A Sports Car For a First Car?

[LeadFootLiam]

@LeadFootLiam I would stop trying to convince people in this thread that you are a qualified driver, it's a battle you're never going to win. As soon as someone sees the word '18' and 'sports car' in the same sentence they automatically visualize ambulances, beer bottles, shattered glass and body bags. Good luck trying to convince them otherwise. It may come as a shock to some people but it is possible to be young AND mature. I was going through the exact same process you're going through when I got my car. Everyone was telling me to get a 'traditional' car; civic, corolla, 4runner...etc. I made my choice and never once regretted it 👍

Thanks man. This thread has given me lots to think about tbh. I'd I am mature when it comes to driving. I have heard and experienced how my other friends drive, crazy, they drive much more aggressively and faster than me.

Only thing stopping me from buying a sports car is money, I need a car ASAP, and saving up thousands for a sports car will take a while.

Thanks for not trying to sound like you know everything, like the majority of people in this thread.

 

[Slash]

Who the hell cares how good of a driver you are. It takes time to develop skills, and like anything else, seat time is what brings about said skills. I've been behind the wheel of a high horsepower car and felt more comfortable with it than with my moms Focus. It's your car, do what you want with it, drive it how you want to drive it, but be aware of the consequences of your actions. 220 horsepower is incredibly boring to me unless it's in an uber light car or has massive torque, and I haven't been driving much longer than you have. Do I drive like a maniac? No, but that's because I like to keep gas in the car. Do I have friends that floor it every chance they get? You bet, but you can also bet they don't go faster than the speed limit.


And I'm pretty sure you can buy any car you want at any age you want. Whether you can legally drive it on public roads is another story.


That said, I do agree on not arguing with people that have much more experience, they do in fact know what they are talking about. Sports car and teenager don't really mix, but you can see why, because of dumb idiots that think they can handle the world and end up killing themselves. Hell, you could drive a 500 horse Viper and be fine, as long as you know your limits and the limits of that car. I'm not saying you would be the one to harm yourself, but like anything, know both limits. For me, it doesn't take long to become comfortable with a machine.


That is all I'm going to say.

 

[Harry6784]

Thanks man. This thread has given me lots to think about tbh. I'd I am mature when it comes to driving. I have heard and experienced how my other friends drive, crazy, they drive much more aggressively and faster than me.

Only thing stopping me from buying a sports car is money, I need a car ASAP, and saving up thousands for a sports car will take a while.

Thanks for not trying to sound like you know everything, like the majority of people in this thread.

If you're in urgent need of just 'A to B' transportation, I'd go with a beater in good condition off Craigslist or something. When buying sporty cars, you DON'T want to go cheap. You will rely on the performance they offer and the last thing you want is for stuff to start breaking. My parents were nice enough to let me use their cars while I saved up for my car, but don't worry about not getting your 'dream' car as your first car. Your first car won't be your last

 

[Azuremen]

Are you talking about financing or leasing a car?

No. I mean the title and registration, insurance paperwork, etc.

You know, things that are typical of buying a car

Go to your optometrist, I said: "

IMO it takes years of good driving habits to be a good driver". Never did I say a "few" years.

My glasses are fine, thanks. Years implies more than 24 months when people talk about experience.

So your saying I have no idea on how to drive based on what other people are telling me? Thought you were better than that.

I'm basing it on how long you've been driving and how much experience you have. How many different cars have you actually driven? How many kilometers? Now how many at speed? Sideways? In snow? In fog? How many emergency situations have you had?

You simply haven't been driving long enough to know if you are a good driving or not.

@Harry6784 - Exactly how old are you to be so wise to talk about maturity while having "Your Girlfriend's House" as your location?

Just wonderin'

 

[Wolfe]

Dangerous? Its 4WD, I have also participated in a couple autocross events, pretty sure I can handle it.

Thanks for not trying to sound like you know everything, like the majority of people in this thread.

It's comments like these that are precisely why everyone is on your case about being able to handle a performance car, not simply because of your age and experience. A mature 18 year old can handle a car like the WRX just fine. A self-assured 18 year old who talks about it like this is a red flag, no matter how responsible you think you are or actually are.

The advice started off on a statistical basis (as Famine outlined) but you've been digging a hole since the first quote above. If you had said something along the lines of, "I'll keep that in mind, I'll be careful," everyone might now be talking about the alternative cars you've since mentioned, rather than your driving abilities.

 

[Slash]

4WD does NOT equal automatic, 100% confirmed safety in ANY situation, period.

 

[Harry6784]

@Harry6784 - Exactly how old are you to be so wise to talk about maturity while having "Your Girlfriend's House" as your location?

Just wonderin'

I will be 20 this June. And as for my location, excuse me for not taking the internetz as seriously as you all do.

 

[Azuremen]

I will be 20 this June. And as for my location, excuse me for not taking the internetz as seriously as you all do.

Ah, so this is why you talk like you understanding everything.

And I don't take the Internetz too srsly myself. Just the "you [insert person]" jokes got old around the time I was your age.

 

[Harry6784]

Thanks for not trying to sound like you know everything, like the majority of people in this thread.

Ah, so this is why you talk like you understanding everything.

I see....

 

[ildd]

Let me tell you the story of me and my car-

I "inherited" my moms 2002 Mercedes C240 back in 2011. We've had it since 2004, it has 163 HP and weighs about 3500Lb with me in it and what I carry in the trunk. So yes, it's rather slow. It's not exactly Camry or Accord slow, but it's down there. 0-60 in about 8 seconds, but it's perfect. How the hell is it perfect, you ask?

I told myself when I was learning to drive that I wouldn't speed and drive stupid, and it's pretty hard to do that when you're a teen. You're constantly told by your parents "DON'T SPEED" and all that other crap, and your first reaction when they're not in the car is "I'm doing the opposite of what they say", as it is natural reaction. Rebellion. This car keeps me in check. It has just enough power to not piss people off when you turn out of the grocery store and floor it, rather than being slow, and pretty forgiving. Maybe it's because I bought YK580 tires... You will be tempted to do stupid stuff, either by your own mind in the rain, or by friends on the highway, or anywhere in between. I know I have, and I've learned since then, luckily unpunished in any regard.

Your first car is a teacher. The best teacher you could possibly have, or ever have. No, it shouldn't be boring, but it should provide you a wealth of safety features to mask the un-boring. It definitely shouldn't be fast, but not slow. It should be reliable, and rather spacious for when you go on a roadtrip with friends or giving someone a lift.

I've put money into my car, like any reasonable* teen would. I've gotten my windows tinted, I bought HID/Projector headlights, new set of tires, among a couple other small things. All of which both look good and serve a great purpose.

My advice? Buy a 4-door with <190 N/A HP, good safety ratings, and can pour money in to if you'd like. Just because you don't think you'll take autocross experience to the streets doesn't mean you won't. MPG shouldn't be a main priority unless you're paying for the gas and travel longer distances.

 

[Tornado]

Ah. I get it. So buying a sports car is a good idea because a guy of roughly the same age and driving experience who (I'm spitballing) owns a Trans Am as his first car hasn't crashed it yet; nor have most of his friends who own similar cars.

 

[Harry6784]

Ah. I get it. So buying a sports car is a good idea because a guy of roughly the same age and driving experience who (I'm spitballing) owns a Trans Am as his first car says it is because hasn't crashed it yet; nor have most of his friends.

Never said it's a good idea, but it won't send him to the morgue as many people here seem to think so.

 

[Bopop4]

I don't get what everyone's problem is.

If Liam knows that he can (and will) restrain his handling exercises to empty parking lots and gravel pits, then what's the problem with getting a 200hp WRX?

You're all making it seem like it's some sort of bite-your-head-off TVR.
I've been in a a few WRXs, turbo and N/A, the turbo ones gave a good amount of speed, but the N/A wouldn't really be any quicker than an Altima.



OT:

It was said earlier in the thread, if you know you can stop yourself from doing stupid things and drive like an adult, then buy whatever car meets your needs.

Autocrossing a car isn't going to kill it either, if you're only doing it a few times a year.

 

[LeadFootLiam]

No. I mean the title and registration, insurance paperwork, etc.

You know, things that are typical of buying a car

Yes if your under 18 you can drive any car you like, must be different we're you live

My glasses are fine, thanks. Years implies more than 24 months when people talk about experience.

I'm basing it on how long you've been driving and how much experience you have. How many different cars have you actually driven? How many kilometers? Now how many at speed? Sideways? In snow? In fog? How many emergency situations have you had?

You simply haven't been driving long enough to know if you are a good driving or not.

I have driven lots of cars. Dodge Caliber, Golf GTI, Scion FRS, Mazda MPV, Mazda 3, WRX, a loading truck one time, when I was working with my dad.

Kilometres? I don't keep count. Speed? Fastest I have done is 150km/h, I hit the fuel cut . Sideways in snow, I did some nice drifts a couple weeks ago, my GT skills helped.

It's has been foggy a lot here lately, not a problem for me, I adjust accordingly.

Only one emergency situation. I ran over a tire in the road, it was dark, and I was not paying attention, luckily all my friends were headed to the same place at the time so we got the tire out from under the vehicle in no time.

 

[Slash]

Ah. I get it. So buying a sports car is a good idea

This isn't directly aimed at you, but more as a whole, so don't take this to heart. It's more of an overall image I'm getting from this forum right now.

Who cares what kind of idea it is. A car is a car is a car is a car. Just because you have a god damn sports car doesn't mean the kids going to wrap the damn thing around a telephone pole doing something idiotic. Have fun with it but don't be an idiot.

 

[ildd]

Oh, forgot to mention, @LeadFootLiam I'd also recommend getting something that doesn't have silver metallic paint. It's a 🤬 to touch up from little chips...and I didn't realize you live in Vancouver, 4WD is probably a good idea

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Ah. I get it. So buying a sports car is a good idea because a guy of roughly the same age and driving experience who (I'm spitballing) owns a Trans Am as his first car hasn't crashed it yet; nor have most of his friends who own similar cars.

You know, this whole situation reminds me of a discussion I've had with a coworker lately. He's a good enough guy - very easy-going, a genuine desire to learn and improve - but I heard about his approach to birth control with his girlfriend and it boggled my mind. They don't want kids, yet she uses nothing, and he... also uses nothing. His reasoning: "It's worked well so far, since we haven't had a pregnancy yet." I've pointed out that statistically, each time it becomes more and more likely, and yet he still sees no reason to change his current approach.

It's sort of like this, really. Sure, there are those teens who don't leave car-shaped holes in hedges, but the self-assured "it won't happen to me" attitude on display here doesn't give me much hope.

I've been in a a few WRXs, turbo and N/A, the turbo ones gave a good amount of speed, but the N/A wouldn't really be any quicker than an Altima.

I'd like to hear more about these N/A WRX's...

This isn't directly aimed at you, but more as a whole, so don't take this to heart. It's more of an overall image I'm getting from this forum right now.

Who cares what kind of idea it is. A car is a car is a car is a car. Just because you have a god damn sports car doesn't mean the kids going to wrap the damn thing around a telephone pole doing something idiotic. Have fun with it but don't be an idiot.

That last sentence is the problem - teens are statistically higher to do stupid things with their cars precisely because they think they know better. Liam's right about it taking years to build up a good knowledge base and become a good driver. It however only takes a fraction of that time to start bad habits.

 

[LeadFootLiam]

Thanks @ildd I didn't know that. 👍

 

[Bopop4]

I'd like to hear more about these N/A WRX's...

I use the WRX name for every sport Impreza.

It's a 2.5RS with some exhaust mods done to it. (Not sure if he's also done some other stuff though.)

 

[McLaren]

@LeadFootLiam I would stop trying to convince people in this thread that you are a qualified driver, it's a battle you're never going to win. As soon as someone sees the word '18' and 'sports car' in the same sentence they automatically visualize ambulances, beer bottles, shattered glass and body bags. Good luck trying to convince them otherwise. It may come as a shock to some people but it is possible to be young AND mature. I was going through the exact same process you're going through when I got my car. Everyone was telling me to get a 'traditional' car; civic, corolla, 4runner...etc. I made my choice and never once regretted it 👍

Except he's not a qualified driver & neither were you when you bought your car.

Thanks for not trying to sound like you know everything, like the majority of people in this thread.

That's ironic. What were those comments about auto crossing again?

 

[Harry6784]

Except he's not a qualified driver & neither were you when you bought your car.

I had my license so obviously the government thought that I was indeed a qualified driver.

 

[Slash]

Y
That last sentence is the problem - teens are statistically higher to do stupid things with their cars precisely because they think they know better. Liam's right about it taking years to build up a good knowledge base and become a good driver. It however only takes a fraction of that time to start bad habits.

I can't really argue against that.

 

[McLaren]

I had my license so obviously the government thought that I was indeed a qualified driver.

Oh, well goddamn then. Let me ring up Porsche & order a GT3 despite having no experience owning such a car and then immediately start tracking it. I'm sure I'll be the next Schumacher in it & not find the nearest tire wall.

Qualified in terms of driving experience & you know that, else you wouldn't be using the term yourself. You weren't experienced with your car when you bought it & neither was I when I got my Mitsubishi. The statistics are against Liam just as they were you & I, except we both apparently learned how to be mature with ours. The OP doesn't convince me he is by not giving respect to anything under 250Hp or commenting that his GT skills saved him in the snow, or that he'll start auto crossing his first car.

 

[Slash]

Being qualified to operate a vehicle and having the experience of completing difficult tasks in sketchy situations are 2 totally different things.

It's the same thing for any motor vehicle.

 

[McLaren]

Yes if your under 18 you can drive any car you like, must be different we're you live

That isn't what he means. You said on the last page, "I am 18. I don't have to be a legal adult to make decisions for myself, regarding a car."
In regards to the law, you do have to be a legal adult to purchase a car, else you need a guardian to oversee the transaction. In such cases, that person will own the car until the title can be transferred to you.

I do not know Canada's laws, but in the US, a minor can not sign a legally bounding contract unless it is a court document.

I have driven lots of cars. Dodge Caliber, Golf GTI, Scion FRS, Mazda MPV, Mazda 3, WRX, a loading truck one time, when I was working with my dad.

And how long did you drive each of these cars individually?

Kilometres? I don't keep count. Speed? Fastest I have done is 150km/h, I hit the fuel cut . Sideways in snow, I did some nice drifts a couple weeks ago, my GT skills helped.

That's not reassuring.

 

[Tornado]

I had my license so obviously the government thought that I was indeed a qualified driver.

It's nice to know that passing a licence test in... Your Girlfriend's House, USA, shows that direct correlation to driver skill and experience. I'm glad it wasn't practically a glorified correspondence course like it was when I took mine.

If Liam knows that he can (and will) restrain his handling exercises to empty parking lots and gravel pits, then what's the problem with getting a 200hp WRX?

That's a pretty big "if" considering the viewpoint he's taking in terms of what he wants his first car to be and why.

Sideways in snow, I did some nice drifts a couple weeks ago, my GT skills helped

What do I do when I hit the brakes and this happens:

 

[Bopop4]

That's a pretty big "if" considering the viewpoint he's taking in terms of what he wants his first car to be and why.

It is, but if he really wants a to safely own a WRX then that's what it'll take.

Up to him if he wants one that bad to practice in a safe manner.

 

[LeadFootLiam]

Can one of the mods close this? It's way off topic.

 

[Zyla]

So many people are led to believe that a fast car equals inevitable fate by collision or rollover. But let me throw my two cents out there. If a person knows that they are not a wild animal behind the wheel, then they will most likely, not certainly, but most likely not be a threat to themselves when driving a powerful car. Is the excessive power necessary in someone's first car? Absolutely not. It's not even necessary in a 45-year-old's car. But that doesn't mean the person can't handle it. I understand most drivers under 21 or so lack the experience required to know the physics of driving and how much certain cars can handle, and what the driver him/herself can handle. I'm only 17, and I've driven a 380hp car. Not to give false impressions, but I drove it pretty quickly in certain areas, just for the fun, but I knew when to let off the throttle, and not just because of the speed limit. Even around the bends I was constantly aware of the risk I'd be taking if I floored it. My point is it doesn't matter how much power the car has, anyone will be okay in said car if they drive it responsibly. Now of course every now and then people like to open the car up a bit, which is where the danger comes into play. Yes, most car accidents are caused by or have involved teenagers, but I still believe anyone can qualify as a "stupid driver" if they act accordingly.


In other words I believe the WRX is acceptable as far as power goes.

 

[hawkeye122]

Never said it's a good idea, but it won't send him to the morgue as many people here seem to think so.

I'll cross swords with you here.

As mentioned here, a WRX will statistically improve your chances of ending up in a body bag. Pretty much everyone had said that.

I also agree that driving safely is the way to go. But that's if everything goes according to plan. Whoops, a tire blew out. Would you rather be going 60 in a WRX, or 45 in a FWD car?