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best first car.
- Thread starter Fearless Leader
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wimic
macrumors regular
Is leasing an option for you?
If you're looking in the 5000 range, I'd go with a subcompact/sport subcompact in the '96-'00 year range.
Maybe a honda civic, a vw golf, a toyota tercel, mazda protege, ford focus kinda thing.
If you go with a domestic car (ie. ford) then the parts will be easy to find if you need to replace anything), but imports typically have a better reputation for reliability. It all depends on what you like, what you can spend and what you really want your car for.
it's not bad to buy an old car so long as there aren't too many km/miles clocked on it and so long as it's had it's routine maintenance done (ie. oil changes, etc.)
Be sure to get it inspected before you buy it and just remember - the asking prices is just a starting point! Always try to bargain! 🙂
Happy Hunting! 🙂
If you're looking in the 5000 range, I'd go with a subcompact/sport subcompact in the '96-'00 year range.
Maybe a honda civic, a vw golf, a toyota tercel, mazda protege, ford focus kinda thing.
If you go with a domestic car (ie. ford) then the parts will be easy to find if you need to replace anything), but imports typically have a better reputation for reliability. It all depends on what you like, what you can spend and what you really want your car for.
it's not bad to buy an old car so long as there aren't too many km/miles clocked on it and so long as it's had it's routine maintenance done (ie. oil changes, etc.)
Be sure to get it inspected before you buy it and just remember - the asking prices is just a starting point! Always try to bargain! 🙂
Happy Hunting! 🙂
SkyBell
macrumors 604
Toyota's.
I got a 1990 Toyota Pickup on reserve for me. (my dad sold it to me for $500, so it's technicly mine, but I'm not old enough to drive yet.)
It's got 213,000 miles on it, and still runs like a dream. aside from the regular oil change and such, its only replacememnts have been a new radiator and a new water pump, both done by me.😀
As far as safty goes... meh. Its small, but it accelerates quickly (what with it being a standard transmission and all) and gets 26 MPG, even at 16 years of age!
But it doesn't like reverse😀
I got a 1990 Toyota Pickup on reserve for me. (my dad sold it to me for $500, so it's technicly mine, but I'm not old enough to drive yet.)
It's got 213,000 miles on it, and still runs like a dream. aside from the regular oil change and such, its only replacememnts have been a new radiator and a new water pump, both done by me.😀
As far as safty goes... meh. Its small, but it accelerates quickly (what with it being a standard transmission and all) and gets 26 MPG, even at 16 years of age!
But it doesn't like reverse😀
Old Smuggler
macrumors 6502a
Toyota hands down i dare someone to present a cheaper, longer lasting alternative
bmw and the other german cars used to be good but recently they have been going through a bad spell
now bmw's are only meant to last through the warranty after thet expires its actually cheaper to buy new than get the shaft on costly parts
shy away from honda's unless your looking for that fast and the furious i am a crack/dope head so i made my car look like an alien spaceship because i couldnt afford a mustang or corvette look
bmw and the other german cars used to be good but recently they have been going through a bad spell
now bmw's are only meant to last through the warranty after thet expires its actually cheaper to buy new than get the shaft on costly parts
shy away from honda's unless your looking for that fast and the furious i am a crack/dope head so i made my car look like an alien spaceship because i couldnt afford a mustang or corvette look
jamesi
macrumors 6502a
Rokem said:
for a first car a junker is not a good idea. you want something dependable, and when you have the money to play around thats when you get a junker. i had a mercedes benz sedan 190D from 1984 and it wasnt worth it, i ended up shortly getting a 2000 corolla and when your young all that really matters is gas mileage and that toyota worked wonders for me. dont get anything too old, you can pick up a corolla like mine or a civic for around your price range easy. i dont have the corolla anymore, but for highschool and all the trips i did, it was great
twistedlegato
macrumors 65816
jamesi
macrumors 6502a
stay away from european cars until you can afford them all the way. i personally hate asian cars and love european ones, but thats just for looks. if you want something that will last, that you dont have to worry about, stick with toyota or honda or those other ones. kia and hyundai = no no, only go with cars from japan
