourself in the foot with a shotgun. Go buy a freakin Volvo and dont crash into anyone doing something stupid.

[PyRo]

A car with less than 8 cylinders isn't worth the starch it's made of.

[Cameo]

Seriously we just bought a new economy car.. An Aveo... walked off the lot paying 11,500 for it with a few extras and even got 800 in gas cards.. has 6 year bumper to bumper warrently and gets good gas miliage (about 35 highway).. amazingly it has quite a bit of leg room in both front and back and can hold quite a bit of crap being that the back seats fold down.
We origonally wanted a Suzuki Reno which runs about 1,500 more then the Aveo, the warrently on the reno is a bit longer (8 years i think) and just seemed to have a bit more pick up and go then the Aveo. Also suzuki was offering 1,500 in rebates along with a 4,000 minimum trade in. Alas, we could not find a dealership within 100 miles that had one in a decent color... Everyone had gray, orange, or red.. ick...so the sweet black aveo with the nice spoiler it was.
With it being your first vehcile go with something low end.. keeps insurance down and wont bust your budget on gas for when you want to go crusing.

[skife]

A car with less than 8 cylinders isn't worth the starch it's made of.

don't you have 2 jeeps with I6's in them?