recommendations for first car?

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
Against the advice of all the hand-wringing bedwetters my son's first car was a 1975 2002. He drove it for over a year with no tickets and no accidents, whereupon I let him "upgrade" to my 2004 X3. At 19 he still has no tickets and his one accident involved backing into a friend's car on a dark rural driveway.
I credit his good driving history to his attending the two day BMW Performance Center Teen School as well as the one day Street Survival course.


Sure, if you can find one.

About a year ago, I found an E30 325e. Ugliest green this side of Chrysler's "Atomic Yellow" (which was actually "something you would find in a baby's diaper green"). Plain vinyl seats in okay condition. It had over 200,000 miles on it but how much I'll never know because its speedometer was broken. Diesel low redline...0-60 in probably 14 seconds out of a 6 cylinder.

I accept that the E30 is a very structurally sound car and that the eta 6 cyl gets better mpg than many smaller 4 cyls, but there is no way that was a $4000 car. That was the price and they would not budge.

There is anouther 325 convertible that is looks like the top stayed down in all weather conditions Interior is garbage. They want $5000

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: KitaCam


Loved that car...I had a '72 2002 in Chamonix white....a wonderful car....


Yes- even at nearly 40 years old it can more than keep up with traffic- although it would be nice to have a 1973 tii!

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog

Sure, if you can find one.

About a year ago, I found an E30 325e. Ugliest green this side of Chrysler's "Atomic Yellow" (which was actually "something you would find in a baby's diaper green"). Plain vinyl seats in okay condition. It had over 200,000 miles on it but how much I'll never know because its speedometer was broken. Diesel low redline...0-60 in probably 14 seconds out of a 6 cylinder.

I accept that the E30 is a very structurally sound car and that the eta 6 cyl gets better mpg than many smaller 4 cyls, but there is no way that was a $4000 car. That was the price and they would not budge.

There is anouther 325 convertible that is looks like the top stayed down in all weather conditions Interior is garbage. They want $5000


I already had the '02, so I was spared the hunt. As for E30s, good ones can bring significant money- especially the 1988-up 325is or Sport models. Many contemporary car magazines(R&T, for one) actually preferred the 325is over the E30 M3. A 325e is a good base for an inexpensive track car-you can convert the 2.8 eta lump into a pretty decent high performance motor-but that is about it. A lot of folks like the 1991 318i/is as well- the sweet M42 four makes it a pretty lively car- although you have to keep the rpm above 3500 to make use of its capabilities.

 

[rjundi]

Domestic(Ford/GM) sedan. They are cheap to acquire and if correct prior owner likely reliable. Japanese are nice but in your price range the badge costs $1000 for Honda/Toyota if compared to a domestic equivalent. I would prefer to pay $3000 for condition.

I would not focus on car brands too much but avoid European anything and Chrysler.

 

[IndyIan]

I'd get a wagon or hatchback of some sort, ford escort or focus maybe. Good for hauling stuff and they are fairly slow. If he's going to go to school somewhere then its nice to be able to fit stuff like an office chair in the car, or a bike, or 12 loads of laundry. Taurus wagon would be good too.