best first car.

[Fearless Leader]

well my family is in the process of looking at new cars, not for me though . and i thought it would be a good time to look at cars for myself. I have now stumbled onto a awfull fact, Im to tall. most cars were just uncomfortable to sit in im 6' 3" and getting taller. We get discounts with toyota because a family member works their and i have only tried their vehicles. theirs the corrala but my mom said she'd rather me not drive something so small... (safety reasons when i get into a crash) notice i said when...

also is anyone else seeing weird pictures on this sight? mestup icons?

 

[Mord]

small cars are no more less safe than bigger cars, it's all about how they are built, often SUV's are way more dangerous ignoreing the fact your way more likely to have a crash in them.

 

[emotion]

Unless your parents are going to pay for all your maintenance and repairs, do not get a VW. They are expensive to start with, cost a lot to fix, and are unreliable.

Hmm I've owned nothing but VWs for the last 10 years. Unreliability has not been one of my experiences.

As for the cost find an independent VW garage to service it. (I'm in Europe, in some parts of the states this might not be that easy).

As for TDI I don't understand why someone would say they are not worth the hassle. What hassle? Way cheaper and more reliable that petrol. Again I'm talking from a euro perspective.

If I were you (in the US) I'd go Japanese, Toyota or possibly Honda. Very reliable (my familiy love Toyotas).

 

[Timepass]

small cars are no more less safe than bigger cars, it's all about how they are built, often SUV's are way more dangerous ignoreing the fact your way more likely to have a crash in them.

I would say the larger car is safer in a wreck. Beause it is larger it can absorb more damage and in a wreck it going to take a heck of a lot less than a small when it hits another car. The laws of physic cover that part. More it accleration will be less because it has more mass and what kills and cause the injuries all relates to the accleration of the vechical in a wreck.

 

[Mord]

it also has far far more momentum and a much higher center of gravity. what you think does not contest actual safety tests, you may not die on impact with another car it's what happens after thats kills you, weather you go over the thing and flip around or plow off to the side into a concrete wall.

 

[CompUser]

I have to disagree. I paid $3000 for my '98 Jetta with about 124,000 miles on it two years ago. Since then I have only had to repair a few small problems, costing roughly $800, which is quite good for a used car. As others have said, it depends on how you maintain it and how it was before you buy it. I would make sure to run a Carfax report on the car before purchasing and taking it to a shop to have looked at, of course. As for my recommendation, a Civic, early to mid-90s BMW 3-series, or a Jetta/Golf in good condition.

My mom's friend had new a 2002 Passat 1.8t Wagon. It she put 100,000 miles on it and they spent more money fixing that car than any other car they have ever owned. Their 50,000 mile tune up was $3000, Their 80,000 mile tune up was close to $4,000. Not to mention things like breaking trunk latches, some suspension joint, and other things of that nature. It was regularly serviced at the dealer, getting its $65 oil change.

My mom's Touareg has been nothing but unreliable. Door locks, CD player, suspension, some vacuum hose problem, headlights burning out right and left, etc. Thankfully it is under warranty.

My uncle had a 2002 Passat V6, his had tons of electrical problems. One time his rear doors would not unlock from outside or the inside and all the doors had to be sawed off. He had headlight problems as well.

 

[Mord]

blame brazil because thats where the american ones are made.


in europe VW's are like rocks, my dads polo is 17 years old and nothing has ever broken, it's needed the odd small repair like a hole in the petrol tank welding shut but otherwise it's been solid

 

[savar]

iam going to be driving soonish (13months) and want to start saving for a car. Does any one have any suggestions on which one to buy. under 5,000 usd would be best and i want it to last. any one own a good car that has last a while and want to share their experince. also has anyone fixed up a junker and how did that go?

thanks.

SO you're 14 and already thinking about a car? Ha, I remember being excited about driving too, but you're pretty far ahead of the curve.

Anyway, focus on Honda and Acura. These cars will easily go to 200,000 miles if maintained properly and the maintenance expenses are relatively low. I have a 1999 Integra and it looks like 2003 -- amazingly well preserved. Accord and Civic are also good models to look out for. If you buy in the 96-98 range you can probably go under $5000.

 

[savar]

well my family is in the process of looking at new cars, not for me though . and i thought it would be a good time to look at cars for myself. I have now stumbled onto a awfull fact, Im to tall. most cars were just uncomfortable to sit in im 6' 3" and getting taller. We get discounts with toyota because a family member works their and i have only tried their vehicles. theirs the corrala but my mom said she'd rather me not drive something so small... (safety reasons when i get into a crash) notice i said when...

also is anyone else seeing weird pictures on this sight? mestup icons?

Please don't buy an SUV if you don't need the extra space/features. The cost of ownership is not only unnecessarily high, but its also not fully internalized by the SUV owner -- which is a long way of saying that everybody else pays for your privilege to drive an SUV. Don't do it.

If your mom is worried about safety, by a Volvo. It costs more but it is safer. Another option is a cadillac or lincoln. Simply buying a huge car doesn't make you safer, especially if it increases the odds of you getting in an accident.

 

[18thTomorrow]

I've had awesome luck with a VW New Beetle for a first car. I've had 2 of them in the past 4 yars (totalled the 1st one...) I've found it extremely reliable, and at 120, 000 miles, it still acts (almost) brand new. Until recently I haven't had to service anything. This month I had to do brakes, rotors, and tires all the way around.

I paid $5900 for my '99 with 90k miles. Thatt was a pretty good deal. Now you could probably find a 98 or 99 for around 5000, if you looked hard enough.

 

[rickvanr]

I've had awesome luck with a VW New Beetle for a first car. I've had 2 of them in the past 4 yars (totalled the 1st one...) I've found it extremely reliable, and at 120, 000 miles, it still acts (almost) brand new. Until recently I haven't had to service anything. This month I had to do brakes, rotors, and tires all the way around.

I paid $5900 for my '99 with 90k miles. Thatt was a pretty good deal. Now you could probably find a 98 or 99 for around 5000, if you looked hard enough.

I recommended a Honda earlier, and I still am. However, VW Bugs have a huge amount of room in them. They are an amazing car to drive too. I'm 6 foot 3 and was never cramped in the years I had one. So if you're worried about room I'd look in VW's direction.

 

[emotion]

One time his rear doors would not unlock from outside or the inside and all the doors had to be sawed off.

!!! Really? Sawed off?!

 

[iEdd]

Go Japanese, Toyota and Honda are built to last.
EDIT: German are good too, often slightly more luxurious (though I don't think a BMW M3 will be your first car ), but also a little more expensive.

 

[iEdd]

...often SUV's are way more dangerous...

That's very true. A lot of people believe that they are safer because they are higher up and in a big **** of a car. They are often more dangerous for many reasons, such as the fact that they reduce visibility to other cars and are heavier. Too bad you couldn't see the kid on the bike beside you when you turned the corner...

 

[kevin.rivers]

Get a scooter and a bike. Love the Earth.

 

[SodaPopMonster]

I'm getting a taco truck

I plan on painting it up like Bubs' baloney sandwich truck.

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

Meh... Toyota's aren't all everyone makes 'em out to be. I feel bad for people who've only driven them and say, "Oh, they are wonderful cars!" Sure, they aren't bad at all, but there's stuff that's at least equal or better.

I'll still give my vote to a nice full-sized american FWD sedan such as an Impala, Intrepid, or Buick of some kind. They aren't terribly unreliable, have plenty of room/power, and look decent. And are much less usually than a tiny Honda or Toyota.

 

[pseudobrit]

My mom's friend had new a 2002 Passat 1.8t Wagon. It she put 100,000 miles on it and they spent more money fixing that car than any other car they have ever owned. Their 50,000 mile tune up was $3000, Their 80,000 mile tune up was close to $4,000. Not to mention things like breaking trunk latches, some suspension joint, and other things of that nature. It was regularly serviced at the dealer, getting its $65 oil change.

My mom's Touareg has been nothing but unreliable. Door locks, CD player, suspension, some vacuum hose problem, headlights burning out right and left, etc. Thankfully it is under warranty.

My uncle had a 2002 Passat V6, his had tons of electrical problems. One time his rear doors would not unlock from outside or the inside and all the doors had to be sawed off. He had headlight problems as well.

It's the service departments that suck. VW are engineered like tanks. If you know how to fix them a little (I've done all services myself) and have a good mechanic and a good computer guy (engine computer that is) you can make a VW run forever.

If you rely on the dealer network for service you'll be disappointed. There's no need to saw off the rear doors when you can remove the interior panels and access the lock mechanism (I've done it myself); that's a sign of gross incompetence.

 

[pseudobrit]

blame brazil because thats where the american ones are made.

US spec VW are sourced from Mexico, Brasil and Germany, depending on model, trim and engine. The German-sourced cars had the worst QC histories last I heard.

 

[iGav]

My only piece of advice is do not, under any circumstances EVER ask for advice on what car you should buy on MacRumors. You'll only become one of those normans that are completely obsessed with northing other than 'how reliable' your car is. hahahahahahahahaha.

 

[mustang_dvs]

For under $5,000, I'd suggest these cars, which are fairly cool, safe, reliable and easy to work on:

• Honda Accord (early-mid 1990s)
• Jeep Cherokee (mid 1990s)
• Volvo 240/740 Turbo (late 80s, early 90s)
• BMW 325i/325iS (1987-1991)
• BMW 525i/535i (1987-1995) note: there was a chassis change in 1989; avoid the early V8 540i's
• Subrau Legacy/Impreza (early/mid-1990s)
• Nissan Sentra SE-R

Pick up a copy of Grassroots Motorsports or look at their website for suggestions on affordable, reliable and cheap cars.

Heck, since you're 14, find an example that needs some TLC (but doesn't have rust) and spend the next 18 months refurbishing it -- it'll be cheaper, you can build it as you like, and you'll know your car inside and out.

 

[Mord]

US spec VW are sourced from Mexico, Brasil and Germany, depending on model, trim and engine. The German-sourced cars had the worst QC histories last I heard.

thats the opposite to what it's like over here, though it may be because they are tuned and tested with european petrol, which is far better than american crap, you get about 5% extra HP when running on our stuff.

oh and VW's for the american market are considerably different, for example allot of them use a 5 cylinder engine rather than a 4.

 

[kondspi]

iam going to be driving soonish (13months) and want to start saving for a car. Does any one have any suggestions on which one to buy. under 5,000 usd would be best and i want it to last. any one own a good car that has last a while and want to share their experince. also has anyone fixed up a junker and how did that go?

thanks.

If you're going to pay 5k for a car...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973...oryZ6060QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

No, I'm not the seller. I was just eBaying around and though it was cool.

 

[Phat Elvis]

I had an Accord 2 door manual that was pretty fun to drive - I highly reccomend it. If it's your first car you really want to like it. The civic will do better on gas but is pretty small.

I totally agree with some of the above posts. Lots of people think that a bigger car or an SUV will be safer than a small or average size car - but that's just wrong. Engineering is the most important factor. Most of the cars that have been recommended have good safety records.

In my (and my family's) experience there is a tipping point on volvos, saabs, and VW's. At a certain age they are frequently in the shop and just become a pain.

 

[TEG]

Remember, that until you have been driving 10 years, your insurance will be horrible for any coupe. A 95 or newer of any of the following should serve you well (and have decent gas mileage)...

Pontiac Grand Am or Grand Prix
Ford Contour or Taurus
Chevrolet Malibu or Impala
Toyota Camry
Honda Accord (Since the Civic is used for racing, there is a higher insurance premium on the Civic)
VW Golf or Jetta
Toyota Tacoma
GMC Sonoma/Canyon
Chevrolet S-10/Colorado

Also, any Jeeps made by AMC (Pre 1987), with a manual transmission, will run forever.

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM DCX (CHRYSLER) MADE IN THE US/CANADA, worst quality vehicles... EVER.

Also, may I suggest that you look into getting a new vehicle with a manual transmission. Lower insurance for most manual vehicles (if your ins asks), and even better mileage.

TEG