First Car Recommendation

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Ranman20

Ranman20

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Hey Guys, I am having a tough time deciding what my first car is going be. No I still don't want a RX-7, its a money pit for a noob like me. But I would like to see what you guys think of my choices I listed below and I want to see some of your recommendations as well.


1. Toyota MR2 W20

280px-Black_1994_MkII_MR2.jpeg


2. Volvo S60 2009-2012

09 S60
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'12 S60
2013-Volvo-S60-R-Design-rear-three-quarter.jpg


3. 2010 Mazda MX-5 Hardtop

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Other memorable mentions:
  • 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe
  • 2010-2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse
  • 2003-2005 Toyota Celica
  • 2011 Volvo C30
Budget: $16,000*

Ranman's Question and answer:*

1. Manual or Automatic?
It doesn't matter to me.

2. Are you going to mod this car in the future?
No not to my first car.

3. What about a Motocycle?
I currently do not want a motorcycle right now, maybe later.

*4. Are you going to be spending the whole $16k
No, that's the maximum I'm willing to pay.


* More Questions and answers to come
 
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You don't need a sports car as your first car. Something sporty-looking maybe, but trust me when I say up to 145 horsepower can be a handful for a new driver, especially if the car is light.

A Miata could be alright. Cheap, plentiful, easy to drive...but it can get you into trouble quickly if you don't know your limits. Good first sports car? Yes. Good first car? No.

A V6 Mustang could be an option, and with that budget, something somewhat new could be an option as well. Decent power, good looking, cheap-ish parts, good on gas if you stay off it.

2004-redfire-mustang-v6-04.jpg
 
Yeah the 86 might be out of my budget. Sorry slash, not a big fan of mustangs, especially V6s.
 
86 is definitely out. I'd buy something cheap and slow. It doesn't have to be a bad car, but that way if you wreck it it won't be so bad and you're less likely to get in trouble. Plus you save money so that once you've got a few years experience with car ownership and driving you can upgrade to something quicker and pricier. I definitely recommend a manual, though.
 
You're not gonna be able get half those cars for $16k. Get something that's ten years old and not too obscure (active message boards and well-known maintenance info are extremely helpful). Find a depreciated car with under 100k miles, and don't rush. Don't settle; find something that you feel good about. If it's too good to be true, it is. Know that when buying a car at a dealer, you'll have to pay sales tax; however, if you buy from a private individual, you will not be taxed. Do your research, figure out what the common issues of the car you're looking at are, read owner reviews, read the forums. Don't buy without being informed, and don't buy something you don't like.
 
Buy something cheap and slow, like a used Corolla or Camry.

Doog
Know that when buying a car at a dealer, you'll have to pay sales tax; however, if you buy from a private individual, you will not be taxed.
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You still get taxed when you buy from an individual, but rather than paying the individual or dealer, you pay the tax when you transfer the title.
 
Crash
You still get taxed when you buy from an individual, but rather than paying the individual or dealer, you pay the tax when you transfer the title.
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Does that apply to all states, though? People out here seem to like to brag about not having to pay sales tax if you buy their privately-owned car.
 
Bopop4
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Spending 16k on a first car is ludicrous.

Why use all that money when you can have a reliable car for a quarter that.
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No I'm not going to spend $16k, rather that's the maximum I'm willing to spend.

Crash
Buy something cheap and slow, like a used Corolla or Camry.



You still get taxed when you buy from an individual, but rather than paying the individual or dealer, you pay the tax when you transfer the title.
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My friend has a V6 camry, maybe 06 or 08, can't remember. Man that car is fast, its not even modified.

Out of all the cars I listed, I really want the Volvo, its reliable, stylish, fair priced depending on the year, and its the safest.
 
You could maybe look at a 1st gen S60 if you'd like something a little more interesting than your garden variety Civic/Corolla. They're great cars, they'll cost you more to run but if your budget is up to 16k an S60 would be manageable. The non-turbo models are pretty sensible in terms of performance, reasonably powerful but not absurd. I'll still be that guy though and say get a Civic, Corolla, Accord, or Camry or something of the like, there's a reason why they're so commonly suggested as a first car, they're bulletproof, cheap to run, and tick all the boxes that you need in a first car.

Don't be too concerned about getting something interesting for your first car, because it will be special no matter what it is. My first car was/is (I still drive it) a 2003 Corolla, it's slow, the windows are operated manually, it has next to no driver engagement, it's loud on the highway, it has a terrible 4 speed slushbox, and I love it. First cars are special because it's the first time you truly have the freedom to go where you want when you want. That applies to anything from a poverty spec Nissan Micra to a 458 Italia. No matter what car you buy you'll love it because of the freedom your first car gives you.

Worry about finding a car that's fun to drive after you've been at it for a few years and you know how it works. No matter what happens you're going to damage your first car, and it's better to do it to a 10 year old Corolla than a brand new FRS. I like to think of myself as a good driver, I've never been in an accident, I'm responsible, I don't speed excessively, and I drive in a considerate manner for the most part. I still had a couple of dings on the Corolla, I scraped it on a post when I was backing out of a driveway, backed into a concrete block at work and cracked the rear bumper a bit, and slid off the road in a big snowstorm. Better to have those learning experiences in a cheap car where a bit of cosmetic damage isn't the end of the world and the speeds are more manageable. I'd be upset if I did that to an FRS.

EDIT: Would also agree with @Wolfe about the Celica. Same engine as a Corolla, reliable, but a bit more interesting than a Corolla would be.
 
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Camry or Civic doesn't seem like a bad idea.

Ranman20
Out of all the cars I listed, I fatally want the Volvo, its reliable, stylish, fair priced depending on the year, and its the safest.
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You sure you posted the right Volvo?
 
A friend of mine had a T230 Celica and it seemed like a great car. It's older, FWD, inexpensive, economical -- all sensible attributes for a first car -- and still fun to drive because it's a rather lightweight 3-door with a stiff chassis. If you can track down an unmolested one with a manual transmission, I think it would make for a wise enthusiast-minded choice.

toyota_celica.jpg
 
Ranman20
I think the newer S60s look extravagant to me.
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Good luck finding a good one for under $16k. (looking at '12s, like you posted)


Edit: I could find some under $16k, but they were all '09s with almost 100k miles and weren't even far under $16k.
 
'14 S60 retails for $30K+. Don't think a '12 model is going to fall under even $20K at the time being.

The FR-S is doable if you have a steady job. You have enough to easily finance the remaining $10K of the cost at decent rate depending on your credit score & APR. Used model would be even easier.
 

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