Oppoinions: First Car Edition, Part 2

"Thunderface" (thunderface)
11/14/2014 at 14:08 • Filed to: Oppoinions, first car, oppositelock

First off, thanks to all who shared their !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on my potential first car post yesterday.I have another question, this one not about any specific cars.

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This one is about what 'Class' of car I would go after. For example, would it be better to go for a simple, old, well-worn, sub-$2000 car or a nicer, newer, and potentially more reliable car that costs 2 or 3 times more?

For an example, take these:

A decent, old MGM for under $2000

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A newer Ford Fusion for 6 and a half grand

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Again, I'm not just talking about these cars, but about cars in general. Would you rather have an older, chaper one or a nicer, newer one, and why?

DISCUSSION (26)

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:11

You know my opinion.

TheHondaBro > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:11

Depends on a few things:

1) How good I am with a wrench.
2) How much money I have.
3) My patience.

Personally, I'd opt for the newer, more reliable car than an older car that isn't as reliable, just because I want it to work when I need it to work.

The other option is essentially a project car in my book. That one requires dedication and commitment to own, not to DD.

Thunderface > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
11/14/2014 at 14:12

YES BUDDY

Mercedes Streeter > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:14

In my ideal garage? I'd have my smart (2012) and an older car that's just better than a beater to have as a sort of project...Like a Miata, C4 Corvette, Saturn SC, or even my first car (2001 KIA Rio sedan)...

You can have fun in any car, regardless of the year. And a newer car can be just as a gamble (if not more) than an older one. It's really all of preference and how much voting power your wallet/purse has. :)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:14

As someone who drives a 21 year old car, go newer. I'm constantly having to fix shit on my car, and stuff breaks and they aren't as quiet inside and more thirsty. Newer is just better IMO.

Thunderface > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/14/2014 at 14:17

So between the 2 which one would you have as a first car?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TheHondaBro
11/14/2014 at 14:17

Well... sometimes. The examples he posted have similar miles, and between the two specific examples he gives, I'd expect more to go wrong with the Fusion in the next two years or so, even knowing that the boots in the MGM's front suspension are likely dead. In general, you'd be correct, but what he posted is a pair of outliers in more than one respect. Newer = more reliable often, but not always. Which is why it's important if you're cross-shopping new vs. old to actually investigate. Some modern cars are fragile, and some older cars have a fix-it-with-a-hammer ruggedness that nonetheless doesn't require the hammer often.

For Sweden > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:17

The big question is: if you car isn't drivable for a period of time, will that cost you your job/grades in school/etc?

If you need a car, go newer and bulletproof now. If a week without a car is manageable and something you're willing to risk, go older.

However, both the Panther and the Ford/Mazda you posted are plenty reliable.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:17

The Fusion. Or in my case a Saturn Aura or Chevy Malibu.

Thunderface > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
11/14/2014 at 14:19

Thunderface > For Sweden
11/14/2014 at 14:20

That's the thing: in this case, they're both reliable

Thunderface > TheHondaBro
11/14/2014 at 14:27

But in this case, they're equally reliable

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:34

As a first car? I'd go with something that looks beat to death, has about 200k miles on it, and is dirt cheap with manual everything. Ideally, it was a cheap beater for two or three people before you. This is the car that will give you no trouble until you wreck it or sell it and will also be a good learner car if you want to tinker a bit. I usually recommend an AW11 at this point because it's awesome, but most people seem to have trouble finding them for cheap enough.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
11/14/2014 at 14:36

I'm with you. Often times, the older car with a billion miles is the better option because while many things might be old on it and it will be noisier and ride rougher, it's simpler, and chances are that if it has that many miles, it was being driven regularly, which means that someone depended on it and you probably can too.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 14:43

The Fusion.

I love the panther as much as the next guy, but the 08 fusion is SOLID. the V6 is great. I would know I have a Mercury version that's one year older

Thunderface > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/14/2014 at 15:12

One question, then. Are MGMs better pre-1997 or after 1998?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 15:18

I think the year they had a change/impact was in the 2000s, like 2003 if I remember.

all 90s should be about the same.

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 16:49

Depends on how much you want to work on your car. I don't even DD my 28 year old car, and I wrench on it quite a lot. If you got the cash, the Fusion is probably the better bet. If it were me, I'd pick the Merc, but, assuming you need a car every day, the Fusion would probably be the better call.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Thunderface
11/14/2014 at 17:59

I got a quick FWD car as my first car, and I regret not getting RWD. if you're content without sliding around, get the fusion. but if you want oppositelock, and doriftos, you'll need the P71