first car

[retsteel]

that's a good point, (the age of the seller). I have really considered a 4 cylinder ranger with a 5 speed in it (and the extended cab), although I'm not sure about leg room in a compact truck... honestly I'm thinking about a nice crown vic, plenty of power and I could probably take a semi head on... (not really) though there goes my dream of a stick.

[smknjoe]

that's a good point, (the age of the seller). I have really considered a 4 cylinder ranger with a 5 speed in it (and the extended cab), although I'm not sure about leg room in a compact truck... honestly I'm thinking about a nice crown vic, plenty of power and I could probably take a semi head on... (not really) though there goes my dream of a stick.

You definitely don't want to buy a car that was driven by a high school or college student. Most of my friends really "ragged" their cars out. If you're 6 3 or taller the small Rangers might be too small for you. You'll figure that out when you test drive it though.

[fohat.digs]

Be careful about the headroom issue. With a car, you can always slant the seat back, but not in a pickup truck.

About the Cougar vs Mustang, the chassis was different, I believe that the Cougar wheelbase was at least 3" longer, and the ride was a lot more stable.

[smknjoe]

Be careful about the headroom issue. With a car, you can always slant the seat back, but not in a pickup truck.

About the Cougar vs Mustang, the chassis was different, I believe that the Cougar wheelbase was at least 3" longer, and the ride was a lot more stable.

I'm not positive about the chassis. So, I'll take your word for it. Isn't it a shame that they turned to sh*t after the 68?

[fohat.digs]

Back then Detroit went square/round/square/round every year or 2.

Rounding the Cougar and Mustang in 1969 was a big disappointment. They were were both much more crisp when they were square.

1968 Mustang wheelbase = 108"

1968 Cougar wheelbase = 111"

There really was a big difference in the ride. I think the front legroom and trunk also benefited.

[rknize]

1987 Plymouth Sundance coupe 2.2L Turbo 5 speed.  Crazy fun car, especially after a few tweaks.  Cheap thrills.  Been hooked on turbo Mopars ever since.

Destroyed it in the end.  Not recommended as a first car.

[JaccoW]

[...]
Destroyed it in the end.  Not recommended as a first car.

:rofl:
That had me laughing. Sounds like fun.

I haven't bought a car yet and I am not sure I ever will. Too damn expensive over here and public transport and bikes are quicker in the cities.
Do love driving though.

I learned to drive in a Hyundai H100 Satellite 9-person diesel van. I loved that car.
Underpowered but the front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout made it very manouverable and comfortable over long distances.
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[Internetlad]

My first car "should" have been an 88 Volkswagen Jetta, but my parents sold it because I waited until i was 18 to get my license (never cared much for driving)

Technically I suppose i've never PERSONALLY bought a car, but my wife owns a 2005 Dodge Stratus, so i guess that, technically.

Get yourself a pre-owned chevy cavalier and just bag drive the crap out of it. Those things never seem to die and you can pick em up dirt cheap.

BUY 'MURICAN!

[Zamorph]

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My first car was the 1984 chevy caprice.  Love that car.  Still have it because I want to some day restore it.
Edit: senior member now , as I post my senior car.

[suprsmo]

Ha.

This was pretty much my first ride (didnt leak).. without the crazy side exhausts

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And my current ride some 6 years after my ute died

has a sunroof and leaks like crazy.. oil water you name it !

still goes though!

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miss the old ute though.. she hauled everything..

grand piano one time even!

Edit, just noticed a theme with my cars.. Japanese and white..

Is the universe saying something?

[inlikeflynn]

My first car was an 92ish dodge shadow similar to this. It was a manual
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It lasted maybe a year until it got totaled out after being hit from behind in stopped traffic right in front of school

It got replaced by a 94ish Pontiac Sunbird similar to this. It was also a manual
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After college and saving up some money I got an awesome 2002 VW GTI VR6 200HP 6-speed manual similar to this (too lazy to dig out a picture).
It was sweet on the open road when there was no traffic. Or just racing around town as it was pretty much unbeatable unless you had a M3 or something with a V8 at over 2x the cost.
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Where it SUCKED was in stop and go rush hour traffic. There is nothing worse than 1-2hrs straight of stop/go traffic and a manual transmission. I put up with it at the time as the car was so sweet otherwise.

But if you're just driving a junker I sure wouldn't bother with a manual anymore these days as there is no benefit to it. The roads all over here in MN are way the hell to busy now these days, even just compared to 10 years ago....

[cheebs]

I love my 2007 Honda Fit, and the new ones have even better features.  I also really like the CR-Z, it's a hybrid with a manual transmission that has different selectable modes (i.e. econ, sport, etc.)

[harrison]

My first vehicle was a 1991 Chevy 2500, which was fairly shortlived.  My desire was to mod it, but I realized quite quickly that I just wasn't a truck person.

Second was a 1991 Isuzu Impulse.

I cut my teeth on modding and electronics on this car.  I started wiring stereos and alarms for friends, and rewired this car at least 3 times before I sold it.

Third was my first GTI, a 2001 1.8t.  This was more show than go, and was stolen on me after about a year and a half of ownership.


Fourth time around, I think I finally started to get things right.  It was a 2003 20ae GTI, but this was more go than show... and it showed well :biggrin:

final dyno was north of 275whp, which ain't to shabby for a 1.8t.

[okyup]

91-94 Geo Metro. Small, basic car, fun to drive (esp. in city), manual transmission. Costs <$2K and gets 50 MPG. It also has more head/leg room than most other cars. I'm 6'6" and have been happily driving mine for a few years.

[sth]

My Geo Metro had a Cadillac hood emblem. I wish I had pictures of it...

[okyup]

Yea lots of modding opportunities if you're into that. Personally mine is stock. I hope it will survive a long time as I can't imagine finding any good replacement.

[retsteel]

I don't know if this is getting to be too old to bring back to life, but I felt like updating this tread with the car that I am looking at buying soon. http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/cto/3174679589.html

[Asininity]

I was gifted Honda Odyssey and managed to snag a Hyundai Sonata because honestly needed with less miles.

I own a 1989 Nissan 240sx I need to finish working on. I have a running red top in there but it needs new rims, tires, exhaust, electrical issues, brakes, and so on before I can even start thinking of playing with it. I'm thinking of selling it off and buying something a little more "completed." 

[mistakemistake]

My first car: 1994 Maroon Ford Taurus station wagon.

[daerid]

First car was a 1970 350 VG Pontiac Thunderbird, black.

POS, but man did that things have balls.

Honestly my next car is probably going to be a Kia Optima. O_o

[DaClownie]

Nothing says pure sex like a 1985.5 Ford Escort.

Mine was smoke gray, with maroon cloth interior, coupe model. I let all the kids in high school key their signatures into it as a giant mural to celebrate our graduation instead of doing the yearbook signings. This girl Shantelle keyed her name across the entire hood, with rainbows, butterflies, and stars. God it was so gay and awesome. LOL

[retsteel]

I went and looked at that jeep I posted a link to above... I was test-driving it on the freeway when I noticed there was no floor under a good portion of the carpet! still considering it, though that would bring the price down a lot. Thoughts anyone? get the car with no floors or not?

[MadScientist46]

My first car was a Volkswagen Golf from the 80's, like this one:



Only difference was mine was rusty as hell....  There was a hole with a diameter of 2cm in the floor behind the driver seat.
Lastet for a year and a half. Not exactly a chick-magnet, but it was cheap and fun to drive.

[DaClownie]

I went and looked at that jeep I posted a link to above... I was test-driving it on the freeway when I noticed there was no floor under a good portion of the carpet! still considering it, though that would bring the price down a lot. Thoughts anyone? get the car with no floors or not?

If it was just a small patch of missing floor it's an easy fix... if it's missing a LARGE portion of it, you've got some serious rot concerns on your hands. I'd probably steer clear... but that's just me.

[oTurtlez]

My first car was a 2000 Jeep Wrangler, Gets less than 13MPG but there's nothing quite like a Jeep.

[Lanx]

civic, still drive it, share a suburu imprezza with fiance' i think all our new cars from now on will be suburu's that AWD is just too awesome.
quick search on cars.com shows that used 2001-2003ish subaru outbacks are like 5-8k range. (most of them seem to be automatic, they do come in manual)

[boost]

civic, still drive it, share a suburu imprezza with fiance' i think all our new cars from now on will be suburu's that AWD is just too awesome.
quick search on cars.com shows that used 2001-2003ish subaru outbacks are like 5-8k range. (most of them seem to be automatic, they do come in manual)

Sti with bigger turbo = MOAR BARS

[f4d3]

I'm 20 and my first was a 02 wrx, crashed it, fixed it, then sold it. I've owned 4 cars already and I only had my license for 3 years. Right now I'm driving a 11 Honda civic because my dad bought it for me. I plan to buy a s2000, 350z, g35, or sti hatchback (paying with my own money). Some might consider me spoiled because my parents bought me all my cars.

[oTurtlez]

civic, still drive it, share a suburu imprezza with fiance' i think all our new cars from now on will be suburu's that AWD is just too awesome.
quick search on cars.com shows that used 2001-2003ish subaru outbacks are like 5-8k range. (most of them seem to be automatic, they do come in manual)

Sti with bigger turbo = MOAR BARS

Gotta love an STi, so pretty, so powerful. <3

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

My first vehicle was (and still kinda is) a 1996 Dodge RAM 1500 Sport pickup. I finally got it on the road and drove it for a whole two days and then it died on me. It's been sitting in the lawn ever since, and I no longer have my own vehicle to drive. I am looking into a 1999 Honda Civic EX Coupe that a friend of mine has for sale. It would make a nice looking commuting vehicle.

[retsteel]

If it was just a small patch of missing floor it's an easy fix... if it's missing a LARGE portion of it, you've got some serious rot concerns on your hands. I'd probably steer clear... but that's just me.

it is a couple fairly big holes but there's still enough around it to get away with just slicing sheet metal and spot welding it in (I could even pop-rivet it and not have to take it to a shop...)

however NOW I am in talks with a guy with a 1987 bmw 325, 50000 less miles than the jeep and quite a cool car if I say so myself. And then of course there's the buick that my dad wants me to buy, nothing wrong with it but who want to drive a boat...

[DaClownie]

If it was just a small patch of missing floor it's an easy fix... if it's missing a LARGE portion of it, you've got some serious rot concerns on your hands. I'd probably steer clear... but that's just me.

it is a couple fairly big holes but there's still enough around it to get away with just slicing sheet metal and spot welding it in (I could even pop-rivet it and not have to take it to a shop...)

however NOW I am in talks with a guy with a 1987 bmw 325, 50000 less miles than the jeep and quite a cool car if I say so myself. And then of course there's the buick that my dad wants me to buy, nothing wrong with it but who want to drive a boat...

Me.

[kurplop]

How many knots will she do?

[retsteel]

I suppose now that I have it I should post my first car. A 1987 BMW 325. straight six and five speed VROOOM

[Trent]

The time is near. I have been driving for over a year and after this summer I hope to buy my first car. Because of this I was wondering what people's first cars were... also suggestions for me! I want something used, possibly cool or unique, that can fit someone who's 6'4", decent gas mileage, and preferably, that I can get in a manual. so yeah... post your first car or suggest mine!

I drove a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo LS -- V6, 14MPG, worst car ever.  After 8 months of owning it and putting approximately half as much as I paid for the car into repairs I was fed up.  Had it fully inspected and the repairman said and I quote "ABANDON SHIP!"  I sold it, and got my 2nd car which I am now very happy with, a 2005 Hyundai Tucson, V4, 26MPG, approximately $300 worth of repairs and maintenance for the span of 1.5 years, which is pretty good.  And I paid for it in full so no lousy car payments.

I've never driven manual cars before, but I can offer the advice that it is smart to only purchase a car you can pay for outright as car payments add significant interest to your investment.

[tgujay]

My first car was and is a 2000 Cadillac STS.  I love the thing, even with 226,000 miles it still has quite a bit of power, fun to drive and meh on gas mileage, bout 20ish.

[ra7c7er]

My first car was a 89 325is BMW. I found it in a junk yard when I was 13 and it became my first obsession. I quit every hobby I had and even sold the furniture in my room to try and save enough money for the car. I finally bought it when I was 15 and it sat in my parents yard while I learned how to work on it. I redid everything on it. from the engine to the interior. It has sat since 92 in the yard rained on and buried in the mud. I would limp the car to the local BMW dealership so much I became friends with most everyone there. They would help me with things or loan me specific tools. It took me nearly 2 years to get it running and within 3 days I lost my license. while the car sat for a year I started doing upgrades to it. Chip, boost, M20B25 engine, Basket weave wheels, sway bars, Drivers side sport evolution seat. Just to name the easy ones. Raced it in several BMWCCA events and scca events. Sadly it was stolen in 2005 and parts of it have been found as far away as New York and Mexico City. I still have the keys to it and hope to one day buy another and fix it up again. Of course the value of that car has nearly quadrupled since I bought it.

[tipo33]

84 Lada 2107.  The previous owner said I could have it if I got it out of their yard.  You could see the road through certain parts of the floorpan,  when it rained - it rained inside the car.  The only gauge that worked was the oil pressure, but it moved, turned and all the lights worked   I LOVED it.

[tgujay]

How did all of you get your cars stolen? Where do you live that cars are stolen?

[ra7c7er]

84 Lada 2107.  The previous owner said I could have it if I got it out of their yard.  You could see the road through certain parts of the floorpan,  when it rained - it rained inside the car.  The only gauge that worked was the oil pressure, but it moved, turned and all the lights worked   I LOVED it.

My car was stolen from North St. Louis Where I worked. It's a nutorious area for crime. the parking lot of my work was closed so they could repave it so everyone had to park on local streets. My car wasn't the only one stolen.

[Trent]

North St. Louis

Nuff said.

[Redndwhite]

80s Volvo wagon.

They call em tanks for a reason. Plus they're great cars and you can haul **** around.

Ditto.  Except I had an '86 Volvo 240 D.

You mean something like this?



This was my first car, a 1986 Volvo 245 (The loser cruiser, laggin wagon, I preferred Batman's other car). Did not have a turbo, did not have AC, did not have power windows, but did have 366,000km (227,000 miles) on the odo and was held together with duck tape, mud, and hope. Lots and lots of hope. And I could get it to slide around corners, on ice. It died after an unknown electrical failure that I did not want to spend $1XXX.XX to try and troubleshoot, so I sold it for 500 bucks.

Now, I drive an older GF4 Impreza. It as well does not have AC, power windows, or a turbo, but does have AWD and a five speed. And it can move (well, in comparison to the Volvo). Only issue I've had with it is it's not made for 6'5'' peoples. So says my friend.

[SmallFry]

I'm driving a '96 Pontiac Grand Am, heh. Glad that the car is as old as I am. Needs a new head unit since the display is gone out.

[Input Nirvana]

First ride (also had a motorcycle) I was a lifeguard, carried 3 days of grub so I could split at anytime, anywhere, for any reason....





Learned a lot about car repair, girls, life, and responsibility.
Yea, those were the days...fa sho!

Had a bench that converted to a bed, a fold out table, a rear facing seat, refrigerator and sink, all big storage/packing closets, pop-top with screened windows and a cot upstairs, side crank out windows, side attaching tent and screens for everything.

[jwaz]

damn, what happened to it?

[Input Nirvana]

Buddy, I eventually sold it after YEARS....someone wanted to restore it because it had all the original stuff. Honestly, it was very cool-city. It became a third car I only drove once a week kinda deal (weekends at the beach or taking my dogs places. You can't believe what I did in that ride. Like spinning brodies ON the wet grass at Torrey Pines golf course in San Diego with another guy and 3 topless girls and 2 cases of beer, bottle of Cuervo....

My next car was an RX-7 I had modified by the Mazda Racing Division. I got a speeding 'ticket' for going 157mph on radar flying past Palm Springs on Valentines day. That was expensive.

Un. Flipping. Believable. 

[sth]

cars shmars, i just got a hell of a deal on a 1980 puch maxi (maybe newport)! will post pic this weekend after getting it cleaned up a bit and tuned.

[Input Nirvana]

Are those street legal anymore?

[sth]

not when i'm finished with it

but yeah, they are. they require a one time registration (plus title transfer fees if you sell it). you need a driver's license but under 49cc you don't need a motorcycle endorsement... so don't tell anyone about the hop up kit and big pipe I plan on putting on it! also I think you need insurance in CA for them, which I'll be looking into soon.

[Input Nirvana]

Need insurance for EVERYTHING here...

I bet it will take you 60 miles on a gallon..of course it'l take you a couple hours....lol