First Car Friday (What Was Yours?)

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 08/21/2015 at 13:15 • Filed to: First Cars

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Every once in a while, I dream of buying back my first car. It was a 2001 KIA Rio sedan. This car was the cheapest car in America when it debuted. However, it did feature styling that was a bit more upscale than other cars of the same price. But it was my first set of wheels, the car that gave me the freedom to get away at free will.

Was it a terrible car? Oh hell yes! A few months after I bought it, the season changed to Spring, and I quickly learned that it didn’t have an operable engine cooling fan. However someone did install an aftermarket cooling fan...that only worked when you turned on the A/C...and didn’t cool the engine at all...The key to keeping the engine cool was to drive as fast as physically possible. Such probably explains why I’m such a speed demon in my smart.

The engine ran four stroke motorcycle oil after a severe overheating event caused it to leak out a majority of its oil. The weird thing being that the car had always had a slight oil leak, but the four stroke motorcycle oil stopped those leaks for good.

It also had an eternally squeaking alternator belt. There wasn’t a mechanic in town that could stop the squeak.

My favourite feature had to be its transmission. After a month of owning the car, the shift lock failed on the transmission. As it was a fairly common problem, KIA had implemented an easy fix into the gearshifter. All you had to do was insert a skinny pole into the shifter, and the shift lock was overridden! This meant that people were able to move my car around without the keys being anywhere in sight.

The thing I hated the most had to be its driver’s door lock. Even in the fully unlocked position, even just closing the door lightly caused the lock to fall into the locked position. I got locked out of that silly thing no less than three times. :P

This car was home to bits and pieces of my transition too. I hid some of my clothes in its boot and it happily drove me to my secret beach (the south side of which pictured below).

The most interesting time with the car had to be when I created a speed record. Chicago Union Station to Six Flags...19 minutes.

I will always remember the terrible little thing, and it warms my heart every time I see it pop up at a wholesale auction, still makes me smile when I see that my decals are still on there.

Oppo, what was your first love...uh...ride? :)

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:23

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bought with my own money? or given?

Coty > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:25

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Dis.

Boxer_4 > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/21/2015 at 13:26

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Why not both?

vondon302 > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:26

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1976 cutlass supreme

Wrecked it twice and it got faster every time I put it back together. I wonder if it survived.

Nerd-Vol > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:27

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1994 LS

Automatic :(

Sam > Coty 08/21/2015 at 13:29

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Ballin'.

macanamera > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:29

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Lexus IS250 AWD. I may or may not have installed 7-color changing LED streetglow neons and jdm yellow fog lamps.

Chris Clarke > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:30

2

Vicente Esteve > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:30

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Depends.

First car I used was my mothers (now sisters) 2011 base auto Jetta. The seemingly worse Jetta ever built but it made me fall in love with VW somehow.

First vehicle that only I used was a 2001 F-150 single cab 4x4 with a V8. I LOVED being able to take it off-road.

First car that was bought for me was my beloved Oliver. A 2001 Cabrio that was an amazingly bad buy. I adored it.

First new car currently is my 2015 Golf TSI, which I appreciate like nothing else.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:31

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Not this one, specifically, but a 1981 Firebird Esprit with the same Rally II wheels and — that’s about it. Factory tape deck worked in 1995 when I got it, and it had the optional spoiler but still had the Buick 231 with 110 hp and about 180 lb ft of torque. My dad and I swapped in a new transmission and Chevy 350 with a Q-jet. I drove it until the near-end of my senior year of high school when I got really well acquainted with a brand-new LeSabre.

Mercedes Streeter > Coty 08/21/2015 at 13:32

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I have a soft spot for big benzes :D

Sam > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:32

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We bought it in the fall with a bad engine and finished the swap on Thanksgiving. I drove it to school through the winter into the spring, and it was totalled in May.

EL_ULY > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:33

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1986 BMW 535i

Parked under a tree at a junk yard for 2 years. Got it going and drove it for 3 years after :]

(GIS image)

Mercedes Streeter > Sam 08/21/2015 at 13:33

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Am...Am I crazy for really wanting to try a MX-5?

Clemsie McKenzie > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:35

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A Renault Twingo ! Sunroof AND A/C, which was pretty rare. Funny little thing! Crashed it in a wall a month later though, preparing for my licence test. Talk about a confidence boost!
I miss the damn thing.

sony1492 > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:37

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My first road legal car: 95 Civic auto

I got rid of it a little more than a month ago. I still cringe thinking about that 60whp and all the money I dumped into it, but the handling......worth it.

Itsmemupos > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:40

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White 1996 Mercury Tracer, bought for $350 via mechanics lien sale.

Pretty much identical to this, but without the sunroof.

UPDATE: no pic, kinja’d.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:42

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1984 Wolfsburg edition VW Rabbit Convertible, triple white.

Yeah, it’s a chick car, which sort of bummed me out at first. Until I got to school in the fall and all the girls didn’t care about muscle cars and wanted to ride with me. Time from getting car to getting to home base? Under 2 weeks.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:44

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Nissan Versa.

TheJWT > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:46

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First car I drove-

2nd gen Fit S, identical to this. Fun little car... It was slow as hell but probably one of the better cars to learn to drive in. Lots of room too, we used to get three people and two BMX bikes in there when I was in high school. Really the only thing I didn’t like about it was that it had an automatic with “paddle shifters”

First car I bought with my own money-

I’m sure everyone on here knows by now... I’m sure I’ll remember it fondly, and the fun times in it have been REALLY fun, but christ I’m sick of it.

BrtStlnd > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:51

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1991 Nissan Sentra coupe

Takuro Spirit > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 13:52

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1977 Firebird Esprit 305 auto. Gold with pimp pinstripe. White vinyl seats/doors and black dash/carpet. PIMP.

Its still out there. Hispanic lady on the north side owns it, nose was swapped to a ‘76 Bird.

Its still gold.

But the pinstripe is gone. :((

coelacanthist > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:00

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I found one of these built on a 69 abandoned on the side of the road when I was 15. Tracked down the owner and gave him 200 bucks for it. Rebuilt the engine and rewired basically the whole car by the time I was 16 with guidance from Pop. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss that car. My mom made me sell it when she realized how dangerous it really was :)

SCARPS22 > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:00

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MG Midget. Great car, when I was young and daring used to try to flip it over and couldn’t do it. It went like a Go Kart and your butt was inches off the ground. Bought another years later, got some good use out of it and sold for the same price I had bought it for!

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Nerd-Vol 08/21/2015 at 14:05

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That’s an Acura, not a Lincoln

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:05

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Yes, you are crazy.

But that’s why you fit in here, so it’s OK

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:16

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First and only.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Coty 08/21/2015 at 14:17

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Me gusta.

Dasupersprint - base trim is enough > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:19

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trmoore09 > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:30

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No pictures sadly, but 1997 Dodge Avenger ES. Looked sporty, but deathly slow.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:31

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My first car was given to me by my grandfather when he went into the home. 1991 Chevrolet Lumina base model. Looked just like this one, except mine had steelies and mesh-style hub caps.

The first car I ever bought with my own money was the MR2 I’m still daily driving 7 years later

fhrblig > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:37

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1983 Chevrolet Celebrity. Had the 2.8 V6 with a fire-breathing 113 hp. It was one of the best cars I’ve owned. Sure, all kinds of crap broke on it, but none of it kept you from driving it. Speedometer? Who needs that, anyway? Driver side door won’t open? Bench seat and column shift FTW!

Had it for 7 years. I drove it, then my older sister drove it, then I had it again for a bit. It was parked for a while when it got towed, and it would have cost more than the car was worth to spring it free. I’m sure someone bought it at auction and drove it for a bit longer.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:37

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This:

2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V. 185 ft-lb of torquey goodness.

Jonee > vondon302 08/21/2015 at 14:38

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Sweet car. Was it that glorious color?

Jonee > coelacanthist 08/21/2015 at 14:39

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Wow, that’s awesome.

Jonee > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:42

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A Grand Wagoneer in this beautiful shade of light blue. I was the first one of my friends to get his license and I could fit everyone in it. It was great.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 14:57

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1995 Fiat Tipo Sedicivalvole. Got it in 2006 as a hand me down from my dad after an engine bearing failed and I rebuilt it to keep him from selling the whole car as scrap. Since I’d put so much effort into it, he let me keep the car, and I’ve been daily driving it ever since. As for buying a car with my own Money, I’ve yet to do that, as I’m still a college student in Brazil.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 15:02

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I had to fight the ladies off with a stick. Pure allure.

nerd_racing > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 15:15

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First vehicle I registered on the road and drove was an 81 D150 Short Box Regular Cab 4 speed manual with overdrive and a slant 6 engine. Loved that truck... got 20 mpg too.

vondon302 > Jonee 08/21/2015 at 15:39

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Yes exactly this same tires even. My third car was a 77 and black but that was a quick flip. My brown one started life as a wheezy v6 put in a 68 350 rocket with a 400 turbomatic trans and promptly wrecked it. On the first rebuild found out a 455 olds motor dropped right in. I wish engine swaps were that easy on modern cars. Those were the days.

RallyWrench > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 16:00

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1968 BMW 1600-2, Bristol Gray. It was rusty, and an early one with dogleg rear axles, the longneck diff, and the mechanical clutch. But it had a 2.0L, Weber 40s, and Recaros, and it was $600. I parted it out to get my current ‘02 that’s significantly less rusty. I also drove my family’s ‘82 Vanagon when the BMW was broken, which was a lot. It was later given to me and I still have it so I sort of had 2 first cars.

BeaterGT > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 16:19

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1994 Firebird with T tops. Had a 9 ball for a shifter too.

TheJMan92 > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 16:42

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1993 Buick LeSabre for me. The rockers were rusted so bad we made custom side skirts with sheetmetal which actually looked cool. Holes in the floor and wheel well were patched with roofing tin, added led strips as drl’s, “blacked out” parking lights, cold air intake from a Cavalier I picked up for $5 at Iola, brother used it for pin-stripping practice, Sony sound system (before I knew anything about audio), spray painted the interior as a military bomber, painted it up as one as well, put it into the back of a Jeep with a bumper guard after my brakes gave out maybe 3 months later. Bought a 95’ and swapped everything over, I actually kind of miss bombing around in it, felt kind of mad-maxish. Plus the 3800 would not die no matter how I beat & neglected it, always got 28mpg as well. Some pics for those interested, can’t seem to find a full car shot though.

I ended up having three of them, my last two had 325k and 232k miles respectively. First fun daily driver was purchased just over a year ago, 2004 Mazda 3s.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 16:49

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I too had a Kia as my first car.

Mercedes Streeter > BeaterGT 08/21/2015 at 17:27

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A...9 ball?

(This make me think, I need a giant 20 sided dice for my next shift knob)

Mercedes Streeter > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 08/21/2015 at 17:29

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Yay for irrational car buying!!!! Now to find a cheap *rust free* Miata that’s not been turned into a FnF reject...

Mercedes Streeter > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 08/21/2015 at 17:32

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I...I kinda expected more bhp. The 80s were an interesting time. :)

Mercedes Streeter > Takuro Spirit 08/21/2015 at 17:33

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I wouldn’t have expected anything different from you! Awesome!!!

Mercedes Streeter > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 08/21/2015 at 17:34

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It’s like a Fiat version of a Geo Metro...but actually cute! :)

Mercedes Streeter > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig 08/21/2015 at 17:35

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The fog lights absolutely make your MR2 look freaking fantastic. :D

Mercedes Streeter > sony1492 08/21/2015 at 17:36

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“Road legal car”? :P

Mercedes Streeter > fhrblig 08/21/2015 at 17:38

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Firstly, dat username!!

Column shift? As in manual?

Mercedes Streeter > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 08/21/2015 at 17:39

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Correct, I’d much rather roll with the guy with the cute ass convertible than the guy driving a Jeep or generic muscle car. :)

Mercedes Streeter > Jonee 08/21/2015 at 17:40

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Is there a single car you’ve driven that’s not amazing? :D

Mercedes Streeter > macanamera 08/21/2015 at 17:43

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I would love yellow fog lamps!!

(I didn’t say that)

Jonee > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 17:57

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Life’s too short to drive boring cars is my motto.

BUGATTIJACK > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 18:03

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1976 Porsche 914. Bought it for $2k at an auction in Atlanta. Biggest piece of shit, but it drove well, and I loved it. It will forever and always have a special place in my heart

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 18:23

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Why thank you!

macanamera > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 19:06

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Let us not speak of those days

fhrblig > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 20:47

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Nah, they stopped making those in the 70s, I think. You could get a Celebrity with either the column shift lever or a console shifter. In fact, you could do that with most GM midsizes through the last gen Impala.

RazoE > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 22:04

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1993 Nissan 240sx. Biggest pile ever. GOOD RIDDANCE!!!

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I miss it so much..=(

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Mercedes Streeter 08/21/2015 at 23:32

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I left out the part where we swapped the engine because I broke the timing chain, which broke the camshaft in half and threw a few pushrods through the valve covers.

That is an important detail, I guess.

The 350 probably only had 180hp or so. It came out of an 83 Chevy truck.

911e46z06 > Mercedes Streeter 08/22/2015 at 00:54

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I had a 1997 e39 that looked like this. Drove through 44 states in that car. 9 times coast-to-coast. I miss it terribly. I still have the number of the guy I sold it to. May try to get it back if I build another garage on the property.

911e46z06 > coelacanthist 08/22/2015 at 00:55

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Damn dude. That’s jalop as hell.

Mopar4life > Mercedes Streeter 08/22/2015 at 07:31

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This is not my actual truck, but very damn close.

1965 Chevy C10 Fleetside short box. 250 I6, 3-tree.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Mercedes Streeter 08/22/2015 at 07:37

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UC Holden Torana 1978 red 202 with filipino 4-speed.

Amoore100 > 911e46z06 08/23/2015 at 12:51

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Man, where is that? Looks beautiful...the car does as well :)

Amoore100 > Mercedes Streeter 08/23/2015 at 12:52

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Just got it. Still have it. Still love it.

911e46z06 > Amoore100 08/23/2015 at 12:58

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I was driving with a buddy through Oregon near McMinnville and saw this little one-lane road twisting up into the hills, so I decided to check it out. It was awesome. It went for like an hour through a bunch of vineyards, so we stopped at a few of those for wine tasting after I turned around to head back to the highway. Good times.

alew > Coty 08/24/2015 at 18:04

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Me too!! 1983 300SD. Got it with 387k, now has well over 400k miles.

Coty > alew 08/24/2015 at 22:35

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I’ve got about 113k.