First Car

914Driver said:

Welcome SonofTuna, what's your budget?

Scroll to top. Read first post again. 😂 

In reply to Dusterbd13 : awesome, thank you!

tuna55 said:

The kid has been around indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now it's his first what car thread. So proud!

 

Just for the record, you've seen all these pictures before on the forum.

 

Despite his Dad not having any extra time, he'll be pretty well supported, and has the run of the shop as long as he doesn't wreck the truck.

You're killing me with this post. I remember (nearly) every one of these pictures the first go round. We shouldn't be talking about his first car. 

Where's my back pills. 

I'll throw in that Mazda 3 is a great first car, especially if you can find the 2.3l w/5 speed combo.   Shared chassis with the 2nd Gen Ford focii which means parts are cheap and available.   Also stupid fun to throw around are the Fiesta/Mazda2s.

OHSCrifle said:

914Driver said:

Welcome SonofTuna, what's your budget?

Scroll to top. Read first post again. 😂 

The world would be a terrible place if everything was as short as my memory.

In reply to WonkoTheSane :

At one point someone was giving one away. It might have been Asa. I was sadly too late.

In reply to 09Unwound :

How about a V8 swapped Volvo Wagon?

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/cars-sale/b18-austin-america-and-50-volvo-960-spartanburg-sc-nm-somewhat-associated/277767/page1/

You're welcome 😁 

I knew this day would come! Almost missed it as the thread title slipped under the radar.

Manual gearbox cars should be on your radar because they are harder to sell as used cars and command lower prices as used cars. So the learning curve is worth it.

Boring is best. Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic or Nissan Versa are all good transportation pods. I drove a Mazda Protege for 10 years and it was a reliable and self maintainable work horse. I never do any mods to the daily drivers, that keeps them reliable. Project cars and Daily drivers are like wifes and mistresses;  both good at what they do and best if they never cross paths.

In reply to Indy - Guy :

Possibly, Thank you 

In reply to NOHOME :

Ok, I also would prefer a manual to an automatic so that works out for me! 

I personally shipped Unwound a shifter for his sim setup, so I want to see him in a manual.  He "needs" to learn heal-toe and double clutching (because it's fun)!  He has a sim rig to practice on!

I mean, a Miata is a great choice not only for driving fun (maybe too much fun if you know what I mean) but they are super easy to work on.  Also, the Miata shifter has shifter similar to what he has (rather short throw).  Might be hard on a tight budget these days though.

Good luck.  Can't wait to see what you get.  

Of course, as Miata as a first car will leave with a distorted perspective on other cars and you may be disappointed in any following (non-Miata) purchases!  It's not called "The Answer" for nothing!

The 4 door Miata...the Mazda 2. Good nimble little car, 5 speed, room for your stuff. Mine was dead reliable for ten years before it rusted away.

In reply to aircooled :

It has served me well! I feel I know the basics of a manual but I would like to really learn it to compare. I have attempted heal-toe shifting and I can say that I am bad at it(but it is fun). Im keeping my eyes open (but definitely rooting for a miata). Thanks!

Ill be practicing parallel parking on the sim 

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

Living in the south, that sounds like a good option.

In that price range, I'd just search Facebook Marketplace for stuff with manual transmissions and buy whatever turns up with the fewest problems.

$1000 and no mechanical skills?  Buy an MGB.  You'll learn whether you want to or not and as an added bonus, you'll also obtain rust repair skills and irrational optimism.  Or you'll learn how to knit while waiting for the bus.

In reply to Apis Mellifera :

While that advice served me well when I started driving, and I then owned MGs for over 40 years, that ship has sailed.

The Miata is the new MG.  I drove one year round in Ontario for 10 years. It IS the answer except they are way over the stated budget. As a parent I would like the Miata knowing that my child was not going to be the one driving a bunch of other kids around to perform the questionable quest that kids indulge in each generation. That said, I did once get pulled over with five female units in my MG Midget. I got a ticket.

Apis Mellifera said:

$1000 and no mechanical skills?  Buy an MGB.  You'll learn whether you want to or not and as an added bonus, you'll also obtain rust repair skills and irrational optimism.  Or you'll learn how to knit while waiting for the bus.

I speak with 3/4 seriousness that if you could find me a $1000 MGB in drivable condition, I'd pay a $1000 finders fee.  Those go for ten times that here and I've always wanted one.

Even a rubber bumper car would do.

In reply to NOHOME:

Haha, I will not have any problems with driving more than one friend around. A small car like that would be great. Miatas do seem overpriced but at this point what isnt? 

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

I speak with 3/4 seriousness that if you could find me a $1000 MGB in drivable condition, I'd pay a $1000 finders fee.  Those go for ten times that here and I've always wanted one.

Even a rubber bumper car would do.

Marketplace has many ~$1000 MGBs that, though ratty, look to be just a Brakleen toot away from running.  Several look drivable with little to no tinkering.  $3000 buys a nice driver.

While a Miata probably does make more sense, to obtain repair skills, you have to have something that breaks.. therefore, MGB.