Car for 18 year old guy? Suggestions??
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: somewhere out there
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
From: somewhere out there
Among others, I'd agree with the Mazda3 suggestion, especially the non-turbo model. I'd avoid the turbo MazdaSpeed3 version as a used car for several reasons, even over and above the fact that most of them would probably be over the 10K limit. Used turbos are often a risky buy, and they often have a history of having been driven hard.
It's a nice youthful looking car especially the 1G models I'm looking at. Only problems I'm running into are locating some in my area. It's strange because I see a lot of 1Gs on the roads but apparantly not many on the used market.
Anyway, it's got a great interior, pretty good gas mileage, and good crash test specs
Driver
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: NY
Ok.
Yeah he's going to college in the midwest (greater Chicago), so FWD/AWD are definitely plusses.
He's never driven a manual before...
And I would like the car to have the basics like power windows/locks, AC, etc.
Probably shopping used, but I'll check out a new Versa or Hyundai
Yeah he's going to college in the midwest (greater Chicago), so FWD/AWD are definitely plusses.
He's never driven a manual before...
And I would like the car to have the basics like power windows/locks, AC, etc.
Probably shopping used, but I'll check out a new Versa or Hyundai
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,543
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I took a number of solo medium-length trips alone to the MD/VA mountains at age 17, and my first solo long one (300+ miles) across the mountains to Ohio at age 18..the night after my graduation.
Seriously, vans and young people aren't necessarily incompatable. After the muscle-cars died out in the early-mid 70s, but before the age of minivans in the 1980's, full-sized vans were quite popular with teens and young adults, particularly with custom trim and interiors. They became quite a fad. A common purchase, back then, was a metal-walled van with no trim inside and just one or two factory seats, and then a trip to the customizing shop for the rest. I can't count the number of 70's-vintage Ford Econoline, Chevy Express, and Dodge Sportsman vans I remember wth custom interiors.
Songs were even written about these vans, like about the GTOs, beach wagons, and sports cars of 10-15 years earlier.
Last edited by mmarshall; May 31, 2010 at 01:45 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 350
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From: AL
Is there a 0-60 time one shouldn't go lower than for a new driver? Don't consider cars faster than 9.0 seconds? 8.0 seconds?
OTOH, a car that has crisp 0-30 times can be safer than a slow car. I was looking for an 83-85 MB 300D for one of my sons. (Never did find a good one.) I test drove a beautiful 78 240D, with one less cylinder and no turbo. Yikes, pulling out into traffic was a death wish.
OTOH, a car that has crisp 0-30 times can be safer than a slow car. I was looking for an 83-85 MB 300D for one of my sons. (Never did find a good one.) I test drove a beautiful 78 240D, with one less cylinder and no turbo. Yikes, pulling out into traffic was a death wish.
That being said, get him something safe, & if the kid wants to go fast, take him to an SCCA event. It'll give him a chance to get it out of his system safely & learn how to handle the car better at the same time. Most of the cars on your list sound reasonable to me. I personally prefer the Mazda 3 or the Impreza, but I can't say the other options are a bad idea.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
My first car was the 76 300D, still the 5-cylinder, but no turbo (I believe they introduced that in 77). We timed it once, & it took about 30 seconds to reach 60. I can't imagine what the 240D would feel like. I did enjoy the car, & it was well built, but I've yet to drive a slower car. I got rear-ended by a guy in a sunfire once, & I barely felt anything. Of course, being slow didn't stop me from acting like a idiot. I quickly found out it would top out at 95 on flat ground, 105 downhill, & as low as 55 uphill. That's where my speed stayed most of the time I had the car.
That being said, get him something safe, & if the kid wants to go fast, take him to an SCCA event. It'll give him a chance to get it out of his system safely & learn how to handle the car better at the same time.
I personally prefer the Mazda 3 or the Impreza, but I can't say the other options are a bad idea.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
From: somewhere out there
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 0
From: somewhere out there
My first car was the 76 300D, still the 5-cylinder, but no turbo (I believe they introduced that in 77). We timed it once, & it took about 30 seconds to reach 60. I can't imagine what the 240D would feel like. I did enjoy the car, & it was well built, but I've yet to drive a slower car. I got rear-ended by a guy in a sunfire once, & I barely felt anything. Of course, being slow didn't stop me from acting like a idiot. I quickly found out it would top out at 95 on flat ground, 105 downhill, & as low as 55 uphill. That's where my speed stayed most of the time I had the car.
That being said, get him something safe, & if the kid wants to go fast, take him to an SCCA event. It'll give him a chance to get it out of his system safely & learn how to handle the car better at the same time. Most of the cars on your list sound reasonable to me. I personally prefer the Mazda 3 or the Impreza, but I can't say the other options are a bad idea.
That being said, get him something safe, & if the kid wants to go fast, take him to an SCCA event. It'll give him a chance to get it out of his system safely & learn how to handle the car better at the same time. Most of the cars on your list sound reasonable to me. I personally prefer the Mazda 3 or the Impreza, but I can't say the other options are a bad idea.
70's vintage M-B diesels were like tanks. I know a lady who had one for over 25 years. Back then, M-B did what was arguably the most durable car in the world. Quality did not start to drop until the 1990's.
Or, just go to a good high-performance driving school like Skip Barber or Bondurance.
Many of us in this thread agree on the Mazda3 and Impreza.
Or, just go to a good high-performance driving school like Skip Barber or Bondurance.
Many of us in this thread agree on the Mazda3 and Impreza.
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: somewhere out there
UPDATE: Got the car!
Well it took longer than I expected to find a car for him, but I got one and I'd like to give a huge thanks to MMARSHALL!
I got him an 06 Subaru Impreza Outback. I think he's gonna love it. Since it took so long to get the car, this is gonna end up being more like a 4th of July present than a grad gift, but oh well. I'm excited for him and I can't wait to get it to him.
Thanks everyone again, and I'll be posting pics tomorrow!
I got him an 06 Subaru Impreza Outback. I think he's gonna love it. Since it took so long to get the car, this is gonna end up being more like a 4th of July present than a grad gift, but oh well. I'm excited for him and I can't wait to get it to him.
Thanks everyone again, and I'll be posting pics tomorrow!
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Well it took longer than I expected to find a car for him, but I got one and I'd like to give a huge thanks to MMARSHALL!
I got him an 06 Subaru Impreza Outback. I think he's gonna love it. Since it took so long to get the car, this is gonna end up being more like a 4th of July present than a grad gift, but oh well. I'm excited for him and I can't wait to get it to him.
Thanks everyone again, and I'll be posting pics tomorrow!
I got him an 06 Subaru Impreza Outback. I think he's gonna love it. Since it took so long to get the car, this is gonna end up being more like a 4th of July present than a grad gift, but oh well. I'm excited for him and I can't wait to get it to him.
Thanks everyone again, and I'll be posting pics tomorrow!
