New cars versus older cars - A rant for a first vehicle

"Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy" (zipppyart) 04/10/2014 at 18:37 • Filed to: None

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Last week, my father and I went on a walk around the block, and the subject of cars came up, after he spotted a new Dodge Charger SRT-8 roaring by us, after explaining what SRT meant and whatnot, he brought up the subject of what my first car should be.

He kept telling me that a new car is better than an older car in all aspects, and tells me to get a newer car other than an 18 year old coupe, and not even a 9 year old Volkswagen in perfect working condition. No, he wants me to get something, such as a 4 year old Yaris as my first car. First off, I repeatedly told him that I cannot afford a newer car, and is always concerned that I cannot pay for the insurance on any car. He complains I use his car, yet doesn't help me find a project, or a daily. This is from somebody who used to repair his daily drivers on a monthly, or bi-annual basis, and left a perfectly fine daily driver to rust in his back yard.

My current car for this week, the Jetta TDI I posted about earlier, he's not willing to give it up to me, partially due to the fact that it is in the hands of my older brother for most of the year, and he's classing it as a "project car" now, as he believes there are too many problems with it, just because it's nearing the 160K KM (100K mile) mark, (it's currently at 150K KM), and it recently had an alternator pulley replaced. He's refusing to help me get a cheap vehicle that I am able to fix, specifically an older one, even an old BMW, or Volvo. I have the money for a cheap car, and my parents are not willing to assist me in any way, and always fear a "lemon".

I don't care if my first car is an old car with high miles, If I can make it look nice, and make it a reliable daily, why not? I don't care if it is a European, Japanese, or a domestic vehicle, if it gets from the point A to point B, that's great, and if it's fun, even better.

For reading this rant, I'll post this Camaro I spotted on my street on that walk. House number and licence plates blanked for anonymity.

desertdog5051 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 18:49

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Ask what he started out in. Older cars are a great learning tool into the function of systems and their repair.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 18:52

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I'm of the opinion you should always have one relatively new, under warranty, reliable car. If your only method of transportation is constantly in a state of being worked on, tinkered with, or in the process of needing work then you'll find yourself missing work/school, bumming rides, etc much more than you want to. There's a piece of mind that comes with having a car you don't have to say a prayer for before starting or having to rush Sunday night to put it back together so you have transportation Monday morning. Having your side car being your older "project"/"maintenance" car is nice because sometimes you don't have the time or right part to finish and you can just leave it where it is. Plus you're still WAY young. I didn't find time to start working on my own cars until my late 20s thanks to school and work. If I were in your position and age, I'd push for a Fiesta ST.

DatASSun > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 18:54

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Hey man I got my 280z 1976 for 2600 bucks .. Sure it had the shocks blown and the springs were shit, but you can replace those things for cheap! Now I'm putting a 5.3 liter V8 in it with a T56 so it will have a moderen drivetrain a old look and still have IRS in the rear like a corvette. There are PLENTY OF CHEAP SPORTS CARS! You just have to do the research to know whats a good deal and what isn't. On top of knowing what will be easy and cheap to fix .

Oh and I drove the car for a year with the stock 6 cylinder motor every single day rain sleet snow or shine. I also Rally crossed the car and won my first even . Don't mind your pops and get something that will put a smile on your face everyday .

.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > desertdog5051 04/10/2014 at 18:57

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I believe he started out in a Fiat 147. He told me it was on the verge of being annoying to maintain it every few months. I'm willing to do repairs on whatever car I can get my hands on.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/10/2014 at 19:05

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I agree with your point entirely, but the issue I have is that I cannot afford a newer vehicle, and I am at the ripe age of 21, and I have two middle aged adults "puppeting" me, holding my hands to do everything. I haven't had my own time to do what I feel is best for me unfortunately. If I bring up an ST for instance, they'll call it a hooligan car, and treat me like a careless youngster.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 19:10

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Gotcha. So we need something most people wouldn't consider a hooligan car but can be fun and cheap to procure/maintain. A cheap sleeper.

B_dol > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 19:31

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I had a similar argument with my parents. I won out because at the end of the day it was my money (and my money alone). However, I did buy something with a warranty that would be reliable on a daily basis.

If you can't purchase something that suits both the reliability and "cool" factor needs right now, keep saving. Bum rides, work an extra job. No shame in waiting

midengineer > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 19:31

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What is this mythical 9 year old Volkwagen in perfect working condition you speak of?

awe46m3zcp > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 19:36

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What's your budget if you don't mind me asking? My first car was 12 yrs old, had 100k miles, and was $2500. I drove the crap out of it. Yeah it broke a couple times, but thats really what got me into cars. I couldn't afford a $1000 for new cv axles. So I went to autozone, bought them for $300, and replaced them myself on a Saturday. Having that car made me really appreciate my next car which was significantly better (still used). I've never had a brand new car, but I've hardly ever been stranded on the side of the road either. Maybe twice in 18 years. Older cars don't necessarily mean junk. They might require more maintenance, but its a lot cheaper than a car payment.

Bandit > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/10/2014 at 19:37

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I'm feeling a fast saab to solve this problem

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > midengineer 04/10/2014 at 19:47

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This one.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the-biggest-th…

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > awe46m3zcp 04/10/2014 at 19:50

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I'm looking for something within the $1000-5000 budget. I found the perfect car this past fall, needed a fix here and there, and it was dismissed as a "lemon" by my parents.

godblessE39 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 19:51

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I'm kind of joining this convo late, so how much money are we talking about? Enough to even bother with? If not, don't bring up you and your money buying a car. If they get tired of you not having your own ride, it might force their hand by helping you out in some way.

Nice Gen 2. My dad had a '70 SS/RS for awhile.

Edit: $1000-$5000. Are you in school?

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Bandit 04/10/2014 at 19:57

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It solves the mechanical since it's usually a GM engine they put in EVERYTHING so parts and knowledge is cheap.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > godblessE39 04/10/2014 at 20:02

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I am in school at the moment, and I wouldn't mind picking up a cheap fixer-upper, as I am willing to get my hands on.

desertdog5051 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 21:12

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Well, a Fiat can do that to you. But the learning curve is what makes you. Good luck.

revrseat70 > Bandit 04/10/2014 at 21:15

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A Saabaru is kinda the answer here until you read they don't like a 9 year old car in great condition. My other go to answer in this situation is a IS300. But that's a ten year old car now too... In the triangle of used cars, you're kinda asking the impossible though. (new - affordable - fun , pick two)

revrseat70 > DatASSun 04/10/2014 at 21:17

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This is your Z! Awesome! I saw this thing a while back.. for sale I think. And had a great chuckle about those seats. Pretty great

revrseat70 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 21:20

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So they define lemon as any mechanical device that needs maintenance? Have they ever considered a Volt? I'd say you'd probably love my miata but I'm selling for more than that. For 5 though, how new do they think you can get?!?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > revrseat70 04/10/2014 at 21:36

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I would love your Miata, although, my mother even suggested blindly, "Why not an MX-5 instead of an MX-6?" Without even knowing what a MX-5 Miata was. She thinks, higher number = superior + faster

A Volt has its fair share of problems, although I know someone with one who enjoys theirs.

awe46m3zcp > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/10/2014 at 21:48

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This is the point in your life where you stand up and say "I appreciate your feedback, but its my money". Unless they are paying for it you get what YOU want.

DatASSun > revrseat70 04/10/2014 at 22:24

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Thanks man. Best of luck with your first car.

bob and john > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/14/2014 at 17:59

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reading the reply and ur comments to them, what i'm going to suggest might sound harsh, but so be it.

buy whatever you want and can afford. if ur parents bitch you out because of it, tell them to bugger off. if they put any money towards the car, they have no say in it what so freaking EVER. and ur 21, so they cant pull the BS of "your underage"

as far as car go, try looking for a saab. the early 2000's models can be had for dirt cheap, and those motors (if taken care of) were brutaly reliable.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > bob and john 04/14/2014 at 18:53

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I've been trying to do just that, and my age is irrelevant to them, everything I put to justify myself gets countered with a response among the lines of "you'll die in a car crash", or "you're too young, and not ready".

I've been considering a fairly significant range of cars, including Saab. I've seen a few early 00's around in various conditions, one is tuned, and was the cleanest.

bob and john > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 04/14/2014 at 19:03

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ur reading that wrong. buy the car. don't even tell them, just say ur going out with friend or something and come back with the car. if they bitch, you simply tell him: look, I bought something I want, something I like and something I can afford. u didn't put any money to it, so shut up. (yes, I do mean say that) mom and dad aren't going to be happy. but they need to realize they cant control you 100% anymore, whether they like it or not

fun story: in 2011, when I was buying my SV650, my budget was about 3600. this was JUST enough to get my a early second gen (~2004 model year) bike. mom and dad wanted me to get a ninja 250 or something with abs. after weeks pestering me with ABS this and ABS that I told them: look, i'm getting the bike I want. I want something faster then a 250 (I was coming off a 500cc buell blast) with MY budget, I cant afford anything I want with ABS. so unless you give me the other half of the money for an ABS version (there was one at the local dealer for 7.2k out the door), please buzz off and leave me to my search.

when I came back from work the next day, a black 2009 SV650S ABS was sitting in my driveway. it was double my budget, but my dad paid it and just took w/e I had in my budget for the bike (-100$ for fuel for tht weekend)