Encouraging / Helping a 15 year old with a first car project

he's fifteen, If I'm not completely out of touch, subarus and bmws are super cool.
I like the e30 idea, my 6cyl e28 got surprising mileage too.

corytate wrote: he's fifteen, If I'm not completely out of touch, subarus and bmws are super cool. I like the e30 idea, my 6cyl e28 got surprising mileage too.

Second and then Third gen Camaro for me at that age!

High five for helping the teenager out. We need more of this happening in the world.

Camaro and Mustangs have high insurance rates, even base models, for teens.

My rec's would be:

78-87 G Body (Olds Cutlass seem to be most available more the best value)

Ford Ranger

Chevy S10 or GMC S15/Sonoma

Jeep Cherokee

The Jeep Cherokee's tend to get hit with higher insurance rates also. Not as bad as the Stang/Camaro, but more than the other's on the list

Also:

77-89 Caprice/Impala (but the donks are driving the price) 2000-2003 Chevy Impala 9C1 3.8 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.8 any Ford Crown Vic P71

Any older Ford, Chevy, or Dodge full size pickup. The 2wd's go for less this time of year before winter.

Dodge Dakota's?

15 y.o.

VW Golf Diesel - and an N/A one at that!

BG Chassis Protege. Parts are cheap, plentiful, it's as cheap to run as a corolla, and the paths to fun are limitless.My kid is 1, and I'm already planning something similar. Buy shell, have him earn good stuff for it, help build badass car, give keys at 16. If he screws up, it's mine. The theory is- if he has to bust his ass to earn it, he might respect it more than most of the little snot noses out there.

E36. There are lots out there cheap that need smallish repairs to get running. After that they need bushings, cooling system, window regulators, etc... to make bulletproof. They would be something that could be bought cheap, made to run for a little more, and made really nice through consistent attention. A big bonus in the end is he ends up with a pretty competent car.

2.3 turbo ranger would be pretty sweet. Parts are abundant and cheap.

mndsm wrote: BG Chassis Protege. Parts are cheap, plentiful, it's as cheap to run as a corolla, and the paths to fun are limitless.My kid is 1, and I'm already planning something similar. Buy shell, have him earn good stuff for it, help build badass car, give keys at 16. If he screws up, it's mine. The theory is- if he has to bust his ass to earn it, he might respect it more than most of the little snot noses out there.

This.

BG Chassis... anything.

Or if we're talking trucks... B2200.

I'd say MX6 GT, and that would be great as long as it remained stock, but they just get too fast in a hurry for a new driver's first car if you start messing with it.

There are already "better" ideas out there, but if you want something simple, shoot me a PM about my Willys Jeep.

Runs and moves, new tires, new brakes. I haven't been through the motor at all, nor the trans, nor the diffs. Bodywork is 95% flat panels, so fixing the (fairly extensive) rust wouldn't be all that difficult.

I'd make you a good deal for the sake of kid/car charity.

lots of great suggestions... in talking with him a bit last night, he's not your typical teenager. He's really not that interested in trucks, but he likes big 4-door American iron more than small cars and sports cars.

A '94~'96 Impala hit pretty high on his interest list.

So, options are plenty for cheap Caprices. An Impala clone is possible, or a hooptied out "real" Impala that needs work.

I might show him some P71 possibilities as well, but he wouldn't want it to look like a cop car. Some Marauder bits can solve that.

Not crazy about a RWD V8 for a teenager, but at least it'd be in a boat of a car. I have a soft spot for B-bodies (loved my '91 Custom Cruiser), and think he'd have a lot of fun in a big torque cruiser that made V8 noises.

Regardless, great suggestions from everyone on how to help him be the one to find/search/budget, etc. It'll be a good learning experience for him, and I can help him avoid some major disasters.

A street package P71 will take the cop look away. Their harder to find and more expensive anyway. A wagon an option? They can be pretty sweet looking after bring lowered. Use a Chevy wagon and slap the Impala front end on it.

Ugly wheels on this one:

tuna55 wrote:

corytate wrote: he's fifteen, If I'm not completely out of touch, subarus and bmws are super cool. I like the e30 idea, my 6cyl e28 got surprising mileage too.

Second and then Third gen Camaro for me at that age!

I wouldn't, the long nose and huge overhang of the front are big drawbacks for young drivers. Placing that nose takes attention and keeping the plastic hanging spoiler in one piece is critical to keeping them happy. I completely rebuilt the cooling system twice in mine before I finally went down to the stealership and asked the guys in the shop what could be the issue with mine as it kept overheating. Old guy walked out and looked at my car, knelt down and pointed it out to me. (Dad was stationed remote in Hungary while this went on, so he had no clue as what could be causing it.) Most overheating third gens are missing that little black hanging spoiler, used to be a 20$ part. A parking curb or driveway tend to remove them for those who are not paying attention.

Ok, I'll light this fire.

http://battlecreek.craigslist.org/cto/3391797178.html

http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/cto/3384938971.html

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/3344858989.html

Ok, I'm kidding about the last one...

In reply to hobiercr:

Battle Creek Craigslist? Best craigslist name ever.

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: In reply to hobiercr: Battle Creek Craigslist? Best craigslist name ever.

Cereal City in the house. Smells like cornflakes.

xflowgolf wrote: lots of great suggestions... in talking with him a bit last night, he's not your typical teenager. He's really not that interested in trucks, but he likes big 4-door American iron more than small cars and sports cars. A '94~'96 Impala hit pretty high on his interest list. So, options are plenty for cheap Caprices. An Impala clone is possible, or a hooptied out "real" Impala that needs work.

If he likes the impala, the roadmaster will be cheaper and still comes with the lt1 in those years. Maybe show him some e34s or W124s and see if he likes those too. I originally was lusting at the roadmaster, t-type, and w-body regal gs when I wanted my first car but ended up with a 4th gen maxima. It's a cheap car, has plenty of torque, and is fwd for impending snow.

xflowgolf wrote: lots of great suggestions... in talking with him a bit last night, he's not your typical teenager. He's really not that interested in trucks, but he likes big 4-door American iron more than small cars and sports cars. A '94~'96 Impala hit pretty high on his interest list. So, options are plenty for cheap Caprices. An Impala clone is possible, or a hooptied out "real" Impala that needs work. I might show him some P71 possibilities as well, but he wouldn't want it to look like a cop car. Some Marauder bits can solve that. Not crazy about a RWD V8 for a teenager, but at least it'd be in a boat of a car. I have a soft spot for B-bodies (loved my '91 Custom Cruiser), and think he'd have a lot of fun in a big torque cruiser that made V8 noises. Regardless, great suggestions from everyone on how to help him be the one to find/search/budget, etc. It'll be a good learning experience for him, and I can help him avoid some major disasters.

I second the idea for a Marauder clone!

see what kind of car he would like, go car "window" shopping via craigslist, see which one gets him excited.

Marauders make my pants tight.

really can't go wrong with a ranger, 4cyl variety, cheap, decent MPG, cheap, easy to work on, cheap, useful, cheap, can get 4x4, cheap

N Sperlo wrote: A street package P71 will take the cop look away. Their harder to find and more expensive anyway. A wagon an option? They can be pretty sweet looking after bring lowered. Use a Chevy wagon and slap the Impala front end on it. Ugly wheels on this one:

I like wagons but I prefer that nice green FD behind it :)

Raze wrote: really can't go wrong with a ranger, 4cyl variety, cheap, decent MPG, cheap, easy to work on, cheap, useful, cheap, can get 4x4, cheap

Thats what I was thinking, any C/K would be a good candidate too

Cars come in many price ranges.

Investing in a kid...PRICELESS!

Type of car doesn't really matter. Keep it up!

Im thinking e28 . He already likes big cars. 533 and 535 arent stupid fast but they are quick enough and handle well. You wont find any that dont need some kind of work. straight 6 is easier to work on than v8's. parts are cheap. roomy enough to work on, cheap to insure, cheap on property tax (if your state has such)(property tax on my 88 M5 is 5 bucks!) and cheap to buy. will do 300k miles plus if taken care of. ANd if you want to find a well cared for example visit mye28.com and go to cars for sale section.

z cars?

240z can be had cheap, parts are relatively inexpensive, decent mileage, good styling, v8 swap potential or build/swap the i6.

I have done this a few times and found out at least one simple rule. This will be HIS car, not yours. My nephew was 15 and searching for HIS car. We searched the local papers, family members made offers, but he fell in love with a 1972 Ford F-150 (or F-100..whichever). Found a sitter short bed 6 cylinder with a bad automatic trans, faded paint, wiring mess under the dash, bald tires and the bed and cab were full of junk!

He talked about putting a big V8 in and 4WD and such, but his budget was nil. Good thing another Uncle was a fan of these trucks and had many spare parts. Good project until he got hit by a lady running a red light.

His Grandmother gave him her old DD but he was not real interested once he had his focus on a truck. 28 years later he felt that Grannys old car might be a hoot so we took it to him last August .

I would have picked it over the truck any day, but it is HIS car.

Bruce