Good First Car
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 8,656
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn NY
Good First Car
You know i'm 13, so i can't drive :mad
When i CAN drive, i would like to get a good CLASSIC car. It would have to be inexpensive(couple thousand),reliable and easy to obtain parts. Please, don't ,mention cheap english roadsters(mg, triumph,Austin Healey)
Thanks
When i CAN drive, i would like to get a good CLASSIC car. It would have to be inexpensive(couple thousand),reliable and easy to obtain parts. Please, don't ,mention cheap english roadsters(mg, triumph,Austin Healey)
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
couple thousand? if you mean 7-10...then you can get a nice driver rubber bumper C3....if you mean 4-5 thousand, then you'd better go look at a classic rustang...
EDIT: Of course you are still only 13...you have 3-4 years of hard work and saving...and I believe if you can save up 5 grand, and get a parent/relative to cosign, you can buy a c3 off a dealer(:eek: ) and just pay $180 in car payments each month...just a thought. A chrome bumper shark driver will run you 12-14K(on the low side) IMO
Daniel
[Modified by daniel77350, 10:27 PM 12/14/2001]
EDIT: Of course you are still only 13...you have 3-4 years of hard work and saving...and I believe if you can save up 5 grand, and get a parent/relative to cosign, you can buy a c3 off a dealer(:eek: ) and just pay $180 in car payments each month...just a thought. A chrome bumper shark driver will run you 12-14K(on the low side) IMO
Daniel
[Modified by daniel77350, 10:27 PM 12/14/2001]
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Camino CA
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
For around $2000 your looking at something like a 1980 camaro, anything old enough to be classic would be a lot more money, or to beat up to fix without a lot of dough.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Wausau wis USA
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
Well I bought my 77 2 monthes ago for 3200 It is a driver but not perfect needs some care to make it real nice, look around C 3 can be found that need work ( I bought mine off a forum member ) Keep looking and good luck
:cool: Larry
:cool: Larry
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
you can get a 1988 318i BMW 'vert...I want that as my daily driver...
he he
anyway, ya 8K will get you a C3 with alarm :) Bit it will be plastic bumpered.
Daniel
he he
anyway, ya 8K will get you a C3 with alarm :) Bit it will be plastic bumpered.
Daniel
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
Likes: 1
From: NC,USA
Re: Good First Car (daniel77350)
my personal opinion, is find something cheap, maybe a honda, use it only as transportation for a few years, then drop some dough on a c3 when you can afford to pay for your classic... ie insurance and gas
just a thought, and probably not what you wanna hear, .02
ZD
just a thought, and probably not what you wanna hear, .02
ZD
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
I got mine for 5500 and it was in drivable condition (barely) but if you want something cheap be prepared to put ALOT of work into before it is driveable/safe. I cant drive mine that often for just that reason, Ive heard that the brakes on older vettes can be a problem, thats how it was on mine anyway. I think I got a pretty good deal.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
I bought my "70 DeVille for $3,500. This is my daily driver and tow car for my STV.(this is a corvette for the water).
Check out auto trader.com for an idea of what things go for, you can select for years or types. I found the car and boat in local classifieds on the internet though.
This ragtop has the small engine of 472 ci. If you don't mind front wheel drive you can get 500 cu in an ELdorado.
Cadillacs are sleeper cars, large engines and they actually have performance.The engines are also tough to destroy, partly considering who owned them. They generaly have a lot of toys in them too.
To give an idea of the car. My differential is as big or bigger than any of the pickup trucks I've seen. The drive shaft is also large. Caddy didn't like taking a chance on a bad reputation. The car is easy to work on and most of the parts are over engineered. At least thats they way it used to be.
Seats 4-6 people and a few in the trunk.
Parts are available and not too bad.
I may be biased on my opinion of a Caddy though.
Check out auto trader.com for an idea of what things go for, you can select for years or types. I found the car and boat in local classifieds on the internet though.
This ragtop has the small engine of 472 ci. If you don't mind front wheel drive you can get 500 cu in an ELdorado.
Cadillacs are sleeper cars, large engines and they actually have performance.The engines are also tough to destroy, partly considering who owned them. They generaly have a lot of toys in them too.
To give an idea of the car. My differential is as big or bigger than any of the pickup trucks I've seen. The drive shaft is also large. Caddy didn't like taking a chance on a bad reputation. The car is easy to work on and most of the parts are over engineered. At least thats they way it used to be.
Seats 4-6 people and a few in the trunk.
Parts are available and not too bad.
I may be biased on my opinion of a Caddy though.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
Unless your parents are really generous, go for condition and reliability over looks or fashion. In the price range you're talking about, a major repair bill could equal the cost of the car. For example, the cost to replace the tranny in an Escort (or any equally "uncool" car) might be the same as for a Camaro but your budget will get you an Escort that's probably in much better condition than a Camaro would be at the same price. You might not be cruising in style but, instead of having a "cool" car that's broken down and waiting for a year's savings to fix, you'll still be cruising :)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Reston VA
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
Economics 101:
Unlimited Wants vs. Limited Resources
Economics 102:
There aint no such thing as a free lunch
Your buying Rice, and gonna get smoked by Rubber Bumber Vettes !!!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Unlimited Wants vs. Limited Resources
Economics 102:
There aint no such thing as a free lunch
Your buying Rice, and gonna get smoked by Rubber Bumber Vettes !!!!!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 8,656
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn NY
Re: Good First Car (ScubaJKD)
hey, no harm in thinking, rite :confused: ? I'm working on my money problem. Any car can dust most stangs. they call 15.9 second 1/4 mile times fast :rolleyes:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: Good First Car (garagedweller2)
Garageweller, with your budget, 15.9 IS fast :). Don't get suckered in to spending your money just to keep up with others, especially with those that have much bigger budgets! As much as we'd have liked to, none of us could have afforded to own anything like we now have when we were your age. Be smart and prepare yourself for the future that you desire. If you do it right, it won't take long before you can afford your dreams and you'll also know what those dreams are.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,482
Likes: 27
From: Plum Boro, Pa. USA Pennsylvania
Re: Good First Car (Vetterodder)
GarageDweller: any Vette repair shops near you? Start by visiting there; ask questions. Start hangin' out there; ask questions, observe, retain what you learn. Grab a broom...sweep up; craftsmen working there will have more time to do $$ making work instead of the "gopher" jobs you start doing. They'll give you advice on what cars are worthwhile, may know of a decent one for sale. Then - when you get a "ride" - park it outside & putz around with it. Employees will remember all the grubby work you did to help them out and will give you a hand. Maybe the owner will let you bring it inside; if they give you a hand, don't sit and watch...jump in & start wrenching. Maybe it'll pay off; maybe you'll learn something. Beats the hell outta standing on the corner with the future "want fries with that?" buddies and smoking cigarettes. Your future is in YOUR hands...make the best of any/all opportunities :yesnod:
Cruz
Cruz
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,078
Likes: 1
Re: Good First Car (Cruzmeisters)
Thank you for not turning to rice with wings and fart pipes!
We need more kids like you.
Unfortunately, the Corvette is probably not a real good first choice. They cost a lot for someone buying their first car, and really need a good going through or restoration to even be driveable.
My Corvette, including purchase price, has nearly 30 grand invested in it now. A little over a third of that to purchase it as a basket case, about a third to restore and improve, and almost a third to build that big block. And now I'm getting close!
Ever consider another car? The 70's F-bodies are fairly easy to work with. The 80's Camaros are okay too, but an awful lot of electronics headaches with those. I'd suggest something with a carburetor and no electronics. Maybe a Nova, LeMans, or a Dart with a slant 6. Look around, there are good deals out there with this economy right now.
If you score on a Vette for cheap, great. But it's not very likely.
We need more kids like you.
Unfortunately, the Corvette is probably not a real good first choice. They cost a lot for someone buying their first car, and really need a good going through or restoration to even be driveable.
My Corvette, including purchase price, has nearly 30 grand invested in it now. A little over a third of that to purchase it as a basket case, about a third to restore and improve, and almost a third to build that big block. And now I'm getting close!
Ever consider another car? The 70's F-bodies are fairly easy to work with. The 80's Camaros are okay too, but an awful lot of electronics headaches with those. I'd suggest something with a carburetor and no electronics. Maybe a Nova, LeMans, or a Dart with a slant 6. Look around, there are good deals out there with this economy right now.
If you score on a Vette for cheap, great. But it's not very likely.