Getting car .... NOW... 2008 gti 6speed

[socomplayer2]

Yep its finally my turn to shine. In a few months (about August) my dad and I are going to start to seriously looking to get me a car. My budget will be under 6 grand for a used car or lease a new car. Being this is going to be my first car and I'm 17 and had my license since December 5. I will be on my parents insurance plan but I will pay for part of it and my dad will pay for part. I have a job now and the money should start collecting fast.

My criteria
1. manual transmission
2. no over 5 or 6 grand for a used car
3. reliable
4. fun to drive

Some of my main choices
1. MkIII Gti or Jetta (preferably not golf) with a VR6 (will make some exceptions for a 2.0)
2. Any Mustang GT that I can afford
3. Maybe an older e36 (not m3)
4. Lease a new Gti/Rabbit/Jetta

 

[mustangGT90210]

That SRT-4 isn't going to be the nicest on the insurance due to the fact it is considered the sports model of the neon.

 

[socomplayer2]

That SRT-4 isn't going to be the nicest on the insurance due to the fact it is considered the sports of the neon.

I know but thats why its not one of my main options, but it is a real nice car. I'm sure it would be bad on insurance but if its on my parents policy with me as the secondary driver it wont be as bad as it would be if it were under my name.

 

[mustangGT90210]

I know but thats why its not one of my main options, but it is a real nice car. I'm sure it would be bad on insurance but if its on my parents policy with me as the secondary driver it wont be as bad as it would be if it were under my name.

The Rabbit or the WRX wagon would be cool too. Seeing as the SRT-4 is just a 4 cylinder, that might catch you a break, but still. If it were me, I'd be going for a Mustang, like I'll be doing in the next 8 months.

 

[High-Test]

W124 Mercedes 300E 4MATIC. Seats five, built like a tank, all wheel drive. Fun can happen, but not on the level of the smaller stuff. Did I mention that they're reliable? Seats seven if you go for the TE.

Or a regular 300E. The regular 300E doesn't have the 4WD bits to break. And they are rear-drive.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

It doesn't fit your criteria much, but is in the right price range. I say get a Pontiac Firebird V6. Good looks, V6 power, cheap, heaps of them to be bought. Out of your list there I'd choose the BMW. If it's a 3 series you could get an L6, and have a car with good potential, while still a fine daily driver.

*red guy on the left shoulder*- Get the Pontiac, you know you want it

 

[socomplayer2]

The Rabbit or the WRX wagon would be cool too. Seeing as the SRT-4 is just a 4 cylinder, that might catch you a break, but still. If it were me, I'd be going for a Mustang, like I'll be doing in the next 8 months.

I would love one, like a fox body 5.0. Unfortunately the v8 would be bad on gas and a killer on insurance.

W124 Mercedes 300E 4MATIC. Seats five, built like a tank, all wheel drive. Fun can happen, but not on the level of the smaller stuff. Did I mention that they're reliable? Seats seven if you go for the TE.

Or a regular 300E. The regular 300E doesn't have the 4WD bits to break. And they are rear-drive.

There nice but not my cup of tea, to each his own.

It doesn't fit your criteria much, but is in the right price range. I say get a Pontiac Firebird V6. Good looks, V6 power, cheap, heaps of them to be bought. Out of your list there I'd choose the BMW. If it's a 3 series you could get an L6, and have a car with good potential, while still a fine daily driver.

*red guy on the left shoulder*- Get the Pontiac, you know you want it

I would love a fire bird with the t-tops but again the name firebird I think will raise insurance up in itself. Also if I were to get a Pontiac it would be a Gto.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Were there any Camaro V6s? That would be cheaper again wouldn't it? Couldn't hurt to get a quote from an insurance company. Insurance couldn't be too high as the car is so cheap.

 

[TopHat]

Were there any Camaro V6s?

Tons. Most of them teal with T-Tops. Autos too.

Insurance couldn't be too high as the car is so cheap.

I wish it were that simple.

 

[Philly]

Of the cars you listed, I would say the WRX. They are as fast, if not faster than a GTI in a straight line and corner almost as well. This is probably one of the cars that I respect the most for the price range. I know I would love to have one.

The Jetta/Rabbit wouldn't be a bad choice. I drove one. It was reasonably peppy. I imagine the NA 2.5 would end up being more reliable than the 2.0T, and the cars have great build quality. You aren't going to be getting a GTI, but they are still good cars. The interiors are very similar, and I'm sure you can option one out to be very similar to a GTI. Ride wasn't anything to be excited over, but it's a relatively cheap entry level car.

And if you are looking at some of the newer cars, GO USED. You can easily save quite a bit of money from both haggling and the car having already lost everything it will the moment it first leaves the dealer lot.

 

[YSSMAN]

For the amount of cash you'd pay for a new GTI, you'd likely be able to find a Passat W8 4MOTION that would do just about everything you're asking for in spades, plus be the most badass VW made since the origional Bug. Although now that I think about it, they're going to be hard to find for cheap...

I'm impartial to Volkswagens (and of course, GM products), but if you do anything from Wolfsburg, you're going to want to go 2003+. That, and be prepared for insurance to kick your ass (wouldn't be surprised if it cost you $200 or more a month for a GTI), as well as any parts replacement costs if something breaks. People always think VWs are cheap, and as a matter of fact, its quite the opposite...

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

The Camaros and Firebirds, is T-top a convertible?

 

[YSSMAN]

A T-Top is essentially a Targa Top with a bar across the middle for "rigidity" or "style," it depends on whos doing it...

 

[Sage]

What’s your price range? A 2000 Neon to a 2007 WRX is an enormous range.

 

[TopHat]

Those are T-Tops.

EDIT: Damn you YSSMAN! I got fed up looking for a teal F-Body with these damned things.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

So........ a car like this Camaro T-Top is no good. Not sure if that link will work. 4 seats, cool car- T-top, decent price. Fits all your criteria just about. Dunno about how much insurance would be though. You should really ring an insurance company and get a quote. What would you rather drive, an import tuner or a home grown hero.

 

[Philly]

I'm impartial to Volkswagens (and of course, GM products), but if you do anything from Wolfsburg, you're going to want to go 2003+. That, and be prepared for insurance to kick your ass (wouldn't be surprised if it cost you $200 or more a month for a GTI), as well as any parts replacement costs if something breaks. People always think VWs are cheap, and as a matter of fact, its quite the opposite...

I think I'll have to say that I wouldn't recommend a GTI for your first car. It's a great car, but the cost of ownership will probably end up raping you. If you had your heart set on one, I'd say go in 50-50 with your parents (assuming that $10 grand is yours to spend), get on their insurance and get them to cover repairs as "their" car.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Or this Firebird T-Top It would be a cool car and this one's so cheap it aint funny. I just don't understand how Americans can consider German and Japanese cars when they have their own brilliant local manufacturers.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Grand Marquis.

Preferably a 1988-91 (or was it 92?), meaning a 5.0, AOD, and utter cheapness on all fronts. Or a Town Car of the same vintage, if you can find a nice one with less than 70k miles.

Don't get enticed by the speed factor of your other choices... It's just going to cause problems. Namely, problems with peer pressure.

And a Panther platform (Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, Town Car) with a little work done to it (why not put that extra 5k to use? A junkyard 351 truck motor plus heads, intake and a cam, and you have at least 320hp, which is much more than enough to have some fun. And the car will STILL be cheap on insurance like all hell, more than making up for the fuel economy deficit. Comfort will be on a level unheard of in the cheap cars, and it will overall be a nicer car to own, especially if you plan any sort of long trips (giant trunk, great room in both front and rear seats).

Just my .02.

~Kyle

 

[JCE]

Or this Firebird T-Top It would be a cool car and this one's so cheap it aint funny. I just don't understand how Americans can consider German and Japanese cars when they have their own brilliant local manufacturers.

That's an excellent specimen of a 6cyl Firebird. I'd drive that around in a heartbeat.

As for my suggestions to socomplayer2:

• V6 Mustang
• V6 Camaro/Firebird
• Nissan Maxima
• Toyota Camary
• Nissan Sentra
• Toyota Corolla
• Nissan Altima
• Toyota Celica (1994-1998)
• Nissan 300ZX automatic non-turbo
• Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis (1999-2006)
• Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable (they run forever)
• Dodge Avenger/Chrysler Sebring coupe (if you can find a LOW MILEAGE one they are pretty decent and cheap)
• Mitsubishi Lancer
• Any American pickup truck
• Avoid something German
• Avoid something European in general due to cost of parts
• Subaru Legacy
• Izusu Trooper
• Honda (anything?)
• Hyundais build past year 2003
• Avoid anything with a turbo or engines larger than 6cyl

That's a starting point.

 

[RedTransAm]

Trust me, you don't want an F-body with a V6. They're sloooow, and not very fun for that matter. And for not too much more money, you could get a nicer Z28, Trans Am, or Formula. I know it isn't on your list, but may I suggest a third generation F-body? (1982-1992) It will fit nicely in your price range and insurance isn't that bad, even with a V8 model. Mostly because they're old. Anything newer, such as the fourth gens, you're going to pay an arm and a leg to keep it on the road. If you're going to be on your parents policy like you say and you shop around a little, it's not that bad at all. I pay about $100 a month on mine on my parents policy.

Here's mine, I paid $7700 for it.

It will meet most of the wants on your list too.
1. manual transmission - 5 speeds were availible, mine isn't but that's easy enough to fix
2. fit 4 people comfortably - The two in the front will be okay...
3. preferred awd but pretty negotiable - just avoid the snow
4. reliable - be good to it and it will be good to you.
5. fun to drive - VERY They're pretty quick and they handle great too.
6. ok on gas - Just don't WOT it at every stoplight

 

[dimplz]

chevolet monte carlo

 

[JCE]

Trust me, you don't want an F-body with a V6. They're sloooow, and not very fun for that matter.

1. He's 17 and this is his first car, slow is what he should be after to begin with.
2. You're quite incorrect about V6's being not fun and slow. Slow by who's standards yours? Sorry but its plenty of fun if you know how to use the vehicle properly. If I can have fun in a 136bhp 4cyl automatic Focus he can most certainly have loads of fun in a V6 Mustang or Camaro/Firebird.

Seriously, a V6 RWD coupe is a bad thing? Since when?

 

[RedTransAm]

1. He's 17 and this is his first car, slow is what he should be after to begin with.
2. You're quite incorrect about V6's being not fun and slow. Slow by who's standards yours? Sorry but its plenty of fun if you know how to use the vehicle properly. If I can have fun in a 136bhp 4cyl automatic Focus he can most certainly have loads of fun in a V6 Mustang or Camaro/Firebird.

Seriously, a V6 RWD coupe is a bad thing? Since when?

I'm 18 and I've had that car since I was 17. It's my first car and I've owned it for over a year. Sorry, I should have been more specific. Third gens with V6's are garbage. 2.8 litre V6 with 135 hp and 160 ft lbs of torque (to the flywheel) with about 3600 lbs to lug around. Doesn't sound like too much fun to me. I'd like my car to be able to get out of it's own way. The fourth gens that had V6's are different though. The 3.4 had 160 hp and 3.8 had 200 hp. Not sure on the torque ratings, but they'rs probably pretty good. Those sixes have more power than some V8's had back in the eighties. The fourth gen RS Camaros, for example, with the V6 and Z28 suspension are fun cars. Same goes for it's Firebird equivalent.

 

[Leonidae]

even 1L 45bhp japanese minivan ( daihatsu hijet, subaru domingo etc etc) can be a ton of fun, while not being hard on your wallet. should there be any moisture on the road, sideways action is there for you. if there is slighest chance of snow, the fun facctor will be multiplied. just avoid getting big cars for your first ride, since estimating their dimensions when parking, passing someone etc is very difficult.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

even 1L 45bhp japanese minivan ( daihatsu hijet, subaru domingo etc etc) can be a ton of fun, while not being hard on your wallet. should there be any moisture on the road, sideways action is there for you. if there is slighest chance of snow, the fun facctor will be multiplied. just avoid getting big cars for your first ride, since estimating their dimensions when parking, passing someone etc is very difficult.

Seriously, I learnt in a Hyundai Excel how to drive, my head hit the roof on it. I had to bend my neck to fit in it. It's a small car- stepping up to my Ute, it took like a couple days to get used to- not hard at all. socomplayer2, have a look at the cars with links I suggested. If a GM V6 has at least 170hp or so like mine- it will be plenty fun, as GM V6s are very torquey And they're not that expensive to own- mine isn't at least anyway. I get better fuel economy than any carby 4cyl out there, V6 Rego is like what- a few $ more a week than a 4cyl (literally less than $10 a week more), and insurance for a cheap V6 can't possibly be expensive- the popular V8 models might be a little more expensive but surely not the V6 models.

Edit: And remember, always get quotes from insurers about all the cars you are considering before buying anything. Same for rego. Do you guys even use the term rego? It means registration if you don't.

 

[ND4SPD]

1. He's 17 and this is his first car, slow is what he should be after to

Hehe.....Bought my RX-7, my first car at 17.......Of course it only has about 150hp, but it also weighs somewhere between 2550-2700lbs. So it's decently quick for my tastes.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Hehe.....Bought my RX-7, my first car at 17.......Of course it only has about 150hp, but it also weighs somewhere between 2550-2700lbs. So it's decently quick for my tastes.

Hey what do you know our names are totally alike. Our opinions are not. I don't think he wants a thirsty, torqueless rotary.

 

[ND4SPD]

Hey what do you know our names are totally alike. Our opinions are not. I don't think he wants a thirsty, torqueless rotary.

And where did you see me suggest an RX-7? You know my 7 isn't as torqueless as you would assume. It's 150hp and 140ft lbs of torque is quite adequate for it's weight... A Series 6 RX-7 had 255hp and 217ft lbs of torque, still adequate for it's weight. A series 8 FD RX-7 has 276hp and 243ft lbs of torque. Still adequate IMO. Can you find me a 1.3L engine that can generate those numbers?! Now don't get me started on 3 and 4 rotor engines....Take a standard NA 20b 3 rotor and you'll be making 300hp and 300ft lbs of torque....

Torqueless you say? Here's a rotary pumping out 1664hp and 1158 ft lbs of torque...
http://www.braptv.com/play.php?vid=123

Here's a 899hp 20b with 613ft lbs of torque. Last time I checked 613ft lbs of torque coming from a 2.0l was great.










Sorry to get off topic there.
Anyways, have you checked out a 1997+ Buick Regal GS? Sure it may look like grandpa's car but the GS's sported a supercharged 3.8L V6 that pumped out 244hp and 280ft lbs of torque. It was the true essence of a sleeper. Getting 0-60 in the mid 6s and pulling off mid 14sec 1/4 mile passes if I remember this right. I'd still own one today if I had a chance, nothing like blowing the doors out of a ricer in a big ole buick.

Now I know it may not have a manual transmission but when it comes to price and insurance and the comfort of this thing, it's a winner.

 

[nd 4 holden spd]

Mate, I don't care......I have had this argument more times than I can count and this thread is about what car the TC should get. Why else would you mention an RX-7 if not recommending it? My '94 V6 Ute makes 300Nm from 130kw, and only weighs like what 2800 lbs (1380kg anyway). Back on topic now please. Any further discussion on that topic by PM thanks.