I'm 16 and I'm getting my first car, help choosing?

Question

I have like a 3,000 dollar budget but then my mom said she could loan me 2,000 if I paid it off. So I guess I have like a 5,000 budget. I would like to get a newer car that was made in at least this century, but if it's a classic then I wouldn't mind if it is pretty old because I hear they hold up very well in an accident.. Of course, it will be used, but I was looking at some of the eclipse's and they are really nice. I need something that will hold up pretty well, I was also looking at the classic corvettes and what not. If someone could give me a good trustworthy link to a website that sells used cars, classy ones too, then that would be awesome. I am also taking any suggestions. Thankyou!

Answer 1

I remember when I was 16. I had a $2,500-$3,000 budget and really wanted $5,000, because it seems like that price was where the good ones were. I know you're not going to want to hear this, but please don't accept a loan from your mom. If she were willing to gift it to you, I might consider taking it, but owing your family money causes a strain in relationships. There are plenty of great $3,000 cars out there, and you'll appreciate a newer one a lot more in the future. I'd suggest the Nissan Altima. It's very dependable, stylish,  and if you get an earlier model, you can easily find a decent one in the $3,000 range. I would stay far away from most American cars (Ford, Dodge, etc.), as they usually aren't very reliable. If you're determined to spend $5,000, I'd suggest buying a cheaper one to drive for a few months until you've saved the money on your own. The borrower really is slave to the lender! Good luck.

Answer 2

Dont go with a Mitsubishi, they have very poor reliability. They are nearly on the bottom of the PP100 list, which is how many problems per 100 cars.

Honda and Acura have very good reliability and are considered way cooler than Mitsubishi, or any of the American brands (the new American cars are cool and reliable, but at the turn of the century they were pretty far behind the imports. They have concentrated on improving in the last few years and they have come a long way)

You can get a decent Acura for that price. Most of their cars are good looking and are almost always extremely fast. They get good mileage, and they are popular.

Answer 3

Ya the eclipse's is a good car to purchase. Going fr an older car like a corvette is alos a good choice but because of the type of car it is insurance will also cost you more. I would go with an eclipse they are reliable cars and also look nice stock, and wont cost you as much in insurance as an older corvette or sports car will.

Answer 4

A classy Corvette!   I can promise you without any doubt at all that your insurance will be at least $4000 a year for a corvette.  I don't think you should go that way.  It's a fun dream, but you cannot afford it.

Look at dependable Hondas, Toyotas, and cars that do not use a lot of gas.  Can you afford to put 50 dollars in the tank every week or so.  You have to take that into consideration.

Answer 5

Actually, classic cars are not safer then modern cars, simply because they were never tested and don't have airbags. If you place a modern vs. classic car side by side you're more likely to die.

I've done research on the safest cars to drive because my sister was killed in a car accident last year. The two safest models and makes are:

Honda Accord & Civic

Volkswagon Passat & Jetta

There are others that will say they are safe, but in terms of all-around safety, especially in regard to head injuries (which is how most people die), these are the best.

Good luck.