POLL: First Car Edition

"Thunderface" (thunderface) 01/07/2015 at 10:55 • Filed to: first car, poll, cvpi, oppoinions, oppositelock

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I'd like Oppo's opinions on a very important question: what should be my first car? I hope to get a car (or truck) in the not-actually-that-soon future, but I can't decide. If y'all could help me decide, that would be amazing.

Keep in mind that the car is for a teenager in Canada with the city to highway driving ratio is near 50-50.

Please sound off in the comments with your reasoning, and feel free to add a write-in candidate.

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Louros > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 10:57

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Mid-2000s Corolla or Civic

Coty > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 10:57

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Beetle.

Thunderface > Louros 01/07/2015 at 10:57

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lol nah

2 jap 4 me

Thunderface > Coty 01/07/2015 at 10:59

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Um I'll think about it

Louros > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:00

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Civics are made in Canada

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Louros 01/07/2015 at 11:01

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Technically, Hondas are more made in America than most "domestics."

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:02

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AW11 or Fiero.

Thunderface > Louros 01/07/2015 at 11:02

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I really don't want to get into an argument right now

MIATAAAA > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:02

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Thunderface > MIATAAAA 01/07/2015 at 11:03

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Took longer than I thought...

Coty > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:03

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I can give you a damn good explanation as to why, haha.

Thunderface > Coty 01/07/2015 at 11:04

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It would take a lot of convincing

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Louros 01/07/2015 at 11:04

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Original planning and design is still a thing, you know. I've found that Japanese ergonomics are still very hit-and-miss for a burly westerner, regardless of manufacturing locale. Some are excellent (Honda Element), others not so much.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:07

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E36

Wacko > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:12

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ah a Ford fanboi

for a canadian teen's first car, with the choices you offer I would say the Fusion

For canadian winters the FWD would be better for a teen than all the RWD you posted.

Less chances for you to get in trouble, and it will be the cheapest to run(gas wise). And it is the safest (crash test wise)

I think It's the dad in me talking.

Forget the F150 for 50-50 highway use, sure gas is cheap now, but i'm sure it wont always be.

Thunderface > Wacko 01/07/2015 at 11:13

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I'll have you know that I like all cars

I just like fords the best :)

Ian Farnsworth > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:17

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My first car was a W220 S500 that I bought for $7K back when I was still living in the US.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:19

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Another of these?

Ex-fuzz Crown Vic. Dirt cheap and better components. Plus, if you get one in that dark grey/black colour you'll have a hard time attracting attention from the 5-0.

I mean that last part 100%—a certain ticket-prone aquaintance got one, no tickets 'til he blew up the motor and scrapped it.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > Louros 01/07/2015 at 11:20

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My first car was a 2000 Corolla. Great first car. I beat on it like crazy, and it never had any issues (except the time I waited too long to change the oil and spun a rod bearing. Oops!), and it got pretty good gas mileage.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Louros 01/07/2015 at 11:21

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So are corrollas. Doesn't make them any less awful.

Coty > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:22

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Okay let me try:

1. The early models ('67, earlier) are really quite handsome girlfriend's car presented as evidence:

2. There's a lot of different things you can do with them, you can make a baja , or you can slam it on it's nuts .

3. Easiest things ever to work on. They're like a farm tractor. Wanna drop the engine? Better block out a half hour on Saturday afternoon.

4. I dunno if you're into girls but almost all girls think these are soooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute.

5. Parts are cheap. I use https://www.bugeyed.net/ because they're the cheapest and the best.

6.

7. I'm in a worldwide club of 6000 people who would gnaw their own arm off for a chance to help a fellow VW owner.

8. They're not super fast, but can be made to be if you wanna go that route.

9. Pull change out of your pocket once a month and have enough for insurance.

10. You don't even have to get a Beetle. Get a Squareback , Fastback , you might even be able to find a bay window bus in your price range.

11. You can get pretty good gas mileage if you want, depending on your carb setup and stuff like that.

12. If you do wanna change the rideheight up or down, you only have to worry about the front, the rear is adjustable pretty much as high/ low as you'd ever want to go.

13. Can hold a fair amount , more with a luggage rack:

14.

15: Once you buy one, you'll buy more , and that means you'll always have spare parts.

Have any questions about ACVWs at all?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Wacko 01/07/2015 at 11:23

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I found that the cost of gas is more than offset by the cheaper insurance on a pickup. Especially around first-vehicle age.

BeaterGT > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:23

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Oof, Fords. I'd suggest something cheap and gas-friendly if you're going to be doing a lot of driving. Sure gas may be cheap now but you're a teenager and probably not making the big bucks. I like Saturns for this although there isn't much room for hooning but you're probably going to be driving your friends around anyway. Also being your first car there's a higher probability you'll crash it or at least bang it up a little. Best of luck!

Wacko > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:24

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funny how all the cars you posted are from the 90(not the fusion)

dude you need to like watch a Saved by the bell marathon to get your 90's fix

Thunderface > Coty 01/07/2015 at 11:24

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Good job. These are now officially on my radar

Coty > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:24

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BONUS:

They actually look better without nice paint.

Louros > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 01/07/2015 at 11:24

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Thing is, they aren't awful

Coty > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:25

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Holy shit I didn't think it would work.

If you need help with anything let me know. I traded a running and driving '68 Chrysler with a 383 for an in-op '61 Beetle.

Rock Bottom > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:27

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91 to 94 Jeep XJ or walk. Simple as a hammer, cheaper than dirt, reliable (none of that CAN BUS electrical shit from the later ones), can safely run over curbs and parking blocks, can carry all your junk to college with ease, looks great in flat tan. And it looks WAY better than the softer, more mommy-friendly later XJs.

Thunderface > Wacko 01/07/2015 at 11:28

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ALL THE FRESH PRINCES

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Louros 01/07/2015 at 11:29

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Never driven a Civic, only going by the people who buy them, same kind as buy corollas, and they are awful. I have driven oe of those, and you can't un-talk me.

QuickCharisma > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:36

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Here's mine. My first car. Only 113,300 miles on it. Gas sucks on these though. But parts are dirt cheap.

SantaRita > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:41

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I'm going o go with the fusion but i voted for ex cop- crown vic.

what will matter to you most is reliability , passenger space, a good radio and decent on gas. at least that's what mattered to me the most in retrospect.

your parents will like that the fusion is more modern/safer and likely as for you it'll likely be as fun as any of the rest.

My first car was a Volvo 240 with tan velour seats.

472CID > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:47

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If you've gotta have a Ford and you're worried abooot traction perhaps you should consider a SHO Taurus, SVT Contour, or some sporty Focus.

Thunderface > 472CID 01/07/2015 at 11:49

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I Have considered SVT and SHO cars, but they aren't all that reliable

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 11:55

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Go Panther, you wont regret it.

RockRam > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 13:27

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What variables or constraints are at play here? Price limit, what you'll be using it for, how long you hope to have it, cost to maintain limits, etc...

Thunderface > RockRam 01/07/2015 at 13:48

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Price limit will likely be around $7k, probably keep for a while or turn it into a winter beater, relatively easy and cheap to maintain, and at least a bit jalop too

RockRam > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 13:56

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From your list, I'd go with the f-150 then. Hopefully 4x4 and can be had for sub $5K with the other $2k left for any work on transmission and engine since mid 90's is crazy for those.

Since I see you do like your panthers, second choice would be either crown vics. Just make sure you budget in price for snow tires.

Thunderface > RockRam 01/07/2015 at 14:07

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Okay, thanks!

ranwhenparked > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 16:11

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A Panther is a great choice for a versatile, cheap, durable car, but I really have to swing toward the civilian models. They're not as "sexy" as a Police Interceptor, for whatever reason, but have most of the same benefits and are less likely to have been severely abused. You really should include the Mercury Grand Marquis in the list for that reason, opens up the options quite a bit, since far more of them were sold to civilian customers than the Fords.

TDogg > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 18:45

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Why not a Subie? Outback/Legacy or the like?

MM54 > Thunderface 01/07/2015 at 22:54

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I've been daily driving my current decommissioned CVPI for over a year now, if you have any questions let me know. I'll give a bit of an overview below.

Being in Canada I figure you have a lot of snow, which shouldn't be a problem. With a good set of snow tires I've been able to casually drive through snow which I was plowing with the bumper. Also ice is okay. For winter time I add a little weight to the trunk and the weight distribution is close enough.

In terms of reliability, keep in mind that the police run them hard, and beat the crap out of them. Some (e.g. ones not used as patrol cars) are much better than others. Take a very close look before you buy - behind the rocker trim likes to rust out (I have no rockers behind my trim!) and the top of the front fender arch in pre-05 has a bad pinch weld that loves to rust out from the inside. Most parts are very easy to replace, and when compared with a lot of other cars, they're dirt cheap. I bought a fender today for $30 since my spring my rust hole will be hand-sized. Headlight assemblies are about $30 each.

Keep up on maintenance and you'll have no problem keeping it going until you get bored, or wreck it. It's a weird combination of SAE and Metric bolts, so prepare to be baffled.

Oh and if you leave the spotlight on, and your car is white (or probably black, but my two have been white), you can park just about anywhere, and are just about invisible to cops with speed guns.

Like I said, if you have any questions about the crown vic (police or civilian) let me know, I've gotten pretty familiar with them in the almost two years I've driven them.

Thunderface > TDogg 01/08/2015 at 08:37

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They're good cars, so I've heard