18yr old son's 1st car??

[EAgl]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Personally I think telling your kids to buy a small, cheap, jap crap as a first car is a horrible thing to do. Why put them in an unsafe, unable to properly avoid accidents, POS... so that IF they crash you ensure their demise?

If he has 25k, he can buy a very good, late model, safe car that's not girly and will serve him really well...

Like this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars...ake=VOLKSWAGEN

Or this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars...0&Make=RENAULT

Or this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars..._id=82&trecs=2

And there's lots more...

In his price range, not hard on the fuel, proper performance cars with proper (4-5 star EuroNCAP) saftey ratings, proper hardware to protect occuptants and avoid accidents, reliable, not thief or cop magnets...

I reckon this is a pretty good idea. Though if you're concerned about him spending that much on a first car- then I reckon an AU is the way to go. It is safe (5 star used safety rating- http://www.atsb.gov.au/pdfs/ucsr_2005.pdf), reliable and can be converted to lpg if necessary. You can pick them up well under $10k.

An EF/EL is a cheaper alternative, the VT is an option (if he has to drive copbait), or a BA can be bought for around $12k.

I have a young son and when he is old enough to drive I would have safety as my main criteria, but would be concerned about whether he would be responsible with a powerful 6 cylinder. I know I only had weak four cylinder cars (corona, camry) and didnt move on to a R31 skyline and then falcons until I was 22.

[Shonky]

Originally Posted by Steffo

Why put them in an unsafe, unable to properly avoid accidents, POS... so that IF they crash you ensure their demise?

So you don't feel guilty about wasting what would have been their inheritance.

On a serious note, I am a young guy and I paid $3k for my ED Fairmont Ghia. Good car, enough street cred and good value (note I didn't say cheap specifically)

I must say I havent pranged it, but my GF has (3 times...) and it is not nice. I can't imagine pranging a $20k beastie.

[HLC]

tell him to get a torana.

[Whoosha]

Whats wrong with a late model Ford or holeden for a first car ? there good value for the $$ and get reasonable KPL. and if its what he wants chances he will take better care of it anyway, As for probabley haveing a few small mishapps along the way for me bigger would be better, and as far as small being cheaper and easy to reapair don"t count on it, a bent panel cost what it cost to buy and paint it at any size and a head light for a commy or ford is cheaper than most Jap stuff of the same age .. Both my boys thankfully went with Fords (with the threat of no parking space for others) and had no real problems along the way, my 2cents :

[TOASTED]

tx4 4wd turbo laser YEA!!!!

[TOASTED]

i reckon just let him get something he will treasure. i he loves it enough hopefully he will do all to avoid getting it banged up.my first car was my ef that i still have now. have never wrecked it.

[Wally]

Get a Rolla, shove on a glasspack and chrome exhaust tip on the back, a pod filter up front, some TRD stickers and it should last him long enough to make up his mind before his first crash.

I insisted my kids get a car with air bags, because the their teeth cost me more than the car and I wanted to protect my investment.

[Ives]

Focus ST170.

[ebxr8240]

Two thoughts ??? A cheap-sh car he may not respect ??
A good or new car he could abuse etc???
I must say though the latter fwd cars have way better safety features and have
5 years warranty..Paying one off I think they look after better??
If they accept the responsibility...
He CANNOT drive a V8 or TURBO car !!!
A 4wd ?? Another meaning for fourplay Lol....

[V3RSAC3]

i'm 18 ... i'd suggets go European? SAAB, ALFA, a Golf even, they are sweet and you get heaps of cred in one ...

althou myself im a for boy, if i had $25K too spend on a car, i'd prob go an AU Fairlane? WH Statesman ... or even BA XR6 ... you will be happiest with some of these ay

[WILDB]

I would suggest NOT to buy an Alfa as finding someone who can properly work on it and parts can be an extorsionate task $ wise. This comes from someone who bought an Alfa and found out the hard way. I wouldn't buy a Corolla or Pulsar or any of those other rice paper small cars. I had a 4x4 Rodeo and an EF before my BA and wouldn't hesitate to recommend either.

I would also not recommend buying a late model Commodore as the insurance costs (particularly for the sporty models) are massive. If he really has his heart set on a late model car, I would have to agree with XRated and say to get something like a Focus and save on fuel for something better.

[ebxr8240]

More backseat room ??

[V3RSAC3]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

More backseat room ??

definatly ;) ;)

[XR6_661]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

More backseat room ??

Not in a BA XR6 :

ANYWAY

How about a mini trunk? Like a hilux or triton? Something that already has all the work done, paint, wheels, air bags, etc etc. Can get one pretty cheap.

[bingoTE50]

Well I got a sixteen year old looking at the moment . I was thinking a late eighties bmw.I know you discounted it for your daughter , but there are some good ones there if you look hard . Twin cam Corollas maybe , but he won't want that. If he is against rice ,he has really restricted himself . If he wants olderschool, what about a XD/XE , I have seen some nice S-pacs on here . Maybe a Eb-ED XR6 .
What about a old Merc ... In general they are looked after and don't pull big dollars.
Say a 190 0r 230 ...4 cyl ..economical and go ok.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by bingoTE50

Well I got a sixteen year old looking at the moment . I was thinking a late eighties bmw.I know you discounted it for your daughter , but there are some good ones there if you look hard . Twin cam Corollas maybe , but he won't want that. If he is against rice ,he has really restricted himself . If he wants olderschool, what about a XD/XE , I have seen some nice S-pacs on here . Maybe a Eb-ED XR6 .
What about a old Merc ... In general they are looked after and don't pull big dollars.
Say a 190 0r 230 ...4 cyl ..economical and go ok.

The reason the 80's Euros are at bargain prices is that they are getting on in age and will be in need of repairs if they haven't had them elready.

A rear muffler for a 1989 323i BMW retails for $1,800 I've heard so I'd hate to imagine what an engine rebuild would be worth

Honestly the Euros are good if you can afford them new and then lease up every 3-4 years before you have to think about anything other than petrol and regular servicing

[ebxr8240]

Some Euro cars are exy on parts..

[Wally]

and there interiors don't hold up well.

[Zed7fiddy]

Tell him to buy mine!

[snappy]

i try to get him to lower his standards a bit if he wants a holden let him get one. no one would of convinced me to by a holden instead of a ford . i think that if you can get him in one that is a bit earlier in the years maybe dressed up a bit to appeal to him and he would not blow 25k on something he may destroy or be unhappy with even a nice vt or somthing along those lines. good luck mate youll need it

[bangm001]

Yeah tell him a BA MK2 XR6 Non Turb, lower it, throw on some 18s/19s, ALARM it! And all will be sweet, plenty of room for the boys, big back saeat, plenty of power, can tow a boat/trailer etc of he has to, and most importantly isnt a girly fugly car like already suggested.
I have been through a few holdens now, a nice first car would now be a VY2 Calais?? Has the doof doof sound system, nice wheels as standard, plenty of room, power etc etc. Not too bad on fuel, even the 5.7L arent too bad on fuel (insurance is another thing).. And wont be too bad on insurance and theft as they arent all that targeted providing it has alarm, lock nuts etc etc.

If insurance allows?? I had a VY1 SS as my first manual car and all I can say is I was pretty lucky, the car is pretty much fool proof to drive and very controllable- You need to be doing something really, really stupid to lose control of it.. These are fairly cheap now, only problem is theft, i had rims (brand new 18s at the time with 4 bridgestone potenzas! pricks!), also badges etc stolen..
Depends what he wants, if he is after a more performer or smaller ecomomical thing..??

[XRQTOR]

Let him buy something he wants, that way he'll respect it as it's HIS weather it was a good buy or not. Both my sisters had their cars (New Rav 4 & New beetle) bought for them & they were treated as bumper cars & maccas bins from day one. If he saved the money himself he'll respect the car & look after it, if you choose the car for him he'll hate it and treat it like shiit. I bought my own first car & for the first 8 months i washed it every morning lol, when i bought my MKII xr8 new i dont think it went longer than 5 days without being washed dirty or not.

[davonafairlane]

My first car which I still have is a 1987 nissan pintara, medium size 5spd manual, 4cyl, easy on petrol not a cop attraction. Thats the sort of thing, I don't think "small" cars are the way to go at all, yeah easy to park but not real inspiring and hard to get a good "low k's" one and they don't do the high k's.

A reasonably powered medium size mid to late 90's is probably the way to go
Toyota camry
Mitsubishi Magna

[bangm001]

Originally Posted by davonafairlane

My first car which I still have is a 1987 nissan pintara, medium size 5spd manual, 4cyl, easy on petrol not a cop attraction. Thats the sort of thing, I don't think "small" cars are the way to go at all, yeah easy to park but not real inspiring and hard to get a good "low k's" one and they don't do the high k's.

A reasonably powered medium size mid to late 90's is probably the way to go
Toyota camry
Mitsubishi Magna

OKay mate, probably a smart move, but tell me how many camries and magnas travel our roads that actually look inviting for another 18 year old las to cruise in.. They just arent cool cars, practical maybe, but practicality would not be anywhere on his list of priorities when buying his car..

[blackers10]

in repsect to safety features..
japanese cars are very world class with that stuff

can pick up a 1990 celsior or Chaser with low kays.. for around 10k-15k
these were 120k new... absolute luxury (were branded Lexus in australia)
usually 6cyl turbo or V8(some are NA 6).. VERY classy car for the $

my 1st car was a KA laser.. learnt mechanical on it.. looked after it.. didnt matter if somthing broke as $50 fixes everything or $500 buys a new one

2nd car was a ZL fairlane with dual fuel
learnt RWD and LSD handling

3rd car NA fairlane ..was a dodgy purchase so traded it for my 4th

my 4th is my AU lane.. get looks from people in AMGs and M3s... so cant be that bad

cruise thru the city and people always look at fairlanes with young people in them

you have to think of hte repair costs and insurance before buying a car..
especially imported ones(more so euro cars)

my brother spent 3k fixing up his E30 and its NEARLY ready for RWC.. and it wasnt a BAD one either.. mostly just getting a new 323i motor etc..

in short...
if the boy wants a VZ commodore.. let him get it.. just make sure he has full comp insurance for when his foot goes further than his skills do

just do LOTS of reading of the cars before you make a choice..

[Pinch]

Damn, the 04 BA XR6 I sold in March for $18K with traction, premo audio and other goodies would have made a decent first car, way better than my first efforts. $7k would have run it for a few years too. Plenty of similar ones out there if thats the thing. Traction only standard on Mk2 onwards for the non-turbos.

I did write off a ground up rebuilt VC Commo when I was 20. Hit a 'roo at a fair clip. Would much preferred to have trashed a $5000 jobbie than something I spent multiples of that on.

My younger brother just got an 02 Forester as a first car. AWD, some off road ability, decent handling, good 4cyl economy but not overly slow, and first class safety... not much insurance (for non turbo)... and he can tag along with me in mine out to Newnes or up in the Watagans. 6 months and he is loving it.

[fordon]

maybe a datsun 180b.....

wont speed and wont have a car load of people as no one would wanna ride in it, :

[XRQTOR]

Originally Posted by fordon

maybe a datsun 180b.....

wont speed and wont have a car load of people as no one would wanna ride in it, :

These shiittas tend to be the ones wrapped around trees more often, they push the cars harder to get a thrill and beyound both their & the cars ability.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by XRQTOR

These shiittas tend to be the ones wrapped around trees more often, they push the cars harder to get a thrill and beyound both their & the cars ability.

I remember when the Datsun 180B was the ducks guts especially in SSS coupe configuration with the OHC engine and twin carbs ....My next door neighbour bought one new in "1974" I think !! Although the 160J SSS was a much nicer car.

To look back at them now I cringe....esepcially the 120Y...yuk!

[Jock260]

VX S Pack 5 speed Getrag. Good looks, its a commo, safe. Put an SS kit on it and delete the rear spoiler and he has a sleek, reasonably fast, safe first car.