Trying to buy a first car that is used

neo1055 · 04-21-02, 05:27

Hi everyone. I am looking for a car I can buy. This will be my first car. I am only 13 about to be 14 but I don't wanna spend the best years of my life looking for a car. So I do it now while I have the time. So does anyone know a good car used or new I don't care, that gives good performance while still staying under a good price range. I REALLY wanna get this Toyota Supra on eBay for 19,000 but unfortunately I don't have enought cash

. So can some1 help me in this?

NY detailer · 04-21-02, 05:40

I would not worry about it now, you are only going to be 14 and your taste will change real quick. I would wait till you are ready and have your license. Dont forget about insurance, that stuff ain't cheep for a new driver
Have fun and be safe!

neo1055 · 04-21-02, 06:02

Yeah I guess your right. Buying a supra will probably have some expensive insrance tagging a long with it. Well can some 1 still advise a first car anyways cause my sister is 16 and is about to get a car.

BW · 04-23-02, 11:34

How much money does she want to spend?

MarylandVW · 04-25-02, 11:32

The car market is full of good used cars. The biggest issue that you will have to contend with is insurance. If you are going to be 14 and getting your first car, your insurance is going to be a bit high. If you want a Supra, your insurance will be very high.

My advice to you is to look at a good reliable used car (not too much), with a moderate amount of miles. There are many cars available. First of all, what cars do you like. If you get a car that you like, you are going to take much better car of it (that is just one rule of thumb).

Give some more specific details, as to what you want, and maybe we can find a car that would be best for you. Plus, you have the best forum on the Internet for detailing, so your car will look better than most cars out on the road today.

Best regards.

joed1228 · 04-25-02, 11:43

That Supra is junk, you don't want to buy a car someone has put all kinds of money into. It is probaly there speed car that they beat the heck out of it and you don't know what problems it has had or what they "patched" for a short period of time.

Your 13 - 14, you sound like me, I was looking at Corvettes at your age. It's cool, gives you a better idea of what is out there, the price you can expect to pay, all types of models through the years, any common problems. Then you get into a different car and you go nuts researching that. I must of spent years online around 8 hours a day at least (Im online now everyday of the week around 12 hours at least) though cars I liked and this and that. Look into turbos, superchargers, nos, how to fix this, how to fix that. Just learn alot so when you get a car you have the "basic" knowledge about the car you are hoping to get.

Keep looking, keep your eyes and mind open, don't get set on one thing, you never know what you may want years down the road and it is very very interesting and beneficial to look into all types of cars.

Have fun, I sure did.

P.S. One little funny story, one car I was DREAMING of getting wasa 1979 Corvette. After a whole lot of research I found the strongest engine made was the L-98, which was a really heavy V8 350 5.7liter with 225 HP. The car was heavy, the brakes stunk and all kinds of other things just added up to shy me away from that model. I would of got it if I had 10,000 to dump into it.

Now I have a 99 Camaro SS with the LS1 Vette motor in it.

TBird · 04-25-02, 01:01

Check out Edmunds.com and look for reliable used cars in the two-three year old range. Then scour the dealerships for something you've researched that has just come off of lease.

neo1055 · 04-25-02, 01:37

Now i'm looking at neons. I'm thinking of getting one of those. I would much rather spend my time rideing my car around instead of looking for a car when i'm 16-17. So i'm thinking of getting a neon. I have seen some that were tricked out. they looked real nice.so i'll probably get that first then once i get more money i'll get a custom paintjob, decals and rear/head lights. that would be the first thing i do in the process of hokking up a car.so what do u think about neons? and what I want in a car is exceptioanlly good speed, good handling, and a safe car just in case. also a car that will be ale to go fast after giving it the proper hook ups. on saturdays after 10, people with tricked out cars go to race downtown. i'll go there and ask them so quick questions. sorta like a survey.

TBird · 04-25-02, 01:55

I bought a Neon new in 1998 and my wife and I drove it for two years and 30,000 miles. It was driven hard both in town and out. Never had one problem with it and it was very fun to drive in town. Didn't feel quite safe enough on the interstate though. All in all I thought it was a very reasonable and reliable car. So did my little sister. She bought a used 1998 Neon last year with very low miles (14,000 I think). A blown head gasket and main seal (2 separate incidents) later she is not so sure. Neons were notorious for blown head gaskets up until 1998. Get a 1999 or newer. Sometime after 1998 they also did a little redesign on the body. If it is still available with the more powerful 4 cylinder (152 hp maybe?) get that one. There are a lot of performance mods out there for them, especially for the handling. If you can get one reasonable you could mod it up and have a real "rice-killer".

neo1055 · 04-25-02, 02:27

Good. That's exactly what I wanted. At a dealership they have 1996-2000's for low prices. I'll go look at em. Right now i'm too busy looking at buying a new bike. Or just upgardes for my current one.

TBird · 04-25-02, 02:52

Mountain bike or motor bike? I've got three mountain bikes and treat them like my children. One Raleigh and two Schwinn Moabs. My wife won't let me have a motorcycle though. I'm too accident prone, which in man language means lacking the judgement and self-control to keep from injuring onself in real cool ways

Again look at the 1999 and on Neons.

joed1228 · 04-25-02, 02:56

Don't do the paint job, all the money you'll be spending on that will really make the car look nice until you make one run with a souped up civic and he kills your car, then people will look at your car like it's all show and no speed.

Spend a little money on looks but most on speed if you want to go fast.

I would look at the late 1980's RX-7, they are rotary motor driven with a turbo charger, rear wheel drive, bucket leather seats, decent rims and wheels, they have a hood scoop, they are a BLAST to drive, they'll kill any of those little rice powered midget cars and they costs less than that Neon your looking at.

Ahhhh the sound of your tach at 8,000 rpm's!