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A good first car
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That new car smell is awfully nice. Amazing how fumes from drying glue and hardening vinyl can elicit such enthusiasm.
-juice
Oh, i remeber my first car, a 1983 Chevy celbrity, bought it for $675, paid about $1200 for insurance, and another $700 over a course of a year to keep it running. This was the car i learnt that you can not stomp on your brakes in rain and expect it to go straight. I learnt that snow banks are really hard, I learnt that cars don't stop on a dime.
Am I alone thinking that a first car should be something really cheap? there are plenty of safe cars out there in the under $2000 category.
Like Dudka mentioned, this was the car I learned how to "drive" with. We're not talking driver's ed or DOL tests. Things like what a lot of understeer does (found myself in a ditch on the side of the road) how to handle heavy rain and fog, why having friends in the back seat and playing with the radio can really be dangerous (most kids dont listen to mom and dad). The car survived but I'm glad a new car didnt have to run the trials of a this new driver.
To each their own, good luck.
The rest of my new driver years were on motorcycles. I am truly grateful that my kid doesn't want his own wheels badly enough to follow in my skid marks. I oughta be in a wheel chair.
I think that only works if the new driver, most likely a teenager, is actually paying for the car themselves, and did not get it as sweet 16", or "graduation gift" from their parents and has no concept of where money is coming from.
Also, this theory only works if the new driver is alone in the car, without his/her friends distracting them or encouraging them to do stupid things. :-)
In a way, it may be safer if the car is new and the conqequences of a collision meant the driver took it easy. ABS and traction/stability control might keep them out of trouble, too. And modern cars are much safer when hit by others.
-juice
While new cars have superior devices like abs and airbags, lets not forgot the exteriors are as fragile as cheap silverware...my clunker got hit on the driver side's well well/ passenger door by a 1998-2002 honda accord doing 30 mph, his front completely crumpled while I left with a dent in my door and a wheel misalignment...
I would recommend a used car to partyboy...insurance is better, payments are better, the car is yours, and here are some great cars out there in your range:
1993-1996 (i think) BMW 3's
1996-2000 Integras (my choice)
1996-2000 Celica's
1993-1998 Preludes
then protege's, corolla's, etc...
I recently test drove an elantra gt, not too shabby, suspension was awesome (like protege) but auto tranny lacked something...precision...other than that it seems like a great buy...I'm considering a black hatch gt loaded to the gills for $15 (thats abs, sunroof, traction, etc)....you could opt for a 1 year old model that would easily be in your range.
I'll stop there and suggest any buyer check out the info available from NHTSA and IIHS, just FWIW.
-juice
Hit a fire hydrant (long story). It cost me $50 to buy and weld a new bumber on it. Oh yeah, I lived to tell about it too. If I had had ABS, I wouldn't have hit the hydrant. Hmmmmm...
saw couple of 2003 leftovers but their prices seems out of whack.
here is the spec:
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE with pwr locks, rear defroster, auto, intermittent wipers, 1.8L engine, floor mats, air, and micro filter.
he listed MSRP as $16,290 and invoice as $14,969.
i think the invoice price is higher than it should be.
do you think i can get the car for $14,500?
http://fitzmall.com/
They sell Nissans at no-haggle prices near DC, so you can get an idea what they cost. Those prices include freight.
They have one for $12,110, probably a stripped one though. Most cost $14-15k or so.
-juice
You could get an early 90s Subaru Legacy with the 2.2 for $2000 these days. They are pretty reliable and many have AWD.
You could get a 90-91 Integra for that price too, or thereabouts. Very reliable cars (if you find one that wasn't modded or raced)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I bought a '93 Miata 3 years ago for $7800. It's still worth $6000 or more, because it only has 42k miles (26k when I bought it).
Cons? It's tiny. No good if you're over 6 foot. Insurance may be high for a teen male. Blind spots with the top up. Small gas tank, little cargo room.
Pros? Very reliable. It's now 11 years old and I've spent exactly $10.72 in repairs (on a clutch clave cylinder rebuild kit). Fun as anything. Cheap to run, about 27mpg.
So get an insurance quote, if it's good they are cheap to run and maintain. Miata.net has an excellent garage section if you like to do things yourself.
-juice
You almost never get all of it. Make a list and number it. Post it, and we'll give you some great choices.
It's pretty hard to go wrong with older Mustangs and Civics. There is are quite a few mods and quite a few of vehicles available. Personally, I'd avoid turbos for insurance and maintenance issues.
Stick with a fun, economical car, not too powerful.
-juice
All I know is there were quite a few of them at my H.S..
Overview: Among the humdrum 1991-to-1994 Sentras, the SE-R version was a standout: a particularly good-performing, inexpensive sporty two-door. The Sentra was redesigned for 1995, and the coupe version renamed the 200SX. The Sentra series of that vintage were underpowered and the interior was cheaply made: overall a notch below the best small cars of the era.
The interior was a beige/brown color that while a bit spartan with harder plastics, was very well constructed with no obvious rattles. I changed out the cassette player with a Pioneer CD player, and even with the stock speakers, the music I listen to(dance/hip-hop) had strong bass even with the OEM speakers.
The only repairs made was a starter at around 105K, and a axle replacement( busted CV boot) at around 115K.
I had to sell it in 2000 because it had to have $$ for college living expenses, but I still wish I was driving it today. It had enough for 4 moderately sized friends, so room is not as much of a problem as one would think considering its' compact exterior.
I bet a Sentra of this generation (91-94) with reasonable miles could be had for 2K or so, if not less at auctions.
For new cars, in your price range, my recommendation would go to the Elantra. My friend was going to get a GT hatchback last year before buying a used 99 Maxima for a similar price. I was impressed with the ride, quietness, and features of the Elantra, especially the GT. A GTcan be had for around 13-14 K after rebate before taxes. Plus it has a 5/60K bumper to bumper and 10/100K powertrain warranty. The only obvious negatives are higher insurance costs and the IIHS offset crash test rating ( although NHTSA ratings are very good, 4 & 5 stars). Good luck in your search.
-juice
Second, in this price bracket what would be some other cars, that would be comparable/better in terms of reliability, comfort & value for money?
and believe me, i've TRIED lol
Off the lot, it won't be the car that's most fun to drive. But, if you're interested in fun-to-drive, there are a TON of aftermarket items (exhaust, suspension, wheels, tires, air intake) that can be had relatively inexpensively that'll make her fun.
$15,900? Do it.
Even if it does cost more, you like it, it's worth paying a little more to be happy.
-juice
If you don't mind a hatchback loaded to the gills (A/C, sunroof, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, am/fm/cd with 6 speakers, Recarro seats, rally style shifter, 160 hp i-VTEC, Alloy wheels, Electric power steering ala BMW 7 series, Electronic brake force distribution (the closest to traction control in a civic), 4 wheel disk ABS brakes, 0-60 in 7.5 seconds, built-in roll cage, and versatility of a hatch) go for a left over 2002 Si, there are quite a few of them out there. They are usually tucked away in the back of dealer lots. They still offer 3 year/36000 mile warranty from the day of purchase. These left over ones are actually cheaper than used civic's with more miles. Honda also offers 1.9% financing on them as well.
-juice
Don't go for Corolla if you want performance. It is just a box on wheels. There is nothing special about it to seperate it from the rest of the croud. All you will get with it is a comfy chair to sit on with absolutely no feedback from the car, its almost like its dead.
The Civic might be praised, but anyone who has gotten near the new gen knows how much it rattles. It makes too much noise for the supposedly quiet Honda. Also, very small with a small engine, not sporty at all. Even the Si IMO is not good first car, it has high insurance, no torque and not quite comfy.
BTW, I am impressed by how much $$$ you have saved, but why are you spending all on car? How old are you again? You should save for other things, too, for a car is not everything.
All in all, it depends on what you are into, sportiness, comfort, luxury, or economy. make your choice based off of that.
Kumit-
RP Cali
But seriously, I think a beater is always a good idea as a first car. Pick something reliable, but not beautiful.
-juice
The only thing I will agree with that's been posted is the comment about ranking what's important - utility, gas mileage, safety, fun-to-drive factor, cost of ownership, insurance. Only then will we get an idea of what's important to the buyer. We have an idea of the budget - $13.5K. Who's footing the insurance bill? Gas? Maintenance? Without this information, we can speculate, argue, suggest and cajole all we want without coming to a conclusion.
So, how about it, partyboye1? What's *really* immporant to you?
Still, "fun" is subjective. A Miata is fun, but so is a Jeep, and they are polar opposites.
Try a place like CarMax, which carries several brands. Even if you drive used samples, they'll give you a pretty good indication of who you like them (and how they hold up).
Try the cars mentioned above, spend a day and narrow it down to your 2-3 favorites. Then drive new samples of those cars.
-juice
Affordable: Echo, Elantra, Protege, Sentra, Lancer, Civic, Corolla, Impreza.
Fun to drive: Protege, Civic, Impreza (really good front seats in this one), Sentra, Corolla, Lancer, Elantra, Echo (I haven't driven one, just going by what I read). YMMV on this one.
Fits 3 in comfort: Lancer (more rear headroom than the next 3), Protege, Elantra, Civic (flat rear floor, but I find the seat bottoms too low for me...the previous gen's front seats were too low and very uncomfortable for me...a big surprise given the Accord's seats were so comfortable), Corolla (the rear seat is much bigger than before...still a little less legroom, but lots more headroom, but I find the steering wheel too far away, even with the tilt/telescope steering column), Echo (I have sat in a couple...padding seems a bit thin, but serviceable...outboard rear seats seem to cant your shoulders inwards a bit), Impreza, Sentra (these last two still have rather cramped rear seats IMO).
Interior: The ones I mentioned above are all comparable. The Corolla's interior is very nice now (it used to feel very cheap...so did that in the previous Civic's). The Echo's is noticeably cheaper than the others. The Elantra GT's leather feels thin and the fake leather on its doors is easily torn.
Who's paying for gas? Insurance? Maintenance? You -- or the folks? Will this be your car to drive 100% of the time or will you have to share it with someone else in your household? Again, I ask so that we here can get the complete picture.
Having been through this process just recently (my step son will be 17 next month), I've got my own thoughts and opinions, but will keep them to myself until we get a better idea of what's going on with you.
-juice
What a rust bucket. It never knew what a garage was in it's 14 years prior to meeting me.
I'm so glad I didn't have a nice car as my first car.