Need help choosing a car.

[Kylehnat]

Know all this first. I'm not an idiot 13 year old.
...
And lastly, I asked for some simple help, people saying how I'm going to wreck and how do I expect to save money for it, go do something else. I like hearing nice inputs and nice suggestions. NOT rudeness.

I don't think anyone is really being rude. Every 13 year-old thinks like you do, and we've all been there. Unfortunately, the real world is full of fine-print. The nuggets of experience being thrown around here are all true. You might be able to put the car in your driveway, but insurance, basic maintenance, and repairs will eat your lunch. None of those cars you mentioned are cheap to own, and even less so once the expensive parts start to wear out. My dream car in high school was the E39 M5. Those can now be had for $25,000, but I wouldn't dare touch one, as a 10 year-old BMW scares the crap out of me (a window motor costs HOW much?)

Even if you don't wreck it, someone else might. I got hit three times in my high school parking lot. No real damage, but the dents and scratches were like scars on my heart. That was a 1990 Protege worth $1000. I would have gone on a rampage had I been driving my dream car.

At the age of 25, I bought a sports car (one of the ones on your list, in fact!). A little over a year later, I nearly killed myself on a mountain road because I underestimated how quickly it gains speed. The 10 years of driving experience I had saved my bacon on that one. Had that been 16-year-old me, they would still be searching for charred pieces of my carcass on the bottom of that canyon.

In all seriousness, simply HAVING a car in high school will give you plenty of joy. You don't need to go for broke on the first one.

 

[Roush_fan_99]

Its gonna happen. I'm 20 and I got flak for owning the car I do. At 16 you'll get flak for owning anything is somewhat fast

Same here although I didn't get as much as I expected since I legitimately race, but that creates another problem where either become jealous and/or expect more of you

That driver's ed deal, that sounds great, I with they took it more seriously here in washington, my drive test was 10 mins around the block if that then wait in line for 3 hrs for your license. Everybody (70% about) of the people I see make stupid moves one after another right in front of me daily, I just take residential thru streets during rush time(s) (no longer "rush hour")

 

[CMvan46]

Quick question which province are you in? Grocery store job will not support the money needed for these cars.

My '88 Integra was my first car in BC and I paid $170 per month without collision! The fact those cars would be roughly 20 years newer and 100 ph more than my car plus collision = $350ish a month. Plus the gas those things go through costs more than you think, plus your phone, plus the places you will want to drive with your car. Your looking at something around $600 per month in just direct car related costs.

If you plan on going to post secondary schooling then how are you paying for that? What if you want to move out?

Nobody said your an idiot 13 year old but reality has yet to hit you yet. I'm 20 now with a 2000 Accord and still pay $200 a month in insurance with collision. Thegeneral.com isn't a reliable source for insurance costs. Call a local insurance place.

You honestly think out of the blue your parents will fork over $7 grand for a sports car at 16? I'm just going to guess probably not but then again I could be wrong. I'm also just going to throw out there that unless your parents pay for everything you ever get your not saving $7 grand in 3 years making only $100 a month. Even if you spent nothing that's only $1200 a year x 3= $3600 + $3000 in "presents" only equals $6600 by the way.

My advise is look for something like an Integra, Civic, or any import really. Living in Canada you have the luxury of cheap import cars that don't have mods done to them so take advantage of it. Lower your expectations a ton and you have to think realistically like everybody else here.

Edit: I just read your hoping to buy this in 2 years! That means your looking at a heck of a lot less than $6600 savings... Again while spending 0 money.

 

[Azuremen]

Know all this first. I'm not an idiot 13 year old. I know these cars are fast and more dangerous than others. They deserve respect for their power. I give them the respect and cautious they need. I'm not the type of guy who goes out speeding around, I'm the type who goes cruising in it for people to look at.

Saying that, and then this...

And lastly, I asked for some simple help, people saying how I'm going to wreck and how do I expect to save money for it, go do something else. I like hearing nice inputs and nice suggestions. NOT rudeness.

Pretty much makes you to be just that.

You are talking with people who have been driving longer than you've been alive. Much longer. And you'd be amazed at how many times we see "I'm not some dumb /*age*/ kid." And then proceed to listen to no one because they know what is best.

We aren't trying to be rude (well, excluding me), but rather giving you real, useful advice. Which is what happens when you make a thread like this on a public forum. If you look around, you'll see these threads have existed in the past.

 

[SpartanG]

I'm more or less in the same shoes as you will be in in 4 or 5 years, so I know how you feel and will feel. I'm of driving age and have the money but my parents won't let me get the car I really want. I complained and said "it's not fair" all day (not to them, i mean in my head) but it's just not practical to own that car at this time.

And seriously, you don't have the driving experiences to pilot these beasts. The 911 is rear engined, an inexperienced driver could slide out the back end easily. And forget the snow. And parts? if anything breaks you will not have a car for months while you try to get some money to buy a replacement. And pray that you can do the work yourself, because the guys who can work on these cars are in short supply and they know it.

But just because you aren't getting a BMW m3 or 911 doesn't mean you can't have fun. Contrary to popular (read: initial D) belief, fwd is not the devil. The integra is as good handling of a car as you can get for the money.

I'm driving my dad's old acura, a big posh sedan with the reflexes of a drunk elephant. But i'm trying my best to have fun with it by doing tasteful modifications. It's more fun "building" a car that you enjoy than just buying one outright.

It's your first car, not your last.

 

[dudeguy]

Contrary to popular (read: initial D) belief, fwd is not the devil.

fwd is the devil.

 

[Crispy]

I'd go for something low on power. Trust me, you will NOT be able to control a car with 400 Horsepower at 16.

Go for a hand me down, that's what I'm doing, and I've got a pretty good hand-me-down list. (BMW M Roadster, Nissan 300ZX, BMW 330i, and Mazda Miata) I'm going for the Miata.

 

[alex10798]

fwd is the devil.

[offtopic]

[/offtopic]

 

[astrosdude91]

FWD is the devil. My friend took me out on a track day in his GTI, and it was effin scary!

 

[Tommi]

Exactly, you can still be killed to death in a FWD car.



Get something sensible and cheap first, drive that for a while so you actually have some experience, while that's happening you can put money aside each month to go towards something a little more special in the future. In the nicest way possible, all these sports cars are gonna make you broke and somebody is going to get hurt.

 

[userme5]

idk how it is in canada, but here we can drive 50ccm motorcycles at 15 and at 16 125ccm motorcycles... and then "rookie licence" at 16 for a car and u get it after 2 years of completion at which point you must pass a more advanced 1st aid class and a safe driving class...

 

[E28]

No. Just no. Get something cheap and rubbishy. That you'll be able to afford insurance, maintanence and fuel costs for.

Do you want to be forking out money to repair a (then) 15-year old, 400hp, range-topping Jag?

 

[Jacob]

No. Just no. Get something cheap and rubbishy. That you'll be able to afford insurance, maintanence and fuel costs.

Do you want to be forking out money to repair a (then) 15-year old, 400hp, range-topping Jag?

I second this.

I'm 14 years old, and I guess I could be having the thoughts and plans as you do (but the cars you're talking about are not that cheap here ), but I do believe that you just aren't mature enough for that kind of car when you almost just got your license. Therefore would I myself not want to have responsibility if anything happened, an accident seems likely with a car like those you mention at the ages you mentioned. Just wait a couple years, get some experience from just... driving. I mean, I don't think it's too easy to maintain control of a 400 bhp XKR in the rain for example.

But what the heck do I know, I'm just a 14 year old that rides along in a V70 all the time.
Take up the advice posted here, just do that. And you'll better have this discussion when you finally have your license.

 

[Sureboss]

I'm more or less in the same shoes as you will be in in 4 or 5 years, so I know how you feel and will feel. I'm of driving age and have the money but my parents won't let me get the car I really want. I complained and said "it's not fair" all day (not to them, i mean in my head) but it's just not practical to own that car at this time.

And seriously, you don't have the driving experiences to pilot these beasts. The 911 is rear engined, an inexperienced driver could slide out the back end easily. And forget the snow. And parts? if anything breaks you will not have a car for months while you try to get some money to buy a replacement. And pray that you can do the work yourself, because the guys who can work on these cars are in short supply and they know it.

But just because you aren't getting a BMW m3 or 911 doesn't mean you can't have fun. Contrary to popular (read: initial D) belief, fwd is not the devil. The integra is as good handling of a car as you can get for the money.

I'm driving my dad's old acura, a big posh sedan with the reflexes of a drunk elephant. But i'm trying my best to have fun with it by doing tasteful modifications. It's more fun "building" a car that you enjoy than just buying one outright.

It's your first car, not your last.

Experienced drivers can kick out the rear end of a 911 easily.

dylpro - Having dreams is nothing to be ashamed of, I think everyone here would love to be able to drive what you've listed. But be realistic, run an easier to drive car for a couple of years, build some actual driving driving experience. In the mean time you'll be able to save up money and afford the car itself and all associated running costs without worry.

 

[E28]

dylpro - Having dreams is nothing to be ashamed of, I think everyone here would love to be able to drive what you've listed. But be realistic, run an easier to drive car for a couple of years, build some actual driving driving experience. In the mean time you'll be able to save up money and afford the car itself and all associated running costs without worry.

Yeah, we all have dreams. Me, I wanna own an E28 M5 at some point in my life. 'Hey, they're only £16k, I'm sure I'll be able to afford that at some point' I think. Unless your ultimate dream car is a VW Golf, then you probably won't own your dream car...

 

[eiriksmil]

Unless your ultimate dream car is a VW Golf, then you probably won't own your dream car...

I'm so glad my ultimate dream car is a VW Golf..

And yeah.. Old Golf or something with some power and some coils etc.. Makes you smile, keep your license and life

 

[aadil717]

Just like everyone else says, you should calm down with the power. It's just dangerous to let someone own a car like those with that little experience.

The cars you've listed will be rather old and quite used and that always = repair, maintenance, repair, maintenance, repair... etc.
Oh yeah and have you thought of the fuel bills? If you're going to be in High School with a car like that, everybody will be your best friend...and you'll probably be their chauffeur.

If you like BMWs (you mentioned the M3 and M5) and you are seriously rich (which I suspect you are if you are expecting something like that - either that or you're delusional), I suggest you get a 1 Series Coupe, or even a slightly older E92 Coupe.

Even this is ridiculous for a 1st car but hey it's a good car and will meet your budget. Costs wouldn't be that bad either.
I know someone who lives a block away from with an Audi A5 2.0T for his first car, so it is possible.
All I'm saying is, aim for a decent, reliable and solid car.

For a young driver, in my opinion any car will do. As you will get older you will have more realisation that people will envy you at that age if you even have a Golf!

Actually a Golf is probably the most sensible decision and you should highly consider it.

 

[boxybutgood]

I'm also 13. Get a Volvo 242 Turbo. Sporty, coupe, and good on insurance. And gas if you stay off boost. I'm getting a 245.

 

[SS97]

Like everyone has said, you have your sights set too high. For a first car I'd honestly recommend something like a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. Just worry about your car getting you from point a to point b. It doesn't have to have 400hp for you to wreck it. A teen recklessly driving anything will end up bad.

 

[McLaren]

BMW M3/M5- I've found lots of 2002-2005 M3/M5 in or under my price range. They're often not as headturning as a 911 or even an XKR but still an awesome car. Lots of HP which I like!

You plan to have $6-7,000 saved up by the time you're 16. Your parents will match that. $14,000 is not going to buy you either of these & if it does, you won't be affording to the fees to keep it running.

Here's a little tip concerning these 2 cars. Have the money required to buy it, & then have anywhere from $5-10,000 more for maintenance. These cars, sadly, are money pits unless you can buy a low mileage model or know how to work on one. And no offense, but I'm betting 10-to-1 odds you don't know how to do the required Inspections I & II, and that is not a cheap bill. And to make matters worse, the market for these cars is pretty rock solid because there's still a large base of enthusiasts who want these cars & the prices aren't going to fall anymore from where they currently are in 2-3 years.

 

[Azuremen]

Why is this thread back? Minus the last 3 posts, everything else is over two months old and the OP hasn't posted since he had his "I'm not a dumb kid of age X" rant.

 

[MedigoFlame]

This thread should be moved...

 

[aadil717]

This thread should be moved...

To where? It has something to do with members cars as he is a member and is asking what his first car should be...

Maybe it should be closed, because he hasn't exactly replied since the thread has been made.