A very specific first-car suggestion thread, now with extra rant!

  • Thread starter Thread starter EA11R
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EA11R
VW... Friendly? I had no idea words could be used like that!
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Living in Michigan, trust me, its really odd up here.

But, anyway: What sort of transmission issues? Kinda left me hanging there. My brother lost his A4 to a transmission problem, so I can't really convince my parents to let me get one unless I know a way around that.
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I can't remember what exactly my mechanic said was wrong with it, basically the car refused to select any gear whatsoever and felt like the lever was completely disconnected from the gearbox. I think Keef's estimate had something to do with the cones in the gearbox breaking apart.

Either way, I would have had to order a brand-new transmission and have it installed ($2500), or go used. Problem is, apparently it happens a lot (at least up here) with the MKIIIs. My friend Ben, who's Dad owns a VW shop north of where I used to live had three cars suffering from the same problem on his lot, and he didn't know why it kept happening. I haven't talked to my other VW guy about it, but my guess is that he'd be puzzled as well.

I'm pretty sure mileage was a big part of it. Seems like at the time my Jetta was creeping up on the 180K mark. By then, you know something is going to break.
 
actually, I think we got cappuccino's evil twin...
01Jun96.jpg

(http://www.joeld.net/metrozone/01Jun96.jpg if the imbed don't work)

nd4spd: how did you wrangle real deal center-caps?! all the vics around here use fakeout wheelcovers.

EA: your SoCal, there should be small cars in good shape drooling out of the palm trees! (or ARE you SoCal?)
drive them honda boyz crazy...find an OLD civic :P
if you find a Starlet anywhere, call me!

personally, I'd say find an old Subie that fits your criteria.
 
Sniffs
nd4spd: how did you wrangle real deal center-caps?! all the vics around here use fakeout wheelcovers.
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They came with the car actually. Last owner bought it straight from the Rhode Island PD.
 
The Van.

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Why? Dude, c'mon.


edit: A Crown Vic P.I. for 2.5k = INSTABUY. Especially in the US of America, where the gas is dirt cheap.
 
If you're considering a Tercel, how about a Paseo? They're built on the same platform, so share an engine with the Tercel (1.5, 5E-FE), look better, still lightweight, will still probably last for ages. Facelifted around 96, and engine became slightly more economical/cleaner/less powerful at this point.

First gen looked like this:
1992-97-Toyota-Paseo-92812111990510.jpg


Second gen looked like this:
toyota_paseo.jpg


Edit: Tree'd by Azuremen further up :p
 
ND4SPD
They came with the car actually. Last owner bought it straight from the Rhode Island PD.
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hey, guys...he bought offa Super Troopers!
did you check to make sure Jim Carrey didn't leave something behind? :P
 
what about BMW E36 compact or coupe? 318's are rather cheap and still good to drive.
 
318s are nowhere to be found here really, Leo.

Compacts are extremely rare, 318s are rare, and it's a BMW and overpriced from the badge. America is vain.
 
Rotary Junkie
318s are nowhere to be found here really, Leo.

Compacts are extremely rare, 318s are rare, and it's a BMW and overpriced from the badge. America is vain.
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And the usual " BMW parts are ******** expensive"?
 
TVC
Why would you want a slower and worse car?
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Because you are less likely to get your self in trouble. And you can destroy it and what not and not cry yourself to sleep. I have a $400 beater in my garage I am getting running for the sole purpose of tearing it to pieces on dirt roads and bouncing it off trees and such.

Cheap, crappy cars are fun because you don't stress about damaging them as much. If my first car had been my Spyder, I would have either destroyed it or been too afraid to push it and thus would never have learned to drive at the limit.
 
Plus, you have to start somewhere basic as well. My cheap-ass '93 Fox taught me a lot about backyard repairs, and give or take, I learned how to drive stick on a crappy transmission with a slipping clutch. Needless to say, I can jump in just about any car with a stick and have at it.

Cheap, light, FWD cars with four-pots are some of the most fun you can ever have when driving. Get one before they had ABS, air bags and all that other unnecessary crap and you've got a diamond in the rough. My brother's Sentra is an absolute blast to toss around and get in trouble with. Hubcaps off, coupe body, all black. Sweet.
 
Azuremen
Because you are less likely to get your self in trouble. And you can destroy it and what not and not cry yourself to sleep. I have a $400 beater in my garage I am getting running for the sole purpose of tearing it to pieces on dirt roads and bouncing it off trees and such.

Cheap, crappy cars are fun because you don't stress about damaging them as much. If my first car had been my Spyder, I would have either destroyed it or been too afraid to push it and thus would never have learned to drive at the limit.
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This man speaks the truth. I was a lucky little bugger I was never involved in anything serious when I had my old 3KGT because I used to be stupid and haul tail. Some of that immaturity is still here, but I'm not doing triple digits like I used to when I wanted to push it.

Slower cars are great for learning your limits (safely of course). In slower cars, you can reach the car's limit, and even while going fast, you can still get a feel for it and know when you're pushing too much. With faster cars, there's more speed & power, which means you need to think more quickly about how you're going to be able to handle it when you get to the faster car's limits b/c that power's not going to play fair.

Believe me. Pushing a 150Hp car to its limits is a lot different from a 250Bhp car, and you're definitely going to want the slower car. Note that I am talking about doing this in a safe, closed, & instructed environment, not out on the highway.
 
Here ya go. It's an early 90s Ford Tempo. Things make me feel huge, and I'm 5'6". You may like it

20141752.jpg
 
It would be a good car if you could find a V6 manual trans version (they exist apparently) and there was some sort of decent suspension underneath it.
 
My first car was a 1.4L Vauxhall (Opel, as it's known in some places) Corsa B. Did the job, got me where I needed to go and got some driving experience.
 
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H3rmaN
My first car was a 1.4L Vauxhall (Opel, as it's known in some places) Corsa B. Did the job, got me where I needed to go and got some driving experience.
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Hey.... we didn't get those in the states from what I know.
 
My first car was an 1985 automatic Nissan Micra handed down to me by my friends. Canada was the test market for North America, so parts availability was mediocre after Nissan dropped it. It was a lovely little car that got me everywhere. The 1.2 L motor was very adequate, especially if I downshifted for an uphill. I did my own maintenance. I wish I didn't have to sell it, but tuition is expensive.

I'd go for a Sentra (Sunny) too. Like YSSMAN said, scrappy four-bangers can be great fun. The simple controls connect you straight to the road.
 
Srsly. If you can find one, the late model VW Fox (1991-1993) is pretty sweet as well.

800px-Volkswagen-Fox-GL-sedan.jpg


They get snapped up pretty quickly by VW "collectors," as they're fairly rare and actually pretty reliable. They weigh next to nothing (2200 lbs), and otherwise use the "common" 1.8L 8V engine that was in just about everything. Sadly, with only 81 BHP, you're not going places extra quick, but there are ways to improve it fairly easily. I seem to recall that the 16V engines can be swapped in easily, otherwise, its more or less an exercise in proper breathing. The transmission came out of the Quantum of the time, so the engine is longitudinal instead of transverse, making everyone think its RWD. The suspension bits came off the Jetta/Golf II of the time, so its fairly tight, otherwise making it a helluva car to bounce around in. I had purple one for a year-ish before it was involved in a head-on collision, totaling my car, destroying the little Cavalier driven by the stupid girl. They made coupe and wagon versions as well, but those are even more difficult to find.

...God I miss that car...
 
The Golf II and I are pretty reliable cars: Dad had a II forever before his work started buying him a Chevy Silverado.

I think you already know my other suggestion: E82 Nova/E92 Prizm.
 

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