Help Me Pick a Car!

[Waters]

Since you live in NJ, definitely stay away from the Mustangs and Camaros.........and this is coming from a huge Mustang guy. You can't drive those year around safely....especially somebody that is just getting their license. The Mercedes and Audis are going to be too expensive to repair unless you find one with a factory warranty.

 

[wesman42]

Since you live in NJ, definitely stay away from the Mustangs and Camaros.........and this is coming from a huge Mustang guy. You can't drive those year around safely....especially somebody that is just getting their license. The Mercedes and Audis are going to be too expensive to repair unless you find one with a factory warranty.

I have a story about this. My father was a director at Bosch. The seat motors for the S class were sold to Mercedes at $12.50 a piece. At the dealership, they retail for over $400 a piece because they contain the star logo. Same $12 motor for $400.

You should look for a car with:

1. Side curtain Airbags (probably hard to find one without)

2. Electronic stability control

 

[Jacked Reefer]

you can find older (84-90) toyota supras for cheap, ebay has one going for 800 currently. also check out Pontiac firebirds, GTO's and trans ams. Old VW golfs (GTX) have some kick and can also be found sub thousand.

edit: looks like your a porsche guy found this on ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Porsc...m=173773434003&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
And if you want to fiance...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1983-Porsc...m=113608519051&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[acro-ed]

I would say it's a firm "no" to all of what you listed.

First, buy something cash within your budget and forget the financing idea.

Second, once you've narrowed down some cars that are practical you need to call the insurance company and get rate estimates; very easy to do.

A Mustang GT is going to be extremely prohibitive with insurance costs (potentially $6000+/year ; Yes, I'm serious).

Older German cars are also a horrible idea unless you have mechanical experience and like tinkering. That may come with time, but it's a horrible idea for a young person on a budget.

I would recommend a Civic Si of the newest year your money could get you.

I know you have a certain image you want to put out there, and you want fast/flashy/whatever, but that will come with time (after education and getting into a career). Blowing a ton of money on insurance or blowing it on repairs to a 15 year old Audi are both horrible investments and certainly aren't going to help your image if you're broke as a result.

 

[Captain Quint]

+1 on the Benz.

I prefer 1985 models on the advice of my longtime mechanic from Germany who only works on them. He told me they were one of the best years Mercedes Benz ever made.

I've had 10 with only 2 being gas. A 380SE & a 560SEC, the others were a couple of 240D's a 300SDL and the rest were 300DT's. If you have the valves cold adjusted every 30,000 they will last you forever. Woe is if the AC goes bad though.

 

[Rjukan]

Having owned 7 Subarus over the years, from dumpy outback station wagons, to a turbo XT wagon, 1st gen WRX and last one was a 2014 STi, I would highly suggest looking into a used unmolested WRX. Something in the mid to late 2000s would be good for your budget.

I live in the same area as you, and know what kind of driving conditions you will be facing. The standard WRX is a good mix of sporty, sensibility, and safety. Maintenance costs are relatively low, and gas mileage is decent at best.

My number one piece of advice for you is this.... do not buy a luxury sport sedan that has high mileage, ie Audi, BMW, Mercedes, etc. If something goes wrong the repair costs are mind boggling. Also, dont even think about buying someone elses project car. Stay stock, stay happy. If you do end up looking at WRXs you will have to weed through the ones that have been modified.

Good luck and drive safe.

 

[BZOFIQ]

I'm not into well used cars but here is my word of advice: DO NOT get the Mercedes or Audi - fixing it will make this hobby look super cheap.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I love it. I’ve always want a Subaru. Last year I went looking and ended up with a Honda HR-V. My husband talked me into it cause it was 4K less than the Subaru. Big mistake. I tried to love it but around 9k miles I said no more. I went to the Subaru place and traded it for a Forester. Good riddance on the Honda. My Subaru has exceeded all my expectations. It’s a great car.

Thanks for the input

My parents have a crosstrek and love it. We definitely want something bigger

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

I think this has been covered already, but absolutely do NOT buy an $8,000 audi. You're going to pay more keeping it running than you could imagine...

If you want something fun, but still relatively safe for a first time driver, get a civic si from a few years back (~2008 or so).

 

[Tom Blevins]

 

[ReefQueen]

As others have said consider the insurance, my first car was a ZX2 that I paid 3 grand for...my insurance was $312 a month until I was 21:eek: I think it dropped to around $150 after that. I love my current Kia Soul, but man was that zx2 fun to drive lol. Maybe look into an Elantra. I had an 04 and it was the best car I ever owned. It was cheap and soooo reliable and if it hadn’t been totaled when my husband got rear ended in it then I would probably still be driving it lol.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

As others have said, insurance is key. Put together your list, then call your insurance company (or check online) for quotes. Don't make the mistake of buying an "inexpensive" car thinking insurance will be cheap. I had a 94 GT in college (1997). While I absolutely loved the car, I was paying $200/month in insurance, and that was 20+ years ago! Older me would have called college me an idiot.

 

[Booger McMoron]

Cheap, fast, reliable. Pick two and the third item is what it will not be.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

As a dad and a person that likes to go whenever it snows, get a Tahoe, or a four door pickup. The parts are cheap, they are reliable and they won't kill you to work on. Also they will keep you safe. I drive what I want to get hit in. I put my kids in what I want them to get hit in.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

@tdileo

If you want something "fast" at 16....you are just like the rest of us boys! That said some of us lived to "older" ages due to the fact we were lucky or had a few scares in the "fast" car years that we survived. In the game of flying planes there is a saying "There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots". Something to consider.

Now if you are still not convinced do what many of us did and find one you can afford to fix up. Get your hands dirty and learn what makes them tick. Blow a few motors and find out how expensive it is even when you turn the wrench to keep your pride and joy running sweet. I have had (4) Porsche 914's that I built in one fashion or the other, a Datsun 240Z, 280Z, 280Z 2+2, and now a 1984 300ZX Turbo 50th Anniversary Edition with a JDM motor. I also have 4 motor cycles and an Audi A4 convertible. But my everyday rig is a 2005 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab with a long bed and no one is getting hurt in that thing unless I tangle with a semi-truck. If you have lots of performance parts you will have to become knowledgeable enough to fix your own rig because once you leave stock you get into a smaller group of "tuners" who will empty your bank account faster than you can fill it!

So all that said the next question is how fast do you want to go? The answer is how much money do you have? $8000.00 ain't going very far or very fast period.

I think it might be cheaper to save your money to move out of the house, find your first apartment, get some furniture, clothes, and start your own life. Believe me that day is coming sooner than you think!

Until then find a nano tank and enjoy the reef in your own home.

By the way I am a dad with two young men 25 and 28 and I tried to give them the same advice. One drives a Colorado 4x4 pickup and rides dirt bikes for his speed fix (needs a pickup) the other no longer races dirt bikes and has a granny car (grandmother gave him her 1993 Rivera) and he bought a Nissan Murano SUV. Both solid choices given the fact they are not the only drivers on the road.

 

[Jacked Reefer]

Another car to consider
Acura RSX (s types are cooler)
Fun to drive, can be found in almost perfect condition for 3000 or less. And use Honda parts so it’s cheap and easy to repair and tube up.

 

[Katrina71]

Let me get all mom here...Audi, Mercedes, and BMW are pricey when it comes to repairs. Your insurance will be high at 18 with anything that says GT. I think a modest suv like an Explorer would be something to check out.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Since I’m probably one of the (ahhh man) younger people here here is a very solid example. I have a clean record no tickets of any kind or accidents in my fault etc. I had straight A and was in college at your age. My insurance premium on my parents suburban just with me as a part time driver was almost 112 a month.

Then my parents my dad bought me this ridiculous Jeep because it snowed where I went to school. Since I was now 18, I was on my own and full coverage on my Jeep was almost 330 a month. I’m 24 now have the same coverage on the same Jeep and I pay 80 a month for full coverage.
That’s not even a sports car lol, so they are much worse. As a point of fact it took family members and (me) being stuck in the snow something crazy)) to remind me that I have a winch (still have not used it after said snow storm) and diff locks (whatever those things are I push a button and most of the time I’m told it should get you unstuck. If that doesn’t work you have a winch. (I’m not getting out of the car unless I really need to or the air bag hits me again for no reason).

 

[ferro]

I had a WRX years ago. Not super expensive, but a fun car to drive! You have 4 doors and a decent backseat that people can sit in. I had a 6'4" buddy in the back of mine, not comfortable but he was in there! Maintenance isn't bad and it is all wheel drive which will help keep you out of trouble.

 

[User1]

Here’s one for my car guys.
I’ve been trying to find something for a while and never found anything that I really fell in love with. Birthday is coming up in April and that means I’ll be getting my license. I need to pick the right car though and have struggled even though I spend hours every week looking. I want something that fits the following, and importance to me is in the order I’m putting it.
- Reliable
- Quick, even if it needs some work in it.
- Seats multiple people. I like the 2+2s a lot but some sedans are nice.
- At least decent interior / exterior
- Under $8,000 preferably, but if I fall in love I’d be willing to finance.
Some of the best things I were able to find were a 2005 Mustang GT, 2004 Mercedes CLK500, 2006 Audi A8 but I haven’t yet found anything that really speaks to me beyond “oh yeah I like that”.

I'm assuming here so hopefully I'm not wrong but if not I did not mean any disrespect - I'm assuming you are young. Stay away from muscle cars or cars with turbo's and v8's. Even used. You don't need the insurance hit. That money can be saved and used on normal wear and tear, maintenance, etc. Also, don't let the sales staff, even internet stales, know you are in love. Quick isn't important, reliable is.

My son went through something similar recently and while he kept going for the Honda civic sports, Subaru, and other new sporty lines in the end he went with a Focus. It was Civic or Focus and Ford made him a deal he couldn't pass up in the end with both prices and finance rates equal. Ford threw in maintenance. And that right there is important. Of course this is new and not used but you get the idea. Pros, cons, etc. You will find something that fits you.

Test drive.