Dagger's New First Car Thread.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dagger311
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Dagger311
Worst comes to worst, cushy seat covers.
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They don't help.

Bopop4
Is it any different from mine?
I've never had an issue with the ride or handling.
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It handles decent for what it is, I think yours might actually handle a little better. I barely got on it through a corner like a couple we pitched yours into and not even touching the gas the tires were screaming at me. Ride quality seemed better in yours as well. I mean its not horrible but in hers you can feel EVERYTHING and there's a lot of road noise.
 
Slash
They don't help.



It handles decent for what it is, I think yours might actually handle a little better. I barely got on it through a corner like a couple we pitched yours into and not even touching the gas the tires were screaming at me. Ride quality seemed better in yours as well. I mean its not horrible but in hers you can feel EVERYTHING and there's a lot of road noise.
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A lot of that comes from the tires, sounds like you may have a set thay doesn't like to cooperate with that chassis.

When I changed to the long life tires there was a huge handling difference, sidewall is so much softer than the previous set.

The 09 is a redesign as well.
Mine was the last year of that gen, so it technically should be the best of that gen because they had the most amount of time to refine it. But yours is only the 2nd year, so it might still have a few quirks.
 
Oh wow... For 3k, the Focus's have anywhere between 120,000 and 190,000 miles... That's a little offsetting...
 
An exact copy/paste from my post in the other thread:

1996-2007 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable-

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You can easily pick one up in great condition for around $1500-4000. Despite what you may have read, these cars actually handle fairly well for what they are, especially with better tires. Power is adequate with the more common Vulcan V6, plentiful with the higher output but less common Duratec V6. These cars never came with a manual transmission, only a 4-speed automatic which is a bit on the fragile side, so pay close attention to how the transmission shifts if you decide to test drive one. Other trouble spots are the factory coolant tank in the 96-02's develops cracks in it after while; OEM replacements run about $60. Don't even bother with the cheap Chinese aftermarket tank which will more than likely fail in just a few months. Also, change the coolant in the Vulcan engine at no longer of an interval than every 2 years; it is infamous for rust in the cooling system which can lead to very bad things. Finally, watch out if the rear of the car is sagging, that means the struts/springs are shot and replacement is apparently very expensive. If anybody asks why I am a strong supporter of this car, I've been the proud owner of one for nine years with little trouble. 👍 The only non-maintenance items I've had to change out were the fuel pump (very expensive :ouch:, but I'm fairly confident the Motorcraft replacement unit is not made in China) and the mentioned coolant tank. Replacement parts are readily available and reasonably priced. Also, insurance rates should not be any issue considering it's a family sedan.
 
Dagger311
Oh wow... For 3k, the Focus's have anywhere between 120,000 and 190,000 miles... That's a little offsetting...
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Hmm, I can find several 2003ish models with between 40 and 90 thousand miles for 2500, 3200, and 3300 bucks.
 
Dagger311
I searched for in my area, and the ones I saw were all 2002s.
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I did a search in the Atlanta area and found a couple for 3k with 97k and 107k.

Of course the more you pay the more options you can have, but an extra 500 bucks really will get you one with many less miles.

That goes for any car though.
 
Joey D
Pretty much any Volvo for $3,000 will be fine. There's all sorts of early 90's 240's around me and while they aren't fast, they are built like tanks and will run forever. If you want something newer, I've always been a fan of recommending Neon's since you can pretty much build one with junkyard parts and nothing is expensive for them. The headgaskets can be an issue, but they're pretty easy to replace.



You're not trying hard enough if you think you can't get anything for $3,000 worth driving.
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I have high standards :sly:.

Harry6784
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Or maybe not, I didn't realize these were so cheap. In that case go for this.
 
So have you looked those Volvo prices yet. And if there aren't any available for good price, I think that Focus could be quite good decision too, not sure how reliable USA built ones are, but it was designed by Ford Europe and that is a good thing.
 
Can I recommend a Daihatsu Mira? :p

It sits five. Americans. Tightly.
Small engine, light car, very fuel efficient.
It's Japanese so it's reliable.
It's not really an expensive car so it's probably cheap to insure.
Can you drive a manual?
The car is really small, you'd probably die if you get into a crash. Hey, better off dead than uh...
Everything about this car is cheap. Parts are cheap, maintenance is cheap, road tax is cheap.
It's really small so you can literally park anywhere you want to.

Source: Personal experience.

In all seriousness, my recommendation is null as I'm not familiar with American used car market, but can you drive a manual though? :scared:
 
Dagger311
Leaning towards the Focus, because 'Murica.
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It's a Ford of Europe car ;)

While a great car when new, the reliability is not so great. Have a look at some Volvos, like Legro said.

Are you looking for auto or manual?
 
If you want to deal with the ownership of a $3,000 third gen Camaro then I would also suggest that you look into some local S&M clubs because you must love being abused.

Those cars are fragile when they're well built, but the market that you would be exploring at your price range would be full of mutt cars that were "fixed" to get running and then be sold to the next poor owner.
 
Leggy1
It's a Ford of Europe car ;)

While a great car when new, the reliability is not so great. Have a look at some Volvos, like Legro said.

Are you looking for auto or manual?
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Auto.

I checked out the Volvos, and they're really nice, but Dad talked with me last night.

He said that he thought it was a nice, responsible move to try and get a job, but he also said he thinks I should enjoy my last year and a half or so of being a kid, and to be honest, I see what he means.

Maybe I should just study for my Learner's Permit, and my GED, and worry about a job when I'm older. He even offered me the Rogue to drive, as long as he isn't using it. It's practically brand new, at 30,000-ish miles, gets great mpg, seats five, and is availible pretty much whenever I'd need it. Hard to pass up on that, for the low, low price of not being able to drive it on saturday mornings...
 
Take it, free car is better than one you have to pay for. (unless the free one is free because it sucks)
 
Without a learner's permit you can't drive on the road? I am also looking for a car (and a job), but I have my full license. If I were you, learn to drive as soon as you can, it's easier to get it out of the way now. I'm not sure how the system works in the US though.
 
With a permit you can only drive with an adult older than 21 and has a full license IIRC.
 
Zenith
If you want to deal with the ownership of a $3,000 third gen Camaro then I would also suggest that you look into some local S&M clubs because you must love being abused.

Those cars are fragile when they're well built, but the market that you would be exploring at your price range would be full of mutt cars that were "fixed" to get running and then be sold to the next poor owner.
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My buddy bought this one for $3,500, V8 swapped, mildly built and a posi shoved in it. He's doing just fine. He's also 18, living on his own and getting paid minimum wage.

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Legro
Okay, not something I would love to drive, but it's free.
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Yeah, not the most exciting of cars, but it's hard to pass it up, I mean, how many times will I need to go out on a saturday morning? Church is sunday, and stores around here are open late on saturdays anyway.
 
Slash
You're looking at roughly $1 to $1.30 more per gallon than regular unleaded gasoline.
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Take a picture the next time you're at a fuel station, please. A few different stations as well, if you don't mind. I know a few people in that general area and they've told me diesel is generally only .25-30 cents more expensive than regular unleaded gasoline. I'd be interested to see what stations are charging by you.

@Dagger311 I think a Subaru wagon/hatchback would be something you may be interested in as well. I have an '02 Impreza Outback Sport which looks like this...

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and it has been absolutely fantastic. Mine has 210K or so on it right now and other than general maintenance, I've not had to touch the thing. On the highway it gets right at 32mpg, mixed it gets 24-25mpg. There is plenty of room, the car is very comfortable and I personally think they look fantastic.

At least five seats? Check, with some nice storage area in the rear too.
Good mpg? Check. 32mpg highway, 24-25mpg mixed.
Reliability? Check. Mine has 210K and runs like a top. I know of many others that have well north of 200K without problems as well.
Cheap Insurance? Check. Since it is a wagon, it is cheaper to insure than a sedan. At State Farm at least.
Automatic? Check, no paddles though.
Safety? Subaru is known for making very safe vehicles. I can't imagine this one is different.
Cheap repairs? It is a common Japanese car, you won't find many vehicles out there with cheaper repair costs.
Land Yacht? Negative. It is pretty damn small, very easy to maneuver.

In my area an '02-'03 with around 90-100K miles can be had for pretty cheap, certainly within your budget.
 
peobryant
Take a picture the next time you're at a fuel station, please. A few different stations as well, if you don't mind. I know a few people in that general area and they've told me diesel is generally only .25-30 cents more expensive than regular unleaded gasoline. I'd be interested to see what stations are charging by you.

@Dagger311 I think a Subaru wagon/hatchback would be something you may be interested in as well. I have an '02 Impreza Outback Sport which looks like this...

02-03_Subaru_Outback_Sport.jpg


and it has been absolutely fantastic. Mine has 210K or so on it right now and other than general maintenance, I've not had to touch the thing. On the highway it gets right at 32mpg, mixed it gets 24-25mpg. There is plenty of room, the car is very comfortable and I personally think they look fantastic.

At least five seats? Check, with some nice storage area in the rear too.
Good mpg? Check. 32mpg highway, 24-25mpg mixed.
Reliability? Check. Mine has 210K and runs like a top. I know of many others that have well north of 200K without problems as well.
Cheap Insurance? Check. Since it is a wagon, it is cheaper to insure than a sedan. At State Farm at least.
Automatic? Check, no paddles though.
Safety? Subaru is known for making very safe vehicles. I can't imagine this one is different.
Cheap repairs? It is a common Japanese car, you won't find many vehicles out there with cheaper repair costs.
Land Yacht? Negative. It is pretty damn small, very easy to maneuver.

In my area an '02-'03 with around 90-100K miles can be had for pretty cheap, certainly within your budget.
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That looks interesting. Never been a huge fan of wagons, however. But, hard to argue with that kind of gas mileage and space. Maybe, when it is time for me to buy a car, I'll look at these.
 
peobryant
Take a picture the next time you're at a fuel station, please. A few different stations as well, if you don't mind. I know a few people in that general area and they've told me diesel is generally only .25-30 cents more expensive than regular unleaded gasoline. I'd be interested to see what stations are charging by you.
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That's what it should be. I'm seeing about $4.30/gallon for diesel and gas is about $3.60-$3.75 atm, but I have seen a much bigger gap.
 

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