Buying a car

[Zentoph]

First off.. I don't know shit about cars.

If a friend points out a car by going "Look at that nice <insert 50k car here!>" I'll just be like 'fuck you' because they know I have no clue what they're talking about.

Anyway.. I'm 16, getting my license soon, and I need to buy a car. I figured I'd turn here because I figure I'll get good answers.

So.. What I'm looking for is a cheap car/vehicle, that looks decent, doesn't have to be a corvette but I don't want the rust bucket that our neighbor drives. Only other thing I care about is that it's clean (no smoke) and has A/C, as well as capability to hold four people.

I don't want to go out and buy some over-priced used car because the dealer knows I don't know the proper pricing. If anyone can give some advice or just tips when you go to the dealer, it'd be appreciated. I have a generally low budget, 6/hr job at winn-dixie doesn't pull in much, but I have a few months to save, and a little already saved.

[Tsa`ah]

Most cars hold four people.

If you want cheap, reliable, and efficient. Geo Metro/Pontiac Firefly/Suzuki swift.

40mpg is nothing to sneeze at these days. 40mpg +/- 5 with the 1.0L 3cyl with a whopping 55hp. Or 35mpg +/- 5 with the 1.3L SOHC and 100 horses.

The swift came in a GTI as well. Those are a lot more punchy but the fuel economy drops as well.

These cars get cramped with adult sized people, but 2-3 isn't bad.

I can tell you what NOT to get. Stay away from Cavaliers/sunbirds and sunfires. In fact, stay away from the lower/mid end of any domestic. Domestics, unlike most imports, don't hold the same quality standards in production and build that the more expensive models do. A cheap domestic car is cheap for a reason. A cheap import is cheap because there is less to it. Fewer things come standard, more comes optional, less HP. Imports don't skimp where it matters. A Toyota Echo is going to have the same quality as say a Toyota MR2 or Avalon. Where as a Chevy Aveo will be a piece of crap in 3 years while the Monte will still be a good car.

[Kuyuk]

You're 16...


First car: find one for $100 bucks around your town, learn how to drive it, drive it til it's dead (Dont bother telling us you're a great driver, we were all 16 once, we all did the same things you'll do) And once you kill the car, then think about what you would like to get as your first "real" car.

Dont know your budget, but Malibu's are nice cars, you can get a decent used for probably 2-6 grand. They have punch (v6) and are decent on gas.

But I still suggest for your first car, get something you wont mind killing, because you will kill it.


K.

[Tsa`ah]

Chances are you will kill it.

I didn't kill my first, then again I was driving a tractor at 10 years old.

I wouldn't suggest anything with balls of any size for a person's first car. A four cylinder engine is fine and in most cases, less costly to repair.

[Back]

The first car I bought was a '65 Dodge Dart for $300. It was pristine. Yeah, I wrecked it. Good times.

Look through your local paper for something in the $100s. Keep your eye open for cars parked with For Sale signs. Talk to your cousin, uncle, neighbor about it. Sounds like you really are limited by your budget. If those fail, hit the dealerships. At your age, ANY car is a bitch magnet.

[Soulpieced]

My first car was an 89 DeVille. God I loved that car (boat).

[Wezas]

My first car was a '71 VW Superbeetle. It was $400 and lasted a good year before I got into an accident.

Look through the paper, find one for a few hundred dollars that says it runs decent (nothing huge, something good on gas) and then call up and ask the guy if you could take it into a local shop to have a mechanic check it over. That might cost you $50.

Basically, buy crap. You're most likely going to beat the crap out of it or have an accident in it.

Also, I noticed in alot of the papers that Saturns (mid 90's) are pretty damn cheap now. might be a decent first car - though I would stick with the above info and stay away from low-end domestics.

[Latrinsorm]

The biggest problem with Saturns I've found is the bumpers don't dent; they shatter. So getting in a fender-bender isn't something you can fix yourself with a hammer. However, I would still recommend Saturns for kids. Cheap, decent reliability for the 3-4 years you'll have it, pretty good room.

[Eviltwinpsu]

First car was a 1995 pontiac sunfire that my dad bought my brother and me...and its still on the road and running great

second car was a 2003 mitsubishi eclipse that i got for a graduation gift...it however was run into a house by me so thats gone

i now have a 2004 toyota solara sle convertible this is the first car i ever "bought"...i love it and in 5 years the bank will no longer own it!! YEY

[xShadowMerchantx]

Where do you live? I'll sell you my car since I'm moving to California and don't need it anymore.

97 Grand Prix GT - Red exterior w/ Tan leather interior - 4 Door
AM/FM/CD, AC, Cruise, Power Windows, Doors, Keyless Entry

4500$

[Edited on 9-26-2004 by xShadowMerchantx]

[Tsa`ah]

Nice prix. I wouldn't sell a car equipped with an L67/36 to a 16 year old male though.

[Psykos]

Why would it matter who he sold it to -- Isn't money still money?

PsyKOS

[Scott]

Originally posted by Psykos
Why would it matter who he sold it to -- Isn't money still money?

PsyKOS

With that logic it's alright to sell an Uzi to a 16 year old with mental problems.....

[Edited on 9-26-2004 by Gemstone101]

[Tsa`ah]

Originally posted by Psykos
Why would it matter who he sold it to -- Isn't money still money?

PsyKOS

Notice the capitol letter "I" in my post. I don't advocate selling cars with powerful engines to teens for a reason.

He can of course. I just happen to think a supercharged 3.8L v6 is too much muscle for a teen.

[Psykos]

well HE likes money, and HE has a real life, so HE wil most likely sell it, if HE has any common sense. Why be biased to a group of individuals? Judging people before you know them died in the 1960's.

[Tsa`ah]

Because I remember what it's like to be 16. I know how teenagers drive.

Simple when you think about it.

I never told him NOT to sell it to a teen. I said I would never sell nor suggest selling that type of car to a teenager. If he does he does.

[Psykos]

Like 2 years ago?

[Wezas]

When you're young and male, 9 times out of 10 - Horsepower = trouble. For your first car - get something that's reliable, cheap to fix, and 100 hp or less.

[Tsa`ah]

Originally posted by Psykos
Like 2 years ago?

15

[Psykos]

jesus christ no wonder your soo senile.

[Betheny]

Originally posted by Tsa`ah
Because I remember what it's like to be 16. I know how teenagers drive.

Simple when you think about it.

I never told him NOT to sell it to a teen. I said I would never sell nor suggest selling that type of car to a teenager. If he does he does.

Not to mention it's going to be incredibly expensive to get good insurance on a new driver, so you might as well just drive a throwaway POS.

[xShadowMerchantx]

My first car was an 86 Plymouth Reliant - Go K Car Go!

Mother bought it as a X-Mas present.

Sadly to say, my first accident was caused by this POS car. The brakes locked up and I rear ended someone. If I would have had a car with decent breaks, I would have been accident free.

[Jorddyn]

I don't really have any advice that anyone else here hasn't given you.

Buy an old piece of crap. And, in the immortal words of my dad, "There's no difference between a $200 piece of crap and a $1000 piece of crap."

Save on insurance. Save on payments. Save on repairs when you crash it. Laugh at your friends who are working 30 hours a week to be able to afford their cars when yours is paid off and your insurance runs you $40 a month.

Jorddyn, first car was a 1987 Chevy Sprint, hatchback, manual transmission, 1.0? engine

[hectomaner]

1989 chevrolet cavalier RS

you'll love it as a first car

[Numbers]

First car that I got was a used '94 Toyota Camry with only 50k or so mile on it. Excellent condition, got it for only $5k back in 98.

I still drive it. The thing's rock-solid, and I've never had any problems with it at all. I've only put 40k miles on it since I've had it, but it's not showing any signs of breaking down at all.

[Jack]

My first car was a big old 88 Chevy K-2500. I still drive it today. A good first car would probably be something like an older Toyota Corolla, or Camry. It's pretty near impossible to kill a Toyota engine, and the little four cylinder engines get pretty good gas milage. That said, I happen to have an ugly little blue 91 corolla that I don't want/need......

[Madmox]

Look for a 86-90 Mazda RX-7. You can usually pick them up dirt cheap with a blown engine then have a new put in and voila' car brand new engine like 1200 bucks total. and to keep Ta'sah happy the engine only displaces like 1.3L. Of course hand in hand with that comes like 170 horsepower. But really RX-7's are safe as hell one of the most over engineered cars around. I think they make them in 4 seaters too though that may take a little looking. Heres what one looks like in my next post.
-Mox

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Madmox
Look for a 86-90 Mazda RX-7. You can usually pick them up dirt cheap with a blown engine then have a new put in and voila' car brand new engine like 1200 bucks total. and to keep Ta'sah happy the engine only displaces like 1.3L. Of course hand in hand with that comes like 170 horsepower. But really RX-7's are safe as hell one of the most over engineered cars around. I think they make them in 4 seaters too though that may take a little looking. Heres what one looks like in my next post.
-Mox

170hp + RX7 + (likely no airbags) = $$$$$$$ Insurance for a 16 year old.

[Madmox]

You insurance rate will depend on whether they classify it as a sportscar which some companies base on weight. I know mine was'nt bad. And they are quick and rev really high!
-Moxon
-p.s. Pistons are over rated

[Madmox]

Oh yeah and i forgot this is one

<---
-Mox

[Jorddyn]

Originally posted by hectomaner
1989 chevrolet cavalier RS

you'll love it as a first car

That was my second car. It had 40k miles on it when I got it, 180k when I got rid of it. The only "non-maintenance" items I had to do were replacing the muffler and battery, which could arguably be maintenance :) Great car.

Jorddyn

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Madmox
You insurance rate will depend on whether they classify it as a sportscar which some companies base on weight. I know mine was'nt bad. And they are quick and rev really high!
-Moxon
-p.s. Pistons are over rated

Using Progressive's site (the only one that gives you a quote right away)

16 year old - 1990 RX-7 Non-Turbo - Cheapest Liability only insurance available - $2916/year

16 year old - 1990 RX-7 Turbo - Cheapest Liability only insurance available - $3068

16 year old - 1999 Saturn SL-2 - Cheapest Liability only insurance available - $2474/year

16 year old - 1995 Civic DX - Cheapest Liability only insurance - $2588/year

So $400-$600 cheaper per year for insurance - not that a 16 year old's insurance is cheap to begin with.