Car shopping...

"Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy" (zipppyart) 01/19/2014 at 15:10 • Filed to: None

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My father and I had a discussion today about an "ideal first car".

He doesn't want me getting an older car, and wants me to get a generic, bland hatchback with an automatic transmission with less than 60,000 KMs on the clock as my first car. (my godfather's 2009 Yaris has around that now).

I want to get something not too fancy, but still fun to drive, this is where a Mazda MX-6 comes in, It keeps the sports car vibe, but it isn't too fancy for today's standards, you can get them cheap nowadays. Total mileage doesn't matter so much to me, as I can get a relatively low mileage second hand Mazda KL engine (particularly a JDM engine) for $500-$1000 in case the current engine scatters its innards everywhere.

After eating out for breakfast this morning, I saw an ad for a 2001 Subaru Impreza with a 2.2, and it had 171,400 KM on the odometer for $1800, and my dad said it's got too many km's racked up. The Jetta TDI we have has a bit over 145,000, and it has no major problems. It's also well-maintained, despite the fact my brother never sends it in for a revision (it probably needs is a new serpentine belt and a new fuel filter) My father keeps saying the TDI is different compared to other cars, and is "bulletproof", and also says it's invulnerable to the "problems other cars have". Don't get me wrong, but the VW PD engines are reliable, however I don't see the "invulnerable" aspect of it, as it had little issues before.

What do you guys think? I want something the inner speed freak in me will love, and still practical for daily life, every time I bring an MX-6 up, he praises it. this time, he says his white '94 handled excellently, despite being a FWD car.

I don't mind fixing the car up myself, as I enjoy doing so, and I'd me more motivated to fix something that I enjoy driving. I don't mind having a 2-door car as well, as there are many entry level cars with 2 doors, and I don't have the need for a four door. I've gutted many GM J-bodies last year at college, and I can see their appeal for tuners, but I don't want a tuner car. I may bolt on a low pressure turbo later, but a stock version produces enough.

dogisbadob > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2014 at 15:19

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Why not a Miata? Sorry, someone has to do it!

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > dogisbadob 01/19/2014 at 15:22

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Shamefully, there aren't many Miatas for sale here, all the ones available are all automatic and are too expensive, There is an NA for $6000 requiring a lot of maintenance, so it's an automatic CP.

f86sabre > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2014 at 15:37

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Easy to drive, cheap to insure, ok on gas, cheap to work on, rear wheel drive, stick or auto as you prefer, enough suspension for jumps and you can hoon off-road. A truck is massively helpful if you go to college and is a great way to score points with the ladies.

erspimp03 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2014 at 15:49

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Mileage doesn't matter a heck of a lot, especially if a car has been well-maintained. 60,000kms is very, very low. If that's your limit, you'll have a really hard time finding anything at a reasonable price.

You're old enough to buy a car. Why not just pay for your own insurance, and let your parents deal with it? Just make it clear to them that the car you buy is very important to you, and it's a decision you want to handle yourself.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > erspimp03 01/19/2014 at 15:55

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I can pay for the insurance once I start working, right now I'm living off of scraps, I don't care much about mileage either. I asked my dad what would he prefer, a badly maintained 60,000 KM car or a well maintained 200,000 car, he just avoided answering the question altogether.

W123love > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2014 at 16:06

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The ideal first car. Bulletproof. Safe. Not fast enough to get in trouble. Insurance is cheap. Amazing car to learn how to work on.

CPT Speedbump > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2014 at 16:19

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"th an automatic transmission " <—- so, why doesn't your dad want you to know how to truly drive a car??? My first car was a classic Beetle (nice photo choice ;) ) and I still have it, have gone through 3 other cars since but still have my Beetle, and still love it :) only now do I have a second car with it that I love just as much.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > CPT Speedbump 01/19/2014 at 16:26

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I'm not sure, that TDI we have is manual, and I cope fine with it, my brother's got his hands on it, so It'll likely be his car later on.

My mother's first car was a classic Beetle as well (in a dark blue), she wouldn't want me to drive one though. She disliked it at first, but it grew on her, she even told me of a story that the head gasket on it blew on a trip to the beach, and it was fixed by a band aid temporarily.

CPT Speedbump > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2014 at 16:30

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Not sure why he'd want you in a auto, manuals are cheaper, and cheaper to work on transmission wise. And its easy to drive, good in snow, and it'll teach working on cars, cus its easy to work on and find parts for. But mine is reliable - If you were to get one, get one without a engine, go to a VW engine shop known for baja/drag racing, have them build a built 1641 cc or bigger ;)

CPT Speedbump > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 01/19/2014 at 16:32

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We probably have like..8 grand or less in mine, and I love it just as much as my 20 k 350 Z, lol, and it gets wayyyy more attention driving around too.. that said, enthusiasts look at it more, and everyone else does cus its a beetle, and also cus I've got 2 10 inch subs in the back, haha