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Car for me?(Turning 16 soon)
- Thread starter G5Unit
- Start date
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I'm turning 16 in August and there is no way I'm getting a $20,000 car, and honestly, I don't want a $20,000 car. My sister who's 25 bought a $18,000 Cobalt. Her first car was like $1,000-2,000 dollars.
Now me on the other hand, have no clue what kind of car I'm going to get. I'll probably end up driving my dad's Grand Am or the 2000 Silverado, either of which I'd be fine with. Plus, I'd have no payments to do on my own.
Now me on the other hand, have no clue what kind of car I'm going to get. I'll probably end up driving my dad's Grand Am or the 2000 Silverado, either of which I'd be fine with. Plus, I'd have no payments to do on my own.
Borrowing his parents' cars is the smartest choice, but that's not really what this thread is about , it seems.yeah, because a small, fast sportscar is definitely the smartest choice for a new, 16 year old male driver. make sure you get it in red, too.
good call.
Get an old Volvo (The 700 series doesn't look bad) then spend the rest of the money you have to make it fast like this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zyDgepdRDY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zyDgepdRDY
Try to get a 2002-2003 used Impreza (NOT WRX, turbo + driving noob = bad). They should be around $12-$14k, and they are extremely safe. Nothing like a B-pillar made of layers of steel with a half-inch rod of boron in there for good measure. Consider this thread, this thread, and this post (as well as the thread).
You think that because a car is cheap you won't get upset if you wreck it?
I drive a old Ford Fiesta, and while it was cheap, I'd be mortified if I wrecked it, I love my little car
When I totaled my first car, I was much less upset because it was an old, falling apart piece of crap and not a brand new car. Yes, I was still upset but a hell of a lot less upset than I could have been
Buy a used Integra. For $10k you'll get a car with many years of life left in it, and Integra is one of the easiest cars to mod in the world -- literally thousands of web pages about Integra mods. It's also very reliable, inexpensive to maintain, pretty fast, fairly safe, good gas mileage, etc.
With the money you save (both on initial purchase, taxes, AND insurance), you can buy some sweet stuff to stock your car with (head unit, new paint, subwoofer, etc.). I have an Integra and I think its awesome.
can't go wrong with a toyota/scion or a honda......their safe and reliable.
Just make sure its got an apple sticker on it
Just make sure its got an apple sticker on it
Right and if you don't have to make a big claim against your insurance policy you'll be happier for years after.
I was resisting getting into the "when I was your age" mode, but -- when I was your age, I drove a funky old beater and loved it. I have many fond memories of that car (some of which I hesitate to describe
). Hated to sell it, really, but the family was moving and I had to. I didn't own a new car until I was in my late 20s, out of college and working.Come to think of it, all these years later, the car I own now cost me significantly less than $20k new.
used ford exploder!
nothing will scare u into driving safe more than this friendly reminder posted all over the car...
nothing will scare u into driving safe more than this friendly reminder posted all over the car...
Scion TC. AFfordable, awesome, fits my snowboard and chicks love it
The Scion T/C has replaced a V6 Mustang convertible for the Daddy's Little Princess car.
Then why are 90% of the Integras I see in ****-aweful condition?
That's precisely what I was thinking. Even a student loan wouldn't amount to anything near that. Rich parents?
Also, remember there are a great deal of additional costs with a car above the just the cost of the car. Firstly, when buying the car you may have sales tax. Then, depending on where you live you may have to pay an annual excise tax to your state/county/city. Then of course, there is insurance. You are a 16 year old Male, statistically the most dangerous thing on the road, so your insurance will be prohibitive for a new car.
I guess the question is, have you factored all these things into your plans. Will you be expected to pay for any of the above yourself or are your parents kind enough to cover all these things for you. Remember, you insurance will be expensive until you get into you 20's, so why you may not have to pay for it yourself now, what about in a few years.
I guess the question is, have you factored all these things into your plans. Will you be expected to pay for any of the above yourself or are your parents kind enough to cover all these things for you. Remember, you insurance will be expensive until you get into you 20's, so why you may not have to pay for it yourself now, what about in a few years.
Bugger that.
For $20k at 16 get a good push bike and put the rest away for after high school. Or put a deposit on a house somewhere. Anything but a car that's going to cost a fortune to insure (you're paying insurance right?) and refuel (you're paying for petrol right? surely you're paying for something?) and just drain all your available resources. Get something that's going to appreciate.
Where are you going at 16 that you need a car anyway? I'm 24, employed, been living away from home in a very sparsely populated country and I don't need a car. A pushbike and public transport are all you need. If public transport is a fair way away then you have the pushy.
Borrow the folks' car if you need to go somewhere.
But my recommendation is something safe, second hand and plentiful. Like a 1990's Corolla or something similar.
For $20k at 16 get a good push bike and put the rest away for after high school. Or put a deposit on a house somewhere. Anything but a car that's going to cost a fortune to insure (you're paying insurance right?) and refuel (you're paying for petrol right? surely you're paying for something?) and just drain all your available resources. Get something that's going to appreciate.
Where are you going at 16 that you need a car anyway? I'm 24, employed, been living away from home in a very sparsely populated country and I don't need a car. A pushbike and public transport are all you need. If public transport is a fair way away then you have the pushy.
Borrow the folks' car if you need to go somewhere.
But my recommendation is something safe, second hand and plentiful. Like a 1990's Corolla or something similar.
my first car when i was a junior in HS (in 1989) was a 1980 Volvo 240 sedan. big, heavy, slow and ridiculously safe. it was also cool because it was so goofy. i paid $1500 for it and my parents paid the other $1500.
my second car when i was a sophomore in college was a 1986 Volvo 740 Turbo "Sportwagon", a hand-me-down from my dad. when i got it it had 150,000 miles on it but let me tell you, it was a fantastic car! between driving to and from school (6 hour drive) for a couple of years i put another 50,000 on it before it finally died. that was a car that my dad bought new, used for a number of years, paid it off in full, and gave to me.
my third car was a new 1994 honda accord sedan; this i got in my last year of my first undergrad degree attempt. i drove that car for 11 years and finally killed it at around 225,000 miles. this was new and my parents picked up the lease payment (which was dirt cheap - like $225 a month.)
my current car is a 2003 VW Jetta 1.8t Wolfsburg edition sedan. i bought it new at 2% @ $18,400. i plan on running this car for at least 5 to 7 years; but ideally i want to move into a city where i do not need a car that badly, get rid of it and use a zipcar when needed.
point? if i got my cool VW Jetta as a 16 year old it would have spoiled me for the next 15 years as well as been way more money than i needed to spend (or my parents to spend).
my second car when i was a sophomore in college was a 1986 Volvo 740 Turbo "Sportwagon", a hand-me-down from my dad. when i got it it had 150,000 miles on it but let me tell you, it was a fantastic car! between driving to and from school (6 hour drive) for a couple of years i put another 50,000 on it before it finally died. that was a car that my dad bought new, used for a number of years, paid it off in full, and gave to me.
my third car was a new 1994 honda accord sedan; this i got in my last year of my first undergrad degree attempt. i drove that car for 11 years and finally killed it at around 225,000 miles. this was new and my parents picked up the lease payment (which was dirt cheap - like $225 a month.)
my current car is a 2003 VW Jetta 1.8t Wolfsburg edition sedan. i bought it new at 2% @ $18,400. i plan on running this car for at least 5 to 7 years; but ideally i want to move into a city where i do not need a car that badly, get rid of it and use a zipcar when needed.
point? if i got my cool VW Jetta as a 16 year old it would have spoiled me for the next 15 years as well as been way more money than i needed to spend (or my parents to spend).
I echo most everyone else. New cars:
1) depreciate fast. If you are taking out a loan, it is very easy to end up "upside down", or owing more then the car is worth, especially if you drive a lot of miles.
2) cost a lot more in insurance, especially in your demographic. When you have your eye on a few cars, grab a parent and take a second to visit your insurance agent. (Take the VIN's with you, if you can.) Ask about good student discounts, multiple car discounts, and what coverage you actually need.
3) might cost you more in the long run. If you wreck a newer car and owe a lot on it, you might find yourself forced to compromise on repairs rather then just total it because you owe more then the insurance company is willing to shell out. It happens more often then you might think...
Personal opinion: Tricking out a car is a waste of money. Do what you need to get by (an amp, a pair of fuzzy dice, whatever) and leave the low rider with custom paint, neon lighting, and a sound system that can shatter glass to someone with a lot of cash to waste. When it comes time to sell the car, you will never get out of it what you have put into it. Save your money for a home theater some day.
1) depreciate fast. If you are taking out a loan, it is very easy to end up "upside down", or owing more then the car is worth, especially if you drive a lot of miles.
2) cost a lot more in insurance, especially in your demographic. When you have your eye on a few cars, grab a parent and take a second to visit your insurance agent. (Take the VIN's with you, if you can.) Ask about good student discounts, multiple car discounts, and what coverage you actually need.
3) might cost you more in the long run. If you wreck a newer car and owe a lot on it, you might find yourself forced to compromise on repairs rather then just total it because you owe more then the insurance company is willing to shell out. It happens more often then you might think...
Personal opinion: Tricking out a car is a waste of money. Do what you need to get by (an amp, a pair of fuzzy dice, whatever) and leave the low rider with custom paint, neon lighting, and a sound system that can shatter glass to someone with a lot of cash to waste. When it comes time to sell the car, you will never get out of it what you have put into it. Save your money for a home theater some day.
especially at todays gas prices
I'll repeat what others said...
Don't get a new 20 grand car. Please don't trick out a car when your only 16. Wast of money (especially when you need to sell it or it gets wrecked).
Work your way up to a nicer, better, cooler car when your older. You'll have something to look forward to when you get older.
I'm 25 and make 50k a year and I wouldn't buy a 20k car, just a complete waste of money. I drive a 95 Camry, has 150,000 miles and I plan on driving it until it dies, hopefully I can get to around 200k. Sure, I could afford to buy a new car, I have enough saved or I could pay monthly, but my cars runs great and I save a ton of money by keeping it. I would love to get a new car, but I know that the longer I keep this one, the nicer a house I can get, and typically, houses don't depreciate in value, unlike a car. Even what I get a new car, it won't be new and won't be near 20k. I am looking at most 14-15K and it will probably be either another camry or an accord. those are probably the 2 most reliable cars and will just fri*kin' go forever. Maybe by the time I am 35 I can actually get a "luxury" car, but I'm hoping by that point I can have a huge chunk of my mortgage paid and have no other debts.
Woah. Ditto, my thoughts exactly.
People tell me I'm mad for driving my 15 year old Daihatsu Charade (I am in fact immensely proud of it), whereas I think they're mad for spending mega-bucks on new cars. I could go out and buy a lovely SLK Mercedes, but what a waste. So I drive my old banger (and use my bike a lot to get around!)