- Joined
- Feb 5, 2023
- Messages
- 243
Yeah, but unlike that song, his story didn't end happily. He drank himself to death. At least he didn't drive under the influence, And his wrecks didn't seriously injury anyone.
First car for son: 3800 Buick vs Crown Vic vs Camry 2.2L....need advice
- Thread starter Chris B.
- Start date
Camry out of those choice. Kind of overpriced but maybe that's what they cost now? Had 4 boys all hit something in their first car. Luckily minor but don't get something that will be heartbreaking when they dent it or break something. Funny thing is we got 1 boy an 01 Grand Marquis for $1200 about 8-10 years ago as his second car, passed on to his older brother who still drives it.
Of those choices I would say Buick for mileage and age. Probably many parts around if needed at junkyards. Camry also should be pretty easy to get parts. The higher mileage doesn't scare me if I knew how it was maintained and all checks out. It is almost 2x his age.
As others said a slower 4cyl to learn is good. Whatever you get I would put an investment into 4 true winter tires on spare rims to give him best option in the "oh crap". Same thing for the 3 seasons, best wet versions you can afford.
Search my posts for streetsurvival.org. I have links to pictures/videos. Not the normal drive around town driving school version.
What is price range that you are willing to do? Maybe @macarose has some options that he stumbles across or check his Facebook.
My son is 24yo, he started with a '04 CRV handed down with high mileage, not best maintained, gave him some good experience. We upgraded radio, speakers, tires. It needed some extra work when AC seized. I bought him a 2010 Forte for $2500 with about 140k from my captain at firehouse in July '19. That got him through the last couple years of college and through PA school. Yup he wanted more but admits that the money, size, pre loved scratches were perfect for school parking lots. We also put better lighting and better tunes in. It's at 189k now.
My daughter is 21. She got the '04 CRV until the tranny went at almost 280k. My sister gave her an '08 CRV 4.5 years ago that kept dying said keep it if you can fix it or junk it. They didn't listen to me on what I thought it was but her son wanted something different anyway. Was pretty easy and not expensive fix. Again did a good radio/speakers/amp/small sub, better lighting, tires. She loves it, has put on about 35k.
There are definitely manual transmission Accords out there. New driver I'd get a 4cyl one, the 6cyl ones are quick. Both my kids drive my '17 Accord 6MT 4cyl if needed or they want to. My '07 Sonata was a 5MT but the programming and drive by wire with dual mass flywheel made it more difficult to shift/drive smooth. They both learned on it. Even I would stall randomly it was just odd. It lasted me 14 years and 220k though and was very comfortable and not expensive.
Acura ILX in Denver with Manual transmission
73k mile 2013 Forester in Oregon
$4700 2016 Jetta
Cars.com has some decent search choices for distance, years, price, and for me transmission (but do need to verify in pictures etc).
As others said a slower 4cyl to learn is good. Whatever you get I would put an investment into 4 true winter tires on spare rims to give him best option in the "oh crap". Same thing for the 3 seasons, best wet versions you can afford.
Search my posts for streetsurvival.org. I have links to pictures/videos. Not the normal drive around town driving school version.
What is price range that you are willing to do? Maybe @macarose has some options that he stumbles across or check his Facebook.
My son is 24yo, he started with a '04 CRV handed down with high mileage, not best maintained, gave him some good experience. We upgraded radio, speakers, tires. It needed some extra work when AC seized. I bought him a 2010 Forte for $2500 with about 140k from my captain at firehouse in July '19. That got him through the last couple years of college and through PA school. Yup he wanted more but admits that the money, size, pre loved scratches were perfect for school parking lots. We also put better lighting and better tunes in. It's at 189k now.
My daughter is 21. She got the '04 CRV until the tranny went at almost 280k. My sister gave her an '08 CRV 4.5 years ago that kept dying said keep it if you can fix it or junk it. They didn't listen to me on what I thought it was but her son wanted something different anyway. Was pretty easy and not expensive fix. Again did a good radio/speakers/amp/small sub, better lighting, tires. She loves it, has put on about 35k.
There are definitely manual transmission Accords out there. New driver I'd get a 4cyl one, the 6cyl ones are quick. Both my kids drive my '17 Accord 6MT 4cyl if needed or they want to. My '07 Sonata was a 5MT but the programming and drive by wire with dual mass flywheel made it more difficult to shift/drive smooth. They both learned on it. Even I would stall randomly it was just odd. It lasted me 14 years and 220k though and was very comfortable and not expensive.
Acura ILX in Denver with Manual transmission
73k mile 2013 Forester in Oregon
$4700 2016 Jetta
Cars.com has some decent search choices for distance, years, price, and for me transmission (but do need to verify in pictures etc).
We always contact friends and family.
My 35yo nephew was about to trade in a Honda Accord to the dealer. Great running condition but had some dings, faded paint etc. perfect….
Feel free to PM me. I think you're on the right track but at that price range the prior owner's maintenance and driving habit habits have a much greater impact on the quality of the vehicle than the brand or model (with a few exceptions).If I was buying my kid a first car it would be a Chevy Bolt. But, I don’t have a kid, so take my opinion for what it’s worth
Here's what I have locally, but I also buy plenty of vehicles out of the area too. If you do get a Chevy Bolt, only get the 2019 model which is the only year these models received a free battery replacement and an upgraded steering gear which is often an Achilles heal on the 2017 and 2018 models.
There are plenty at the wholesale auctions. Also your son may have limited charging stations in college or none at all. So if you go the EV route be prepared to eventually make it someone else's daily driver. There's a very strong chance he won't need a car for college.
Of the three listed I would go with the Buick.
No way I'd buy a new driver a V6 anything. You want a slow car for somebody that's bound to test how fast it will go sooner or later. Having said that, clearly my choice would be the Camry, but maybe not that Camry. That's a lot of age and miles for the price. For sake of reliability, stay with Toyota and Honda, but look for fewer miles and a better deal.
As much as I'm a V8 lover and even a gm 3800 lover the Camry is the one I would be most willing to work on because of space under the hood (with the 4 cylinder). They're all probably going to have problems at that age. My sister has an 05 Camry 2.4 for a couple years until it got smashed up. Then a 2005 matrix which has been very problematic, but at least both were pretty user friendly for repairs.
Imagining myself as a 15 year old buy, I would prefer the Camry over the other two options, although the Mercury might look pretty slick with the right set of aftermarket wheels and maybe a grill swap.
Or a Ford Focus or Taurus.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
I have the exact Buick for my 16 year old daughter. It has been solid. Ours has 160,000 on it. I've had to do the I take gasket, brakes and on front wheel bearing.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2023
- Messages
- 243
With all the newer Camry suggestions, just remember that some years of the 2AZ were oil burners due defective rings and pistons. The Car Care Nut suggested avoiding the years 2007 through 2015, so I would suggest avoiding those years.
Also remember that the gamble that you're taking with Toyota is your paying More for the reputation Even on models that Don't live up to the hype. If you're going to pay the Toyota tax, make sure you're getting a model that lives up to the reputation. You can still get a dud with Toyotas (I speak from experience), Make sure you get a clean Carfax with no prior collisions.
Also remember that the gamble that you're taking with Toyota is your paying More for the reputation Even on models that Don't live up to the hype. If you're going to pay the Toyota tax, make sure you're getting a model that lives up to the reputation. You can still get a dud with Toyotas (I speak from experience), Make sure you get a clean Carfax with no prior collisions.
Last edited:
out of those choices, the Crown Vic 100% why?
Safe
reliable
and it is the coolest out of the bunch
and he could grow into it.
If it was closer, I might buy that, and I am not a Ford guy.
also looks like the nicest of the bunch your listed, and probably owned by a grandpa.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2023
- Messages
- 243
Remember this is a teenager were talking about, giving a V8 to a teenager could be a dangerous combination especially under peer pressure with his friends. Also they're in mind that this isn't going to be the most fuel efficient vehicle. Getting him started on something more efficient on a teenager's tight budget is probably a better choice.
Lol. As an owner of multiple, not sure you have to worry about extra risk with a V8 panther.
About as tame as a kitty cat. Can get in as much trouble with a V6 Taurus, or less.
When I was a kid, my 3.1 Cutlass Supreme had more potential for trouble than my 4.6 Crown Vic, with the Cutlass having a better hole shot and less control with fwd.
The panther cars are about as boring, unexciting, and unrewarding as it gets. Almost everything is more peppy, more efficient, safer, while lacking the stodgy image.
Even for a reliablility standpoint: the 8.8 axles eat bearings and leak oil. The 4r70 is a lazy slishbox and a wildcard. The 4.6 eats timing chain guides, spits plugs, and leaks coolant from various locations.
That's not counting the chassis problems
HVAC issues being the big ticket items, and the ticky tack stuff like headlight relays, window regulators and the other BS that's common to every other car out there. Don't do your own wrenching? Enjoy paying what now is probably $2k for a HVAC box when you can't defrost your windshield because the mode door broke off of its hinge. If the box is available (can't even buy the common intake manifold from Ford anymore. Probably totals the car, the values they sit at.
The panther cars are outdated, and shouldn't be considered by anyone but an enthusiast. I'm their old age, as a practical car for a new driver, they should be at the very bottom of the list. They offer nothing.
About as tame as a kitty cat. Can get in as much trouble with a V6 Taurus, or less.
When I was a kid, my 3.1 Cutlass Supreme had more potential for trouble than my 4.6 Crown Vic, with the Cutlass having a better hole shot and less control with fwd.
The panther cars are about as boring, unexciting, and unrewarding as it gets. Almost everything is more peppy, more efficient, safer, while lacking the stodgy image.
Even for a reliablility standpoint: the 8.8 axles eat bearings and leak oil. The 4r70 is a lazy slishbox and a wildcard. The 4.6 eats timing chain guides, spits plugs, and leaks coolant from various locations.
That's not counting the chassis problems
HVAC issues being the big ticket items, and the ticky tack stuff like headlight relays, window regulators and the other BS that's common to every other car out there. Don't do your own wrenching? Enjoy paying what now is probably $2k for a HVAC box when you can't defrost your windshield because the mode door broke off of its hinge. If the box is available (can't even buy the common intake manifold from Ford anymore. Probably totals the car, the values they sit at.
The panther cars are outdated, and shouldn't be considered by anyone but an enthusiast. I'm their old age, as a practical car for a new driver, they should be at the very bottom of the list. They offer nothing.
Last edited:
I'm pretty sure the 2.2L camry is actually quicker 0-60 than a civilian geared 4.6L Panther. My 2001 Grand Marquis is comically slow.
The 3800 powered Buick is the fastest one of the bunch here.
Since @Chris B. is in Colorado, it may be worth looking at this recent BITOG thread posted in the for sale forum.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2023
- Messages
- 243
It's not exclusively about 0-60 times. It's the rumble of the V8, doing donuts, doing a burn out. A Camry 2.2 doesn't have any cool factor to it that a Grand Marquis accidentally has. Also, if he's in Colorado do you REALLY want a teenager to have a car that is so poor at snow regardless of winter tires?
I agree with that stuff and I'm not so sure it would actually be faster than a grand marquis. I've driven a few 4 cylinder Toyota's and 4.6 Panthers over the years and the Panthers at least felt quicker. Highway fuel mileage between the Camry and Buick are probably pretty similar with the 4.6 not being too extremely far off of them.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
And it is slow.