Good first car?

stewart8980 · #1 03-08-2011, 03:02 PM

So I finally made an agreement with my dad to help me get a car after I graduate high school!

The only two requirements are that it be 70-100k mileage range, $5,500 tops.

For the record, I am extremely grateful as I know not everyone gets a chance to own a car right out of high school.

I tried convincing him to look into some of the older BMW 3 series, but he doesn't want it to be a sportier car (I'm not arguing with the man holding the checkbook).

I was thinking perhaps like a 7 or 8 year old Jetta maybe? Any ideas? I have been scouring craigslist nonstop, but I just wanted to see what you guys had to say.

I also had no intention of spacing every single one of my sentences

MiniMoose234 · #2 03-08-2011, 03:06 PM

I'm in the same spot as you, except i'm a junior. I've been looking around and whatever I get has to be big-ish. I have to take my upright bass places and it's quite an awkwardly delicate beast to haul.

MatticusMania · #3 03-08-2011, 03:07 PM

Linas · #4 03-08-2011, 03:12 PM

a volvo 240. It hauls a ton of gear and you can get laid in the back. Easy to work on and cheap.

ShredderMaximus · #5 03-08-2011, 03:13 PM

be careful with used jetta's, they are a very popular first car so alot of the used ones you might find may have previously been beat run to heck by kids that were just learning to drive. I'd definitely have a mechanic check it out first.

ShredderMaximus · #6 03-08-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linas

a volvo 240. It hauls a ton of gear and you can get laid in the back. Easy to work on and cheap.

And built like a sherman tank...

Mike N · #7 03-08-2011, 03:15 PM

Cobalt
Cavalier
Civic

Mike N · #8 03-08-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linas

a volvo 240. It hauls a ton of gear and you can get laid in the back. Easy to work on and cheap.

And you can shove a small block Chevy under the hood with ease.

MatticusMania · #9 03-08-2011, 03:33 PM

How easy is it to install a bumper body kit, though?

LaklandBass · #10 03-08-2011, 03:35 PM

jettas have a good amount of issues and the repair bills suck. Id suggest either toyota corolla, honda civic or nissan sentra. I had an 03 sentra that I fit an ampeg 8x10 into.
also check out ford crown victorias or mercury grand marquis... both are plenty quick, tons of space, super safe, very reliable and affordable to work on.

tastybasslines · #11 03-08-2011, 03:57 PM

I'd stay away from Volkswagons. They are not great in the reliability department. Stick to the japs, especially since you are younger and money is tighter...you don't want to sink $$ into repairs. This was my second car, I got for $1500 bucks, 12 years old, 60 k original miles driven by an old woman 5K a year for 12 years, BIG v6, it was like a room in there. I loved it. If you are not rushed, take your time and look for a good deal like that.

And, don't be afraid to get a car with a salvage title. As long as there is not frame/axle/structural damage, you can get great deals. I got a 2002 Accord for $2500 with 35K miles and it runs perfect. You are likely to destroy your first car too...accident or whatever.

Here was my buick...(this is not me in the pic, just an example).

MJ5150 · #12 03-08-2011, 04:37 PM

Get a truck.

-Mike

Jim Campbell · #13 03-08-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewart8980

So I finally made an agreement with my dad to help me get a car after I graduate high school!

The only two requirements are that it be 70-100k mileage range, $5,500 tops.

For the record, I am extremely grateful as I know not everyone gets a chance to own a car right out of high school.

I tried convincing him to look into some of the older BMW 3 series, but he doesn't want it to be a sportier car (I'm not arguing with the man holding the checkbook).

I was thinking perhaps like a 7 or 8 year old Jetta maybe? Any ideas? I have been scouring craigslist nonstop, but I just wanted to see what you guys had to say.

I also had no intention of spacing every single one of my sentences

why not look at a pickup or van.....

stratovani · #14 03-08-2011, 06:27 PM

Get a late 90s - early 2000s American car. The junkyards are full of them, so used parts are cheap and plentiful.

tplyons · #15 03-08-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike N

Cobalt
Cavalier
Civic

This.

mc_muench · #16 03-08-2011, 06:41 PM

x1000 on Volvo, super reliable, super safe, but medium cost wise to fix IF they break.

Except I will suggest a 90's to early 2000's Volvo 850 GLT wagon, theyre turbo'd and sneakily fast, no one expects any wagon, let alone a volvo to be that fast, but believe me, my friend got into a little to much trouble COUGH I mean fun COUGH, in a 850 GLT sedan.

otherwise a civic, super cheap, run forever

Philbiker · #17 03-08-2011, 07:02 PM

Whatever you get, I recommend that you seek out a standard transmission.

Mike N · #18 03-08-2011, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Whatever you get, I recommend that you seek out a standard transmission.

Why?

elgecko · #19 03-08-2011, 07:24 PM

Toyota Tacoma with a 4 banger. One with 70-100k on the ticker will hardly be broken in yet.

pbasswil · #20 03-08-2011, 07:37 PM

If you're anything like me, the last thing you want to be dealing with on your budget is breakdowns and repair bills.

Here's a page with some good reliability info (it's just a shame that a few companies are missing). The smaller graph 2/3s the way down is nice and succinct.

http://tinyurl.com/4kqhp3l