Little Sister needs a car...

Topic: Little Sister needs a car... (Read 4529 times) previous topic - next topic

Little Sister needs a car...

January 18, 2010, 09:23:16 PM

Well my little sister turns 16 in May, so its time to start driving.

The thing is she would need to get a job to afford one. To get a job she would need a ride, which means depending on my mother (who is always late and has become very undependable). With me staying at school I wouldnt be able to help either. So she cant really move forward.

Parents wont be able to afford another car for her so I made her a deal. If she can get good grades (needs 3.0 for insurance break) than I would buy her a car. She would have to pay me back as she could but its really her only chance to start.

I am a little bias on what to get her. I love my fox bodies, and I love my 302s. Never let me down and can take the abuse of a 16 year old. I also love my SHOs, same deal but they are more expensive to maintain. So now choosing a car is the hard part.

Mt first car was the Cougar. Drove it 5 years, beat the piss out of it and it put up with it all. SO 5.0 is slow, but still has enough power to maneuver/pass when needed. Cheap to maintain, parts are a dime a dozen, RELIABLE! Down side is MPGs and insurance.

Ideally I want to find her a Fox Bird or Cougar, 5.0, lower mileage, decent shape, and close by. My problem is I need other options. What other cars would be as dependable and cheap maintain? Suggestion?

Price range is under $1000. Cheap is better, she is going to wreck it, it will get damaged, its a first car. I paid $400 for my car is amazing shape, I hope I can find another deal like that for her.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #1 – January 18, 2010, 09:40:17 PM

A taurus with the 3.0 motor. Keep fluids in it and it will run for a long time. I had one as my 2nd or 3rd car, and I didn't take care of it very well, and it lasted through my beatings for over a year, and I then passed it on to my dad, who drove it from Tampa Florida where we used to live to here in Tennessee without a problem and lasted him almost a year, and thats with well over 200k on the motor. Mine was a '92 model, and it was fairly cheap on insurance for me being 17. Parts are a dime a dozen on them as well, and the motor has a little bit of pep in it.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #2 – January 18, 2010, 09:49:34 PM

Quote from: 20thanniver-ls;306869

A taurus with the 3.0 motor. Keep fluids in it and it will run for a long time.

Yes. My buddy bought a wrecked one for $250, we straightened it out, put a radiator in it and beat the snot out of it hardcore, lasted near a year in his possession, and about 2 or 3 in the next owners. The only thing that killed it was a rotted out ass-end from years of neglect.

They will last forever if maintained.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #3 – January 18, 2010, 10:01:55 PM

I was thinking a stick-shift Escort. That's a perfect starter car with great MPG and insurance rates.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #4 – January 18, 2010, 10:08:44 PM

Quote from: cougarcragar;306872

I was thinking a stick-shift Escort. That's a perfect starter car with great MPG and insurance rates.

Thats what I forgot to add, no manuals. SHO is a hard car to learn in and Im not going to be here to teach her as much as she will need.

How are the Autos? Escort and Taurus are options. I am learning my way around a Taurus pretty well.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #5 – January 18, 2010, 10:21:28 PM

If your gonna get a taurus, do your self a favor and stay away from the bug-eyes. The early 90's with the 3.0 seemed to be the best choices out of all of them. I've had to work on too many of the newer ones, and most of them I've encountered needed trans work.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #6 – January 18, 2010, 10:32:58 PM

I know you like foxes but how about an escort? I've had a ZX2 for going on 5 years now and it's been a great little car. It get excellent milage and is really peppy. But ins. might be a little on the high side if you go with the ZX2, it's considered a sports car even though it's an escort.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #7 – January 18, 2010, 10:42:03 PM

Quote from: 88FoxBird;306878

If your gonna get a taurus, do your self a favor and stay away from the bug-eyes. The early 90's with the 3.0 seemed to be the best choices out of all of them. I've had to work on too many of the newer ones, and most of them I've encountered needed trans work.

Not a huge fan of the Gen III, but I have hear of a few trans issues. I just found a low mileage '95 for $1000 OBO, if I play it right I might get a good deal.

Quote from: 1Bad88tbird;306880

I know you like foxes but how about an escort? I've had a ZX2 for going on 5 years now and it's been a great little car. It get excellent milage and is really peppy. But ins. might be a little on the high side if you go with the ZX2, it's considered a sports car even though it's an escort.

Escort is an option. I doubt she'll get a ZX2 with the price range.

Im glad to hear good new about the Vulcan 3.0. I dont know much about those since Im more in the Yamaha 3.0 game. Ideally I would like to find something with light body damage, something I could fix and still end up under budget. Always seem to get better deals when its ugly lol.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #8 – January 18, 2010, 11:02:47 PM

I have had bad experiences with a 96 (vulcan) and a 97 (duratec) taurus. Both had the transmissions go out at about 150k miles, even with gentle treatment.

I drove an 87 XR-7 in high school, and beat the out of it. Racing, jumping railroad tracks, brake bouncing, changing the oil once a year, you name it. It lasted 250k miles before I sold it to a guy who wrecked it. I would recommend the 5.0/AOD too.

I would also recommend an early 80s 3.8/c5 fox (back before the head gasket issues). Mustang, tbird, marquis, etc. I had an 83 3.8 cougar, and two 85 3.8 marquis, and a 87 3.8 tbird, all of which were a nice ride, and very reliable.

Start her out in a fox, get her addicted :)

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #9 – January 18, 2010, 11:15:46 PM

I never had a problem with the tranny in my old '92, just kept up with the filter and fluid changes and it shifted great, even cold.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #10 – January 19, 2010, 03:48:08 AM

Chalk another one up for the 5.0/AOD. No other car I've ever owned stood up to the kind of beating I gave it. The only reason mine had to be put down was a rust issue that had taken out most of the front end's integrity. Otherwise, I ran that thing HARD. I did have to replace the tranny, but that's because I never bothered checking the fluid and eventually a small leak drained it all. My current car's AOD has 200K on it and after a fluid flush last year, runs good as new. As for mileage, it really isn't THAT bad as long as you keep your foot under control.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #11 – January 19, 2010, 04:22:49 AM

I would prefer an old Saturn SL.

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #12 – January 19, 2010, 07:44:44 AM

Well from a younger POV, A Taurus isnt all that stylin' when your cruisin to school at 16 (No offense to anyone).

At that age it seems like most kids are more concerned about how a car looks than anything else. (other than actually having a car)

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #13 – January 19, 2010, 08:03:35 AM

tempo/topaz,cheap, easy to fix, good on gas.
At her age she does not need power, on that note the tempo's go quite well anyhow.
Plus front wheel drive might be a bit easier for an inexperienced driver to manage in inclimate weather.
P.S. what does G.P.A. have to do with your ability to drive for a cheaper insurance rate,that's dumb and biased

Little Sister needs a car...

Reply #14 – January 19, 2010, 10:09:22 AM

I vote for getting her into a bird( I am biased though) To bad you are so far away, I will be getting rid of my 87 in the spring and would prefer it went to someone with a background in these. Even with the good grades discounts and everything else available my sons insurance is high and thats on a 83 Bird with a V6, you might want to check how much a V8 will cost. He doesnt even drive the car in the winter but if I take it off the policy it gets worse as then he moves onto one of my other cars policy which raises it even more.