Help me choose a car

[DRiFT Junkie]

Completed!

 

[Zenith]

I like smooth, attractive, fast, reliable, and non-gas guzzling

Would you like it to cure cancer as well?

Anyways...

Before I make a suggestion, tell us more about what you plan to do with this car.

Will you be working on it?

Will you take it to a track?

What will the car be doing on a daily routine? Will it transport multiple people often? Will it be used to haul stuff?

There are probably more equally important questions that I'm overlooking, but we need to know exactly what this car will be used for.

For the sake of an answer. If yes to the first two, E36 M3. You can easily mod it upwards of 300hp and they are track monsters. Besides, Azuremen has one. Who doesn't want to be more like Azuremen?

 

[DRiFT Junkie]

Would you like it to cure cancer as well?

Anyways...

Before I make a suggestion, tell us more about what you plan to do with this car.

Will you be working on it?

Will you take it to a track?

What will the car be doing on a daily routine? Will it transport multiple people often? Will it be used to haul stuff?

There are probably more equally important questions that I'm overlooking, but we need to know exactly what this car will be used for.

For the sake of an answer. If yes to the first two, E36 M3. You can easily mod it upwards of 300hp and they are track monsters.
http://bmw-m3-diesel.co.cc/images/bmw%20m3%20e36-3.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Lol, i think there is such a thing as a fast car that's doesn't drink gas like no tomorrow. And i'm not talking about superpowered fast but it can't be unbearably slow for my taste. To answer your questions, 1st one is yes, 2nd one is soon after, and 3rd one, i will only be driving around with friends occasionally but no major hauling will be done.

Thanks for the suggestion and sorry i didn't consider putting those questions in the first place.

 

[Cale]

Quite honestly I'm not sure any of those are suited to a 17 year old.

Basically you can cross off the V8 and turbo cars. They won't meet your city requirement, unless you drive like your grandma. Which you won't. Insurance will be pricey as balls. I think the most reasonable would be an E36 M3, or manual N/A Mazda 6 or 300ZX.


However I don't blame you for wanting any of those cars, except the Mustang.

 

[DRiFT Junkie]

Quite honestly I'm not sure any of those are suited to a 17 year old.

Basically you can cross off the V8 and turbo cars. They won't meet your city requirement, unless you drive like your grandma. Which you won't. Insurance will be pricey as balls. I think the most reasonable would be an E36 M3, or manual N/A Mazda 6 or 300ZX.


However I don't blame you for wanting any of those cars, except the Mustang.

I've been driving ever since i was 14 if that's what you're getting at. And don't worry, contrary to popular belief i am not some street racing junkie. I take out all my reckless driving desires in the parking lot lol.

Also i know the Mustang is overrated and not a great car but i live in the Us so its repair bills will be cheaper for me. And it's not an unreasonable car, i feel.

And as i said, feel free to add what you think is appropriate.

 

[Cale]

Well, my statement about the Mustang was entirely because the WS6 is on your list. One of my favorite cars ever.

You said you've worked hard for the money, so you deserve to spend it on what you want. My posts probably came out more negative than I meant it to. I'm also a slight bit jealous.

Also since the MS6 is on your list, might as well add the Legacy GT. IMO a better all around car.

 

[DRiFT Junkie]

Well, my statement about the Mustang was entirely because the WS6 is on your list. One of my favorite cars ever.

You said you've worked hard for the money, so you deserve to spend it on what you want. My posts probably came out more negative than I meant it to. I'm also a slight bit jealous.

Also since the MS6 is on your list, might as well add the Legacy GT. IMO a better all around car.

No that's fine no hard feelings. But yea one of my friends has a Legacy. I've driven it as well as done a fair amount of research on it, it's a nice, comfortable car as well as an attractive one. A bit rare to find one around my area though, especially a GT or Spec-B.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

I have a mustang, and I admit the suspension isn't the greatest (it's extremely soft). I probably wouldn't get another one unless it's the boss, or a 67, maybe a GT500 but that's not gonna happen in a long time

 

[Zenith]

You're going to see this on every "New driver, what first car?" thread.

You haven't been driving for very long. You simply do not have the experience to be handling a high powered performance machine. You've got plenty of years and money ahead of you to buy a Viper or whatever, at your skill level you simply won't be able to enjoy the high performance stuff.

Most people here have been driving for decades longer than you have. Many people here track their cars regularly. We really do know what we're talking about.

Every person this has ever been said to has felt that they are a "special case." when they aren't. Luckily, you seem very open to suggestion.

Be reasonable, respect expertise. 👍

 

[DRiFT Junkie]

You're going to see this on every "New driver, what first car?" thread.

You haven't been driving for very long. You simply do not have the experience to be handling a high powered performance machine. You've got plenty of years and money ahead of you to buy a Viper or whatever, at your skill level you simply won't be able to enjoy the high performance stuff.

Most people here have been driving for decades longer than you have. Many people here track their cars regularly. We really do know what we're talking about.

Every person this has ever been said to has felt that they are a "special case." when they aren't. Luckily, you seem very open to suggestion.

Be reasonable, respect expertise. 👍

For sure man, i just felt like this was the right time but i can hold off on it. My brother in law who has been driving for 14 years(since he was 12 lol) who is a mechanic and an expert in everything that has to do with cars told me i am ready. I do not feel like i am a special case however and get no pleasure in bragging or showing off. However, my considerations still sit as they are. Keep the advice coming though, i love to learn.

 

[NISMO DK]

I think the Mazda Speed 6 would be best but besides that list I think you should get a Nissan Sentra or a Honda Civic. You can get a sport package for those cars like the Si or a 3.0L and still get great gas and still not have to pay much for it.

 

[Schwartz]

Okay, well I'm also 17 and have a question. I love fast cars, and everyone talks about how fast their cars are. But what is the point of having a fast car when there are speed limits? If you want to drive fast then you'll get a massive ticket. The only thing I can think of is going to an actual race track and driving it for a few hours. Other than that a Subaru WRX STi is exactly the same as a 1998 Ford Taurus on the road. (That is if you're driving the speed limit)

 

[DRiFT Junkie]

Okay, well I'm also 17 and have a question. I love fast cars, and everyone talks about how fast their cars are. But what is the point of having a fast car when there are speed limits? If you want to drive fast then you'll get a massive ticket. The only thing I can think of is going to an actual race track and driving it for a few hours. Other than that a Subaru WRX STi is exactly the same as a 1998 Ford Taurus on the road. (That is if you're driving the speed limit)

Ahh use your imagination.

To really answer your question though, i get a big thrill when i step on the gas and the car responds in a way that makes my jaw drop and my eyes wide open. It feels like i'm about to fly. It's all about that moment.


I hope that didn't sound too corny. -_-

 

[Kylehnat]

But what is the point of having a fast car when there are speed limits? If you want to drive fast then you'll get a massive ticket.

Holy Jeebus! A practical 17-year-old! Regardless of speed limits, you can also get ticketed for "spirited driving" if a cop doesn't like the fact that you peeled-out from a red light.

This has been done a million times. Be reasonable with your first car. You're not the second-coming of Michael Schumacher. Nevermind, do whatever you want. You're the only one who has to live with the gas mileage, maintenance, repair bills, insurance, blah blah blah. Don't listen to us old-farts. We're just kill-joys.

 

[DRiFT Junkie]

Holy Jeebus! A practical 17-year-old! Regardless of speed limits, you can also get ticketed for "spirited driving" if a cop doesn't like the fact that you peeled-out from a red light.

This has been done a million times. Be reasonable with your first car. You're not the second-coming of Michael Schumacher. Nevermind, do whatever you want. You're the only one who has to live with the gas mileage, maintenance, repair bills, insurance, blah blah blah. Don't listen to us old-farts. We're just kill-joys.

Lol. So we should only be reasonable with our first car? The car after that doesn't require reason to act stupid on the street?

 

[NISMO DK]

Ahh use your imagination.

To really answer your question though, i get a big thrill when i step on the gas and the car responds in a way that makes my jaw drop and my eyes wide open. It feels like i'm about to fly. It's all about that moment.

I hope that didn't sound too corny. -_-

No not at all corny it just sounded like... you know what...

 

[Schwartz]

Ahh use your imagination.

To really answer your question though, i get a big thrill when i step on the gas and the car responds in a way that makes my jaw drop and my eyes wide open. It feels like i'm about to fly. It's all about that moment.

I hope that didn't sound too corny. -_-

But is it really worth the extra money in spent on the car, gas, insurance, etc to get that feeling? As much as I would like to believe it is, it really isn't IMO. So really the only thing left in order to enjoy a car is aesthetics. That's why I chose a 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe for my first car (I got it about a year ago). Not fast, but it looks nice. Once I make alot of money of my own (I hope) and have the time for track days, I will buy a Subaru WRX STi. But until then, I will settle for a good looking, reliable, low cost car.

 

[GTMail]

*ahem 2003-2005 Audi S4 ahem*

 

[Anna+Reece]

Someone's gotta be biased around here.

 

[Zenith]

High performance is usable in the real world without being a public menace.

Roads that wind through hills make a great place to give suspension a workout.

Have you ever seen one of those stoplights in front of the highway? State sanctioned 0-60 run.

Besides, there's a special sort of fun reserved for taking your daily driver to a track day.

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Honda S2000?

 

[Zenith]

Honda S2000?

IMO, a teenager's first car should have at least four seats.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

IMO, a teenager's first car should have at least four seats.

There's some kid around town here that drives a brand new F-150 svt raptor....... It has 4 seats.....

 

[savage388]

Go big or go home. If your going to get something fast how about a 93-97 supra tt. Or you could go and try to find an ever elusive skyline r32-r33 gts(?) or gt-t(?). Its every ricer driver's dream car and they are nice too.

 

[astrosdude91]

Very rarely does anyone get the car they really want as their first car. A first car should be cheap and slow. It's a learning experience. When I was about to get my license, I wanted an E46 M3 as my first car. I would search craigslist all day and save the ads for the ones I really liked. But when the day finally came for my to drive on my own, I was given a hand me down '91 Ford Ranger instead of the Bimmer I really wanted. But I'll tell you, I loved that little truck. It had so much character and personality. It was slow and hamster powered. But it was mine. And I probably had more fun in that than I ever would've in the M3.

Even if you get something slow and dull, you'll still love it since it's your first car. I'm sure most everybody on here can vouch for that.

Also, just out of curiosity. Where did you get $20,000 to spend on a car?

 

[J0SH1]

Subaru WRX ?

 

[Murcie_LP640]

Go big or go home. If your going to get something fast how about a 93-97 supra tt. Or you could go and try to find an ever elusive skyline r32-r33 gts(?) or gt-t(?). Its every ricer driver's dream car and they are nice too.

Skylines in America are elusive for a reason.

 

[savage388]

Skylines in America are elusive for a reason.

There awesome when you find one though.

 

[DaxCobra]

So, is insurance cheaper for 17 year olds over in the states? Over here it costs about £4000 to insure a hatchback for a teenager...

Although, I have found a few 'loophole' cars...

 

[disinfected]

It's not cheap at all. Usually a seventeen year old goes on their parent's policy.

I started out with a hand-me-down Jeep Grand Cherokee when I was seventeen in high school. It was the greatest thing ever because I at least had a set of wheels. When I graduated, my parents chipped in and bought me a ten year old Integra. It had a sunroof, leather seats, it was awesome. I'd still have it to this day if it hadn't gotten spun around by a speeding Crown Victoria. Got the itch after that and picked up a Civic with an engine swap and a turbo. I just felt like I kept getting cooler! I didn't need a Trans Am or a WRX, quite frankly I couldn't afford one, but that was beside the point. Eventually I went into the military, and even with a stable good income the sportiest car I owned was a '07 Sentra SE-R Spec V. (Which is a brilliant car if you ever get a chance to drive one.)

What I'm getting at is, I'm going on 27 and though I'd like to picture myself in an EVO X or something, I'm driving a '12 Hyundai.

I just wish the stigma of "I have to have AWD or RWD" concept would get out of the heads of younger drivers. Why not consider an Integra, Civic, or Sentra? These cars are made to cater to their target markets, and they are beyond fun to drive. I'd also add the first-generation Scion TC to that list, or maybe even a second-hand RSX.

Remember, the more money spent, the more you are liable to end up with an issue you can't afford, whether it be insurance, car payments, upkeep, etc. And let me tell you, you don't want to spend 20,000 as a seventeen year old, and you most certainly don't need to to drive something fun.


EDIT: Also consider how high gas prices are getting. Do you really want to be stuck with a big car payment, a big insurance payment, and pay 50 dollars to fill up a gas-burning turbocharged all wheel drive Subaru every couple of days?