Is this a good first car?

[Pyroboy597]

I'm about to get my first car, and this is the one I like the most out of what I've seen online and in person. I know Honda's are good cars, and I am not concerned with the gas consumption (it is mid-range, 23 combined I believe).

It is Automatic, 4X4. 78k miles on it, 2000 Honda CR-V SE. It has ABS and side airbags, and has a 4-cyl engine (cheaper for insurance, which is good).




Almost $12,000 before haggling.


or

[PyRo]

I'd get some cheap POS. Half of us or better will smack up a car within the first couple years of driveing..

[Lohman446]

I would not consider a small SUV a good first car. Be aware of required maintenance on it was well - I'm specifically wondering on the timing belt interval on that engine.

SUVs pose there own driving styles that are not forgiving. Couple that to a short, high wheel base, and it does not make an ideal first car, at all. Four wheel drive, from what I have seen, has only served to help get young drivers in trouble off road and give them a false sense of security on road.

/The truth, not what you wanted to hear, so I expect to hear a multitude of reasons why I am wrong. I'm not. Your money, do what you want.

[Pyroboy597]

Actually not my money, my parents money. I pay for insurance and gas. There isn't really anywhere to off-road around here, and CR-V's are not ideal for that anyway (believe me, at first I wanted a Wrangler, but I convinced myself maybe next time when I am older). I agree with the unforgiving driving, but the only things I have ever driven (I have had my permit for almost a year) are my mom's minivan and my dad's Lexus RX330, so it's what I am used to. The thing I am concerned about is maintainance, but the dealer is 2 miles away.

Aside from all that, is it a car that will last a decent length of time? (It is hard to buy a piece of junk first car around here because maybe 70% of the kids that are old enough drive to school, more than a dozen in 40k+ cars.)


It is either that or a Honda Civic type car, and everyone has one of them (for obvious reasons) so I am trying to go a different path.

[Steelrat]

I'd say it's a great first car. The CRVs have very car-like driving characteristics, and the engine has adequate power, but not enough that you'd want to do burn-outs at every stoplight. And it's not 4X4, its an all wheel drive system, intended strickly for very light off road use and driving in snow/rain.

The CRV has a very large front seat area and second row, so it's great for hauling people around too.

As for the timing belt, I looked at the service schedule for the 2000 crv, and didn't see it listed at any point up to 150,000 miles. You can just open the manual on the one you are looking at and check out what it has to say about it.

The CRVs were pretty bulletproof. Read up on the comments of owners on edmunds, the people who bought used ones have been happy with their reliability.

[Pyroboy597]

Consumer Reports gave the CR-V either Excellent or Above Average for all 20 or so fields of their review for reliability, but they did that for most Honda's. Like I said there isn't anywhere to do real off-road driving around here anyway accept at the farm I work at, and believe me, seeing a farm where I live to from the point of view of outsiders must be really strange.

[maxama10]

Heh, I love my Wrangler. Though, if theres no where to off road, not much point as far as I can see. Plus Gas milage sucks...

My neighbor has A CRV same color too. They seem to like it...

Seems like an alright car to me.

[PumpPlayer]

Every teenager wants a Jeep.


My first car was a 1982 Volvo diesel wagon. It put out maybe 60 horses but got an easy 40+ MPG. Heavy mother with triple-thick fenders. Thing was built like a tank. Had a novelty horn that played the cavalry charge and if you downshifted and gunned the engine uphill, it'd put out a thick cloud of black smoke from the tailpipe. Gotta love that diesel. Perfect for the a-hole in the convertible tailgating you because you can only go 20 MPH up such a steep hill. Fastest I ever got it to go was 76 MPH and that was on a downhill stretch of highway with a truck in front of me. I could fit upwards of 14 people in it for slurpee runs during band camp. Perfect 'beginner' car.


Heck, I'm an engineer now and make all sorts of coin. I still drive a beat-up station wagon although now it's a Ford Taurus '94 model. I paid $1000 for it a year ago when it had ~135k on the clock. It's the best car I've ever owned. There's no sense spending money on a car in my book. $12k for ANYTHING is outrageous IMO. And I won't bother getting into what I think of parents who buy their kids cars...




Skip the dealerships and pick up the paper. Station wagons have the cheapest insurance rates with minivans just following. Of the two, wagons usually get better fuel economy. A 4-door should be a consideration as well, though I prefer wagons because of the added storage/seating space. Old model wagons rule on trips to the PB field because you can pile all sorts of gear in them and you don't care if they get dirty. Generally, you don't want anything manufactured within the past 8 years or so - too expensive. Lastly, remember that there's no reason to pay for performance above what the speed limit is.

Of course, if you'd rather let mommy and daddy buy you a car... just get whatever you want.

[Pyroboy597]

12k is more than my parents would spend, so I would be chipping in a few grand. Insurance for a teenage boy in NJ is around $2700, much more than anywhere else in the area.

[PyRo]

12k is more than my parents would spend, so I would be chipping in a few grand. Insurance for a teenage boy in NJ is around $2700, much more than anywhere else in the area.

Yup, $20 more than mine was when I started driving in NY.

[Steelrat]

12k is more than my parents would spend, so I would be chipping in a few grand. Insurance for a teenage boy in NJ is around $2700, much more than anywhere else in the area.

Wow, that insurance is brutal

One BIG thing I was thinking about was the price on the car. According to edmunds.com, that car, from a dealer, is worth about $8000 if it's in average condition. $12000 is WAY too much for it. It MIGHT be worth a bit more if it's a honda certified used car, but otherwise...

[fire1811]

I'd get some cheap POS. Half of us or better will smack up a car within the first couple years of driveing..

SO very true.

Get a pile because more then likely that's what your first call will turn out to be.

[Army]

12K for a 6 year old car? You can do better.

Checked blue book on the east coast; in EXCELLENT condition, it would top at $11,000. I would suggest starting the haggle well below that, or shop elsewhere.

[Altimas]

And just remember!! Almost everyone wrecks their first car!

I didnt actually wreck my first car but when I saved up enough money to buy my second and much newer car I had a deer jump in front of me 3 days after i bought it.

[Lohman446]

First car = SUV = two weeks = Totalled

Second car = SUV = 7 years = 1 accident