Yes, he can drive a family car that will not meet his desires or expectations. Got that covered. But he has great grades, is active in school sports and earned the money with a summer job to at least start the conversation and the initial search.
How and why he is focused on old school JDM cars will not be addressed, on this purchase. But I do hold out hope that my influences will bear fruit down the road. Our first life lesson in this adventure, managing expectation!
To continue....
Awesome for his interest in vintage JDM.
Unfortunately, vintage JDM is red hot right now
I can sympathize. In high school the muscle car revival was at its peak. Put out a request here. The forum is great for sniffing out cars.
In reply to jr02518 :
Would Jr be interested in an Infiniti Q45? They are a commonly overlooked but great jdm car that was sold here in the US.
Also Infiniti M45 and M56 are both V8s. The M35 is V6.
When a 16year old refers to "old school" does he mean a car just 8 years old (half his lifetime) , 16 years old (all his lifetime), 25 years old, or older?
Is there a reason Miata (of any age) is not the answer here?
One of his challenges, at 16 he is 6'2" and still growing. His Volleyball and Basketball Coaches both covet his willingness to engage. He spent 5 years driving in the SCCA junior development program. When he finally got old enough to take a ride with me in my E Street Miata, his first comment after that run was that my car was slow. So no Miata, he wold not readily fit in the car with the top up. Plus it snow's in our part of Southern California.
We did look at a Honda CRV, 4x4 stick. The car is from the Chicago area, not currently registered and has been sitting for 3 years. Offered $1500 and would deal with the issues. It sold for $5450 in one day. Very much good luck to both parties. Next.
We looked at a 1962 International Harvester Pickup, 2wd 6 cylinder with three on the tree. One family owned with 83,000 miles. The truck is from Texas. Some patina but no rust. Three of the five tires still held air. The brake master cylinder, that also supplies fluid for the clutch is connected to the firewall but not much else. Someone installed fresh hoses and might have installed tune up parts but getting it running, not sure. The fuel tank for this truck is accessed on the front left/passenger fender. New fuel hoses hold out hope, but the marine gas tank in the truck bed tells a different story. Offered $500 and would deal with the issues. The owner of the none running or registered truck thinks it is worth $10,000. Has a friend that is going to come over and help do something with it.
This will continue, we will not be defeated.
The older the vehicle, the less safe it is when it gets hit. Just saying...
In reply to jr02518 :
Oh I feel you. Been dealing with an almost 14 year old that wants to know why he can't drive already.
Infiniti search brought up these:
The tarted up Nissan Maxima, the Infiniti i30. These are fwd but very overlooked. '02 w/ 130k asking $2k
Another fwd Infiniti. Sort of a tarted up Nissan Sentra SE-R but better. '99 w/167k asking $2,300
RWD and V8, '98 Q45 at $2,500
Sweet and rare early M45 in Vegas for $2,700 which seem like a good price
Also rare, rwd '95 J30 at $2,200. Mechanically this has Nissan 300z running gear.
I expected more V8s cheap but there are some good choices here too.
Buy this forum member’s E90 AWD under 100k with years of service records for $5000
There's a ton of head room in Suzuki SX4's... and they're cheap, and from Japan. I'm 6'4" and I do not want for headroom in this thing, it's like a pickup in this singular regard.
I also still like the styling of the hatchbacks.
Based on the thread title I thought there was going to be a Nissan minivan involved.
In reply to Run_Away :
I own an Axxess but it's not for sale. It's too rusted out to allow another to risk it.
I like the G20 suggestion by John Welsh. Great cars, SR20 goodness, total sleeper. I instructed in a couple at the SR20 Convention many moons ago and was amazed at how competent the slushbox, worn out G20s were at Roebling.
Run_Away said:Based on the thread title I thought there was going to be a Nissan minivan involved.
I'm pick'n up what you're lay'n down.
Safety !
its his first car , something midsize with airbags , not too fast , stickshift would be nice.
once he has used it up in a couple years get something sportier .
Its a jungle out there with too many people texting , talking , eating and not paying attention....
And if I was 16 years old would I like my suggestions ? HECK no ,
Look for stick shift cars.
They are cheaper, feel sportier, and engage young drivers better, which makes them better drivers.
How about a cheap SC400?
In reply to lownslow :
I like the way your thinking but... Amazingly poor headroom in the SC 400. At 6' 1", I don't fit well. Something from the old LS line or GS line could be a great choice though.
Any update on the search? Our son is 17, so we went through this not too long ago. He too loves JDM, but, like you stated, that wasn't happening for his first car!
The reality of living above 5000 feet in the mountains, is winter driving will include snow and icey roads. For five monts of the year keeping the car clean are an extersise in frustration given the cinders used on the roads, with morning temp's already tripping the sub 35 degree temp sensors of our DD's.
It is only the end of the first week of November and snow tires are on the list befor the end of the month for the parents. The drum beat for his car continues. Lets review: the licensing of the driver requires 30 hours of computer time before the street time behind the wheel beguines. He is ready to take his DMV test and start driving Dad's car. As soon as we get to this point I can get him driving at our local SCCA events in the family BMW E21 that has a stick. He has 5 years of competative go kart experience on the books. He has a good working knowlede of kart control and knows the rules that have kept him in the kart. Great grades and attitude keep mom and dad happy.
The reality is given where we live, 4WD is going to be in the mix. The elivation changes when snow is added to the mix make front wheel drive with chains doable but his mother will adding her imput. So, most likley he will end up with my 2005 BMW X3 that has 230,000 miles and I will get a different car.
Let's see, what 4WD EV has a 300 mile range?
I've got to second the SC300/400. I'm a big guy and 6'3 and have no headroom issues. It's a great platform to modify and it definitely has JDM roots/cred. I've owned two, the last a mint low mile SC400. Great condition are hard to find, a lot of them have been ragged out by kids. Look in areas with old people for the clean one owner ones. Interiors can be fragile, but there were lots made so you can usually find good replacements. I really liked them.
Does it have to be fast/trackable? If not, SOOO many good things to choose from:
Jeep XJ/WJ....heck even a good ZJ (if those exist anymore), Honda passport/isuzu rodeo, Xterra, CRV, second gen trooper, all the subarus, older pathfinder, any gen 4runner, first gen 6cyl X5, second/third gen Explorer, tacoma, frontier, ranger, fj cruiser, or the AWD infinitiys
Unexpected tall driver choice: Second generation MR2. May fit his definition of old school JDM, and they're the only car I've ever been able to push the front seat so far back my feet couldn't comfortably reach the pedals. Would advise staying naturally aspirated between newbie driver and snow.
Appleseed said:Awesome for his interest in vintage JDM.
Unfortunately, vintage JDM is red hot right now
I can sympathize. In high school the muscle car revival was at its peak. Put out a request here. The forum is great for sniffing out cars.
My grandfather was in the motor pool during WWII. D-day + 1, etc.
Always had Chrysler's in the family. His first born (my Dad) bought a Bugeye Sprite as his first car. The other two brothers both had 'murican cars (Plymouth GTX and a 'Cuda 440). Dad's first new car he ever bought was a Lotus Elan. Then a Fiat Strada once the kids came along.
So yeah, basically you can lead them to water, but they won't always drink what you want them to, but as long as they are interested then take what you can get.
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