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January, 2025

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What is a good first car?

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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
so im turning 16 soon and i have a small budget for a car. Anybody have any ideas of a first car that is cheap and good gas mileage? or just post pictures of your first car.


Jul 20 2011 7:07PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
buy a corolla. Good reliable car that will last forever. And apart from heading to the mountain on real bad days, you most likely won't be driving anywhere that requires any more than what it can do.


Everyone wants a nice, fast, flashy car or truck, but trust me a car that runs well and gets good mileage is infinitely better for someone your age.
Jul 21 2011 1:30AM
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DirtyDan
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 158
Not to threadjack, but hopefully by this time next year I will have 10-11k to buy a car.

I was looking at (used of course, preferably under 100k miles)

Audi A4 B6
VW MK4 GLI
E46 BMW
E36 BMW


inb4 Subaru, not a big fan (puts on flame suit)

I will be doing tasteful modification to it over time.


Opinions?
Jul 21 2011 1:47AM
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Departmentsaur
Posts: 277 - Karma: 28
get full tilts bro.
Jul 21 2011 1:59AM
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MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
I came so close to convincing my parents to buy me a baby blue one of these off Craigslist for $2500. I would have been the happiest person alive.

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Jul 21 2011 2:07AM
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Ronald_Ray.Gun
Posts: 53 - Karma: 12
if you want a cheap reliable car buy a honda toyota or volkswagen,

i have a '97 jetta with 400,000 km and it is still in great shape
Jul 21 2011 2:12AM
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Coxworth
Posts: 1377 - Karma: 2,845
what kind of truck is that?
Jul 21 2011 2:18AM
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ILLinoisance
Posts: 3527 - Karma: 5,398
Watch out for 1ZZ-FE engines on the 1998-2002 Corollas. I bought a 2000 Corolla like 7 months ago for reasons of reliability and fuel economy and the thing burns oil like a champ (quart for every 1000 miles). Other than that, the car runs good and gets 29 city / 39 hwy mpg. If you can afford it, spend the extra money and get a Civic, it's well worth it, imho, although Corollas are nice car if you get one that doesn't suck.
Jul 21 2011 2:25AM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
1960-66 suburban
Jul 21 2011 9:54AM
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Talacious[Tally]
Posts: 1686 - Karma: 189
My first car was an '85 Bronco...such a beast. I miss ol' Gertrude, she has so much character and style.  
Jul 21 2011 9:58AM
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MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
damn you're lucky.
Jul 21 2011 11:50AM
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DirtyDan
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 158
Yeah that's what I've heard unfortunately... Does the GLI have as many repair issues as the others? I know that some people on NS have them. Also I was looking at getting an Mk2 or Mk3 VW, do these have just as many problems?
Jul 21 2011 12:09PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
just picked up a b7 a4, i fucking love it, soo much fun to drive, def get it in stick if u do get one, but id save a little more and go b7, much more reliable than the b6 1.8t, thats if ur not going 6 cylinder
Jul 21 2011 12:32PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
every car is a money pit. audis and vw's suffer from electrical problems. They have alot of "charecter" they run fine until you start doing "tasteful modifications" most people who modify these cars dont realize that they are altering something that wasn't designed to be altered. You have to be able to accept the negative side effects of modifying a car. If your gonna do it then do it right otherwise you WILL be spending alot of time and money in the shop.

stay away from mk3's. almost all are rust buckets.
Jul 21 2011 12:42PM
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MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
Audi's are for rich faggots.
Jul 21 2011 1:25PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,145
Just get a Honda or a Toyota, compact or a Civic/Corolla, from say, 2001-2003. They won't fuck with you or fuck you in the ass on gas costs.
Jul 21 2011 1:44PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
yah got to love the cummins but i meant light weight as in lighter then the extended or crew cab durmax. and bro, there is no way you get 400 hp and 800 ft/lb. torque at stock. You at least have to have a programmer in it to get that. But 18 mpg is right. They do get amazing gas mileage for a diesel
Jul 21 2011 2:24PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
its just a suggestion
Jul 21 2011 2:25PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
yah perfect!!!!!!!!!! But i dont feel like spending over 300,000 dollars on a first car
Jul 21 2011 2:28PM
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DirtyDan
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 158
Thanks but B7s are very out of my price range. I think I'm just going to stick with my 2001 Acura CL. It's super reliable and runs great, but in my opinion it's pretty damn ugly. Oh well.
Jul 21 2011 2:39PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
"You at least have to have a programmer in it to get that"

fuck you you dont know anything haha,you just told me to get a programmer for a 12 valve cummins, there's no such thing.

also, turn up the fuel pump, pull the plate, bigger injectors easy 400hp for under 500 bucks
Jul 21 2011 2:40PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
haha sorry didnt know what i was saying, but all im saying is you cant get that much just stock but if you do injectors and stuff then you can
Jul 21 2011 2:45PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
everything you do to them is pretty much as stock, injectors are the final piece of the puzzle, the 12 valve is severely limited in power from the factory, once tuned up (without buying anything) they're awesome, my buddy's dinoed at 375 hp 800 ft lbs with stock injectors
Jul 21 2011 2:48PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
thats sick!!! 12 valves can get a lot of power and they are very reliable. what does it do on a quarter mile?
Jul 21 2011 2:51PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
my 03 a4 with 70k on it cost $8500. thats cheaper than the blue book for pretty much every 03 civic, camry, impreza, wrx, and every other car ns has.
Jul 21 2011 2:54PM
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charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 373
15s

its a 5 speed, so its pretty slow, the nv4500 is a god awful tranny for racing but its pretty durable and the super low 1st gear is pretty nice
Jul 21 2011 2:56PM
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DirtyDan
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 158
Nice man, I'd love to buy one for that much. How have the repairs and reliability been? Everyone on the internet seems to say that german luxury cars are bitch to upkeep. Would you say this is true?
Jul 21 2011 2:58PM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
they're a bitch to keep up if you fall behind on regular maintenance like oil changes, belts, stuff like that. I haven't had any problems in 2 years and 20k miles. if you go a4 stay away from the 1.8t. yea its got a turbo but its still slow as shit. its about 180hp to 3500lbs which is a terrible hp/weight ratio. its also know to have a lot more mchanical problems compared to the 3.0. if you find a cheap one with a new water pump and timing belt, go for it.
Jul 21 2011 3:03PM
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Capernicus
Posts: 382 - Karma: 218
This. I had a 1979 240DL sedan with 240k...I loved that car. Now I have a 1994 Volvo 940. Get a 1980 - 1998ish Volvo, non-turbo. Serious reliability, low maintenance cost, and can handle in the snow great (assuming you put decent tires on there). It's literally amazing how fast car repair bills can add up (not my situation). Save that money for something else...you'll need it.
Jul 21 2011 3:30PM
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Relish_man
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 551
how reliable are Volvos in general? moreso or less with recent models?
Jul 21 2011 3:56PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
haha sweet
Jul 21 2011 9:47PM
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.ALOC.
Posts: 202 - Karma: 19
a 1997 baby blue ford ranger is a great first car from my experience
Jul 22 2011 4:53AM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6198 - Karma: 2,336

vx passat.

im about to pick one up

Jul 22 2011 5:07AM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175

1)early 2000 pontiac grand am, untill i wrapped it around a tree...great car, put 50k on it up to 150, it was a champ from the massive amount of 'drifting' to wripping the e-brake ever time i stoped to burn outs ever time i started it was a solid car.

my kid will never have a car 'fast' car ie over 150hp ha.  Knowing how i drove at 16. 17,... and how all my friends drove, i would be dead if i had a car that was any faster. 

Jul 22 2011 11:22AM
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Relish_man
Posts: 5386 - Karma: 551
thanks +K def looking into Volvos for my first ride
Jul 22 2011 11:56AM
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penguin_steeze
Posts: 2311 - Karma: 241
jeep wrangler
Jul 22 2011 11:59AM
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Ryan.Street
Posts: 444 - Karma: 20
whatever you get make sure you get a manual... Its a good thing to learn to drive and they are a lot more fun to drive
Jul 22 2011 12:06PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
5th gen honda accord.
Jul 22 2011 12:06PM
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Thick.Black.Gurl
Posts: 492 - Karma: 28
91 civic si, its a hatch, or just any old honda. There awesome, and if you want to get into cars and start working on them, there so easy! Saab 900 are hella cheap and not bad
Jul 22 2011 12:35PM
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wizpig
Posts: 67 - Karma: 10
SCION TC. get compliments from the ladies, sporty feel, great features, great gas milage, will last forever. this car is a no brainer
Jul 22 2011 2:02PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
ya i gotta put some tranny lubricator in mine or whatever its called. should have done it when i changed the fluid at the time. some days, shifting from park to drive is like trying to move a metal rod stuck 3 feet in the ground. other than that no problems.
Jul 22 2011 3:34PM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
I'm at 275
Jul 22 2011 4:05PM
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ski_utah
Posts: 494 - Karma: 160
yah i have my learners permit right now and i have been practicing on manual
Jul 22 2011 4:21PM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
I am pretty sure that he does not want to spend 20 000+ dollars on his first car.
Jul 22 2011 4:30PM
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alztar
Posts: 358 - Karma: 30
Rover 214 bitches, my one is PIMP

[IMG]newpcworld.com/cars/rover/214sli/04_Rover_214SLi_rear+side01.jpg[/IMG]
Jul 22 2011 6:31PM
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Liam.Butler
Posts: 709 - Karma: 17
2000 + nissan sentra. great on gas, light and feels fast even though it is not.
Jul 22 2011 6:50PM
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MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
Holy shit. Many repairs?
Jul 28 2011 4:26PM
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J.DUKE
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 38
1993 chevy corsica
Jul 28 2011 6:59PM
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jabroni.
Posts: 662 - Karma: 235
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Jul 28 2011 7:06PM
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cbeebzthasteeze
Posts: 1862 - Karma: 85
I see your little car and raise you the Peel P50.

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Fits all 6'5" of Jeremy Clarkson!
Jul 29 2011 12:51AM
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ECB
Posts: 6991 - Karma: 622
What did you wind up getting? Been dying to know but haven't had the balls to ask until now.
Jun 19 2017 5:15PM
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