first car

[bigdude39]

So I get my license in a few months and I was wondering what kind of car you guys think I should get. I can afford about $7000. I don't really want a car more than five years old. Any ideas/suggestions?

 

[Farbio]

damn, where do u get 7k to play w/ at 16? i was lucky to find my 10 year old volvo for 2.2k

seriously, look for a good deal on an accord or a civic, you can't go wrong withe either of those on any year in the 90's

 

[Viper GTS]

That's a pretty tight budget for that such late model req's, but how about a 1995 Nissan 200 SX?

Viper GTS

 

[BoberFett]

What do you want? Sports car? Good gas mileage? Reliability? Truck? You need to be a bit more specific.

 

[Viper GTS]

With only $7,000 for a '95 or newer vehicle, he's not going to have a lot of options.

Viper GTS

 

[bigdude39]

I basically want a sedan, not a truck or suv or anything like that. I can come up with a few thousand more if I find a car I like and think is worth it.

 

[BoberFett]

Well, you could go for a Neon, Cavalier, Escort, or something along those lines.

 

[Viper GTS]

So maybe a 10K limit? That would give you more to work with.

Viper GTS

 

[bigdude39]

How about a 96/97 Ford Taurus SHO?

 

[Viper GTS]

SHO = Cool
Auto = Suck

Get an earlier SHO, the last generation. IMO they look better, & there's an available 5-speed. Plus insurance will be cheaper as it's only a Yamaha designed 6 instead of the 8 in the newer SHO's.

Viper GTS

 

[IBhacknU]

FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily

I personally haven't had good luck with Fords. Your mileage may vary

 

[RedCross]

Adding to the above, SHO are sleepers. You can take a Mustang in one. And they are faster than the newer model.

 

[bigdude39]

My family has had nothing but great luck with fords. My grandfather worked for ford years ago (many years ago, designed the first radio built inside a ford) so we get a pretty good discount on them new. Because of this most of the cars in my family are from one of ford's companies.

Viper, what year exactly were you thinking?

 

[Viperoni]

Viper, the older SHO's were 8's....
My first car (still my dad's really) is a 1986 Parisinene with 170k.
But it pulls HARD for a 14 year old car

 

[MrBond]

Gotta agree with the accord idea. Just don't modify it. Keep it as a stock (or however you buy it) accord. People with souped up accords make me wonder sometimes. I mean, if you're gonna modify a car, at least make it something from the 60's or the 70's...(I can see that erupting into a flame war.) VW Jetta's are nice and reliable if you give them lots of love (and regular oil changes). Just don't love it so much you cut yourself on the tailpipe . You really shouldn't sink a large sum into a first car, just buy a beater, that way you won't feel so bad if you wreck it (or in my case, drive it through a wheatfield one day when the roads are just a tad slippery). Trucks are nice, but get poor gas milage. An S-10 (or similar compact truck) will get decent milage, as well as being really handy when you've got stuff to move.

 

[perry]

Viperoni, you stand corrected.
The older SHO's were 3.0L Yamaha V6s. Newer ones (bubble design) are 3.4L V8.
97 Taurus SHO
95 Taurus SHO

 

[Viper GTS]

I dunno what generation of SHO you're talking about, but before the current generation the SHO engine was a Yamaha derived DOHC V-6.

Look here

Viper GTS

 

[EZD]

My first car was a 1995 Honda Prelude "S"... You couldn't ask for a better vehicle. I absolutely love it.

 

[Viper GTS]

One piece of advice for you, bigdude...

When I first got my license, a friend at work flat out told me "You will wreck your first car. Guaranteed. My friends told me that, I swore it wouldn't happen, & it did anyway." I of course insisted it wouldn't happen to me. Well, it did. You might want to consider getting a MUCH cheaper car initially (like 2-3K) until you've been driving for a good year. That way if you wreck it, you won't be out $7K.

Just a thought.

Viper GTS

 

[KotchY]

I aggree, sinice your young and all, all my peeps race alot, many crashed, dont spend all that money of your first car, and check out www.autotrader.com for some cArs

 

[perry]

Didn't wreck my first car, wrecked the second one twice in two years. Been good for the past 18 months tho. <knocking on wood>

 

[RSI]

Viper GTS brings up an excellent point. You are more than likely going to trash the car. Or at least drive it pretty hard, etc. You don't want to be investing lots of money on your first car, when you haven't much driving experience.

-RSI

 

[Viperoni]

Ouch, I just got slapped around!

Damm I always thought the 8's were the original ones!
Somebody pull me out of the clouds....PLEASE!!

 

[Viper GTS]

Damn, I'm clumsy tonight.



Viper GTS

 

[Viper GTS]

RSI brought up another point...

Even if you don't wreck it, you'll more than likely drive it WAY too hard. II used to do 50 mph in second gear in my 83 Tercel (had 223K on it when I finally wrecked it), I'm still amazed I never threw a rod.

Viper GTS