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Good first car
- Thread starter Theclamshell
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The diesels are very simple and highly robust engines. But there is a night and day difference between the older diesels and what is available in Europe now. There are several diesel-equipped passenger vehicles available in the US and I think they would make a great choice. Still, a newer vehicle is going to be more expensive than an older Civic or something similar. Also, I would believe that to get any type of maintenance and repairs done on a Mercedes would be more expensive than Civic or Accord. I currently drive an Audi, and I can't imagine that Honda would be charging almost $1k to have a regular 80k miles service done. So from a cost of ownership perspective, I would likely stick with a Japanese automobile.
That pretty much does it for this thread.
I will definatley look into one of those. I think a late 90's luxury would be nice. Im not really interested in trucks though. And ill check out civics. My grandma gas an 04 four door and the things like a go kart. I move it around in the driveway sometimes. The poor things dented and beat up though
I will definatley look into one of those. I think a late 90's luxury would be nice. Im not really interested in trucks though. And ill check out civics. My grandma gas an 03 four door and the things like a go kart. I move it around in the driveway sometimes. The poor things dented and beat up though
Seriously stay away from luxury cars especially Germans.
They may be cool to have, but the cost of maintenance will break your back knowing the income kids have.....
Agreed. Older German vehicles can be expensive to maintain. The Japanese ones are much better that way.
If you want to go for that late 90s luxury a Lexus is the go. Its a Japanese company and its actually owned by Toyota, theres a lot of toyota parts in them. I have a new Lexus, the RX450 Hybrid and the maintenance on that is really inexpensive, around the same as regular toyotas.
The guys that recommended you buy a Honda are giving you very good advice. And the guys that are telling you to avoid German cars for your first car are also giving sound advice. I'm taking my BMW to get a dent fixed in the driver side after someone clipped the car when it was parked on Monday (total cost 1100 GBP, about 2000 dollars). Service is around 320GBP (around 500 dollars).
It's not the sort of cost I could afford at 15 years old. Even if you have rich parents, be smart, save them some cash and go for a Honda. I learned in a Toyota Corolla 6 Speed but maybe best to avoid them right now as resale values maybe messed up with all their scandal.
It's not the sort of cost I could afford at 15 years old. Even if you have rich parents, be smart, save them some cash and go for a Honda. I learned in a Toyota Corolla 6 Speed but maybe best to avoid them right now as resale values maybe messed up with all their scandal.
In my experience, very reliable. Like another poster said the I6 is practically bulletproof. It can go well into 300k miles and keep on going. The transmissions in the 84-01 Cherokees are also practically bulletproof. They're actually Japanese made.
I will say that I have had a couple of problems (cheap window switches, speakers cutting out), but nothing I couldn't fix myself.
Best part of actually owning a Jeep is the community. Tons of websites out there that will help you if you have problems. I wish I did this when I owned my first one, but if something breaks or you need to do routine maintenance, do it yourself. You'll save a ton of cash and learn something while you're doing it.
My family has owned around 12 Jeeps from 1990 to today. Not one of them has left us stranded. None of them have had any major problems either.
Why do you say he will "wreck his first car"? Alot of people still drive their first cars even when they are in college....and even graduate college... I find this generalization very harsh.
PS. I highly recommend a Toyota Camry , 3rd generation. I currently have one and it works flawlessly (only maintenance is changing belts and fluids every 60k miles and your usual oil change and tire rotation). I seriously think the media is hyping too much about these Toyota recalls and that such a problem has escalated to a point where people are starting to bluff about the unintended acceleration.
If the OP looks for a car that has a timing chain he will find that he doesn't have to have it replaced every 60,000 miles( isn't Honda every 100,000 miles?). It's one less maintenance thing the OP will have to afford to do.
On the Toyota recall, yes I do think the media has overhyped the recall itself. But, it is the possibility that Toyota has hid the issue and tried to sweep it under the rug that is bugging me.
Both Honda and Toyota only need their need belts replaced at 100,000 miles then after the first 100,000 miles its every 65k-75k miles depending on how much you drive,etc. I had to have my timing belt replaced at 170k miles due to the fact my Toyota is a daily highway driver. On the Toyota Recall- Toyota could've swept it under the rug, BUT look at how many recalls GM, Ford,etc. have had and how much the media has "hyped" (sarcasm) about them.
Funny you mention that as I always thought the media always favored Toyota and Honda and a lot of times didn't report their recalls while they singled out GM and Ford. Fact of the matter is this recall is a major recall which risks peoples lives where the recalls that GM, Ford, etc have tended to be not as big. For the big ones for GM and Ford, the media has reported on it. Again the Firestone tire debacle and the cruise control switch being reported by the media.
You sure?
That's a 1996 Tacoma. Side profile and turning signals look the same as my original picture.
But besides the point, Toyota did recall them, but just be weary if the OP does consider one. Take it to a trusted mechanic for him to inspect the frame.
Though I do not think the OP would need a truck anyway.
That is a 2001 Toyota Tundra.
Tacoma's have never had suicide rear doors and Toyota didn't even start making 4 door Tacoma's until 2001.
That is a 2001 Toyota Tundra.
Tacoma's have never had suicide rear doors and Toyota didn't even start making 4 door Tacoma's until 2001.
Ah you're right. Google has failed me.
But, point still stands. That generation of Tacoma's have frame rust issues.
Hey,
today i went to scion and looked at the xB and xD and i think the xB was too big but the xD was awesome! I went in it and i felt comfortable in it also. I've been looking at them all day now hahah. Any scion owners want to chime in or anyone else really
today i went to scion and looked at the xB and xD and i think the xB was too big but the xD was awesome! I went in it and i felt comfortable in it also. I've been looking at them all day now hahah. Any scion owners want to chime in or anyone else really
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I appreciate it. Well, it turned out my grandpa needed a new car so he got a 2010 Kia Forte sedan and he puts low miles on his cars, his last one was 36k at 10 years lol. So he said i can use it too so we are going to share it, and the fact that he lives with my family makes it easier. if i did not get that we would have taken my grandmas 04 Civic which is a great car. Now i just need to turn 16...........
P.S you guys are right, an older car would not only be less reliable but also the safety differences are great, after reading alot about safety on cars i see how much of a difference the side airbags and crumple zones make.
But one day i will get on old Merc (hopefully) but as a second car.
P.S you guys are right, an older car would not only be less reliable but also the safety differences are great, after reading alot about safety on cars i see how much of a difference the side airbags and crumple zones make.
But one day i will get on old Merc (hopefully) but as a second car.
That's a good choice.
You don't want something too powerful as a first car, I mean some guy on here had a 328i as their first car, as a 17 year old, I may not have totalled it, but I would've driven it totally wrong and picked up some bad habits. Plus over here thats an insurance group 14 or 15 car and would easily cost about £3,000 to just insure it as a 17 year old! Not to mention fuel (although it is less than $50 to fill up most cars there), here it would be about £80 to fill up a BMW.
Don't get me started on the 'newer cars are better than older cars debate'.
You don't want something too powerful as a first car, I mean some guy on here had a 328i as their first car, as a 17 year old, I may not have totalled it, but I would've driven it totally wrong and picked up some bad habits. Plus over here thats an insurance group 14 or 15 car and would easily cost about £3,000 to just insure it as a 17 year old! Not to mention fuel (although it is less than $50 to fill up most cars there), here it would be about £80 to fill up a BMW.
Don't get me started on the 'newer cars are better than older cars debate'.