My Lifelong Dream, My First Car

JohnRW1621 wrote:

Matt B wrote: Yeah, I'm that guy. Someone was going to say it eventually.

You're out of your element Donny!

This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's.

...a lot of strands to keep in my head. Lots of strands in the 'ol Duder's head.

My first car was my dream car... Sorta. Black Trans Am, but it was only a 301 car.

There is no shame in not wanting a Miata, just say you don't want one, don't need the tall excuse.

I vote Jag xkr hardtop.

Yes, I am biased, but the Fiesta ST is the ticket here.

• As a first car, you get a new car with a warranty but with a pretty low cost of entry.
• It has enough room and versatility to grow with you through school, the first apartment, and into your first marriage.
• You will enjoy the snot out of it stock, and learn what a true driver's car is.
• You can call up Cobb or a dozen other firms for parts, and the list grows daily.
• Every auto journalist loves this car worldwide, so you'll never have buyer's remorse after reading an article about something else.
• You can trade it in on a Mustang GT350 in a few years and get a Ford owner loyalty discount.

In reply to pinchvalve:

he makes some excellent points, insurance on a new car and a payment would be the only downsides. You will likely be moving several times in the next 5-8 years, picking a car that can haul small to moderate loads of stuff without a penalty in the fun department would be a wise choice.

JohnRW1621 wrote: ...a lot of strands to keep in my head. Lots of strands in the 'ol Duder's head.

Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

Which reminds me I forgot to make an actual suggestion.

E36 6cyl. Whichever one. 325, 328, BMW E36 M3 if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

Between the cooling system and the suspension refresh it'll be a relatively easy intro into working on your own stuff and provide a nice RWD chassis to play with on track, autox, whatever. Plus the non-M3's are crazy cheap.

With $12,000 as my cap price it excludes insurance and gas. My parents agreed to pay for insurance and some gas because I'm paying about 75% of the car and took a series of classes that lowered the insurance quite a bit. Despite those things the insurance cant be a monster like what a BMW would have. I would like to have a nice Porsche or BMW but parts and insurance would cripple me in the future. Other than that I am aware of the price of regular maintenance which is where the money I get from my job would go (plus some upgrades in the future haha).

I like the Miata don't get me wrong but I feel like it doesn't suit me for what I am trying to do. I haven't seen many do well on the local tracks and meets that I go to sometimes, they are sure quick in a straight line but in the turns they are beat out by the Imprezas.

How would a 240/260/280z do compared to what you guys are suggesting?

If a Miata is losing time in turns to Imprezas serious driver modifications are needed.

captdownshift wrote: If a Miata is losing time in turns to Imprezas serious driver modifications are needed.

On the other hand, if Miatas are beating Imprezas on the straights, serious engine modifications are in place!

In reply to GameboyRMH:

circle gets the square

Your budget will get you into a NC Miata as well, which are more accommodating to larger drivers. Also, check out 2nd Gen MR2s. They are cheap and have pretty large interiors. NA models are downright cheap, and turbos are within your price range. MR2 Spiders are as well and are larger inside than Miatas. No luggage space however if that is important to you.

The only issue I would have the 240/260/280 suggestion is the age and finding one that doesn't need rust repair or restoration.

Keep in mind that whatever you buy, price insurance, tires and consumables before you pull the trigger, as that may make a difference to you later on.

racerdave600 wrote: MR2 Spiders are as well and are larger inside than Miatas. No luggage space however if that is important to you.

I am going to disagree with you on this. I can just about fit in a NA Miata. An MRS is just too small for me.

How about a Civic? I can just about keep up with the autocross times of some Miatas in my 93 coupe and there isn't much cheaper or easier to modify then a Civic.

At that price point, I think I would be looking at this:

Has some space, has some pace, has some grace. I like the look more than the Subaru version, and you avoid some of the boy-racer tax. Plenty of aftermarket support for it and a great chassis and engine to play with.

Mazda RX-8. Because BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bugeye WRX for $7-8k and save the rest for the inevitable engine rebuild?

In reply to EvanB:

but transmission replacement...

In reply to captdownshift:

Hopefully they don't both go at the same time and he can save more money for whichever fails second.

EvanB wrote: Bugeye WRX for $7-8k and save the rest for the inevitable engine rebuild?

I suspect much of the savings will be eaten up in speeding tickets, first off. Cops look at WRXS like they looked at Road Runners when I was young. You deserve a ticket for owning it, even if the engine is not turned on.

I'm changing my answer, 986 and do the IMS fix or retrofit. document the fix or retrofit and when the time comes to get something bigger or faster you'll be able to sell it for nearly what you paid for it.

I'd say s2000, but get the feeling its going to be out of budget. S4 or s5 rx7 would be nice and youd fit

What Matt B said. E-36.

The whole crap about Subaru 5spd's is so blown out of proportion, especially here!!!

My god if they were that bad they would be littering the slides of the highways.

In reply to Rupert: I agree, I had a 03 WRB bugeye WRX and it attracted law enforcement like my 90 red 5.0. 2 tickets in each with no tickets in the dozen or so cars I have driven during same time and since. AND the WRX 5 speed was making noise in 2nd and 3rd by 20,000 miles.

First car? 16 yrs old? 12k budget? Parents paying for insurance?

E36 M3. Buy something cheap and save the rest. You'll be glad to come out of high school with some pocket change.

And Miata fast straight line but losing to imprezas around the corners?

This thread makes no sense to me.

WRX can come in way under that price and you get a great package in stock form. Lots and lots of mods available and a super fun car to drive.