I'm going to suggest that you search for "first car" restricted to thread titles on this board. You should turn up many threads. Read through them and look for ones near your budget.
My suggestion is a 90-92 Mustang GT. Airbag equipped lowers insurance, and it has forged pistons as opposed to 93-95 5.0s. Being as old as it is, the insurance isn't too terrible, seeing as I'm only 16
I think the only reservation I have with the SC1/SC2 is that they hold their resale value a little too well, particularly in the second generation models. With the 124 BHP I4 in the second generation models, they were pretty quick - faster than the Protege I might add. But (keep in mind, this is coming from a GM guy), I'd spend my money on the Mazda before the Saturn. They're great cars, don't get me wrong, but the interior isn't a very nice place to be, and even worse, a lot of them tend to be pretty beat up by the time you get your hands on them.
May I suggest the vehicle in my avatar? Big, tough, decently quick, reliable, built like a tank, can jump curves and relatively fun all for under 3 grand. The only tough part is finding one that hasn't been heavily abused.
May I suggest the vehicle in my avatar? Big, tough, decently quick, reliable, built like a tank, can jump curves and relatively fun all for under 3 grand. The only tough part is finding one that hasn't been heavily abused.
Yeah, I was looking for either a Protege or a P5 for my daughter, but the availability dried up just as I was getting serious about buying. P5s have always had high resale, but even LX or ES sedans were hard to find - let alone for any decent price.
I ended up buying her a '98 Impreza wagon instead, that I got a good deal on.
The Protege5 is arguably the best one, besides the MP3 & Mazdaspeed ones they offered. I've driven two of them, my Mom even considered buying one (before looking at the then new Mazda6).
They're "around" up here, but hold their resale value exceptionally well. You're going to be hard-pressed to find one for less than $6000 in most cases, unless it was really roughed up.
The LX and ES models are good, although I'd personally choose the ES if its available. Clean lines, beyond awesome driving dynamics, make it a real winner. Probably one of the last great sport compact cars that stuck to the '90s-style performance, quality, and reliability.
May I suggest the vehicle in my avatar? Big, tough, decently quick, reliable, built like a tank, can jump curves and relatively fun all for under 3 grand. The only tough part is finding one that hasn't been heavily abused.
AS everyone loves their own car's. I'd definatly say something small, I JUST bought my first car, went with a 94 Teggy. You'll see my thread... I love it to death, with the engine I have I can do ANYTHING to this car... haha! Great fun to drive too...
AS everyone loves their own car's. I'd definatly say something small, I JUST bought my first car, went with a 94 Teggy. You'll see my thread... I love it to death, with the engine I have I can do ANYTHING to this car... haha! Great fun to drive too...
I'm going to have to agree. My Focus isn't anything special (2.3l I4 that produces 148hp) but the car is super light so it gets pretty good MPG and is a blast to drive. Just because a car doesn't have a V6 or V8 and isn't RWD or the current trendy car doesn't make it a crappy car. I've already grown to love my Focus to death and I can see why people that have owned them love them.
Don't get a Dorf Taurus. specially the 1st and 2nd gen considering those ones like to crap out on you when you need them. I have a friend who has the very first year of the 3rd gen and he says that it isn't too bad.
Did they have a SHO trim on the 3rd? it's the goofy one that's based on the ford logo with circles everywhere.
