Need Help Choosing Out a First Tuner Car!

[Willdue]

VW. /thread

[Got Insulin?]

Please take this with a grain of salt, and there is no disrespct meant, but get something slow, old, and easy to repair. Leard to "drive" drive, and how to treat the car. I'd stay away from anything turbo'd. It's far too tempting to try and show off if you have a car that "turns heads" no matter what your age. I've seen it far too many times, from kids to adults that ought to know better, having too much attention and next thing you know, they're on the table in my mortuary.
I feel that the 240 is a pretty decent starter: lots of aftermarket, RWD, MT available.

[Foolinaround]

for a year i had a 95 eddie baeur explorer,i really loved that car with air ride suspension

[KustomZ03]

Originally Posted by johnk12845

Im 16, and it would be my first car. I wouldn't be beating the hell outta my car either and wouldn't be stupid with it. 350z would be a sick car for a first car, almost unrealistic, but when parents are picking up the first year of insurance anyway, Ill be able to throw my money into mods.

Meh mods for a Z are not cheap at all...at least mods done the right way lol

[92sileighty]

get an s2k and boost it. your not getting an sti, you might be lucky as hell and get some evo, but it will have a lot of time under its belt.

[Foolinaround]

just get an s2k and learn to drive first.

[jnr5005]

If I were you I would buy a 350z instead of the 300zx TT. The 300s are sick, but parts are very expensive, and nobody wants to work on them. My friend is a Nissan tech, and owns both. He has dumped a countless number of hours into fixing the 300, and it still just sits. If you are in your teens you will have boatloads of fun with a 350z. If it were my 15k to spend on a show stopper I would buy a Trans Am or a Corvette. S2000s are sweet too.

[RSX Type-Slow]

Originally Posted by johnk12845

240sx are pretty sick, but still looking a little newer. Been looking into the RSX Type S, any year. Was wondering if anyone knows the potential of these? I know someone that has a supercharged '04 that gives a lot of performance cars a run for their money. And they look sick also.

Even thought i'm biased towards a type-s, i would still recommend it as a first car. Not to sound mean or anything dude, but it's your first car and you dont have alot of behind the wheel driving experience. A sporty fwd car is a great choice as a first car since their easier to handle. Yes fwd sucks ass, but at least you'll have something fun to drive, that looks good, is reliable, relatively cheap to insure, and has a good aftermarket following. Plus if you were to get a 350z and have never driven in the snow before you could get yourself into trouble.


But if you really think you can handle a true sports car with little driving experience, I say hop in an s2k and dont look back.

[MPowerKai]

Originally Posted by Foolinaround

04 Subaru WRX STi

with how many miles son?

My friend just sold his for 16k with 67k miles so I dunno, under 100k

[marshallpre1]

Originally Posted by Got Insulin?

Please take this with a grain of salt, and there is no disrespct meant, but get something slow, old, and easy to repair. Leard to "drive" drive, and how to treat the car. I'd stay away from anything turbo'd. It's far too tempting to try and show off if you have a car that "turns heads" no matter what your age. I've seen it far too many times, from kids to adults that ought to know better, having too much attention and next thing you know, they're on the table in my mortuary.
I feel that the 240 is a pretty decent starter: lots of aftermarket, RWD, MT available.

This. Having a fast car is cool and all, but the kids in my high school a while ago with their fast cars crashed them from being idiots. You may have better self control, but it's a lot different when you have it. This question is not meant to be offensive, but are you buying the car or your parents? I have also noticed that when it's your own money involved that you are more careful with it...

G/L

I'd get a FWD/AWD car. First is the snow. Second, it's a lot harder to regain control of a RWD once you have lost it. It takes practice and patience. Get something reliable.

Civic Si, Golf GTI, RSX...

[Foolinaround]

that isnt under 15k like he needs lol

[marshallpre1]

Originally Posted by Foolinaround

that isnt under 15k like he needs lol

RSXs, Civic Si's and GTIs ARE under $15K

[97TurboDSM]

jesus h titty christ. you want a tuner car that will turn heads? get a civic and slap a miscolored body kit on it. everyone will be looking at you, trust me.

[TaddO 2]

Originally Posted by 97TurboDSM

jesus h titty christ. you want a tuner car that will turn heads? get a civic and slap a miscolored body kit on it. everyone will be looking at you, trust me.

Lol +1

But seriously, I would definitely look for a FWD or AWD car instead of RWD.. you'll learn quicker and easier.

MkIV GTI
Dodge Srt-4
Civic Si

You might be able to find a Mazdaspeed 3 or Mazdaspeed 6 for around $15k, both are great cars with tons of potential. Speed6 is AWD, which gives it a slight advantage IMO.

[02Max]

The 350z would be a good car if you're comfortable with RWD. You'd definitely want to get a beater for winter though. The VQ35s are excellent motors and very reliable. I bought my Maxima with 40k on it for less than 10k with a 6MT and in about a year, it has 65k miles on it and not 1 problem with it, it just needs general maintenance, burns a little oil, but alot of these motors do.

The 350z is RWD, quick, sounds great and would turn heads. Check out the Z forums cause you might find some lightly modded ones with a reasonable amount of miles on it in the price range you're looking for.

Another thought... I don't know if you're paying for the car or what, but you could always lease a new car that you like. I know alot of people say "LEASING IS BAD!!" but can never explain why. If you're responsible, it can work out well. For me, I think I will lease my next car because I get bored with cars quickly and I like the latest and greatest, so while leasing can be a loss in some way, it can be a good thing in other ways. Just don't do anything crazy to a leased car you can't change back. Keep all the stock parts and get rid of the stuff you bought when/if you turn the car back in. If you can have your parents sign for the lease (you can't, you're too young) you could look at any number of cars - WRX or something like that. I REALLY like the 3.8 Genesis Coupe Track in the 6MT. Another good head-turning RWD car.

Again, I don't know if leasing would be an option, but it could work out well for you - keep it for a few years, it would have a warrantee, mildly mod it, than turn it back in or choose to keep it at the end.

[99SL2_Modder]

1) You're 16. Buy a beater sedan that runs well and isn't overly quick.
2) You'll thank me when your insurance isn't ass high for having a sports car.
3) Save money
4) Buy a second car in a few years to mod, that way you're not modding your daily. Modding has a higher potential to **** up, leaving you without a ride.

Seriously, I pay 1200/yr for an 09 Sedan with 252hp. It may be FWD, but it beats the 09 v6 Camaro in the quarter mile (which has more HP). It's also a head turner and a nice car in general. I'm 24.

You WILL pay more for a coupe, more for a drop top. Get a car that can do 0-60 in 7-8 seconds with 4 doors, and save money to get a toy. Charge friends for gas if you need to.

*edit*
Make sure the car you get has no car payments. Buy it outright. You're 16, you don't need a fast car. You need an A to B car.

[Scapegoat]

buy something cheap, but the rest of the money into stocks

[dufflebagboyz]

man i understand where you coming from im 17, and my first car was a 95 esi talon. then from there it goes to 98 tsi awd. then 87 Chrysler Conquest then 90 awd talon :D to be honest get a Conquest rwd=ftw or a 1gb talon eclipse or a hot awd laser :D

[99SL2_Modder]

Originally Posted by dufflebagboyz

man i understand where you coming from im 17, and my first car was a 95 esi talon. then from there it goes to 98 tsi awd. then 87 Chrysler Conquest then 90 awd talon :D to be honest get a Conquest rwd=ftw or a 1gb talon eclipse or a hot awd laser :D

Yeah, about those DSM's being a daily driver while being modded...

Gonna go with my original suggestion. Unless you can get a DSM AND another car.

[jpalamar]

If you buy a nice car at that age, it is going to turn heads and people are going to be like 'look at this tool in the car mommy and daddy bought him'

But a beater and learn to drive before you get something fast.