Need some of your opinions here - Page 3

J.J. · 07-08-07, 10:50

My mother bought me a brand new Mustang for my 16th birthday. I wrecked it at 17 but it still sits in my mothers garage to this day. It holds alot of sentimental value being my first car and all! I have alot of plans for that car.

Point is, you'll wreck a powerful car, especially if you don't know how to drive it!

azenthusiast · 07-08-07, 05:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua312

azenthusiast - Very nice words of wisdom, you sound very mature for your age and that is commendable! (I am only 20 but I don't think a lot of older people understand how difficult it is to have the mindset you do at our age...a lot of bad influences and other things people our age our doing, it is difficult to keep that mindset and have the maturity/respect that you have) Good luck with the scholarship!

Thanks. You have no idea how much I appreciate that.

sneek · 07-08-07, 06:50

LOL I am 18 and I know I can't handle a viper. I used to have a 300ZX TT, and it made high 300's (bought it like that) and it was a real handful. Plus you will get yourself into a lot of trouble ...ask me how I know. One day, it will be sunny out and the road will be clear...next thing you know you are 2 times the speed limit :|. Just get yourself something moderately fast like a 350Z or a STi, but even those cars are a tad fast.

you could also consider a ZHP or a 335 if that is your cup of tea.

themightytimmah · 07-08-07, 07:04

I'm 20, so I can kind of feel what you're going for. On the downside, there are a lot of jealous people out there, and the Viper will definetly get keyed/egged/otherwise damaged by passers-by, ex-girlfriends, etc if you don't wreck it first.

Consider getting a car that's still faster than 90% of cars (and still a girl magnet) out there but less likely to be a target/result in a fatal accident. Think GTO or a good condition E55.

series1 · 07-09-07, 04:00

Thanks for the comments again guys. I have been putting a lot of thought into it my head hurts. I have looked into the following cars. A Mitsubishi Evo, 1993 RX-7, and believe it or not a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. I was surprised at the specs of the Evo for it only being an inline 4. I have looked into and RX-7 because some have told me that it's a good car to tinker with since it's a tuner and it's still rather quick. The Jeep SRT-8 though catches my eye everytime on the road. It looks like a beast and under the hood it is a beast. Just lettin you guys know my thoughts now.

Accumulator · 07-09-07, 05:07

Series1- My wife had a 3rd generation RX-7 and I absolutely couldn't fit in it; couldn't get enough room between the seat and wheel for my legs so I couldn't heel & toe when shifting, which made it pretty much undriveable. I'm a lean guy, so if *I* couldn't fit...

Oh, and it was very fragile too, it'd dent if you gave it a hard look. Check one out, but make sure it's right for you.

While different from the Viper, its clutch/stick wasn't the easiest to work either (FWIW I learned to drive a stick on a 1st gen. RX-7).

People who buy the Jeep STR-8 seem to find it less fun than they expected, not sure why but you see a lot of them for sale with hardly any miles on them

What about a BMW? I've had a few M3s of various vintages and they're great. We drove them at a driving school and I've loved them ever since. EASY cars to learn with and fast/serious enough that you won't get bored.

Ambrosia · 07-09-07, 06:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by azenthusiast

I'm 18 as well and I agree on the idea that you are not ready for a Viper. For me personally, I got what was my parent's daily driver (a Jeep Liberty) and I feel myself to be very blessed to have that. I used to wish they had gotten me this or that instead. However, the responsible and mature thing to do is to be grateful for whatever they give you since you are not paying for it. I would personally feel bad having my parents take orders on what car I wanted and then spend so much money that they could be applying in other aspects of their own lives on a frivolous vehicle that I thought I "needed" to have. My opinion is take what you can get, work hard, and strive to be able to afford a nice vehicle on your own dime someday. That's why I have worked for a scholarship in business to the university that I want to attend and have a 3 Series BMW desktop on my desktop computer so that I have to look at it every time I turn it on.

We're on the same page. I know I would much rather have a cooler ride than a Jeep Liberty and can afford them...buy why? It seems like every model specific car forum has created drones hiding behind their car's identity, striving to 'one up' everyone else. To me, life is more than just material objects even though it's taken me three years to realize that.

My parents bought me a brand new silverado when I was 16, I put 6,000 into it before I was 18. Everyone thought I was ballin', it was lowered, big rims, shaved, very clean; but in reality I was broke. I got sick of the truck and wanted something more practical that I wouldn't mod, so my parents got me the Jeep. Of course, I wanted to go back into modding etc, and the Liberty just isn't the ride for that IMO. I talked about selling it and getting an sti or evo. My parents finally sat down and after all this time basically said "We spent ____ on you, which we could have used elsewhere. We extended our funds to you because of the plush warranty and functionality of the vehicle".

...I never felt like more of an ***. Now, I'm much more humble. They bought me vehicles so I wouldn't have to worry about the expenses and be better off when I get out of college, not splurge the money I saved by them buying the car

.

When I was younger I always thought having shiny things meant you we're well off, and other people would think the same, boy was I wrong. My girlfriends father is a millionaire, and hates when I buy cars or new things for them, wisely reinstating that cars are nothing more than a depreciating asset.

series1 · 07-09-07, 07:42

Accumulator- I was wondering the same thing. There are so many Jeep SRT-8's on yahoo autos used cars with low miles. I was havin some fun online though and Hennesy Performance does some pretty cool stuff to em. The M3 doesen't sound like a bad choice either I might have to look into that. Thanks for the advice.

foxbody · 07-10-07, 10:22

I'd get a job and buy my own car, you'll appreciate it more.

Accumulator · 07-10-07, 03:25

[Disclaimer: I'm not picking on foxbody, just using his post as an example of something that's getting brought up on this thread. Sorta-rant follows

]

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxbody

I'd get a job and buy my own car, you'll appreciate it more.

Maybe, maybe not...I've had cars given to me, I've bought 'em with my own hard-earned money, and I've inherited them. I didn't appreciate them any more/less based on how I acquired them. People are different about this stuff, and the circumstances of gift giving can vary greatly.

Plenty of people are in a position where they can give away cars the way other people give away sticks of gum. Plenty of people *enjoy* making gifts of things like this.

If Series1's folks want to buy him a cool car then that's their business and I don't see anything wrong with his taking them up on it, I just hope he chooses wisely. He has the rest of his life to earn money and spend it on cars/whatever. I think it'd be mighty cool for him to choose something that he'll appreciate and have for a long time...."thirty years ago my dad bought me this car and *man* do I love it....".

I gave away my Volvo wagon, and its owner wouldn't appreciate it any more had she paid me for it. In fact, I hear that she appreciates it *more* because it was a special gift (she sure takes better care of it than she did of any cars she bought). As the giver, I felt a whole lot better about giving it to somebody that I care about, somebody who couldn't afford to buy such a thing, than I would've felt about selling it to somebody. IMO she needed and deserved it, and I wanted to help her out in that specific way, and that was all there was to it. I suspect that Series1's folks feel the same way.

JuneBug · 07-10-07, 07:19

When I was 16, back in 1975 - I had saved up enough money from working on the farm to get a 1972 Z28, -I paid half and my Dad paid the other. It was 350 cu in, headers, big Holley, 4 speed, manual steering and no AC, I loved it. It was fast, loud, and everybody became my "best" friend. OK, I was not popular till then, I had every problem a teenager could get - fat, zits, thick glasses and smart in school. Overnight, actually a few months and the love of a good girl transformed me, lost weight, skin cleared, got cool glasses and clothes - what's left? Cool car that's what. The problems here are like others have said, jealousy, peer pressure, temptation to "see what it'll do" and the damn thing was almost impossible to get laid in! I wrecked it the first week, minor fender bender, scrapped the door, front fender getting out a tight parking spot - no power steering and sweaty hands - no AC and this was August in NC! Later, I almost totaled it going too fast around a curve, those old muscle cars weren't made to corner. Luckily I sold it before anything worse happened. My advice to you - if you want a car, get a Honda or Toyota, plenty of aftermarket stuff to fix it up and make it personalized for you.

series1 · 07-15-07, 04:24

Alright here is an update for all of you guys. First off I want to say thank you for helping me out with making a decision. You guys are pretty much like a second family helping me out with your opinions and views, I really appreciate it. I have decided that I will go with a Koenigsegg CCX. It's only a couple hundred thousand more but I figured eh, what the heck. Hahaha. I'm just kidding. I have been looking at the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS. I can't help but stare at it every time I see it. There is just something about it. I will probly get it in 5 spd manual to get the hang of a manual car plus I think I would have more fun in a manual car. If later I decide to go with a nice car I drooled over the new Camaro in Transformers. No joke, that thing is HOT! HOT! HOT! And 400 horsepower...holy crap. Then I can challenge my brother in his Trans Am. We will see what happens though. P.S. I will be paying for this car besides the down payment which I may need help in from my parents. Any opinions on the new Lancer though???