by "Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
Published 09/21/2017 at 16:53
by "Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
Published 09/21/2017 at 16:53
No Tags
STARS: 2
There was a thread about how much is too much for a first car. So now I pose the question: what was your first car and how much was it? Without shame, mine was a 1994 Chevy Cavalier that was $250 but I had to provide my own Bars Leak Head Gasket Sealant. Image not my personal car (I don’t think I have one) but of a VERY similar car:
"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/21/2017 at 16:58, STARS: 1
Mine was a 97 Jetta GLS in ~2006, I paid 1500 dollars for it, it had 86k miles and was in almost perfect condition, the previous owner was a neat-freak. Used it through most of college, the transmission started slipping at 110k miles (it was an auto). I traded it in for $300.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
09/21/2017 at 16:58, STARS: 1
1994 Volvo 940 Turbo wagon, purchased non-running with a suspected bad HG and just a smidge over 200k miles for $500 cash.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 16:59, STARS: 1
$3000 Lexus LS400. It was sweeeeet. I feel like if I had a kid, I’d buy his/her first car around $3000. Just low enough to fully be depreciated but enough to be reliable and not strand or be a money pit.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
09/21/2017 at 16:59, STARS: 2
It was free on paper, but it did cost what was left of my dignity:
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
09/21/2017 at 17:00, STARS: 1
I bought a tank of gas and got a conversion van for free!
I worked as an oil changer and bought a conversion van off a guy moving across the country the next day. It had bad overheating issues and some interior electrics were failing. I bought it and replaced the radiator, water pump, some hoses, and I think a gasket? Been a while. But I paid 75$ for it and it came with a full 20 gallon tank when gas was 4$ a gallon. I guess at the end of the day it was more like 400$ after parts. But still, hot damn!
"Deal Killer - Powered by Focus" (dealkiller-ii)
09/21/2017 at 17:00, STARS: 1
1990 Geo Prizm, I bought it for about $1,500 with over 150K miles on it. I traded it in with 230K miles for $500.
"itschrome" (itschrome)
09/21/2017 at 17:00, STARS: 2
Exactly as pictured,but thats not mine. $650 with like 2o some odd k on it in mint garage kept condition in 2000. It was owned by a widower and I bought it from her kids when she died. Needed nothing and drove like new.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
09/21/2017 at 17:01, STARS: 1
$7,000 in 2014, about 10% of what it cost originally.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
09/21/2017 at 17:02, STARS: 2
$1,000 2001 Kia Rio sedan. This thing didn’t have a working cooling fan (bought it during a blizzard, found out about the fan in the Spring) and the shift lock didn’t work, but it was quite possibly some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a car that wasn’t a rental. :)
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
09/21/2017 at 17:02, STARS: 5
1977 Firebird Esprit 305 V8.
It was my aunt’s first car, she bought it in the early 80's, used, and parked it when she had kids in the early 90's. In the late 90's I paid her installments to eventually equal $1500 for the car plus the parts to fix it (EGR, gaskets, etc) then stuck another couple hundred for shocks and a y-pipe cause it sat for a long time and rotted off. Sounded neat though.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
09/21/2017 at 17:02, STARS: 3
2004 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L V6 that my dad paid $11,000 for back in 2012. He bought it for himself but when I got my license later that year, he gave it to me. SO YES I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS WHO INHERITED THEIR CAR
"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
09/21/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 1
$500 for a 1980 Sierra shortbed. My next was $250 for an ‘82 Sentra. The first non-family discounted was a $2000 1985 CRX Si.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
09/21/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 1
The Willys was $1,700 IIRC
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
09/21/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 3
I paid $900 for a 1999 Honda civic that only had 119k miles on it and didn’t start. Turns out it was just out of gas! And it was super dirty, like covered in mud and garbage inside. But after a thorough cleaning with bleach and some basic deferred maintenance, it ran reliably and happily for 5 years and 65k miles. Then I sold it to someone for $1350 once I bought my Miata. So overall it was a great experience. I experienced many maintenance adventures but it was a good learning experience.
"I hoon, therefore I am" (hookemdevils22)
09/21/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 1
My dad bought my Nova for $1500 when I was 15. I’ve dumped tons more into it since then.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/21/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 2
Mine was a 1988 VW Fox 4 speed wagon (sadly, I have no pictures of it, except from my wedding day). I don’t remember exactly how much it cost, maybe $12k. My father purchased it for me the summer before I left for graduate school, and I paid him back over the next five years. I think I paid about $150/month. If I found one in good shape I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
09/21/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 1
2005 Toyota Corolla with a set of winter and all season wheels and tires for $3,700
Still have it and drive it everyday to college and work
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
09/21/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 3
Not the actual car, but it pretty much looked the same, except it had bias ply blackwalls on steelies and single exhaust (100% stock). $1,850 in the spring of 1984 - and it had just under 24k on the odometer (for real). A great car.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
09/21/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 1
That’s the way to do it!
"lone_liberal" (token-liberal)
09/21/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 1
It was “free”. Sure, it didn’t have an operational engine and had been sitting for a couple of years. And was puke green. Once you figure in a junkyard engine and a bunch of assorted parts you’re pretty close to $500. Of course that was in 1982 dollars.
"Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ" (doge-supreme)
09/21/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 1
My first car was a hand me down base model 1996 Taurus with around 150,000 miles on it, not sure how much it was worth at the time, I got it around 2005 or 6. First car I bought was a 1999 Impreza 2.5RS coupe with around 130,000 miles, Paid $3,500 for it in 2009.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
09/21/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 1
The first car I owned was my 1996 rav4, I think I paid something like $6500 for it.
"and 100 more" (nth256)
09/21/2017 at 17:10, STARS: 1
My first car was $300 from the hospice thrift shop.
The first car I paid for was closer to $9000
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
09/21/2017 at 17:11, STARS: 1
1994 Firebird was $1300, talked down from $1800. Had to sell my dirtbike for it.
"madtube" (madtube)
09/21/2017 at 17:13, STARS: 1
1987 Chevette Sport
$400
Began the now decades long tradition of having a sunroof in every car I have owned. It had a sunroof because it was a “Sport”.
"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
09/21/2017 at 17:15, STARS: 1
My 94 Grand Prix was free because I really needed a car and no one else wanted this unused POS owned by my dying great-aunt.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
09/21/2017 at 17:16, STARS: 2
My ’89 Suburban was a direct hand-me-down from my parents. I loved it so much that my next car (the first one I bought with my own money) was nearly identical, but in better shape. I dropped $3000 on it.
I say “identical”, but that was largely due to the body style and color. In truth, it was an upgrade from R1500 to V2500, which means that I also went from 2WD to 4WD. It had a whole lot less rust, and the barn doors actually worked without a chain holding them shut. It had rear AC, too.
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
09/21/2017 at 17:17, STARS: 1
First car I bought was an 83 Olds Cutlass. I paid $600 for it. The thing was a dog with the 3.8, but I’ve always loved the lines of the G-bodys
"DutchieDC2R" (dutchiedc2r)
09/21/2017 at 17:18, STARS: 1
My NB Miata was 3450,- Euros. I didnt find it all too much back then (were talking roughly 7 years back). Which is funny, because Ive seen the prices drop dramaticaly, only to rise again and I believe they’re worth more than they were when I bought mine.
"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
09/21/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 1
Free 1985 Dodge Aries. Hand me down from my older sister. God if I knew what I know now about cars I would have been hunting for Shelby parts the second I got it.
"Spaceball-Two" (spaceball-two)
09/21/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 1
1984 Ford Ranger. Had no carpet or headliner. It was NAPA autoparts blue. $850
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
09/21/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 1
2002 Cavalier. I didn’t own it though, I just took over the payments midway when the family moved back.
Friggin 400 bucks a month, I returned it and got the G6.
"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
09/21/2017 at 17:24, STARS: 3
For all the hate it gets, the Corolla really isn’t a bad car. My wife had a 2006 (same body style) and traded it in for a 2010 7 years ago. It’s a fine car. They just work with minimal investment.
"fintail" (fintail)
09/21/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 1
The first car I regularly drove was a 66 Galaxie, which my dad bought for $1000 and I was able to use as “my” car a bit of the time. First car I bought was the fintail, for $1600, when I was 18. This was in the mid 90s.
"Pickup_man" (zekeh)
09/21/2017 at 17:57, STARS: 1
1995 Oldsmobile Aurora that my parents bought for $5000, I was a little hard on it and wrecked the transmission in pretty short order (sorry), at which point I started driving dad’s truck. We shared the truck for 4-5 years and eventually he bought a new one and I kept the old one. Still have it and should cross 200k any day now.
"farscythe - makin da cawfee!" (farscythe)
09/21/2017 at 18:00, STARS: 1
my first car was a roughly $200 opel kadett... to date ive not owned a car i paid more than 800 bucks fors
"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
09/21/2017 at 18:01, STARS: 1
Free. BUT
Came with a life sentence of love for the damn thing. I will likely always have it.
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
09/21/2017 at 18:05, STARS: 1
$990 1976 Mustang II in 1985.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
09/21/2017 at 18:08, STARS: 1
I think my Jeep was $1600 (took a bit of work to be reliable so maybe $2000 all said and done)
This cost me $500 (not running)
"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
09/21/2017 at 18:10, STARS: 0
Good golly. That’s a lot of money for a Cavalier. Hahaha.
"Not a Sunburst Miata" (moezsayani)
09/21/2017 at 18:13, STARS: 1
$900. 1992 Civic purchased in 2010. Exhaust leaks everywhere, rattled and groaned when I turned left, and when I turned on the blinkers, the headlights cut out.
Piece of shit car, but I learned so much about fixing my own car.
In 2012 I bought a new Civic SI, sold that last year and got a new 2017 BRZ.
"vicali" (vicali)
09/21/2017 at 18:14, STARS: 0
I had a 91 Fox 2 door under my care for awhile.. It was awesome as a little first car.
"vicali" (vicali)
09/21/2017 at 18:15, STARS: 1
My first car was a Truck; 1986 SR5 Xtracab
$4200 and I had to borrow half of it from my parents, then pay them back.
Would do it again.
"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
09/21/2017 at 18:16, STARS: 0
$1000 for a rusty-but-cool 84 Cutlass Supreme Brougham Sedan with a 305 Chevy motor. TheVancen’s got it now.
"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
09/21/2017 at 18:20, STARS: 1
This E34 525i touring was technically my first car, but the engine blew dramatically on the way home from buying it for $1400.... I sold it for $1100, and used that money to buy this for $1100
I did a lot of work myself on it, but ultimately it was too much of a project, and after it sat for about a year and a half, I reluctantly sold it. 4 years later, I bought it back, and now it’s sitting in a garage, waiting until I can give it the attention it deserves.
"JasonStern911" (JasonStern911)
09/21/2017 at 18:27, STARS: 1
Price shouldn’t be a concern with a first car. Kids are going to do stupid ish, maintenance is likely going to get neglected for money reasons, future oppos are going to hoon, etc. Start with something reliable, then adjust the fun level based on how much you trust the kid.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
09/21/2017 at 18:28, STARS: 0
I loved the long two-door wagon body style. It was perfect for hauling crap (I moved my entire life from VA to TX in it). I think the only saving factor was that I was in a dry climate for all the years I owned it. Back east it probably would have turned into Swiss cheese.
"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
09/21/2017 at 18:41, STARS: 1
1971 Super Beetle in 2001, $5,000. Kept it about a year or so, sold it for $5500.
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
09/21/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 1
I paid $3,200 for my ‘92 Acura Integra sedan in 2003. Great car.
"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
09/21/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 1
That’s why I bought it. I needed a reliable and efficient car that I new could last me through college. To me it’s more fun to drive than the Crown Vic I was driving before I bought it since it’s so much lighter and better handling.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
09/21/2017 at 19:10, STARS: 1
i bought it the summer i got out of school, as a project truck to play with beat on, and get rid of.
i bought it for $400 as is where is, from a guy in town. it had been sitting parked in his yard for as long as i could remember.
v8, granny4 speed, manual brakes, manual steering, disc brakes. longbed stepside.
the engine was a 307 that someone had at some point subbed in. it had a broken bolt in the head, that let the water drain out the bolt hole. it had 3 dead lobes on the camshaft, the carb was junk, and the gas tank in the cab leaked out the gas almost as fast as you could pour it in.
17 years, 5 engines, three exhausts, two transmissions, three clutches, two rear ends, about 2 dozen u joints, 1 brake system rebuild........ and i am getting ready to give it a full rehab on a donor frame.
some things just deserve to live on........
"Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing." (granfury)
09/21/2017 at 19:28, STARS: 1
I dunno - free? Mom bought this 1977 VW Dasher wagon new, and dad drove it for a few years after trading his 1976 Mustang II Mach I in on a used 1980 Vanagon for mom. I got it in 1983 and drove it for a few years before buying a 1983.5 Rabbit GTI. The GTI was fun but totally unreliable, and now I kind of wish I still had that Dasher. And the GTI. I still want another Rabbit GTI...
"barnie" (tlanarch)
09/21/2017 at 20:01, STARS: 0
‘49 Ford PU that I pulled out of a field for free. Never got it running, don’t remember why. Had title/BoS to it though.
1st car I had running was a baby blue ‘56 Chevy 2-door. 337 and 3-on-the-tree. Paid $350 for it from a ‘shiner neighbor in about ‘74 who’d lost his DL forever.
"TrackDayIdiot" (trackdayidiot)
09/21/2017 at 20:27, STARS: 0
First car I actually purchased instead of given, was in 2002/3. A 1996 Impala SS in near mint condition with around 100k on the clock. I paid $6,000 for it. Had it for a about year and sold it for $6,000 after doing nothing but adding a full Flowmaster exhaust. Sold it for the express purpose of getting my attainable dream car at the time, a 99 Trans Am.
"mazda616" (mazda616)
09/21/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 0
1992 Chevrolet Beretta. 2.2 MPFI four-cylinder mated to a 3t40 three-speed automatic. Zero options except for automatic transmission, air conditioning, center console, and AM/FM cassette. No tilt wheel, no cruise, no rear defrost, no power windows/locks. Nada.
Bought in July 2005 with 71,425 miles for $1,250.00. My grandad had the bumpers repainted, the motor tuned up, the headliner and upholstery redone, and the car detailed.
I added Beretta GTU ground effects, tint, a booming stereo (I was 16), a Beretta GT spoiler, and color matched Beretta GTU wheels.
Sold it for $1,400.00 with 84,000 miles in April 2007.
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
09/21/2017 at 21:23, STARS: 1
Well it’s Canadian, and it included one year of additional warranty. This is what happens when you get a lease when you don’t really understand how leasing works...
"vicali" (vicali)
09/21/2017 at 21:48, STARS: 1
I went to a pick-a-part and got the passenger mirror off a wagon for mine. Replaced a few parts like an alternator and rad. It was tiny and very tossable. The speedo was from an auto and read 20% fast so it felt like you were running at an incredible rate of speed..
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
09/22/2017 at 08:45, STARS: 1
Should have been $21k out the door (they’d agreed to it) but I was an idiot and bought the third-party extended warranty (goodby mod money). Dropped it all in one go because payments can go fuck themselves.
^The answer to your question is up there. I ended up going for a ramble...
I’d been looking for about 3 years at cheap (>$6000) trucks. I wanted (and still do, if I’m honest) a gen-1 S10. Could never find the configuration I wanted. So I turned to the ‘99-‘06 Sierra... another truck I’ve always liked. They were largely rust heaps with the wrong engine. Shortly before I bought this I realized a couple things:
- That brand new would cost the same in insurance as 10-15 years old. Ontario is weird.
- Anything in that price range around here either needs or will need rockers and cab corners. $$
- I’ve been looking so long I can actually afford something newer now.
So I started looking at GMT900's... then this thing pops up and OH SHIT I’VE WANTED ONE OF THOSE SINCE THE DAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE A THING aaaaaaand a couple days later I’d signed the papers on it.
It’s coming up 3 years now. It’s full of weird noises because GM interior and small almost forgotten by it’s makers vehicle and had zero effort put in to making thing FIT TOGETHER WITHOUT SQUEAKING and blah blah blah... Sometimes it drives me nuts. Sometimes it’s just meh. But most of the time I love the wheels off it. It has a definite character and it’s awesome.
When I bought it I think I planned to drive it for a couple years and trade up to a new one. I no longer have any intention of doing that. I have no plans whatsoever to get rid of it. This truck is an absolute keeper.
"liveaxle" (liveaxle)
09/22/2017 at 10:30, STARS: 0
$400, 1972 Datsun 620.
My dad purchased a brand new Chevy Colorado less than a month before. The night before my birthday, my mom walks in and tells me “get your tools, because your dad is broken down”.
I reply with “but his truck is brand new”.
My mom: “It’s not his truck, it’s yours”
Turns out, the alternator had failed.