Book's vehicles thread: Now with Two Different Wheels-Post 339

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheBook
  • 342 comments
  • 57,411 views
TheBook

TheBook

Literary Member
Premium
Messages
3,948
United States
Sturgis, MI
Messages
GTP_ty00123
OK, so I'm 15 years old (turning 16 in December) and I'm going to need a car soon. For the time being, I have a set of wheels I can drive, but I'll want something of my own soon.

The stipulations (bolded most important):
-Gas-friendly (I have a job, but I'm not rich)
-Pretty cheap to buy and insure (see above), I'm thinking $3k as a tentative maximum for purchase
-Has to have at least SOME guts... I don't want to feel like I'm really pushing the car to go 70 mph.
-Decent handling- Kind of same as above, but this is a more enjoyment factor than anything.
-Snow traveling ability- I live in Michigan. Need I say more?
-Fairly easy to work on, too-I'll be doing most of my own maintenance.
-Manual preferred, but not mandatory.
-I'm also not a truck fan, either.

Seems like a lot, but I really want something good. Any ideas from you guys will be greatly appreciated. :)
 
Last edited:
92+ Honda Civic

Meets all your criteria, and a set of snow tires will keep you going all winter.

EDIT: I should point out that a Honda Civic should never be auto. They become the most boring cars in the world.
 
Last edited:
That was quick.

Any specific year/generation I should be looking for?

EDIT: Tree'd, he edited after I posted.
 
Try a GC Impreza. My buddy just picked up a 98 Impreza wagon for under 2 grand and it's in great shape.
 
You could also considering something a long the lines of an AE92 (early 90's) Corolla GT-S or Prism GSI. 4A-GE power, disc brakes, and such.


Or, maybe even more epic...

6128-1991-Ford-Escort.jpg

my room mates
IMG_2181copy.jpg


Escort GT. Pretty fun all around, same chassis as an MX-3, a has quite a bit of tunablity, actually.
 
I have a '96 Dodge Neon that I got 4 years ago as my first car. 31 mpg city, 37 highway. Takes about $20 to fill up my tank and I can drive for 310+ miles. It was $1700 with 60,000 miles, I've probably put $2000 throughout the years to replace parts (including tires and brakes). It's now at 118,000 miles and running strong. It's not the most beautiful car but it's also not terribly ugly and it will keep running forever. Costs me $70 a month to insure. Obviously parts for it are cheap and extremely easy to get, being a cheap little American car. It's decent in snow, I live in Colorado so we have our fair share of it. Only thing on your list that it doesn't have is a lot of power. It's a great car though.
 
How 'bout a MKIII GTI. '96 GTI is what I have and it never had a problem since I bought it in 2005.
 
Subarus are kind of a forbidden fruit here in Michigan. Too bad since they are such great cars. If you're good at working on cars, see if you can find one with a blown head gasket. My friend's 98 Outback cost him $2000 and then $500 for the part.

As for the snow bit, I think pretty much anything from Detroit will be just fine. They were built here, after all. And they sell better than anything else too.
 
I second the Neon suggestion. It's pretty much the perfect car for any 16 year old in Michigan. No they aren't terribly fast, but you are way to new to driving to need a fast car. It will keep up with traffic just fine and if you desire they can get over a 100mph with little problem. It seems like most of my friends own or at least owned a Neon at one time. About the only thing you can expect to have issue with is the head gasket, although they are pretty easy to replace yourself.

Since you are in Michigan anything that's not domestic will be hard to find in your price range. Also remember old Honda's...actually old Japanese cars in general tend to rust really bad here since the state feels the need to dump inordinate amounts of salt on the roadways.

There are a ton of Grand Ams on AutoTrader in your area as well which tend to be another starter car here in Michigan.

I wouldn't really worry about getting something awesome for your first car, just get something that works decently well and learn how to drive. You don't want to get something you really like and end up wrecking it.
 
The Neon has to be manual, though. Too bad many of them look like crap if not cared for once they're over the age of 4.
 
Turbo Lag
What about a 92' > 94' Suby Legacy AWD? Not sure about the price bit though.
Click to expand...

Ding ding ding!

Exactly what I was thinking. Our '92 Legacy is still running fine, no problems at all so as long as you change the oil and look after the engine like you should, it should last forever. Granted, Subaru parts are expensive to get a hold on, or so it seems, but they're most probably the better AWD cars out there, and extremely reliable. But be sure to not be too hard on the engine though. A friend has a '98 Outback, drove the hell out of it, and now he's got more costs on it than the original car costed...

11577779531.jpg
 
I'm liking the idea of a Neon or a Grand Am. I also had a suggestion of a '02-ish Ford Taurus, but that may be a bit out of my price range.

I wouldn't want to buy a Subie, as there probably won't be any around here that haven't been beaten to 🤬 in my price range.

A decently new Civic ('99-ish, I'm thinking) might still be in decent condition yet, and would probably be a good price.

As for VW, my friend has a '97 Jetta. I'll see how his does this winter (just had our first major snowfall here). Although parts may be a bit on the expensive side.
 
Last edited:
WHERE are you guys finding these dirt cheap subies? I can't find anything for less than 5 grand (people are still USING the early ninties Legacies and Imprezas around here)
 
RE: Scoobie Dooby Doos

Subarus are easy to find on this side of the state, but it seems like most of them are a bit newer, and certainly have had a good amount of wear placed upon them by their hippie owners (har har). You'd have to go pretty old to find a decent Subaru in your price range, and to be honest, I don't know how I'd feel about something older than say '97 or '98 on one. That more or less comes from me not knowing much about them, paired with their relative rarity in this state.

RE: Civic, Corollas, and all that Jazz

They're presumably your best-bet for finding something that is cheap, fun to drive, and otherwise a "good first car." I've been noticing a lot more lately now that I've bought my first Toyota (first two cars were VWs) that there are a lot of well-maintained, older, Japanese cars around here. There is a white Corolla that I see almost every day that simply amazes me, that its in that good of shape, considering how old it is.

I'd be more apt to look toward a Civic than a Corolla most days, but it depends on the model. I'm personally impartial to hatchbacks, so that tends to lead me more toward the Honda camp... But the Corolla Wagon from the mid '90s was pretty sweet to. Good luck finding one with a stick. There was one for sale near my home about a week ago, I haven't seen it in a few days.

RE: MKIII Jettas - An Owner's Perspective

The Jetta, more or less, is hit and miss. Because of the relative popularity of Volkswagen in Michigan, you're going to be able to find Jettas (or Golfs) of all shapes and sizes for pretty decent prices. The key with VW is knowing the mantra:

KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO

I'll be frank. They're not cheap to insure. They're not cheap to maintain. But if you can find a sweetheart of a car, it'll treat you right as long as you love it in return. My 1996 Jetta died back in February after a long winter that finally took its life. I had replaced a clutch, fiddled with the electronics a lot, and in the end lost her to a busted transmission... Something that my independent VW dealer friend told me has become a strange, and otherwise common problem with the MKIII cars.

Rust is going to be the major problem with the MKIII Jetta. Mine had been mostly rust-free until she died, but I've seen others that are quite literally falling apart. Besides the aforementioned transmission issue (only a problem with the manual models), the drivetrains are pretty solid and otherwise reliable. I was able to pull down 27-33 MPG in my Jetta pretty consistently in the three years that I owned it, I believe the worst I ever did was a 25er after a weekend of hoonage one summer. Oil changes were easy, in-driveway maintenance wasn't too hard if you knew what you were doing, but the parts can be expensive by comparison to a Toyota or a Ford.

...But thats all part of knowing what you're getting into on a Jetta...

Would I recommend it? Yes and no. Your price range is still pretty limited, but if you can find a very late-model MKIII (1997-1999), they aren't a bad deal. Just avoid the MKIV models completely (esp. models from 1999-2002), they're "nice cars," but they'll suck the life right out of you if you aren't careful.

RE: SNOW

I've had three different cars in the six or so years that I've been driving, and they're all very different. My Jetta wasn't great in the snow, but it wasn't terrible either. What that came down to, more or less, were the tires that were on the car. Proper driving skills are what keeps you on the road, but certainly things like AWD and ESP (and the like) will help aid that.

A Short List of Recommendations...

- 1997-1999 VW Jetta/Golf (only late models b/c of build quality)
- 1993-1997 Nissan Altima
- 1991-2001 Honda Civic (all are great cars in both generations)
- 1994-1998 Mazda Protege (the ES is a kick-ass model)
 
ty00123
OK, so I'm 15 years old (turning 16 in December) and I'm going to need a car soon. For the time being, I have a set of wheels I can drive, but I'll want something of my own soon.

The stipulations (bolded most important):
-Gas-friendly (I have a job, but I'm not rich)
-Pretty cheap to buy and insure (see above), I'm thinking $3k as a tentative maximum for purchase
-Has to have at least SOME guts... I don't want to feel like I'm really pushing the car to go 70 mph.
-Decent handling- Kind of same as above, but this is a more enjoyment factor than anything.
-Snow traveling ability- I live in Michigan. Need I say more?
-Fairly easy to work on, too-I'll be doing most of my own maintenance.
-Manual preferred, but not mandatory.
-I'm also not a truck fan, either.

Seems like a lot, but I really want something good. Any ideas from you guys will be greatly appreciated. :)
Click to expand...

Can I say it? Can I say it?
1990-92-Geo-Prizm-92125021990116.jpg

chevrolet-nova-41.jpg


Chevrolet Nova:
Gas friendly: Mine gets 35MPG.
Cheap to buy and insure: You can get a very good example for less than a grand, and I'm paying $75 a month on insurance. Most won't run as high as a Corolla of the same generation.
Some Guts: uh....the tradeoff point. It has a Toyota 4A-LC engine, with all of 89HP. If you get a manual, it won't be too bad. avoid the Auto. Later in life, a 4A-GE or 4A-FE is a direct-fit replacement. The Nova Twin Cam (Pictured) had a 4A-GE standard, but is very, very, very rare
Decent handling: Even on the skinniest tires and without any anti-roll bars, it is a good, flickable little car. Any AE82 Corolla parts, including FX struts and suspension bits, can be swapped in.
Snow traveling ability: It actually rides higher than the Civic stock, which gets it through deeper stuff easily.
Fairly easy to work on: Oil changes are a cinch: the oil filter is right on the front of the engine and can be reached from above. Plugs, too. As well, I recently replaced the timing belt after it sheared off a few teeth, more or less by myself. Everything's cheap, since the car's really a Corolla with a Chevy badge.
Manual: Easy to find one, being a really basic car. In fact, it's easier to find a manual in these than a Cavalier of the same vintage!
Not a truck: In fact, pretty much the exact opposite.

Geo Prism
Gas friendly: This one's fuel injected, but a little heavier.
Cheap to buy and insure: I doubt it's much more expensive than the Nova is. Still cheaper than a Corolla of the same generation.
Some Guts: Actually, it does have the 4A-FE standard, thus is more powerful. If you can find a GSi, (pictured,) you get the 4A-GE. 70 shouldnt' be a problem with either engine.
Decent handling: They had fast versions of this car, too. I can't speak for the standard version, having never driven it.
Snow traveling ability: Again, high up and skinny tires.
Fairly easy to work on: Other than the head and lack of a carb, the engine is basically the same.
Manual: Might not be as easy to find one, but still should be fairly common
Not a truck: See above.

I've never heard a dissappointed Nova owner. the cars are very reliable, and will take a good bit of abuse. They're not roomy, though, being subcompacts, and they're not cool. and they're not 4WD. And...there are other choices for three grand. But, hey, works for me.
 
Last edited:
Get yourself into a Civic , simple basic car , easy to work on , great on fuel mileage.

One thing to remember , at your age , ( INSURANCE ) , the insurance companies will insure you with no problems with this type of car , and your rates will be cheaper seeing as how you are driving a " budget car " .
 
Lot for me to reply to here...

On the Civic: Like this idea, as yeah, insurance companies won't think I can do too much damage to the world with it; it's also safe and gets good gas mileage. Going on the short list.

Nova/Prism: Good idea on the Prism, but both of them are kinda hard to find. Probably because people are holding on to them with fuel prices the way they were this summer.

Snow: I had kinda figured on the tires. The Chrysler PT Cruiser I've been training in had really crappy tires on snow last year, and it was hell trying to get around. Just got some snow tires, so I'll see how it does until I get my "first" vehicle to tool around in.

More on the Subies: I did find a couple on the Internet in my area (Grand Rapids to be exact), but considering one was FWD and the other had been beaten up, it's a 👎 to them both.

VW'ness: I did find a '96 Jetta with the VR6 motor, but it was about $900 too much for me. Oh well...

(Whew! Longest post I've made in a while!)
 
+1 for the civic, cheap reliable car. make sure you go with 5th gen or newer (91 and up i believe) i have a 4th gen civic and its just been a pain to work on. plus its low on horsepower but it is great on gas. but its auto :( im in the process of fixing that though :)
 
May I suggest a V6 pony car?

Or for sensibilities sake, a 89-97 V8 thunderbird. They cost like nothing to insure, and crazy reliable, and happen to have the same engine as a mustang, sans a few parts
 
ty00123
More on the Subies: I did find a couple on the Internet in my area (Grand Rapids to be exact), but considering one was FWD and the other had been beaten up, it's a 👎 to them both.
Click to expand...

There are a lot of people here in Grand Rapids (especially East Grand Rapids and Ada/Forest Hills) that love them, so my guess is that here (and probably Holland) would have the most. That, of course, does not translate well to the rest of the state...

VW'ness: I did find a '96 Jetta with the VR6 motor, but it was about $900 too much for me. Oh well...
Click to expand...

The VR6 is going to be killer on both gas and insurance, despite its relative awesomeness. I had looked into buying a '97 GLX VR6 for a short time before buying my '96 Wolfsburg, and the insurance rates were absolutely insane. I was complaining about $120 a month, the GLX was nearly $200 (BTW: I go for full coverage on my cars, usually).

Poke around a bit. My guess is that you're going to find a lot of nice cars in Grand Rapids and Holland if you stick to the West Side of the state. It seems like any time I look for other stuff, its always in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti.
 
I like the idea on at least a V6 pony car, but if I could find an older (late 70's to mid 80's) Mustang/Camaro/similar with a V8, it'd be even better. As or the Thunderbird, they've never really appealed to me for some reason.

to YSSMAN: Craigslist has now become my best friend. :lol:
 
Craigslist FTW!

I actually found my Celica on there by accident, so its both a death-trap and a godsend. Just, uh, be sure that you're looking at car ads. Craigslist can lead to some, uh, "sticky" situations...
 
Trust me, I've, um, accidentally seen that part. Stupid friends and their "jokes". :lol:
 
If anything, you'd most likely want a FWD or AWD if you are concerned about the winter weather (especially if there are hills in the area).
 
buickgnx88
If anything, you'd most likely want a FWD or AWD if you are concerned about the winter weather (especially if there are hills in the area).
Click to expand...

Agreed, RWD and Michigan lefts can be a bit tricky for new drivers in the snow.
 
Joey D
Agreed, RWD and Michigan lefts can be a bit tricky for new drivers in the snow.
Click to expand...

Seconded; RWD'll be good for summer and after I get some real experience in. Before that, Ill stick with FWD.
 
Last edited:
A little more bang for the buck would be a Civic SI , still a relatively cheap car , good fuel mileage and a little more "zip" than the standard Civic,and the insurance companies won't bust your b**** for having one.

On the Honda line , maybe look to try to find a early-mid 90's Prelude. Still has all the features of a Civic , but it does look sportier. The SI's and V-TECS run rather well for what they are . Once again the insurance companies will not eat you up on this car either.
 
IF you can find either that hasn't been bastardized by a Fast and Furious wannabe. I'd also not count Insurance out on that...the Si badge could send things skyrocketing.
 
Jim Prower
IF you can find either that hasn't been bastardized by a Fast and Furious wannabe. I'd also not count Insurance out on that...the Si badge could send things skyrocketing.
Click to expand...



Not really 100 % true,they look at it as a 4cyl. car , not as if it's some type of hi-po Z-28 , Mustang GT , or such the like.. Even though it does wear an SI badge , it is still relatively cheap to insure

My friends kids first car was a 1994 'Lude V-TEC ,it was cheaper for him to insure this car as opposed to a Chevy Cavalier of '95 vintage also cheaper than a Ford Taurus of 94-5 ? vintage. Strange but true !!!!


I guess I kind of have the inside scoop on what insurance companies look for on cars and drivers, as my mother has sold auto insurance her entire life. His grades as a student can also come into effect ( good student discount ) on his premiums,and his parents can add him and the " muti car discount " will apply , depending on insurance company.
 

Latest Posts

Back