OPPO, Help Me Dream Of My First Manuel...

"Michael Maguire" (michaelmag25)
05/26/2015 at 12:12 • Filed to: Car Choice, Mustang, Pick My Next Car

Hello Oppo, I preface this little game by saying I may or may not actually get said new car at all. I am happy with my current car and the new one would have to make sense in the long run.

Okay, first a little background information. At age 19, I bought a brand new 2014 ford mustang v6 auto. I truly do love my car, but since obtaining it something has always been missing. I want to drive stick so bad.

So, I currently am 21 and have a loan outstanding on the mustang. I pay about $200 a month at 1.9%. (had a nice down payment). I probably have right around 9,000 or less on the loan left to pay off and my car is worth around 15 grand with 30,000 miles on it.

I don’t have any EXTRA money to throw at a new car. I am perfectly fine spending my current loan payment for the foreseeable future, but also would not mind doing away with it.

I live in St. Louis and attend college half an hour away, so it has to be reliable transportation.

Conditions for new car

- Sporty car (I am used to 300hp and don’t want to insanely downgrade)

- It has to feel fast and engaging/fun to drive.

- It has to be manuel! (YAY)

- It doesn’t need to have 4 seats, but it can’t hurt…(wrx?)

- Reliable for the next 3-4 years with minimal cost of maintenance (College Kid, not exactly super handy with cars outside of oil changes and regular maintenance...)

- Aftermarket scene would be nice to have a following…(also, not a must)

- Must be affordable within my budget…(See Above Comments)

DISCUSSION (32)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:17

Buy a stupid cheap Saturn for $600 off of craigslist to burn the clutch out on.

Michael Maguire > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
05/26/2015 at 12:18

That is definitely an option, but I currently still live with my parents and we have 6 cars already for 6 drivers...there really isn’t room for me having 2 cars.

bryan40oop > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:19

so you have ~$6k to spend?

Michael Maguire > bryan40oop
05/26/2015 at 12:21

Technically 15 grand-ish. I would be getting rid of the mustang to buy a new car and don’t mind keeping my loan as is.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:22

Manuals always feel faster. Personally, I feel faster in my maaaaybe 90 hp MR2 over an auto ‘Stang any day. If you’re learning now, I’m assuming that no one else in your family knows how to drive one. The $600 Saturn would be a learner car. If you burn out the clutch, just scrap it for not much of a loss, if not, resell. Drive it for a few months, then sell it and get something else as your primary. I think you’ll be surprised at how much more power you have at your disposal without the numbers if you have a manual. The power that’s there is way more direct.

Coty > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:22

FoST.

Michael Maguire > Coty
05/26/2015 at 12:29

Can you give me anymore information on them? Obviously, you own one and I would love to know why you like it and what makes it special to you?

RockThrillz89 > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:29

Just pay off the car first. You’re looking at $15k to spend if you roll over the loan, or $6k if you pay off the loan. That’s not going to get anything with your conditions if you’re buying a brand new car. Plus, I don’t think having the wrong transmission is a financially smart reason to get a new car for, as long as there is nothing else wrong with the Mustang. You bought the Mustang for a reason; I think you should hold on to it until you finish school or it starts costing more than you can afford. Then when you get a full time job, go buy what you really want with a proper transmission (brand new 2017 or whatever Mustang GT for example).

As for used, it might not be popular around these parts, but a Civic Si might be something to look at. I have one. It’s not fast, but you can rev the nuts off it and not worry about seeing blues in your rearview. Plus you can get them 4 door, only available in straight drive, and has that glorious Honda reliability.

desertdog5051 > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:31

Here’s your first Manuel.

Kinja'd!!!

Here’s your first manual.

Kinja'd!!!

Michael Maguire > RockThrillz89
05/26/2015 at 12:32

I actually had a 2006 civic as my first car and I liked it, but it felt deadly slow. Yes, it was auto and I haven’t driven an Si, but I don’t really like the stigma that goes along with owning a civic.

Honestly, you are right about just paying off the mustang and getting something new after college, but I am one impatient dude. This is definitely not the most financially sane decision, but it is something I want.

I wish I could walk in to a dealer with a 2014 Ford Mustang v6 manual with 30k miles and trade straight up, but that'll never happen!

Coty > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:33

Well, it’s my first front drive ever and to me it feels very balanced, doesn’t just understeer its way into every corner. I also really love my Recaros. Pretty strong aftermarket doesn’t hurt either. There’s a clutch assistance spring you can remove so you can play with the clutch feel to see how you like that, too.

If you have any other specific questions about anything with the car, let me know. I have a ‘14 ST2.

Michael Maguire > desertdog5051
05/26/2015 at 12:33

Yes, I know haha. I hope you don’t think it is actually spelled Manuel... I couldn’t find the accent mark button!

Michael Maguire > Coty
05/26/2015 at 12:34

What was the cost of you car new? What do you think I could get in the used market for about 15 grand...Year/Miles ...

desertdog5051 > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:37

I know what you meant. Just a slight elbow to the ribs. All in fun.

Coty > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:39

I got $3k off my car, so I paid $25k.

You could probably get a ‘13 with like 20k on it.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:45

Sell the Mustang, pay off the loan, and spend your $6k on a RWD Nissan or an MR2 (plus a sizeable maintenance fund). I loved driving my WRX, but it was extremely unreliable and I bankrupted myself trying to keep it on the road.

Save your $200/month. That’s a big chunk and it will add up fast. By the time you’re ready to buy a house, you’ll have a massive down payment (of which you have already experienced the virtues). If I had $200/month to throw around when I was 21, and I knew what I know now about financial management, I’d be in much better shape then I am today.

Michael Maguire > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
05/26/2015 at 12:50

Ive thought many times about this. I basically took $2500 into the stock market at 16/17 and by 19 I had $7500...I got lucky I guess. Then I decided to be stupid and buy a brand new car haha!

There is definitely something to be said for this option, but I really need reliable transportation to work and school half an hour away.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 12:57

If you can find one that hasn’t been hooned to crap, reliability isn’t an issue. $6k can buy you alot of reliability in a used car. I bought my old Accord with 200k on it for $1600, and it was the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. (Also manual and alot of fun.) Finding that clean example might be a bother, but not having a car payment is amazing.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
05/26/2015 at 13:10

What problems did you have with your WRX, and what kind of mileage did you put on it? I bought a slightly used ‘04 with about 20k miles on it, sold it a few years later with 75k miles. The only issue it gave me was it got very notchy (not in a good way) going into first and second gear. I recall reading they had some synchro issues but it never gave me too much of a problem.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
05/26/2015 at 13:11

what do you have for a WRX? yr? milage? whats gone wrong with it?

OPPOsaurus WRX > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 13:13

get a late 90’s mustang. it will be super cheap, you can upgrade as you need to replace worn parts. u’ll have money in the bank. I was going to say WRX but i dont think you’d find it as sport going from RWD to either AWD or FWD (Focus ST) I love the WRX but you cant break the thing loose (without doing something crazy) I’m guessing a bit of gas and a quick turn will at least get a squeal if not more.

Michael Maguire > OPPOsaurus WRX
05/26/2015 at 13:28

The only problem isreliabilityreliability

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Snuze: Needs another Swede
05/26/2015 at 13:30

Mine was an ‘02. I bought it with 117k and drove it until just over 150k (if I’m remembering correctly.) I had to replace the center diff, the transmission, and the radiator. Then the engine seized and I sold it.

I loved driving that thing, but I think Subaru added a bunch of power without adding any strength to handle it. They probably fixed it in later years, but I have a little trouble recommending them.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > OPPOsaurus WRX
05/26/2015 at 13:31

I loved driving that thing, but I think Subaru added a bunch of power without adding any strength to handle it. They probably fixed it in later years, but I have a little trouble recommending them.

RockThrillz89 > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 13:44

I have no idea what the stigma about driving a Civic is, but if you’re going to completely write off a car because of some stuff a group of people think whose opinions don’t matter, you have bigger things to get in order than what you’re next car is going to be. Maybe a Civic won’t make you happy, but maybe it will. You get what makes you happy and to hell with what others might think. It’s your money, not theirs. If all you want is to impress people or fit the mold, just buy Gucci sunglasses. It’s a whole lot cheaper, and a whole lot more people will actually give the slightest damn about what it is.

And as far as patience, you proved you have it when you bought a brand new Mustang at 19 (yeah, I read your post [pretty sure it was you] about people assuming it was given to you but you had to save up and bought it yourself). I didn’t buy my first car until I was 25, and still had assistance from my parents in the form of them letting me use my previous car as a trade in on the new one. So the fact that you did that at 19 shows me you are selling yourself short.

Tl;dr - fuck other peoples opinions and don’t settle for something in the present when what you have is good enough; save and buy exactly what you want a couple years later.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
05/26/2015 at 13:48

Understandable. I’ve heard the early ones did have issues, but the refresh in ‘04+ fixed a lot of them.

Michael Maguire > RockThrillz89
05/26/2015 at 13:55

It’s not about what others think, but more about me hating almost every modified civic I’ve ever seen. Idk why, but I can’t help but cringe. I also already owned a civic circa 2006 and I know a ton has changed, but I want something completely new. There are thousands of amazing cars out there and it seems dumb to me to ever buy the same thing.

You are probably right about just waiting to graduate and get a real job before another major purchase.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
05/26/2015 at 13:58

I would guess that at 150k there will be some decent repairs required on most vehicles, especially with vehicles like WRX’s which don’t have the reputation for being driven calmly. I’m only at 16k miles so I (hopefuly) have a while before I need to do anything major.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > OPPOsaurus WRX
05/26/2015 at 14:13

I don’t think the mileage is any excuse. It’s a Japanese car. A performance car, yes, but a carefully maintained engine seizing at 150k is what American cars did back then. That’s why I didn’t buy an American car. Subaru simply dropped the ball on this. (And they knew it. The snap ring that came loose to chew my diff to bits was replaced with a thicker, stronger one the following year.) We pay a premium, we should get premium strength to manage premium power.

RockThrillz89 > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 14:53

Okay, now I see what you’re getting at. And I agree with where you’re coming from about trying new things. Sorry if I came across harsh in my last comment; nothing pisses me off more than people buying what they think will impress other people and not caring about what actually makes them happy. And the only reason I keep saying keep the Stang is because one or two things that you mentioned (makes me think that’s what you really want to do, but wanted to see if someone came out with a super awesome idea). Otherwise, I’d be in the ring throwing out all kinds of stupid pointless examples (i.e. WRX... STi) that aren’t suitable for what you need.

Also, I just went through all of this internal debating about three weeks ago. So I know what it’s like to see that shiny new toy and want it so bad it hurts. But I was in a position to get exactly what I wanted, and didn’t even hesitate to sign the papers.

I know you’re tired of reading it, but do what makes you happy. Fuck other people’s opinions (including mine). You asked, I responded like a lot of others. I’m proud of my Si (and yes, I think most Civic Si drivers in my area are not the type of people I would want to associate with, similar to your cringe; but at the same time those people have more passion than the driver of that brand new i8 parked in the lot across from my office this morning). It’s not about what you drive, but your passion for the drive.

Michael Maguire > RockThrillz89
05/26/2015 at 16:42

I truly appreciate you taking the time to write to me today. I think this is one of the things that makes oppo so awesome. I obviously saw your passion and definitely could have used different words originally in order to not make blind statements about everyone or give you the impression I was buying a car to impress somebody.

Honestly, if I keep the mustang for 5 more years, I will be happy. I just truly want to learn to drive stick and the only way that happens is if I go out and get one.

I completely agree that it doesn’t matter what you drive as long as you have passion and I have had many run-ins with amazing cars with the owners blowing me off. You can tell who loves their cars and who bought them to show off. I guess most of this post was me wanting what I want and not wanting to wait for it.

Once again, I greatly appreciate your honesty. Thank You.

RockThrillz89 > Michael Maguire
05/26/2015 at 17:03

Bro I’m not trying to talk down to you or anything. I’m worried you’re thinking that’s what I’m doing. I’m bad about getting off on tangents that are no longer relevant to the discussion. You asked for opinions, I gave mine and got carried away. Sorry for that.

And I know how you feel about wanting to learn to drive stick. I had my previous car just shy of 6 years. I wanted a straight drive bad when I got it. But the cards just didn’t fall into place at that time (just like I’m sure there is a reason you didn’t get a stick in your Stang).

To be honest with you, one thing you may really want to consider is to lease. You can switch it up more often, and you won’t have to weigh rolling over a loan to a new vehicle or getting less of a vehicle to pay off the old loan. And lets be honest, most people are going to have some sort of car payment their entire life. Might as well have the option of switching it up every three years or so.

Have you ever driven a straight drive before? If you haven’t, I’d seriously consider doing as someone else has mentioned and buy something that’s next to scrap value. No it’s not going to be as glorious and smooth as something new/newer, but it’ll give you a taste of if it will work for you. I’ll be honest, my current car is my first straight drive, and I got nervous every time I was going for a drive (and still occasionally do three weeks later, I’ve driven manuals in the past, though only a couple times). But I have the benefit of not living in a real busy city/hilly area. I have room to make mistakes. So if you just want to learn, you might be better off starting super cheap and making sure it will work for you. That way when you dump the clutch, you won’t be screaming in your head fuck there goes $800 or something like that. You’ll just look over at the guy beside you, thumbs up and smile. Then dump it again, but this time like the Billy Badass you are.