Alright so first off I would like to say that I am 16, and have been driving cars for a year legally and from an earlier age on Private property. I understand the road and respect its dangers. I grew up around vettes as my dad owned one (Don't know the exact year.) Im trying to decide on my first car and am going to post a few below and if you can just give some feedback on them.

I live in Alabama specifically Mobile so snow isnt an issue but rain is.

We went today at SKCO(A local dealership here) and my parents picked out a few cars. They picked out 2 toyota camrys and I drove both.

Cars(Not - Vettes) ->
2006 Toyota Camry
(No issues just some upholstery needs changing but feels like an old grandmas car from the feel and the interior. It also features a 4 cylinder which also attributes to the grandma effect. Had a clean carfax.)

http://www.skcoautomotive.com/2006-T...-36608/4970502

2005 Toyota Camry XLE
(Had some brake, door closing, interior issues aswell as a crash that we thought totaled the car as it felt weird driving)
http://www.skcoautomotive.com/2005-T...-36608/4980116

Before I start posting the vettes im looking into please keep in mind that
I understand the dangers of RWD cars. But if you still persist on warnings could you find some sort of sporty vehicle like a vette for 1,000-20,000 around Alabama zip code 36608(150 miles radius).

Cars(Vettes)
1999 Chevrolet Corvette Hatchback - $14,990
http://goo.gl/MezqOy

1995 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe - $9,990
http://goo.gl/NoNvBt

2004 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe - $18,900
http://goo.gl/rhrdZv

1993 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe - $14,900
http://goo.gl/6e7N4I

2004 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe - $18,644
http://goo.gl/HLwpGv

1994 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible - $8,950
http://goo.gl/dG1Gpq
(Honestly my favorite from the color and rag top)

I have wanted a vette since I was little but am open to other possibility. Keep in mind this will be a Daily driver to and from school and to and from work(Over the summers) so it will get little usage most likely under 10k miles.

Thanks for any help!

 

With all due respect - there is a reason why your parents were looking at Camry's...

Every few months this topic comes up....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...first-car.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...first-car.html


And for equal billing - those who drove Corvettes at a young age...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...ving-a-c4.html

 

I'm one to talk cause my first car was a 70 Camaro R/S at 14 years old, but that was 34 years ago!

You really need to check and see how much your going to pay for full coverage insurance, thatwill help you decide which car to get.

 

Cars.com for near your zip...

2010 GT Mustang red - http://fw.to/KhqtEIK
2013 Mazda 3 - http://fw.to/ceKkv7k
2009 Mazda RX-8 - http://fw.to/GFJhBcm

Etc...

Looks like there are a lot of cars to choose from at Mullinax Ford. Get something fun, something you will want to keep nice, don't buy German. Try to avoid low price vehicles that are expensive to maintain.

As far as the Vette's go, get the 1993 Ruby. Car looks nice, miles are right, and the C4's feel connected, good first car.

 

I'll offer the young 1st time car buyer the same advice I offer the first time motorcycle buyer.

Don't purchase some super-wazoo faster than greased lightening POS that will make you &/or others dead.

Just because the state issued you a drivers license does not mean that you have a handle on what is involved.

Get a nice car that is easy on gas & will get you through school without issues. Plenty of time later for that rocket ship.

Good luck.

 

c-4 are great cars, but you really have to be a gear head to maintain them... something to screw around with when you have time....at your age and for the uses you state, i'd be looking for a
solid, easy on the gas car too....get the vette when you graduate.....something to work for...

 

As much fun as I had with my 84 at 16 and my 92 at 22 ultimately I had to get rid of both cars because it wasn't the right car at the right time.

Get a car like the Mazda 3 now and start saving money to buy a Corvette to be your 2nd car down the road.

 

Coming from someone that got his first at 16, don't do it. I started on an 86 coupe and while I really enjoyed the car, ultimately it was totaled because of my inexperience. As my dad says, if you've got horses, you're going to ride them. It that is true, the problem with the C4's is that the limit for them is far beyond what you will be able to handle. When you reach that limit you're in trouble.

For a first car, give a hard look at a 2004-2008 tiburons GT v6. Not the fastest car on the road by any means, but it is quick for sure. They are also very fun to drive. The civic Si is the same way, quick enough but a lot of fun. If you want something RWD the Genesis Coupe's are nice. If it were me I would go with the Tiburon, the 2.7 makes some good sounds with exhaust mods, and an SRI.

 

If you get one in decent enough shape, a shade tree mechanic will suffice.

Just be careful and ever mindful of not only yourself, but others on the road. A 16 year old in a Corvette is a scary thought. Had some young punk almost come in to my living room driving an older Mustang trying to test its handling limits in a residential area. He failed. Badly.

 

There is a reason for a 16 year old to buy a "grandmas" type car for your first car. They are dependable, cheap, and easy to maintain. Especially for a daily driver. Stick with the Toyota's, Honda's, Mazda's etc.

 

Guys you do realize there are Camrys with more power than our C4s have right?



My first car was an 85 Camaro, at 18. Eventually I totaled it, because of sleep deprivation. I'd been logging 70 to 80 hour work weeks for three months straight, and I had a right rear brake that was in serious trouble. It caught up to me. I'd been driving for two years before that with a 98 Z28 that my mom let me use to get back and forth to work. (the same car I learned how to drive in)

First cars though: I'd recommend not being in a C4, mostly from the maintenance. It's going to take alot of $ to keep it on the road, unless you find one that has had very good maintenance. I'd go for something like a later model (think 03 to 05) Cavalier, 2 door. The Ecotech is a solid engine, that responds incredibly well to mods, it's also very reliable, and saves a ton on fuel. They handle reasonably well, are fairly sporty when well maintained, and they DO have a back seat. It's not much of a back seat, but your friends will appreciate it all the same.

Every Toyota I have driven I have felt was a death trap. There's almost zero real feedback to the road, in the later models the head rests on the back seat make the rear window nigh on useless, brake feel was almost non existent, and the feeling of the car accelerating was just about as vague as the steering. I've driven three now, as rentals, or driving a friend home. Each and every time I get out of one, I just shake my head. The Cavalier is a much better handling and feedback providing car. I wouldn't mind certainly having one as a gas sipper/fun compact in my stable.

The Mazda 3 is also a pretty slick ride, for a first car.

 

As mentioned earlier, Check the Insurance rates First...

Also, I'd recommend getting more driving experience under your belt, before getting a vehicle that you've always wanted. The odds that you wreck your new vehicle, (whether your fault or not) are Not in your favor!...

Good Luck, with whatever you end up with!...

 

Kids don't go around trying to test the limits of a Camry.

 

They do, but Camry's don't have 350lbs of torque... and he said 4 banger Camry not the V6 so still not talking about the same power. New V6 Camry's still have 100lbs less torque, that is not a small difference.

 

Have you seen how most teens drive? You can stick them in a Prius, and you can bet dollars to apples that they'd try to race someone in it, or do silly stuff.

CRX anyone? Not exactly a fast car by any means... yet how many of them wound up being raced by teens?

It's still more than enough for a kid to get themselves into trouble with.

 

A Corvette was my daily driver from the time I was 16 (84 Coupe) until I was 32 (C5 Coupe).

I may have done a few stupid things, but kids will do those in any car.

I never had a problem with my Vette being my only car. I think if you find a nice low mileage car you shouldn't have many problems. Early C4's will have the auto tranny go out, or at least mine did. also, the steering racks failed on mine.
Those were the big problems I had.
My daughter's first car is a 99 C5 and I told her one ticket and it is gone.

I will also tell you what I told her. People will try to get you to "show out" in your Vette and there will also be the rude people that will make comments about it being your daddy's car and so on. You have to be able have self control if you get a Vette, if not you could get hurt or your insurance will be so high that it is not feasible.

good luck and let us know what you get.
Shawn

 

I don't know about most, but that's all the more reason they shouldn't be in a 'vette, IMO.

 

And alot less costly to insure. Best to get something that's easier to handle and get a few years under your belt first. Wait till you can afford and enjoy it.

I looked at my first Vette when I was 30 (didn't get it) and the insurance each year was as much as the car would have cost to buy. I was married and had a good driving record to boot.

 

Every kid -wants- a vette as their first car.
Some kids though are actually responsible enough for it. Most aren't.
Then again alot of the kids I deal with on a daily basis, have things like late model M3s as their first rides and 60,000 dollar land rovers. (could you imagine being handed 60 large for your first car?!)
I'll say this, if your parents are not willing to trust you with handling a firearm on your own yet, you probably aren't ready for a vette yet.

Insurance on a Vette is going to be a real killer. Even with a perfect driving record until you are 25, OP.

 

Yeah, at least with small FWD cars you can see what you are about to slide into... not so much much with the Vette when the **** comes around.