Help me pick a car

Freedom211 · #1 09-25-2005, 07:13 PM

I am saving up for a car, my grandparents said whatever i save up to 5,000 they will give me that. so if i save 2,000 i can get a 4,000 dollar car.

I dont want too much of a gas hog since the prices seem to never stay steady. Also I dont want a slow car. So does anyone have suggestions?

AdrenalinexX · #2 09-25-2005, 07:19 PM

acura integra. thats what i'm getting.

Freedom211 · #3 09-25-2005, 07:32 PM

Ya, my friend has one. But I dont want to be thought of as a street racer, cuz im tired of all of them running around thinking there cool, when you get a ford mustang stock, could beat most of the little rice burners.

willski2002 · #4 09-25-2005, 07:33 PM

Two words: Old Beemer.

AdrenalinexX · #5 09-25-2005, 07:36 PM

^^ Yea but you have to admit thats one nice car.

Freedom211 · #6 09-25-2005, 07:38 PM

very true. If i got an old car though it would be comething like a nova or something.

Montu Man · #7 09-25-2005, 07:55 PM

Get an old Audi S4. S4's rock.

Freedom211 · #8 09-25-2005, 07:57 PM

Nice, but way too much money.

Ta2KX · #9 09-25-2005, 07:58 PM

Try to get something with a fuel-injected engine with under 100,000 miles on it. Don't but a car/truck with a rebuilt engine. Chevy S-10 / GMC Sonoma are good moves, reliable trucks you can run right into the ground. Honda civic's are just as reliable but their higher resale value might keep you from getting one you'd want.

I don't expect you'll find something for like $4500 in good condition with more than 200 HP, so I hope that's fast enough for you. Some of the Stratus/Sebring's out there are going for cheap and some have a 200 HP V6, others have a 150 HP 4 cyl. Grand Prix GT's have about 200 HP, and are very reliable and get great mileage. A base model Ford Focus is pretty decent, too, and if you really wanted to, you can boost the horsepower easily with a few aftermarket installs.

Also consider whether or not this car is going under your own name or say maybe your father's. Insurance is very pricey for someone your age, and if you did buy something like an Acura Integra, which I like, too, your insurance rates would be higher since it would be considered a sports car. I forget whether or not Integras are turbocharged, it's a very similar car to an Eagle Talon (turbocharged), and when you use a vehicle with added performance parts as a daily driver, you'll have to expect more repairs to be needed.

autotrader.com, that is your best friend

Freedom211 · #10 09-25-2005, 08:04 PM

Ya I'll be using it as a daily driver. 200 HP is good enough for me. Right now my grandparents are letting me use there Toyota Tundra. Which isnt too bad but its sucks down alot of gas. So far I havent had to pay for the gas but eventually I'll have to. But i was thinking of saving 5k so my grandpa would give me 5k since that was his limit. So i'm looking at anything up to 10k. Truck or car. I'll only be living with my grandparents for about 19 months since I'll graduate college then. So I was hoping to save up 5k before March-June of '06

**Leo C** · #11 09-25-2005, 08:07 PM

Honda Civic?
Nissan Sentra?
Mazda Miata?

Ta2KX · #12 09-25-2005, 08:18 PM

Well, just conserve your money. Ask your grandparents to match what you save, but if possible, do not spend all of that combined money on the car itself. Tax/title is a little extra, buying from private sellers can save you money, often they will write out a receipt saying they sold the car for much less so you won't have to pay a lot for tax at the Secretary of State / DMV, whatever. Save enough money on the side for repairs/ regular maintanence. Buying your own car is supposed to make your life easier, not bury you financially.

I'm very happy with the 1995 Trans Am I bought about a moth ago, but you better believe I'm getting sick of paying $40+ to fill the tank, and I can only get about 230 miles max on a full tank. I know, I've ran out completely, twice.

Rachel123 · #13 09-25-2005, 10:10 PM

I'm very happy with my 98 Neon that I purchased in January. When I got it I did not intend on keeping it for a long time or anything but so far I've had no problems so I feel like I will keep it for at least a few years. It's cheap on insurance and it's definately not a gas guzzler. At the moment I can't remember the horsepower but I know it isn't much. It has a tiny engine but if it's just to get you to school/work and back then I don't think you need much. I know alot of people don't like the idea of getting a neon but they are cheap and I've had no problems so I figured I would suggest it.
Alot of people label a neon as a "chick car" though. If I were a guy I don't think I would care. As long as you like the car and it runs, then who cares right. One bad thing about the 95-99 neons is that they're ridiculously easy to break into. If you plan on leaving valuables in your car or if you plan on putting in a stereo then I would suggest a car with a window frame. I feel I'm babling now.
Make sure you research alot so you get something in good condition that isn't too overpriced. Happy hunting. I love cars.

Freedom211 · #14 09-25-2005, 10:32 PM

I never thought about keeping a little for the stuff your talking about Ta2KX. Thanks for the helpful tip. But ya my grandparents are matching what I save up to 5,000. But I understand about the neon. But my ex had one and we got in a car crash and total the car. So those cars are really bad in crashes.

Brian P · #15 09-25-2005, 10:59 PM

I'm afraid that this is going to turn into a 'well you should get my car because it's the best' thread, but it's doing pretty well now.

I suppose I would be hypocritical to say this, but nonetheless.... I just got a new '05 Civic back in July. Granted it was new, so it was pretty expensive (well for a college kid ;) ). At any rate, I've always thought that they've been good cars for younger people. They're cheap and are supposed to have a spectacular reliability. I will say that you should stay away from Chevrolet. My family has had several over the past few years, and nearly all of them have been problematic (take our '99 cavalier for example: rack&pinion steering at $800 replaced twice, power window replaced twice at $300 or so, parking brake cable broke...etc etc. None of our other Chevy's have been much other). I'm sure you could find someone who has had a great experience with them, but not me. As far as the Civic goes, mine gets ~35mpg (most of my driving was highway, but I calculated it several times and thats what it averaged out to be) and has a really good crash test rating. I'm guessing that things haven't changed much over the years, so you could probably find a decent one thats a few years old.

I don't know your insurance situation, but that may effect your choice. A kid that has a sports car will have an insurance that is a heck of a lot more expensive than a kid that drives a minivan (okay, so the ends were a bit extreme, but it explains my point)...

Best of luck in your search! Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I'm not extremely knowledgeable in the area, but I know the basics and I'm sure there are some people here who are pretty knowledgeable.