I just quickly skimmed through the thread, so I might have missed something. Sorry.
Bolded is the bit where you seem to misunderstand the term "handling".
It isn't that not feeling anything as you go down the road is a bad thing (if your primary aim is going for hundreds of miles in a straight line, it's a very good thing indeed), but cars that "handle well" don't usually weigh 5,000 lbs and have steering you can operate with a single finger.
Coming from an owner of a (slightly smaller than those) land barge, I agree completely. But typically, when land barge owners are talking about handling, they don't mean going around corners quickly. They mean soaking up bumps and being easy to drive. Doesn't make much sense, I know, but it's what they do.
R170 SLK, BMW Z3, MR2, Porsche 944 turbo, FC RX-7 turbo
Yes, because those won't all be outrageous on insurance...
'Cause they're all boring piles of rust.
👎
There aren't going to be too many American cars from the 70's left that haven't succumbed to rust. Doubly so for the big barges, because a lot of them have been turned into the vaunted demolition derby cars so highly spoken of.
Not quite sure what you mean here, I see tons of 70's cars around where I live. Even more if you search online for ones for sale.
The Porsche 944 fulfills all the given criteria, and I've heard you can get them at amazingly cheap prices from people who fear replacement parts costs. I've seen them running in LeMons where the budget limit is $500, so I doubt a good one would cost $10k. The earlier, narrower, less powerful, but very similar 924 would probably be similar, but the less-powerful models could be easily beaten by just about anything, including my stupid old Pontiac Sunbird.
Think about it, a Porsche for a first car? Doesn't sound like a good idea to me... Plus, I doubt parts are cheap on them.
The Mazda Miata is probably a good choice, but no matter what anyone says, it is a bit of a hairdresser's car.
I agree that it is a good choice, but I don't get why people call them "hairdresser's cars." I know it's just an expression but I've never seen any hairdresser drive one, I can't recall seeing very many women driving them. Mostly men. If the OP wants a Miata, he can get a Miata. Shame on whomever thinks he's a hairdresser (unless he's a hairdresser). (going on to the next part, I wasn't saying the Miata is manly)
The BMW Z3 and Mercedes-Benz SLK230 are heavier and more powerful, but overall probably not as fun as a Miata, and probably less manly as well (particularly the Mercedes, which contemporary reviews say is peaky and laggy despite using a supercharger in place of a turbocharger).
"
Miata" should never be in the same sentence as "
manly" unless it's describing it's un-manliness.
Anyways, the parts and insurance would be too much for those cars.
BMW's in general probably wouldn't be a good car, actually, unless he can afford everything besides the initial purchase price, which most people that have posted here have neglected to consider.
Sorry to pick your post apart, but no, just no.
Corvette for a first car? Sounds
great...
Something I truly agree with, and not because I'm partial to Fords. My friend had a Fox-body, it was a (I think) '91 4 cyl. with 5.0 badges and wheels. It was reliable. Bulletproof actually. I don't remember what ended up happening to it, but her dad painted it and then got divorced, and I don't talk with them very much. Anyways, at least in my opinion, a Fox-body would be a great first car. Insurance and parts are pretty decently cheap, too.
You want anything that is slow, safe and sensible. It's your first car, and as cool as it is to have a ton of power, you are probably better off with a slower car.
This. I can't believe the people recommending some of the cars here. I knew that's what would happen in this thread ever since I seen it had been created, which is why I've stayed out.
E36 M3s are fun, but I would never recommend that to a new 16 year old driver. Not to mention insurance cost will probably be through the roof on one of those.
Again, +1, people are being too ambitious.
So a Corolla, Civic or Protege type vehicles.
Or even some of the 'Murican crap boxes from the '90s-'00s, GM's and the like.
If you want a fun, cheap, RWD sports car, the Miata is always a good choice. If you are too worried about how people view you and your car
I agree, a Miata is a great choice.
And don't worry what people think of you in your car. I want a '73-
'74 Beetle as my first car (yes, I know it won't happen
) and I'm as big as an NFL football player, I could care less if people say I'm weird for driving something I look out of place in. (although you in a Miata is probably a different situation, but you get the idea, I hope)
95-02 Camaro Z28/SS anyone?
I would get the V6. The Z28/SS would be too much for a 16/17 year old. He'd end up killing himself, the insurance would be sky-high, parts might not be that expensive, though. There are actually a few kids at my school with '95-'02 V6 Camaro's. Also a couple with the '99-ish-'04 V6 Mustang.
1. '95 240sx w/ RB25(50k) 95k on chassis. LOTS of mods. Looks clean too. $10k
Lots of mods on a first car? I don't even like the idea of buying a car with a lot of mods for a 50th car.
2. '97 M3 Manual- 115k miles(little high) This car is mint. No oxidation, tears, ect. No mods. It's well taken care of. $8k
3. '99 Porsche Boxter- 65k miles, 5 speed, sport package. $10.5k
4. '95 Z/28- 6 speed hardtop. Cammed, worked msd distributor, headers, corsa exhaust, upgraded ssbc brakes and rotors, wheels, sound system, original paint and leather interior. $7k
Yea, that's probably not gonna happen.
5. Looked a little for this one. Wanted my last car to be unique so... 88' E24 M6 Red w/ tan interior. No rips or anything. Manual. 95k on the clock. $11.5 k. You could talk them down though.
Again,
Thanks for your suggestions. Most likely gonna go for an MX5.
An MX-5 is likely a good choice.
