best beginner car? aaaaand go

"MonkeePuzzle" (monkeypuzzle) 05/12/2014 at 22:27 • Filed to: None

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87

I wish I'd had something half this nice when I was a P-plater (provisional license). Show me either A: what you drove just after getting your license, or B: you're ideal beginner car. Something without insane power but that could teach great skill or still be fun.

Brian Silvestro > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:29

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Or Miata. Not a lot of power, but RWD and manual for people to learn car control and when the car will come out from behind them.

MonkeePuzzle > Brian Silvestro 05/12/2014 at 22:30

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wonder what the insurance difference between a little RWD car and an old civic is

Brian Silvestro > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:31

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I wonder if they factor that in. (they must, those evil bastards)

Burrito de EJ25 > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:31

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A lot.

OPPOsaurus WRX > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:32

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Mine was 95 explorer. It taught me that sun's can't turn into a parking lot at 45 mph. Fold down back seats for the gf.. off roading. Basically it kept me safe while I was dumb 16

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:32

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Well what I'm gonna get is this juke, so i'll put that down as driving right after licence

MonkeePuzzle > Brian Silvestro 05/12/2014 at 22:33

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they gotta, surely after a bajillion years in the business even by accident they would have seen a correlation between RWD toys and the amount of claims submitted

Brian Silvestro > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:33

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Yep. Even us talking about it will soon be factored in.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:35

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Mazda MX-6.

Sporty, sleek, and less than 200 HP, FWD, handles like a dream. Extremely reliable with 1st gen models.

D > Brian Silvestro 05/12/2014 at 22:35

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200 hp is indeed not a lot of power, but for a new driver that is waaaay too much. Not to mention that new drivers ought not to have new cars at all...

mr_gofast > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:36

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heres my learner car - all 2 transmissions in under 100k 1997 honda accord beauty

hell even matches with my baller hubcaps

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:36

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Some sort of early 2000s American sedan

Cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, cheap to insure. All are pretty bulletproof reliability wise. Enough power to never feel bogged down, but not enough to get in trouble. They hold just enough people. And I'm pretty sure all three offered a bench seat.

Squid > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:36

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I had a beater 91 corolla with blown struts so essentially the body was uncontrolled. . . It taught me the virtues of weight transfer in a not so elegant manner. . .

Get a beater, beat the hell out of it and learn the basics of car control before you get something with any modicum of performance. That's my opinion. Driving a clapped out beater and trying to figure out how to drive it fast(that is a relative term) and smoothly will do more for you when you actually get your hands on something that actually performs.

You might want to wait to get a miata, as you need to drive extremely defensively because people are too dumb to look for the tiny car.

Brian Silvestro > D 05/12/2014 at 22:36

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Miata is again, always the answer!

MonkeePuzzle > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/12/2014 at 22:36

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my neighbor had two of those red ones, but only one set of license plates. I lusted after it as a youngling. I later found out from my parents that he was arrested in a raid late at night, I suspect switching license plates was not his only shady dealing :P

D > Brian Silvestro 05/12/2014 at 22:37

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honestly I was thinking something like 120 hp

edit: are you meaning NA?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:37

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My father had one of those in white, loved every minute in it, it had the V6, and it made an amazing grunt.

MonkeePuzzle > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/12/2014 at 22:38

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bench seats ;) high schoolers ideal, every parents nightmare

Brian Silvestro > D 05/12/2014 at 22:38

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Yes. Yes I am.

MonkeePuzzle > mr_gofast 05/12/2014 at 22:38

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I like yur boots :D

D > Brian Silvestro 05/12/2014 at 22:40

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Ah

Yes the NA does make quite a good first car. There are some safety issues but that's about it.

Sn210 > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:40

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4.0 Jeep Wrangler! I learned how to drive stick and how to change my own oil on it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:40

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Obvious answer is obvious. Power wheels.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:41

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My kids will be getting an Accord coupe. Enough power to be a bit fun, decent gas mileage, and a good transmission to learn manual on. Oh, and wildly safe for when they wreck.

mr_gofast > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:41

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that car redlined at 195, i blew one tranny learning about brake torquing and FWD skids (controlled) she was a damn resiliant car for what i did to it. finally got 1k for it on trade in when i bought my first new car.

Brian Silvestro > D 05/12/2014 at 22:41

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Yeah, you're right about that. However, it's probably the closest it's ever going to get to perfect.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:42

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Girlfriend's Taurus has a bench.

MonkeePuzzle > Sn210 05/12/2014 at 22:42

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the parents had a 4.0HO Cherokee when I got my licence, I got rear ended in it twice, was unstoppable in the snow. Was FAR from delicate on gas, but it was CHEAP! ~90c/gallon :D

Noah S > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:42

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Bought it a week before my 16th birthday and still enjoying it 2 years later. It's always the answer.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Brian Silvestro 05/12/2014 at 22:43

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when I got my wrx they registered it as a sedan. When it was corrected to be a hatch, they considered it a wagon and it reduced my insurance

MonkeePuzzle > Noah S 05/12/2014 at 22:43

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yowza! bet it stands out in a high school parking lot, well perhaps not ALL lots. I went to a stupid fancy high school for one year, would be hard to stand out there

Brian Silvestro > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/12/2014 at 22:44

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*raises eyebrow*

Now that's interesting.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:44

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E36

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:45

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Started here, but six months later moved here:

GTI was a great first car, unfortunately mine was just a bit of a lemon (can you call a 6 year old car a lemon?). Just couldn't keep it out of the shop in the 6 months I had it. Great for learning to drive stick on, though, great for throwing my drums in, decent on gas (had the VR6, so not great on gas), and it taught me a lot about understeer.

But alas, I did really well with the Mustang. 260 HP isn't a lot, but it's a lot more than most 16/17 year olds get burdened with the responsibility of. I see no benefit of tooting my own 17 year old horn other than to say that I was probably in the minority of kids that age who properly handled owning a relatively powerful, RWD car. I did my fair share of stupid shit in it, but I always took a shitload of precautions when I did, and had a healthy fear and respect for what it could do to me if I was a dipshit. Mostly, though, I had a healthy dose of fear/respect of my father. But he's also the person who taught me at a young age that hooning was a great pastime and how to do it properly.

I'd do it all over again, and I wouldn't hesitate to give my son the same chance in the future, but that decision will be made upon my judgment of his character and how well I think he could handle it; it's not something that most kids can handle, but I like to think that I'll raise a kid who, can handle it, much the same as I was raised.

Sn210 > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:45

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yeah gas is what got me to give it up too... Ok maybe not the best idea for a first car, but definitely fun!

OPPOsaurus WRX > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/12/2014 at 22:45

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Hell no to the intrepid. Is a plastic Burke. My explorer crushed 1 of those. Lucky it was parked so I didn't hurt any one. I was sober, just dumb 16 y/o

Noah S > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:45

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:D Mostly old luxury cars and bro trucks/jeeps at my school. Good for a first car though cause not too much power, manual, only two seats, and incredibly fun to drive

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/12/2014 at 22:46

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Man, I dig the shit out of that first-gen!

MonkeePuzzle > Noah S 05/12/2014 at 22:46

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and in my experience, girls dig "girls cars", and the guys that drive them

OPPOsaurus WRX > Brian Silvestro 05/12/2014 at 22:47

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yea I don't know how they figured that one out. It's the same power and everything just a hatch insted of a trunk

Joe_Limon > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:48

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my first car :)

Brian Silvestro > OPPOsaurus WRX 05/12/2014 at 22:49

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I guess for them, practical=safer. Which works in our favor!

Stephen Krogmeier > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:56

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No pics but I still own the car I learned on. Still drive it everyday. 2006 Milan in a sleep-inducing gold. 160 HP (when new) mated to a 5 speed. That things been through everything since 2007. Other than a thermostat going out, I'm pretty sure every mechanical issue I've had with it was caused by user error. Its fun to drive. In a slow-car fast sort of way. Its not BRZ or FRS fun but it does handle well for what it is.

Bonhomme7h > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:57

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My first car: 1998 Hyunday Accent Power Nothing. Fortunately, no pictures have survived. Tough car I must admit, terrible in every other way.

What I didn't thought of:

Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too) > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 22:58

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This was my first car (bought 6 months after getting my license):

Not fast, but go-kart handling and 7500rpm redline - it was a lot fun (maybe even too much, my overconfidence in its abilities - and mine - contributed to its early demise). Unfortunately it wasn't too reliable, but it taught me some valuable lessons in car ownership.

Spoon II > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:04

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I drove a 4wd Corolla wagon. 89 hp I believe, but don't let that fool you. It could go anywhere and fit many things for shenanigans. Awesome first car.

Pockets > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:10

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I don't have any pictures to hand but my first car was identical to this and it was great - lots of power for a first car (105bhp), but nothing crazy, comfy interior, lots of space compared to a '90s Fiesta and good handling.
I miss it :(

yamahog > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/12/2014 at 23:17

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I jokingly told the bf that his Miata would count as double points, but he doesn't even let anyone eat in his cars so apparently that's out of the question. He looked at me like I'd just asked to set the Mustang on fire :[

TL;DR: The real reason I drive a Cherokee.

Your boy, BJR > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:24

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Muh first- only had it 2 months before I sold it (drank like an irish sailor, the truck, that is)

The car I had the rest of junior year.

What I should have had.

mazdaspeed2 > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:24

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My first car was a Mazdaspeed Protege, and I would do it all over again if I could.

miniscus > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:43

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The few girls I've had in it seem to enjoy it.

midengineer > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:44

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After I got my learners permit I proceeded to walk home in the snow. About a month later I got my '91 MR2 turbo and it has served me well for the last 4 years. The early ones have a bit of a reputation for lift-off oversteer but the general rule of refrain from stupid actions will keep you on the road.

sony1492 > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:48

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But I cant drive it yet.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MonkeePuzzle 05/12/2014 at 23:58

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Late 80's early 90's manual Hatchback. simple, fun, cheap, useful, awesome, lots of aftermarket support.

feather-throttle-not-hair > MonkeePuzzle 05/13/2014 at 00:21

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Ideal beginners car: 240d, 4-speed manual. It's a tank, and like all first cars will teach its owner all about the limits of traction. At nice safe speeds. Bonus! You just got your license! Everything feels fast, even this!

CPT Speedbump > MonkeePuzzle 05/13/2014 at 05:23

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I drove 2 different cars really, when I got my permit I already had my Beetle (slow, fun, teaching about how to work on a car and drive a manual ) and I still have it. Then when I got my license, do to the Beetle not being done with its restoration, I got a 97' Explorer Sport. Fairly quick, great handling for a SUV, fun to drive, awful on gas and not at all reliable (known for transmission issues) eventual traded it for Chevy Cruze, which has now been traded for my 350Z

MonkeePuzzle > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/13/2014 at 09:10

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also... these kinda look amazing with a light lowering and different colour matched wheels. like amazing amazing

MonkeePuzzle > sony1492 05/13/2014 at 09:11

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wow, car before license, very cool

MonkeePuzzle > midengineer 05/13/2014 at 09:11

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refrain from stupid actions, I don't think as a teen I knew how to refrain from things

MonkeePuzzle > Pockets 05/13/2014 at 09:12

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I miss my first car too, well actually I miss all the cars that have come and gone, even the crappy underpowered ones

MonkeePuzzle > Spoon II 05/13/2014 at 09:13

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I had a friend with one of these, and it was surprisingly capable off road. Clearance was really the only issue, but with some careful planning he got up things some more reckless jeep drivers failed to

MonkeePuzzle > Bonhomme7h 05/13/2014 at 09:14

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I've had a few of that gen subaru, I'd certainly be willing to throw my kids in one

MonkeePuzzle > Stephen Krogmeier 05/13/2014 at 09:15

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I had no idea those were available as a manual, not too shabby

sony1492 > MonkeePuzzle 05/13/2014 at 09:57

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My first car I had for a month was a

1990 loyale,I ran it into a tree on purpose.its electricals were shit and mice had lived in it for 2years.

Second is the mustang that died the same day that I got it.

MonkeePuzzle > sony1492 05/13/2014 at 09:59

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my first car was a 1988 GL-10, basically a fancy Loyale :D a Loyale with cheese if I mayB WAHAHAHAAAAHHA

SantaRita > MonkeePuzzle 05/13/2014 at 10:11

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This, It's what i had. A safe and perfect car for just about anything road trip related, fairly economical to feed, insure and maintain. Fun, but not dangerously fun. Classy classic.

MonkeePuzzle > SantaRita 05/13/2014 at 10:14

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it is a very pleasing colour. My parents had similar vintage volvo wagons, one yellow and one oragne with red patches, the blue would have made a significant difference in my opinion of the parents cars

SantaRita > MonkeePuzzle 05/13/2014 at 10:46

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You can all go home (or to school/mall job). A sturdy Volvo will vanquish all young drivers needs and parent's concerns while providing the honest experience of exciting RWD motoring. While fun to drive, a volvo is not so much fun you end up as a highway treehouse, but dangerous enough for it's copious and comfortable uninterrupted rear seating.

thebigbossyboss > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/14/2014 at 07:40

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Tried to buy one a few years ago. Not cheap anymore. Cars in the $2-4K range were beat to hell.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > thebigbossyboss 05/14/2014 at 07:47

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I'm seeing some good examples for the 2nd gen pretty cheap, for less than 4k. I saw a 1st gen that needed some work a few weeks ago, and it seemed like a good project.

thebigbossyboss > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/14/2014 at 07:49

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Really? Interesting. Maybe I should sell the Cavalier and upgrade.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > thebigbossyboss 05/14/2014 at 08:01

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Depends on what you want, The 4 cyl is more common, but those are usually mated with an auto.

thebigbossyboss > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 05/14/2014 at 08:17

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When I was looking before, I knew I had to have a manual. That and the 2-4K price range was my two requirements hence how I ended with the Cavalier.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > thebigbossyboss 05/14/2014 at 10:49

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I found a manual 626 in Smiths falls, which is basically the same car, but with 2 more doors. http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/…

You can also get a Ford Probe, which is the exact same.

PardonMyFlemish16 > MonkeePuzzle 05/15/2014 at 10:14

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Older stickshift Corolla. Like, late 90s, early to mid 00s. Teaches you the skills and makes you learn to appreciate things that are better, while not being full on awful.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > MonkeePuzzle 05/17/2014 at 19:10

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I have this:

But no license yet.

Nintondo-San > MonkeePuzzle 05/18/2014 at 17:07

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I'm 17 and pay $60 bucks/mo for my '95 Miata. All of my friends pay at least double that.

blairl > MonkeePuzzle 05/24/2014 at 19:21

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Mk4 Golf 2.0 manual. Slow enough you won't get into trouble, yet fast enough to get you to class on time. Nice to drive, surprisingly good stereo, infinite VAG partsbin upgrades available for little money. I still drive my first car— a 2005 mk4 Golf 2.0.

Here's mine outside my dorm in 2011

The mk4 Golf will fit an air mattress comfortably with the seats folded down. Camping in the white mountains in august revealed the mk4 is better insulated than a tent. Drunk me somehow got a girl to keep me warm that evening. Drunk me pictured below:

The mk4 is a fun to hoon as well. Worn-out stock suspension with 130k makes for dramatic pictures. It will lift-off oversteer if driven correctly. Pictured: hoonage

RMudkips > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/24/2014 at 22:34

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Actually considering this as first car, along with sticking with a '99 Odyssey or 240.

feather-throttle-not-hair > RMudkips 05/24/2014 at 23:06

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Do iiiiiittt. Odyssey is probably pretty good too and obviously more practical, but if you're a jalop and you love cars, you owe it to yourself to make your first car memorable/cool/rare.

Remember: it's only your first time once.

RMudkips > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/24/2014 at 23:21

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The Ody would be the first car I'd drive alone in most likely (when I get my license). In terms of actual purchasing the W123 series, the 240, and NA Miata are high choices, especially after finishing school.

feather-throttle-not-hair > RMudkips 05/24/2014 at 23:23

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well, to be fair, i think you can start counting at "first purchased car."

The first car i drove alone was an 85 camry (this was like 2000ish) But the first car i bought and took actual ownership of was an 88 celica all-trac.

Definitely count the celica as my first car.

RMudkips > feather-throttle-not-hair 05/24/2014 at 23:29

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Celica all-trac? Sounds interesting. Early performanc AWD sounds fun.

feather-throttle-not-hair > RMudkips 05/25/2014 at 03:09

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It was pretty cool if I do say so myself. It was almost identical looking to any old celica from the eighties, in fact mine didn't even have any badges. However it did have an extra 60-80 hp more than fwd models, bringing the total up to 190 hp courtesy of a turbocharger.

Living in Seattle, awd helped, though not always enough to keep me out of the ditch. It had a straight up 50-50 torque split, a rarity these days, in the dry it would mostly understeer, but it gave perfect "no countersteer four wheel drift" in the snow.

I don't think more than a couple thousand fourth generation alltracs were sold in the states, as they really only built them to satisfy rallying regulations.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > MonkeePuzzle 05/26/2014 at 14:35

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My First Car:

Best Beginner Car IMO(And my second car, but not in this color):

bob and john > MonkeePuzzle 05/26/2014 at 14:55

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i want to say a early 200s (but not 2000) volvo s40.

its got a turbo. its got a decent 5 speed auto in it. FWD. swedish. Can have the CRAP hooned out of it.

decent on fuel, doesnt need prem (we didnt run it on prem anyways) and kept on trucking

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > MonkeePuzzle 05/28/2014 at 09:04

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Yeee 323 ci

This one in the pic isn't mine actually, but it us very similar same rims, colour and interior colour.

And yes, I am grateful. But I am still on my learners permit, I don't own it yet, but it is the first car I've ever driven.