Oh dear. I'm making one of those "Pick me out a car" threads.

[Matt R]

A 300ZX all the way.

The prices for a good one vary. It all depends on what you want from your car. Reading that you want one with a sport like feel I'd suggest a 1996 300ZX Turbo convertible.

For one in good condition expect to pay more than $11,000 but less than $12,000. The car is twin turbo charged with twin intercoolers as well. (One set for each cylinder bank.) The four-cam, 24-valve 3.0-liter engine developed 300 horsepower with 5-speed manual shift, or 280 horsepower when fitted with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Automatic also was available with the less-powerful engine. Turbos had intercooler inlets in the front air dam, a rear spoiler, Z-rated tires, and super HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Steering) 4-wheel steering. That meant the rear wheels first turned slightly in the opposite direction from the front wheels, then in the same direction, to improve stability in fast lane-changes. Antilock braking was standard. Door-mounted front seatbelts could be left buckled, to deploy automatically. A T-top roof was standard on the Turbo model. Expect to get 0-60 times in around 6.2 seconds. Gas consumption isn't bad in this turbo either, expect around 17mpg.

Hope this helps in your quest for a new car MistaX.

 

[IMADreamer]

#1: Yes
#2: Have a Fiance, who's into cars and supports me getting a car. (But only a car she likes, of course. She doesn't want me to get an S2K because they're too "girly", or an Evo because they're too "Overloaded with flamboyant crap.")
#3: No, planning to devote my life to UPS (And it seems to be a good idea. Their career oppertunities are endless, if you work hard enough.)
#4: Car = Hobbie

So you are engaged and still going to live at home? Cut the cord man, it's time to move out. Get a cheaper car and get a decent house.

Good luck with your UPS career. I know some people that have been life long employees and they are doing really well for themselves. 👍

 

[MistaX]

So you are engaged and still going to live at home? Cut the cord man, it's time to move out. Get a cheaper car and get a decent house.

Good luck with your UPS career. I know some people that have been life long employees and they are doing really well for themselves. 👍

The girl lives with her parents. Oh. What now?! And we arn't getting married for years and years and years.

 

[IMADreamer]

The girl lives with her parents. Oh. What now?! And we arn't getting married for years and years and years.

smart man. Hold off getting married as long as you can. Granted this is coming from a guy who is 25 and single because his last girlfriend got tired of waiting for me to ask her to marry me.

Most importantly test drive every car you can get your hands on and have fun. Car shopping is my favorite thing in the world.

 

[JCE]

Sorry, that is BS. Why is that so ? Whyt qualifies you to judge ? Don't take your own driver qualities and skills and set them as standart.

I live in Germany, and you know the Autobahn, right ? As I got my driving licence, my father donated me a Mercedes Benz C32 AMG with 343 hp for one day, since my own car, the Subaru Impreza WRX STi was no released yet. ... that was 3 days after I got my licence, and guess what, I hit Vmax of this car this day, not only once. Now, the fact that I did prooves nothing, it could just mean that my father is irresponsible and I am a lucky bastard, because I survived. Fact is however, that I am and always was a very good driver, I had and have a natural feeling for what a specific car can do at any given situation, in corners with FF,FR AWD, in rain, on snow. Although I've had no experience with carts or whatsoever before, I just had it. I was a lot better than my friends who also just got their licence. 6 months later I got my own Subaru Impreza WRX STi with now 300 hp, about 270 at that time. I race that car, on the Autobahn as well on the country side. But I drive save and in my 5 years of driving with everything from S-classes over Civic Type R and Porsche Boxter, BMW z1, Audi S4, Triumph TR6 or a rental car drifting through the touges of Japan ... whatever... I always drove fast and save, at least as save as possible. And it was not just by luck, that I didn't have a single accident.

I never got a ticket by the way, let's call it "instincts", since several country roads have seen me with "allowed vmax * factor 2,5 " at certain times...

I am no street racer, though, just to make that clear. I just love cars and driving them at the limits every now and then.

So I say it again, you are not qualified to judge in this case. You are not the center of the world, if I would do the same as you did with your post, I'd say :
Young people out there, after picking up your new driving licenc,e go to the next Porsche dealer, buy a 911 GT2 and have fun at vmax, which would be just as wrong as your statement.

Not everybody needs to save money, wants an own house or to wait the whole life for a great car. I say, if he can afford driving a fast car now, he should do it. especially because he is rather young, since you appreciate it even more.

Ok you obviously missed my point but oh well. Let me edit my post because I obviously forgot one slight detail. I MEANT MY COMMENTS FOR AMERICANS NOT THE REST OF THE WORLD. It's a well known fact that Japan, Australia, and Europe as a whole have better driver's training and more requirements to get the driving license. It's too easy to get a license in America, that's part of the problem. And since I neglected to mention my post was directed at Americans I didn't bother reading past the 4th sentence of your post. Again as I told MistaX don't take what I said personally...and ESPECIALLY since you weren't intended on even being in my rant.

Thank you that is all.

 

[harrytuttle]

Well you judge my driving abilities and my IQ simply by a 30 line post ? Doesn't sound that intelligent aswell
I am no kid, I am 23 years old,driving my STi since I'm 18, I study medicine, my father, who payed a huge part of my STi, is a doctor aswell and he has seen many heavy car and Autobahn accidents in his life. Still he and even my mother have no problem with that car, since they know that I am responsible and skilled enough for it.

This is all irrelevant. You simply don't have enough public-road experience. You're too young. Even if you've been driving since you were 5, the fact that you're under 30 means you are still emotionally underdeveloped. Proper development comes from wisdom; wisdom is only gained over time. You still need more time.

 

[Race Idiot]

Ok you obviously missed my point but oh well. Let me edit my post because I obviously forgot one slight detail. I MEANT MY COMMENTS FOR AMERICANS NOT THE REST OF THE WORLD. It's a well known fact that Japan, Australia, and Europe as a whole have better driver's training and more requirements to get the driving license. It's too easy to get a license in America, that's part of the problem. And since I neglected to mention my post was directed at Americans I didn't bother reading past the 4th sentence of your post. Again as I told MistaX don't take what I said personally...and ESPECIALLY since you weren't intended on even being in my rant.

Thank you that is all.

MistaX has had about 3 minutes of 'advanced driver training' with some guy in an evo apparently so apparently his skill is way higher than the rest of you plebs in automocars.

I've heard people who have witnessed his previous undertakings (no not actual undertakings, no not those ones either) of participating in stoplight races. Leading to other less skilled pilots of motor carriages who have been simultaneously shocked and flabbergasted at the skill of John Bergins aptitude to manipulate the accelerative device on his majestic automated chariot (now sadly departed)known as a Camaro Z28.

Seriously dude he's an awesome driver.

Edit: note this post isn't probably true, or if it is it may be just overly sarcastic
edit: ok ok I have no idea how good of a driver he is I just made this up
edit: also I like to use the probably non exsistant word automocar
edit: I would have tried to fit vulcanising the tyres in somewhere but I forgot

 

[Max_DC]

Ok you obviously missed my point but oh well. Let me edit my post because I obviously forgot one slight detail. I MEANT MY COMMENTS FOR AMERICANS NOT THE REST OF THE WORLD. It's a well known fact that Japan, Australia, and Europe as a whole have better driver's training and more requirements to get the driving license. It's too easy to get a license in America, that's part of the problem. And since I neglected to mention my post was directed at Americans I didn't bother reading past the 4th sentence of your post. Again as I told MistaX don't take what I said personally...and ESPECIALLY since you weren't intended on even being in my rant.

Thank you that is all.

Oh well, no big deal, thanks for explaining anyway.

This is all irrelevant. You simply don't have enough public-road experience. You're too young. Even if you've been driving since you were 5, the fact that you're under 30 means you are still emotionally underdeveloped. Proper development comes from wisdom; wisdom is only gained over time. You still need more time.

Ok If the almighty harrytuttle says it, then it is fact. Or what ?
So you are the one man on earth who says what is wrong and right, black and white ( wow could be a great song title )... is that what you want to tell me ?
Because that's the impression I get.
Ok, you say that this is irrelevant. It can indeed be. It could stand for a higher level of maturity and wisdom, but since it is no must, I agree, yeah to a certain point irrelevant indeed.
I don't have enough puplic road experience...now that is interesting. And wrong. What does 20 years of driving like a sissi and lemming teach you ? Freaking nothing. You get used to it and stop paying attention. So 30 is the age you take as reference. Ok let me tell you sth, the fact that I study medicine just became relevant again. If you knew who "learning" works and at what age learning works best, and how your brain is degenerating at the age of 30 ( depending on how you take care of it ) and some statistics about medicine in general, you wouldn't say sth like you did. It is just wrong.


Let me tell you some points you forgot to think about : 12 years of driving means what ? Why is time your factor ? Who is better, a driver who went a million miles in 6 years including highway, urban, offroad, winter, rain, fog or a driver with automatik transmission, who takes the same road to church every sunday - granted for 15 years, but like 30 k miles in total...

Next point, if "learning" anything from science to practical stuff like driving would take a decade, we couldn't even walk or say "mama"...got my point ?

Wisdom... a big word, I tell you sth, some people never get wise others are ... and what you call wise is sth totally different in medical terms. Your body, depending on your age, your sourrounding, your behavior, always has different mixtures of hormones... So what you call "wise" is of course a good part of life experience, but "wise decisions" are also a result of a different hormone mix. So, If I cut off your testicles at the age of 15, you'll be the slowest driver on earth, wheras I can take any of your "wise old men", give him a hormone cocktail and he'll race like Schumacher...or dies of a heart attack, what you prefer.

Of course you should get a feel for the car, should experience several situations in traffic...some need 6 months, others 6 years, some never learn. Why do you know which one I am ?

So don't go out and make statements like this. They are so wrong as they can possibily be. There are billions of people out there, and you say : oh well, he is not 30, bad driver...

I...I... please stop making such posts, I could write for hours, probably I could make a doctor in at least 4 different sciences out of what you wrote by analyizing all the content. Wisdom is gained over time... tell that the alcololic in your neighborhood... or the housewife, who doesn't get her as* of the couch, watching teleshopping allday...
I have seen people dying in front of me (patients), I cut people into peaces ( anatomy), all my life I learned sciences, from biology over history to biochemistry, I pay attention to politics, I travelled many countries, I don't drink or take drugs and you want to tell me that I am "emotionally underdeveloped" without knowing me at all? Are you kidding me ?

I drove at least 50 different vehicles from 50 kg to 3500 kg with FF,FR,AWD, left hand, right hand drive, diesel and normal gas, automatik tranny and manual, in snow on tarmac and in dirt, in heavy fog and sunshine and in the middle of the night, I drove 280 km/h and 2 km/h, I drove through the monster city of Tokyo aswell as through empty passes in the Alps, I can drift and I know aquaplaning, I know whow to control understeering and oversteering, torque steering, using the handbrake, what a certain suspension can do and what not, I drive about 35000 km a year... I had about every incident you can imagine : Loosing grip in wet corners, idiots on my side of the road right in front of me, an exploding tire on a country road in a FR car, in a curve at 140 km/h,Autobahn crashes in front of me.. you name it, I was in that situation.

That is the way it is, and when you get the impression that I am a " OMG I HAVE A PS2 WIHT TEH GT4 and I am DA UBER DRIFFFTA", well then I can't help you,I am a skilled driver and I am sorry that I can't present you the picture you have of me.

I strongly recommend you, to start thinking about the whole world and how things are connected in it, before bringing false statements next time.... You are Mr.Generalize, and that is exactly the point I hate so much on the Internet... it's full of people who think "I know how everything works and my posts will show that"...
Why don't you say : "I think" "Imo" "From what I experienced"... learn that, it will help you a lot...Because atm you give me the impression of a rather old man with ateriosclerosis who has the typical symptoms of a middle age man : Having lost the ability to be flexible in thoughts, taking his own experiences and setting them absolute.... See how I did that ? " I have the impression" ...not "You are"...because judging by a few lines in a post is idiotic...Got it ? 👍

 

[Diego440]

wow, Max... I bet your keyboard was smoking after that.... I really think you should get that prescription filled out

Then again, I think what he's really talking about is intellectual maturity. The fact that you're under 30 makes you more prone to do stupid stuff while driving. Like if you're at a stop light and a car pulls up next to you and starts revving his engine, someone under 30 (in most cases) would be more prone to do the stupid thing (race) than to do the smart thing (ignore him).

 

[Max_DC]

wow, Max... I bet your keyboard was smoking after that.... I really think you should get that prescription filled out

Then again, I think what he's really talking about is intellectual maturity. The fact that you're under 30 makes you more prone to do stupid stuff while driving. Like if you're at a stop light and a car pulls up next to you and starts revving his engine, someone under 30 (in most cases) would be more prone to do the stupid thing (race) than to do the smart thing (ignore him).

It was smoking and the simple fact that I had to pee made me shorten things and bring it to an end

Yes I understood that, but unlike you he claimed that this specific behavior IS FACT for every person under 30. That is the main problem I have with his post. It is one big generalization. Sure, he might have a more balanced point of view, but his post doesn't show that.
Let's take your example, the stop light situation. harrytuttle would say : under 30 and discussion over : Max will race and since he is an "emotionally underdeveloped" driver he most likely will kill at least himself and a view bystanders.

Age says nothing by itsself. Sure it is a certain indicator, but totally vague.
Just a view facts that really determine the reaction of the driver in that particular situation.

Hormone status
Good day/bad day
working day/ holidays / exams / too late / too soon / healthy / has a cold
genetic factors
how the driver was raised
his social background : friends, family
finacial background
amount of gas in the tank
new tires ? Had a beer at lunch ? Watched the Formula one Race before ?
got a speed ticket yersterday?
intelectual background, enviromental protector, police officer...
charcter of the driver : poser, emo, intelectual book freak


I mean comme on, I could go on forever. Change a few parameters in one direction and a 75 year old grandmother with 3 preteen children on the backseat will beat the shi* out of her Buick when the light turns on green, change them into the opposite direction and a 18 year old diehard racing fan with metal at max volume, who just watched the fast and the furious in the cinema will not even think of racing.

That is my point.

 

[Race Idiot]

Isn't this getting incredibly offtopic now? Maybe you should start a thread about what an awesome driver you are.

 

[Pupik]

If you've got $500/month for the payment book and insurance, then an older BMW 325i or an IS 300 is your all-round ticket. Take your pick, you can't go wrong.

Don't spend more than 300/month on a car at your age, that's just stupid if you're not filthy rich. Even then, that's a bit high.

 

[JCE]

Pupik the IS series has a symbol rating of over 23...and the insurance would me monsterous. I wouldn't recommend a Lexus...all of them are high insurance. Oh and so is Infiniti.

 

[Race Idiot]

If you've got $500/month for the payment book and insurance, then an older BMW 325i or an IS 300 is your all-round ticket. Take your pick, you can't go wrong.

Don't spend more than 300/month on a car at your age, that's just stupid if you're not filthy rich. Even then, that's a bit high.

Eh the only bad thing about the IS300 is the premium you pay for servicing and parts like most luxury brands. Athough I suppose anything that is fairly sporty will cost more than something that isn't. Also aren't manual IS300's pretty rare?

Saying that I realy do like the old IS cars and I did consider one but looking at servicing prices put me off getting one.

If I was in his situation, I would go for the Starion/Conquest. They aren't too expensive (compared to allot of the cars on his list), they are quick but not stupidly quick but can be made quicker and you've got the fact that they aren't very common.

 

[Pupik]

Conquest? Jeez, only if MistaX is a sucker for throwing money in an old Mitsubishi...pretty much a Japanese Alfa Romeo, with half the charm.

A buddy of mine had one, but only because his dad was a Mitsu mechanic. They had a tendancy to kick out the rear-end during hard deceleration, I noticed.

So what else is practical for 1500/mo.? It sounds like MistaX is painting himself into a corner.

 

[harrytuttle]

Ok If the almighty harrytuttle says it, then it is fact. Or what ?

It's fact if every psychologist tells you the same thing. I'm just paraphrasing others' work. Your braggadocious attitude does wonders for your ability to display intellectual maturity.

Age actually does say a lot just by itself. If you still think this way 20 years from now, you still haven't learned anything. Socrates himself claimed to know nothing but his own ignorance. You could do a lot to learn a little from a dead guy.

 

[Max_DC]

Isn't this getting incredibly offtopic now? Maybe you should start a thread about what an awesome driver you are.

True, I mean, it has gone a little offtopic. Note though, that I didn't search a platform to advertise my driving skills, I just gave an example of how you can drive a sports car at 18 and not die...see?

It's fact if every psychologist tells you the same thing. I'm just paraphrasing others' work. Your braggadocious attitude does wonders for your ability to display intellectual maturity.

Age actually does say a lot just by itself. If you still think this way 20 years from now, you still haven't learned anything. Socrates himself claimed to know nothing but his own ignorance. You could do a lot to learn a little from a dead guy.

No, NO real psychologist will say such simpleminded generalizations... Why do you thinks they go to university for several years? I love people who quote without thinking about the content for a second. There are so many factors, and I even listed a hand full of them above. Sorry I had a lot of psychology in university, it is an important part of my formation as a doctor.
You are paraphrasing indeed, obviously without knowing anything about the subject. So honestly, I have to laugh a bit... You quote Socrates, yet you ignore my last two posts with a ton of arguments which break down your theory. Sorry, I don't know you personally, but apart from the fact that I don't want to hijack this thread - since we are really offtopic now - I don't really think that it makes any sense to talk with you here any further, since you are obviously lacking basic scientific knowledge... you try to compensate it with the illusion of your gained wisdom and end up as a pretty much arrogant person... Believe me, I don't know a lot about you, almost nothing tbh, but I have certain ideas why you talk like this. But hey, whatever, if you would like to go on discussing, pm me, but let's keep this thread clean.
And I say it again : Age doesn't say anything as a single factor in this subject, how can you ignore this ? I don't say, that your post is complete nonsense, but it still is is a generalization.

 

[Matt R]

MistaX, I'm under the assumption that the post I made about the 300ZX doesn't interest you. Enlighten me.

 

[MistaX]

MistaX, I'm under the assumption that the post I made about the 300ZX doesn't interest you. Enlighten me.

I've been avoiding this thread till the arguments have subsided, so excuse my tardyness (or tardiness, however it's spelt)

I have an interest in the 300ZX, proven by it being on the list.

There's just a few things I'm not sure about, like reliability, and how much of a value they are (they're prices are high, for what they are)

But I found a damn nice one...here

 

[Jim Prower]

I'd avoid that one. Modified often = unreliable, and sometimes means run-the-hell-out-of.

But, if you want a modified car, why not get a stock one and do the work yourself? It's much more rewarding.

 

[MistaX]

It's not heavily done, which is why I'm not overlooking it. And he's not parading around saying how much rwhp it makes. The car is clean, and very, very nicely done.

 

[Matt R]

I've been avoiding this thread till the arguments have subsided, so excuse my tardyness (or tardiness, however it's spelt)

I have an interest in the 300ZX, proven by it being on the list.

There's just a few things I'm not sure about, like reliability, and how much of a value they are (they're prices are high, for what they are)

But I found a damn nice one...here

Reliability is great. My cousin owns a 2x2 95 300ZX with over 170k miles and it runs just as it did when he bought it with 60k miles. Problems that may arise would be:

Clutch: On turbocharged models ,the clutch may slip because the clutch-pedal return spring is too weak. (1990-91)
Fuel pump: Adding fuel-injector cleaner to the gas tank can cause corrosion on the fuel injector coils, which will eventually damage them. (1990-94)

Poor drivability: problem with the power transistor causes drivability and idle problems, and there was a voluntary recall to replace it. (1990-93)

Driver seat: The original power-seat switch sticks out and is often kicked and broken, but there is a revised switch with a shorter lever and stronger housing available. (1990)

Water leak: Leaves and other debris can collect in the evaporator housing, clogging the drain and causing water to leak into the passenger footwell. A revised cowl screen is required. (1990)

Windows: The power windows may shudder during operation requiring revised window regulators (1990-91), or the windows may not operate due to dust building up in the main power window switch. (1990-92)

You're paying for all the modifications done to the 300ZX in your link. A stock 300ZX in GREAT quality won't run you over $10k.

 

[Tahitidrift]

Matt, where are you?

 

[speed_demon]

how much do you earn a year if you can afford $11,000 on just the insurance or do you still live with your parents and not haqve to pay the bills (this is not meant as a personal attack so please dont take it as one i am simply asking because it must be a realy well paying job if you live by yourself and pay housing bills etc)

 

[Danoff]

What's going to be different about mine, compaired to everyone else's, is the budget.


My budget will not be one solid figure. My budget, is per month.

Mostly because I have no money saved to put toward anything, but I'm going to be making a decent amount per month.


So here's my budget:
$1500 per month.

Here's my suggestion, buy a used dodge neon and put the rest in savings. You're 18, you have no idea how blowing this kind of cash this early is going to pummel your finances in the future.

If you're going to be making a decent wage, then you shouldn't be financing a car at all - you should buy it outright. If you can't afford it yet, wait a year or two until you can. Have an ounce of self-discipline.

My guess is that you'll ignore this post and go on deciding that at 18 you need to have a more expensive automobile than many people drive in their entire lives. You'll buy a super expensive car, wreck it, and end up stuck in poverty for 5 years while you're trying to deal with insurance/payments/medical bills.

If you really want to pretend you're rich, do it right, buy it with cash.

 

[Matt R]

Danoff's idea is good. It's something I have done myself. I have a 1999 5.0 V8 AWD Explorer XLT. It's paid off in December. It's reliable as hell. It's not a cool car, but then again it's nearly paid off and will be mine forever. I plan on driving that vehicle until it dies. During that time, I will save my money relentlessly. When the day comes for a new car, I'll have money in the bank.

 

[skip0110]

Think what life was like when you were 13. Now think how different your life will be when you finish paying off this car.

I'm with danoff. Buy a Neon.

EDIT:

Also, have you considered how much more you will spend because of interest and insurance? In Mass., I don't need comprehensive insurance on my car because I own it fully. Thats a big savings.