Why You Don't Get A Sports Car As Your First Car

"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform) 06/07/2015 at 19:38 • Filed to: first car

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Us being rampant gearheads, we want something that’s fast as our first car. Hell, I was looking at Audi TTs, Toyota MR2s, Honda S2000s, and basically a bunch of cars like that. I even found a nice Volvo S60R at a decent price. However, despite my desire to own a car with street cred, I wound up with a hand-me-down 2004 Honda Accord. Now that I look back on it, I’m quite glad I didn’t get any of the cars I wanted.

In the same way you don’t hand a brand-new pilot the keys to a jet plane, you typically don’t let a first-time driver behind the wheel of something beyond their skill level. The pilot trains in a Cessna, and the new motorists trains in something cheap like a Toyota or Hyundai. It is crucial to choose the right car for a new motorist.

Among many others, there are four large factors that need to be considered when looking for your first car. These are:

Cost

Insurance

Practicality

Reliability

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Cost: This is a given, of course. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a car that will be damaged. Yes, as a new driver, you will damage your car in some way. As new drivers, you are not as skilled as seasoned motorists, so you will have a few booboos here and there as you’re learning. Have I dome damage to my car? Absolutely. The question you have to ask yourself now is: would you rather damage a $2,500 car or a $25,000 car?

Insurance: This can not be stressed enough. Insurance, especially with new drivers, can be a huge deal. Whatever car you choose, you have to know what the insurance companies see in it. This goes without saying, but don’t pull a Tavarish and spring for that salvaged Maserati Coupe. But it can go a lot deeper than that. For example, I can not recommend Hondas to new drivers. They still have an aura of the street-racing scene about them. The insurance companies will assume the driver is a street racer and jack up the price. Proof? I’m paying $180/month for my Accord.

There’s also another thing to consider: luxury cars. Even if it’s an old Maxima, insurance will still be expensive for a new driver, because the Maxima is still considered a luxury car.

Practicality: I really wanted this one Audi TT I found on Craigslist. It was white, had decent chrome wheels, was a drop-top, it was amazing. Ideally though, there were two concerns with it regarding practicality: would a 6’ individual such as myself actually be able to fit in it (with the top down), and was there enough trunk space? Since getting my Accord, there were several instances where I had to use every last cubic inch of that trunk, including packing a bunch of plywood in there and even a whole Christmas tree! And while I just barely have enough space in my Accord, imagine what it would have been like in an MR2, TT, or S2000. I’m glad I didn’t get a sports car because of all the practicality I gained.

Reliability: I have done so many miles on my car, it’s not even funny. I got it at 87,000 miles almost two years ago, and it’s now at 110,000 miles. Imagine getting an Audi and praying something expensive wouldn’t fall off doing all those miles. While my Honda isn’t even the most reliable Honda, it’s still light years more reliable than anything else, excluding brands such as Toyota and Nissan.My dad had an ‘86 Celica GT (The very car that got me into cars), and one day he had to take it into the shop to get the timing belt replaced. To the mechanics’ surprise, they found the engine had been completely starved of oil. My dad had been running that car for months without any oil and hadn’t even noticed.

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I know that it’s not very “Jalop” to even think about a “beige shitbox Camry” as your first car. I know that Mustang GT is tempting, but these are pretty serious things to consider, and most of the time, you have to put your love of cars aside and go for the most logical choice.

I always recommend a Camry. Why? To insurance companies, appliance cars are a good thing! Insurance will be cheaper, which everyone will like. Your parents will like it, because it’s safe. You will like it, because it’s as reliable as the moon. Also, with a car such as a Camry, you have time to gain the trust of the insurance companies. The fun cars come when you have your college degree, a steady career, and the insurance companies know and trust you.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia commons)

MultiplaOrgasms > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 19:42

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Fuck that, used german luxobarge ftw.

Zohaibman72 > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 19:48

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I pay quite a bit on my Honda, I’m not sure exactly because my mom prefers handing bills and i just give her a chunk every month.

Also note: Hybrids are expensive as hell on insurance.

DO NOT. I Repeat. DO NOT buy a Hybrid Camry. The insurance is extremely high, I imagine because the parts are expensive. It’s not even that good on gas. My Civic gets better mileage.

PG; the scalpel wielder > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 19:50

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or just find the right sports car? Mine for example:

Cost - similar to any other small car really. Also selling it now after 5 years, and its depreciated less than 20%.

Insurance - with my parents as the main drivers, was very similar to normal hatchbacks I was looking at

Practicality - took me around moving houses and college etc for 5 years with everything in the boot. It’s manual so I don’t have to worry about friends driving it haha.

Reliability - it’s a Honda. Zero issues. like none, nada.

(ps. Honda Integra S. Or RSX-S to you guys)

PG; the scalpel wielder > PG; the scalpel wielder 06/07/2015 at 19:53

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yup that’s a fridge. Try get that in a sedan.

Milky > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:00

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Or ….

Also you’re just about average for mileage, 12k a year. My 11 year old chrysler/merc has gone from 92k - 138k in the last 2 and half years. Its no Honda but nothing major has gone wrong.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:02

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My 17 year old self driving a 17 year old German sports sedan laughs at you and your logical thinking.

Cost: $4500 after replacing the wear parts to get it road legal.

Insurance: Costs the same as the GMC before it did.

Practicality: 4 doors, (technically) 5 seats, and a decent trunk.

Reliability: Has started every day I have owned it, without issue. Just rolled over 170,000 to boot.

I’ll even add safety to the list: driver and passenger front and side airbags, big brakes with ABS, and traction and stability control.

On top of that, it’s smaller than a Camry so it’s easier to maneuver, slower than newer V6 Camrys, but it’s also more communicative than a Camry so I know more of what the car is doing. But, above all else, it drives light years better than a Camry and isn’t a Camry.

jkm7680 > PG; the scalpel wielder 06/07/2015 at 20:03

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Fold down the seats, there ya go.

TheHondaBro > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:03

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http://oppositelock.kinja.com/dont-meet-your…

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:04

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But is the insurance in your name?

Reliability would also not exactly be stellar.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680 06/07/2015 at 20:07

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It's under my parents name but I'm listed as the main driver. Which seems to be about how every parent I've ever met goes about insuring their child.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:09

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That post outlines nothing more than (at the time) I wasn't very fond of the car because it wasn't all it had been chocked up to be. Now that it's summer and I can actually enjoy the car I'm actually loving it. In my comment I pointed out the initial repairs so you can't hold that part against me.

djmt1 > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:18

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*if you live in America.

Living in London, United Kingdom of England land on the other hand where insurance is designed to price you off the road rather than offer a service, I’m screwed no matter what I pick. So when I finally do save enough to buy my first car might as well make it a sporty one.

Like this:

Or this:

Or even this:

A bunch of practical, reliable, cheap, fun cars there.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why no RWD, the cheapest RWD car I’m interested in is the E39 M5 which at £6,000 is too much for a first car but I assure you there are plenty about.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:18

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Cost: You can buy reliable low end sports cars for $2,500 if you look, high performance ones for around $5,000. As for messing up your car, practice driving more if that’s a concern. Scraping your front bumper, curbing your wheel (if you have low profile tires), or similar accidents are a day’s wage to fix including labor and have negligible repair cost if you can DIY. Anything more and pay attention to the damn road and be prepared for emergency maneuvers!

Insurance: If you’re under 18, which you likely are on your first car, I don’t see why you wouldn’t just go under a parent’s. A truly cheap sports car will often be old enough for classic car insurance most likely, which can be under $200/yr in many cases.

Practicality: Here’s the back of a C4 Corvette, enough to swallow its own targa top or a huge pack of toilet paper, a couple of big packs of water, and much more. Cubbies under the doors are good for a few kilos of cocaine bricks each.

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Reliability: Sports cars are often no-frills or fewer frills (less to go wrong). Gen 1 SBCs and Miata engines, for instance, are easy to work on and costs so little to maintain in addition to many others.

Lastly, fun. I wouldn’t enjoy some days nearly as much if I were driving something reasonable and appropriate, and missing out on a fulfilling ownership experience is, in my opinion, the biggest downside of all for someone who loves cars and the automotive community.

TheHondaBro > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:21

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When I got my car, I had to do nothing to it. That’s my point.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:23

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See, but I bought the car knowing stuff had to be done to it. We just didn't know the extent, plus I had another car to drive while we worked on it.

whatisthatsound > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:25

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My first car was an astro, a year later an S2000. Drive whatever you want and be responsible.

TheHondaBro > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:25

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I bought the car knowing stuff had to be done to it. We just didn’t know the extent

You’re basically reciprocating my point. A more reliable M3, or one that didn’t require initial repairs, would have been more expensive, then I direct your attention to my first point.

Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord. > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:26

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but, Peer pressure bro

 V8 Rustler > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:28

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I don’t think that a high performance car is very good as a first car, as you will never know how to drive it correctly and squeeze every bit of performance out of it. What I would recommend is buy a cheap RWD Manuel transmission low powered sports car.

With this car, you will start understanding the basics of driving. You will start developing new techniques such as rev matching and heel and toe. You will learn car control at the limit as the car will be easier to get at its limit because it is not a high performance car. Screwed up? No problem, parts are cheap.

That’s what I did. I started with a 1998 V6 Mustang with a manuel. Learned rev matching and heel and toe, learned how a RWD car reacts. Later installed an LSD and started drifting it more. Poly bushings came next.

Now I have a 2013 Mustang GT 6 speed, and have no issue or fear of taking that car to the limit. All thanks to that 1998 Mustang V6.

 V8 Rustler > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:29

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>Audi TT

>Sports car

Choose one.

TheHondaBro >  V8 Rustler 06/07/2015 at 20:31

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Right, it’s not a Mustang, so it’s not a sports car. How silly of me.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:34

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Sure, but then I wouldn’t have learned those valuable skills wrenching on my car and making memories with my dad. And in the end I’m driving one of my dream cars at 17 so this car is a win-win in my mind even if it doesn’t totally follow your opinion of a “good” first car. Follows mine though.

 V8 Rustler > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:35

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Based on a VW Golf platform

Front heavy

FWD

If AWD, it is not full-time and is FWD most of the time.

The S2000 and MR2 you listed are sport cars, the Audi TT is not.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? >  V8 Rustler 06/07/2015 at 20:38

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I think eventually I'll be able to push my car to the limits just by constant practice in the car. I plan on attending my first autocross soon and I'm sure that will help. My car being an auto kinda lets me focus on staying on the road rather than how my rev matching is.

TheHondaBro > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:40

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Anyone can learn to wrench on their car if they’re mechanically-competent. It really isn’t that hard. Claiming your unreliable car is great because it taught you how to be a mechanic is just one of the many straws you’re picking at. It’d be like if I said my MacBook Pro was great because it taught me a lot about computers because it needed to be fixed constantly. No, I fucking hate it because it keeps breaking on me.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:43

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After those initial repairs it’s needed nothing mechanically though. For some reason you seem to be missing that. We haven’t so much an undid anything more than a lugbolt holding a tire on on any part of the drivetrain since February. And every part replaced was a wear component that go bad in every car.

TheHondaBro >  V8 Rustler 06/07/2015 at 20:43

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The one I was looking at had the V6.

TheHondaBro > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:50

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I’m not missing that, I thought I proved it a few comments back. My Accord needed nothing when we bought it, and since you care about performance so much, my car is faster.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 20:54

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What, you were out of rebuttals so you had to bring performance up? Great for you, I really don’t give a shit. I admitted new V6 Camrys were faster, I can admit a newer V6 Accord is too.

HEY GUYS, HONDABROS ACCORD IS FASTER THAN MY M3. ISNT THAT GREAT FOR HIM?

TheHondaBro > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 20:57

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Calm down.

Also as long as we’re talking about running out of rebuttals, resorting to verbal violence like that is the textbook definition of running out of things to say.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 21:00

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K.

Milky >  V8 Rustler 06/07/2015 at 21:14

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Thank you. The EOS isn't a sports car, same for the TT.

 V8 Rustler > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/07/2015 at 22:15

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You still have to shift your transmission, it’s not like you gotta leave it in D. And kudos for wanting to go to autocross events.

darkcloak > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 22:18

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The engine size is not what makes it a sports car. It is THE SOUL that makes it a sports car.

Too bad, you did not get a real sports car. My first car was a hand me down 1990 Nissan 240SX. It taught me the following:

1. How to drive stick. Also how to replace a clutch.

2. How to service and maintain a car.

3. How to drift.

4. How to autocross and later to drive on a road circuit.

5. How to tear up back roads.

6. How to drive a 240SX in snow. AKA it’s horrible.

7. How to perform an engine swap after your timing chain breaks.

8. How to creatively upgrade your car on a low budget. Eg: Upgrading the brakes to 300ZX brakes.

9. Mechanical Skils. I work in science today and am the most mechanically adapt of my peers. Why? I learned it working on cars as a kid. This teaches you lifelong problem solving skills and how to maintain equipment.

10. An appreciation for good cars. This is extended to an appreciation for art in general. A Camry and a Cayman perform the same functional task, but oh how they don’t. Similar to high heels and sneakers, similar function but oh how different. It taught me to appreciate the finer things in life, the quirkiness, to develop a relationship with the automobile. I actually feel sorry that in your Automatic transmission Accord you may never get to experience this joy.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > TheHondaBro 06/07/2015 at 22:52

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That’s why I’m waiting until after college to get a sporty car (Not sure about a true sports car yet). My Pilot is laughably cheap to insure, and it doesn’t hurt that I have a clean driving record *knocks on wood*.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > TheHondaBro 06/08/2015 at 02:18

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And that's why I have a 4Runner.

Tohru > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/08/2015 at 03:49

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Tohru > TheHondaBro 06/08/2015 at 03:54

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My roommate’s first car was an ‘06 G35.

Cost: He’s driving it around with damage because he can’t afford new parts, and there’s no used parts in any of the nearby salvage yards. Even maintenance parts are expensive.

Insurance: $2600/yr.

Practicality: He will argue that it’s practical because he’s moved with it and the back seat can hold two people uncomfortably, but the trunk is oddly shallow (just enough for 2 golf bags for the target audience), and the back seat doesn’t even fold flat.

Reliability: At 100k miles it desperately needs a clutch, along with suspension at all 4 corners. Plus the sat nav screen needs work, and the leatherette on the sides of the seat is peeling.

supra-squirrel > TheHondaBro 06/08/2015 at 09:25

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Excellent write-up and read good sir. I agree with most everything, as most new drivers (not just teens either, just tought a 24 year old) tend to not understand the importance of truly knowing ones vehicle, all for corners, every feature and every quirk. A few things to add

If money is an issue anything 25 or older in most states is considered a classic so insurance tends to be quite low. If its a japanese vehicle it also allows for something safe yet inexpensive, in relatively good condition and much better parts availability than even an Japanese sports car of the era, my parts search for my supra being am excellent example of lack of availability for the sports side were as my buddies same year accord has parts EVERYWHERE.

Another thing would be to try and d I’ve as many different vehicles as possible, bare minimum try and drive a medium to large version ruck or van and borrow a friends sports car for an hour just so you will know about the huge difference between ease of driving for the different vehicle classes.

Take from someone whose first car was a cargo van and whose college car was an hhr (worst car ever if you’re six foot or taller and hate being raged at since everyone in the hw assumes soccer mom because driving near speed limit). I learned a lot about diving and vehicle control because of the large wind catching rwd box and the a small wind catching FWD box. What you learn at low speeds in those could save your life one day in a fast easily controllable vehicle.

Sorry if anything seems unclear, I went to a public school in the south.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > TheHondaBro 06/18/2015 at 11:09

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Counter point:

When I bought my Accord, the clutch was on it’s way out, and by the time I replaced it was undrivable.