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acebudad

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 16, 2011
21
0
virginia
i got my license about a month ago and i really need a car of my own. im paying for it myself so im not gonna get a new car. ive got about 2k saved up and i was just wondering what is a good reliable used car that dosent look like crap
 
For 2k, the best car you could get is one that was greatly taken care for.

I had a friend who bought a ford escort (1999 or 2000) for 500 bucks, and absolutely hated it, never took care of the car and it would always break down. He sold it to someone for about 400 bucks, and the dude loves the car as a daily traveler for work because he takes care of it.

So pretty much, search around using cars.com or craigslist for a car that is in your budget and that is appealing to you. If the car has no major mechanical problems, and you actually take care of it, it'll be a perfect car for a responsible 16 year old.

I've been driving a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with 176k+ miles on it, i do all the maintenance when needed (oil at 2k-3k miles) ect, and it runs beautifully.
 
Well, statistically speaking, you'll wreck it. If you're 16, I'd recommend something safe and not overpowered. Isuzu Troopers are pretty cheap these days and run forever (I've owned 4, and they are on 190k, 210k, 270k, 340k miles and mostly trouble free). Also, Jeep Cherokees with the 4.0 I6 are good buys as well.

P.S. I'm not the original owner of the Isuzus, so don't ask how someone can rack up that many miles - it wasn't me lol.
 
2k and i asume 2000 dollars ...what about cost of insurance , fuel consumption ..safety features like airbags , ok if i would be 16 again and would live in the states i would look for something with a V8

i had a chevrolet caprice classic wagon when i was 18 and it was used by the US army before i bought it used with 350k miles on the clock and managed to ride another 200K on it without doing much work to it it just kept running
it was a 502ci V8 only downside is the fuel consumption but i managed once 15mpg usually under 10mpg, but they had been build for 55mph and nobody in Germany drives that slow with a car on a German Autobahn apart of some pensioners

today i drive something much smaller , and more economical and with better handling in corners a Chevrolet Matiz ..ok its a daewoo under the badge , but still General Motors , runs on thin air i usually manage around 65mpg and if i really trash the little thing on a German Autobahns (no speed limit there) it pulls steady to 110mph ,and still over 50mpg , cheap to insure and tax , servicing cost peanuts
 
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Jeep Cherokees with the 4.0 would be good vehicles to look for. The 4.0 runs forever, and the models newer than 91(IIRC) have really good automatic transmissions, and obviously the manual trans are bulletproof too. It would be dead reliable, get acceptable gas mileage, have 4x4(hopefully), and be generally decent looking. Definitely a good first car.
 
Well, statistically speaking, you'll wreck it. If you're 16, I'd recommend something safe and not overpowered. Isuzu Troopers are pretty cheap these days and run forever (I've owned 4, and they are on 190k, 210k, 270k, 340k miles and mostly trouble free). Also, Jeep Cherokees with the 4.0 I6 are good buys as well.

P.S. I'm not the original owner of the Isuzus, so don't ask how someone can rack up that many miles - it wasn't me lol.

im not a bad driver ive been driving my moms car my dads car and the car for everyone in the house and ive never been in an accident or done anything bad to them
 
Just transportation for you, or are there other considerations to take into account?

yea its mostly transportation to and from school and work but i still wanna go pick up my friends and go places without being embarrassed

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What's your style?

basically what every 16 year old wants a nice looking civic, an integra, a golf gti, mustangs and things like that
 
I would look at a celica. Had that as my first car and drove it 11 years until I got a new one and then passed the celica down to my now 16 year old brother lol. Great car

Test-drove one once, but I didn't like the head-room. Perhaps they have changed since then?

I'm only 6', but didn't like my then hair ;) rubbing against the headlining.

As a original owner of an Accord that I had for 19 years, and my brilliant niece is still using for Uni, I would go with the Civic. Insurance on the Intergra and the Mustang would be oppressive, and VW's can be troublesome for repairs.
 
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I would look at a celica. Had that as my first car and drove it 11 years until I got a new one and then passed the celica down to my now 16 year old brother lol. Great car

yea i like celicas to and thats what ive been looking at but not the really old ones
 
im not a bad driver ive been driving my moms car my dads car and the car for everyone in the house and ive never been in an accident or done anything bad to them

Your 16, you have not had a chance to wreck... Wait until you have some more seat time.

basically what every 16 year old wants a nice looking civic, an integra, a golf gti, mustangs and things like that

If you want something sporty, look into a Miata. Maybe MG's if you like classics and/or like to play with tools. These are perfect first sports car.
 
Your 16, you have not had a chance to wreck... Wait until you have some more seat time.



If you want something sporty, look into a Miata. Maybe MG's if you like classics and/or like to play with tools. These are perfect first sports car.

a miata is a little to small for me and i do like classic cars
my neighbor has a 1967 mustang fastback that i want and i helped him rebuild the engine but he wont let me drive it yet lol
 
A pickup. Doesn't hold too many passengers, relatively inexpensive to insure, and they typically last a very long time.

Don't underestimate the cost of an insurance policy for a 16-year-old. The vehicle selection can make a HUGE difference.
 
a miata is a little to small for me and i do like classic cars
my neighbor has a 1967 mustang fastback that i want and i helped him rebuild the engine but he wont let me drive it yet lol

How tall are you? I am 5' 11" and 235 pounds (weight stuck up on me this year). I drive a Triumph Spitfire and it fits like a glove. A Miata is pretty roomy if you get out of that everything needs to be big.
 
Lomborghini Countach.

Proably pick up a used one for only 150K. A little weak on mileage - but a guaranteed chick magnate! :D

Oops, sorry, my fantasy!:rolleyes:
 
Not to mention that we could put 7 kegs (7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) in it when we had keggers/going down to cottage parties. Most people would walk into the cottage because of the rough terrain but we would drive right in. It is the ultimate student vehicle.

I just have two questions:

1. Did they offer crochet drinking games?

2. Did you at least honk first before you drove in to the cottage?
 
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