Car time!

[Giovanni]

Finally repaid my debts, about freaking time.

So now I have a choice to make. I got my license not too long ago and I'm under 25 so you can imagine the insurance costs of pretty much anything.

My plan. Have my godfather purchase the car with a deposit from me. Have it listed under his name so I only pay around 100$ at most per month.

Now, I've been looking around... alot of stuff looks good to me. I don't know how to work a manual transmission but I'll learn if I have to, a truck doesn't really interest me neither do SUV's. Jeeps, cars, compact cars are really what I'm looking for.

I've looked at the Smart (as I said some time ago) but it's tiny as fuck and pretty damn expensive. Being a mercedes it's costly to maintain too... I've also been looking at Audi. Cars that have around a hundred thousand kilometers and that are around 4 years old... depending on the model (I like the TT quattro) can run from 18 to 27 grand. From what I've heard they are also pretty damn reliable.

Any input? I've been pushed towards honda by alot of my friends but I dunno...

All input welcome! Woo!

[siXR]

I've driven a few Audis (A3, A4, S4) and Hondas (Civic, Accord) over the years so I'll give you some input.
You didn't mention what other models/engines you were looking at or the mileage you're planning on doing, but hopefully this helps somewhat:

Honda Accord - Bomb-proof reliability, good build quality, smooth engine & ride, comes fully loaded as standard, good MPG. Holds it's value (though not as well as an Audi).
Audi A4 - Reliable, good build quality, good engine, comfortable, good resale value. Not much kit fitted standard though. Less mileage between services than the Honda.
A3 - As per the A4 but expensive for what it is. Again you don't get much fitted as standard compared to the Japanese cars.

I'm putting my money where my mouth is - I'm buying an Accord in the next few weeks. There isn't too much to choose between the A4 & the Honda in terms of handling, comfort etc imho - What swung it was the reliability, running costs, the fact the Accord gets a lot of extras fitted as standard & it's cheaper than the equivalent A4.

[Pollocks]

really any *** cars are mint. they are extremly reliable.

things like toyota, mazda, susuki anything japanese. they makes cars to last. they might not be EXTREMELY powerful but they are small and nippy.

if u can get the second model of the masda 323f. they are cheap. in scotland around �1300. but america i dont now tbh. but yeah *** cars are good for your money.

German cars are really good to. but they can cost alot to get and run.

[Rbstr]

Anything euro means more expensive maintinence.
Contrary to above, the one non-luxury euro make we get here, VW, offers standard equipment well above basically anyone.

Anyway, if your looking at the A4, put the a 1.8 turbo or VR6 VW Jetta GLi and the Passat on your list if you want a sedan the Golf GTi aswell. A bit less luxury(the last gen VW interiors are superb) and only front wheel drive(he passat can be had with the VR6 and 4motion though) but same engines.

Jeep = SUV, so you = confusing.

Oh yeah, Cars don't roll 6-7 time because of a pot hole, unless they're going at ridiculous velocity, didn't say it in the other thread, but needed to at sometime.

Also pertaining to this thread. Insurance fraud is a bad idea.

[Knightwyvern]

Like rob said, insurance fraud = not good.

Anyways, what exactly is you're price range in US $? (makes it easier for me to compare.) I know my way around cars, including buying and selling them so if you give me that price range I can probably help. I will say right off the bat: go Japanese or American. Euro is to pricey if anything breaks. Also, contrary to popular belief it's a good idea to go a little older with lower miles than the other way around. There are advantages to a newer higher mileage car, but it's usually the engine or transmission that give you the big problems and those types of things come about after the car has been driven about 60k miles or up (usually.) Basically the car can be a year old but if the previous owner spanked the hell outta it and racked up 40k miles, you're gonna have problems, versus an older car that has been babied and taken care of.

[Peacemaker]

Ive got three cars on the road right now. My beater car which I wont even discuss, my Toyota Camery, and my Jeep Wrangler. I highly recommend a standard transmission as it gives you more control of the car, better gas mileage, and are less prone to failure (as long as you don't dump the clutch every day).

Jeeps are ridiculously reliable, the 4 cyl engines are pretty good on gas too, fun rides. Easy to work on, easy to customize, parts are available, and not too expensive. They also go FOREVER. My father has a 96 jeep with 350k miles on it. The transmission is starting to show its first signs of wear.

If you want a very reliable car I am going to recommend the Toyota Camery. Either the 6 or the 4 cyl are great. I have a 6 and the gas mileage is pretty good. Its got enough get up and go power and hasn't actually broken once. (Someone took my mirror off once). They keep ticking for a long time too. 2-300 k is no sweat as long as you do regular maintenance.

[Giovanni]

Insurance fraud?

It's common practice for newer drivers around here to have the car insured under someone else and have them registered as secondary driver of the vehicle.

By jeep I meant "jeep" the brand jeep... haha... I hate soccer mom SUV's...

I still have a couple of months to go... no idea where I'm going still... I'll take pics thought. No intention of spending another damn minute walking in the winter time here.

I'm probably looking at around 30k for the car... I'll have it financed more or less so I don't have to pay it all upfront... I'll probably have 5k upfront for the darn thing thought...

I have nothing else to pay so why the hell not? My house isn't for until I have a steady job that pays good enough. Till then all I have are training bills, cell phone and my outings. (Wich amount to maybe 320$ per month)

I'm gonna sound mighty damn superficial but the reason why I was looking at this: http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2006/04/07-audi-tt-design/2003-Audi-TT-3.2-DSG-lg.jpg

Was because of it's looks...

Like I said... (I think) I can get one with 94000km on it, perfect condition for around 26k.

Wich is damn good...

http://www.canadatrader.com/result/detailinfo.aspx?ID=28898244&pgno=1&srt=1

I can probably negociate any potential sellers too. Of course I'm looking for reliable but... it helps when the car looks nice too... I got a thing for pretty things :P

[Rbstr]

The V6 TT's are quite reliable, the VR6 motor is one of the cooler powerplants out there.
The 1.8t can be problematic with poorly maintained and heavily driven cars.(Which your kinda looking at with higher mileage new cars) All wheel drive adds a layer of complexity. Audi also have fairly expensive parts(As do all luxury makes)

How much do you even make a year? 24k US is a big chunk of change(I converted your figure), even if you make 50k a year which is a very good starting salary for a recent grad. You obviously make no where near as much. This would make a VERY VERY poor financial decision.
How long are you going to finance this thing, 5 years?
Unless you can do work yourself when things break I would not recommend any luxury make. You need older, dead reliable.

[Kikinchikin]

I own a 93 Honda Del Sol with 132k miles on it. I bought it for 5 G's 4 years ago with something like 80k miles on it. It hasn't broken down once on me. Honda makes very reliable cars, so if that's what you need, you could go that route (perhaps try a Civic or Accord if you want something more practical, mine's a 2 seater). Also Audis are relatively reliable as well but will cost more.

[Giovanni]

Yeah I'm guessing around 4-5 years financing eh.

I'm working as a salesman so at worse I'm making around around 30k and the max I could see myself doing there is around 80k.

[Rbstr]

Yeah buying a 26k car with 4-5 years of interest when you have no idea what your really going to make is retarded.

You need to set the bar lower.

[Giovanni]

You do have a point I suppose... eh well... man ego down! I think I can get a civic or something like that for real cheap. From what I've heard from pretty much everyone it's one of the cars that's the cheapest to fix and it doesn't break down easy.

I'll have to check out the market. My big car ego will have to wait until my school is opened and running strong.

[Baneblade]

I can get a 2005 Chrysler for 14k USD.

I love carmax.

[Hamma]

Take advice from me who has gone upside down in several car loans :lol:

Make sure you take what you can afford, not what you might be able to afford. Once you are in a loan you are stuck, there is no getting out.

[Giovanni]

Rambo would say otherwise! He's the master of getting out of sticky situations! O_o

[Rbstr]

You are not Rambo, no matter how much you liken your self to him.

Rambo also has jack shit to do with buying a car.

[Giovanni]

I was kidding...

Seriously thought I realise that it was foolish... I think about it real hard and while I could of afforded it... that's what I would of lived for... paying my car. It isn't something I wanna do really.

What I am looking at right now at the Yaris, Civic and the such... the honda fit doesn't look bad either. I mean sure maybe not the best looking cars but... it'll do...

I could probably do like my friend and get a low mileage 2001 civic for around 9k. Wich would be better... should I borrow the money from my godfather it would wind up costing me maybe 300 a month at most (I'd probably put more just to pay it off)? Plus the insurance would be less expensive.

Gas economy would be fun but seems the more gas efficient the car is... the more expensive it is. Hybrids for example cost around 30 grand and they don't save that much fuel from what I've heard. Again I'm guessing a compact car would do the best job.

[Kikinchikin]

My car gets about 35-40 MPG. Hondas get good mileage even if they aren't hybrids.

[OneManArmy]

Or just do what I do, own way too many cheaper cars. ;)

[Giovanni]

Hahah, except I'm not a gearhead... would wind up costing me more :p

[GeneralRazor]

Hahah, except I'm not a gearhead... would wind up costing me more :p

Not understanding cars will cost you more.

[Giovanni]

I understand the basics, but that's it.

I have friend that can fix cars... but I can't rely on them to come out one Saturday and help me work on my trans-am because it broke....

Catch my drift? If I get a flat tire, my throttle cable or simple things that tend to break well... breaks... I'm perfectly fine. If I hear a whinning noise coming from the engine block (or whatever) I can pretty much guarantee I'm gonna be fucked.

[Giovanni]

Found a '76 Trans-am for 7600$. I could get the seller down to 7000$.

Semi-high mileage (around 150) and good condition. The paint needs to be touched up but other then that everything is in good condition.

I think I got myself an orgasm.

[OneManArmy]

no.

God no.


Now don't get me wrong I love them (obviously) but if this is a car you need to rely on then god no.

Infact if you cant do your own work then defiantly not. That car is going to cost you a lot. hell any old car will.

[Rbstr]

Do you realize how old that car is?
In case you don't: IT'S THIRTY-FUCKING-ONE YEARS OLD.

How can you consistently fail to follow advice that you ask for?

[Giovanni]

Haha did I say I was gonna buy it? :p

No, I didn't. I just said I found one and it was an orgasm on wheels... that is all :p

[Rbstr]

In a thread, where your asking about what you should buy. You post that you found X car for Y money.

Without saying flat out "I'm not interested in it", how are we supposed to derive it from context?

[Giovanni]

I suppose.

Anyways my godfather will basicly give me the money and I'll give it back 300$ ish dollars a month.

I found a 2002 civic with 60k mileage on it for 8k. The seller's brother owned the car but he died from cancer and he wants to get rid of it. I'll probably be able to get him down to 7k and get the damn thing. No rust, no damage, no accident interior is as clean as it could be. It's gonna be a hard deal to pass over.

[Baneblade]

Did you get a history report? And I dont mean from the owner.

[Giovanni]

Nothing is finalized yet. I am gonna get an history report thought. I'm gonna bring a mechanic friend along too just to check out any potential problems.