18yr old son's 1st car??

[Charliewool]

Posted similar 2yrs ago when my daughter got her license and had her heart set on a 10yr old 318 BMW. With the advice received here, she finally saw the light and bought a brand new Astra coupe (though, not a Ford, it's been a great little car).
Now my latest AND more depressing dilemma!!
My son got his license today. For the last 6 months or so, it's been.. "I want a HQ".. His mum and myself have convinced him that a 35, 36yr old HQ, with his VERY limited mechanically minded skills (He's doing IT at Uni), plus not having a garage at his mum's was just crazy.
Now he's gone Commodore mad.. "I want a VX, VY or VZ" He has around 25k saved, and as you can imagine, is itching to get his own wheels.
I've tried the tack.. "spend 5 or 6k on a reasonable 2nd hand jap car for your 1st, and build your kitty" Or seeing he is determined to spend the bucks, maybe a 2yr old Focus, or Mazda 3, or even another Astra... But NO, he insists it's his money!
He also insists that he doesn't want "rice" or a "girl's car"...
I've also pointed out that any Commodore with P plates is like a moth to a flame with cops, with thieves, is expensive on fuel, and statistically not a real safe bet all round.
Now, come on you younger guys on here... HELP!!.. Just what "smaller" car isn't classed as girlie or rice?.. Is there something besides a commie (or Falcon, for that matter) that is practical, that's not a magnet to the constabulary, and yet STILL has a bit of class and "street credo"
Advice appreciated!!

[TheSneakiness]

Isn't a Commodore a girls car???

:P

Anyways, if he wants to blow all his money on a car, let him. As I see it, males need to learn the hard way.

[ch33z1l]

How about a Subaru Liberty. Great pickup for a 4cyl and good on fuel. Added bonus of AWD. 2.5L. Also a VRX lancer. Awesome pickup. Leaves falcons for dead in 1st.

[The Yeti]

jsut to scare him off a bit get him to price up insurance on a VX,Y,Z for a red P plater he'll see that after that there isnt much left for the car,

I know he doesnt want rice, but Iwould strongly sugest one of your original options grab a 5k jap car with knock on insurance for the first 12 months in 12 months it will know doubt be worth 5k or so and then once he learns to respect the car he can grab somthing more to his likeing.

Or run the rice burner till hes off his P's and grab an 8 that would be my sugestion

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

Isn't a Commodore a girls car???

:P

Anyways, if he wants to blow all his money on a car, let him. As I see it, males need to learn the hard way.

Thanks for the philosophy lesson!... I Spose us "mere males" are ALL guilty of blowing our hard earned on cars or bikes?.. I was "guilty" of it at 18, at 30, at 40 and still am! (and STILL learning the hard way!)

[XCSEDAN]

how about a 1977 XC falcon with a fresh paintjob, yours for $9000....

look seriously, i dont think he should throw away 25K on his first car as it will probably get banged up, he should spend a max of 10K. whatever it is, its better if it is a popular car so its cheap to repair.

let him get a commy if he wants, but talk him into buying a VK or VH or something, very cheap, very easy to repair, and 202s will sit at 6000rpm for 5minutes doing a burnout no worries (hey trust me i've done it with my mates vk and it has 200,000+kays on it : )

ask him what he wants out of a car...
how many different cars has he driven?

his best bet would be a BA XR6 manual or similar, he can lower it a bit, delete the rear spoiler, put an exhaust on with extractors, XR8 bonnet and he is set, it will look fairly kickass go well, be safe and be fun too (thats if he goes this way)


oh yeah old school cars rock, they are the one that grabs the attention and street cred, seriously, out of everyone i know, i get the most compliments about my car from people young and old, which is strange seeing it is brown :S

[InfernoSR]

Evo or WRX...

[XRated]

You've had a XR6T and now you've got a very fast BF F6 and he still wants a Commodore!

I'd say something sensible but I've learnt a lot since I was 18 and naive. I don't think your son or any other young bloke is really going to listen anyway. My old man was trying to get me to buy something cheap, small and sensible too. But no, I knew best. It's all part of becoming independent and doing what you want. I bought a Falcon in the end. But in saying that, I never would have known so much about cars if I never bought it - I studied IT myself for about six years and had no mechanical knowledge whatsoever... My only regret was the amount of money I spent on it and keeping it for so long (I keep thinking about the amount of money spent on petrol, I'd hate to be in that position now).

As much as I think Commodores are inferior, he could pick up a straight VY/VZ Berlina for around $15k. It'll be a fairly good car, relatively safe, reliable, and not as bad as say an older Falcon on fuel.

I'm ranting on a bit, but if I was in his position I'd be looking for a manual Zetec Focus, Golf or Bora (can get late model ones with full leather, sunroof etc for <$15k, and his lady friends will love it!). So some of his mates might give him a bit of stick about it, but he'd be the one laughing in the end driving around in comfort and saving his pennies for a something more special when he finishes his degree!

The only other cars that spring to mind that have 'street cred' with younger guys are Jap imports. Most of them are turbo anyway, so that rules them out.

Oh and also, a big car is going to be wasted if he can't drive with more than one passenger at a time anyway. May as well get something that is safer and handles like it's on rails!

Good luck with it!

[Grum]

Run out BF XR8 ute FTW!

[King Nothing]

If he can find a nice, clean, non-riced early 90's corolla seca, the sx model, that might not be a a bad buy. ~100kW, 5 speed manual, from memory around the $5k mark but may be a bit more. Lowered on stock rims and dark tint they can look alright. I had a cs-x, which didn't have all the sports interior or the good engine but had the same exterior. It was fun for a first car.





Just double check the insurance price on the sx model though. I remember I was looking at a VS Senator when I was on my red P's, they wanted $6k in insurance!

[SeXC]

problem is that the only small cars that have street cred are older, like escorts or capris, or rotors as long as he is thinking six cylinder i dont see what the problem with a commie is anyways.

Only thing i can think of is a stock el while you help him to build a beast of an old car. (which should take the exact amount of time as it takes to get off his ps) And at least that way you know the car is reliable because its just been built, plus he has built it so should have more respect for it, while at the same time incresing his mechanical knowledge.

Thats what i would do.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by XRated

You've had a XR6T and now you've got a very fast BF F6 and he still wants a Commodore!

I'd say something sensible but I've learnt a lot since I was 18 and naive. I don't think your son or any other young bloke is really going to listen anyway. My old man was trying to get me to buy something cheap, small and sensible too. But no, I knew best. It's all part of becoming independent and doing what you want. I bought a Falcon in the end. But in saying that, I never would have known so much about cars if I never bought it - I studied IT myself for about six years and had no mechanical knowledge whatsoever... My only regret was the amount of money I spent on it and keeping it for so long (I keep thinking about the amount of money spent on petrol, I'd hate to be in that position now).

As much as I think Commodores are inferior, he could pick up a straight VY/VZ Berlina for around $15k. It'll be a fairly good car, relatively safe, reliable, and not as bad as say an older Falcon on fuel.

I'm ranting on a bit, but if I was in his position I'd be looking for a manual Zetec Focus, Golf or Bora (can get late model ones with full leather, sunroof etc for <$15k, and his lady friends will love it!). So some of his mates might give him a bit of stick about it, but he'd be the one laughing in the end driving around in comfort and saving his pennies for a something more special when he finishes his degree!

The only other cars that spring to mind that have 'street cred' with younger guys are Jap imports. Most of them are turbo anyway, so that rules them out.

Oh and also, a big car is going to be wasted if he can't drive with more than one passenger at a time anyway. May as well get something that is safer and handles like it's on rails!

Good luck with it!

Yeah, NO idea what went wrong with the gene pool as far as his Holden fixation?.. I thought all the miles he traveled in the Pursuit & the F6 would have ground in some common sense?
But thanks Xrated... A top reply... I'll show him this!

[MitchG]

alot of you older blokes sound just like my dad, it just seems like a golden rule for a first car buyer to buy somthing cheap & small, im still in the process of buying my first car & i will be spending ruffly 25k on it, i plan on owning the car till my mid 20's to early 30's, i understand that it may be cheaper in the long run with insurance & repair costs to buy somthing small & cheap, but the way i see it is, its my money, its what i want & i dont want to settle for anything less, & i know i will be alot happier in the car i have alwayz wanted rather then setteling for somthing cheap that i didnt really want, may sound very sellfish & all, but at the end of the day as a young adult its my choice, & if theres lessons to be learned from it then so be it...

Plus im sure theres alot more safety features on modern larger cars, then early 90's late 80s jap cars..

[King Nothing]

Originally Posted by MitchG

alot of you older blokes sound just like my dad, it just seems like a golden rule for a first car buyer to buy somthing cheap & small, im still in the process of buying my first car & i will be spending ruffly 25k on it, i plan on owning the car till my mid 20's to early 30's, i understand that it may be cheaper in the long run with insurance & repair costs to buy somthing small & cheap, but the way i see it is, its my money, its what i want & i dont want to settle for anything less, & i know i will be alot happier in the car i have alwayz wanted rather then setteling for somthing cheap that i didnt really want, may sound very sellfish & all, but at the end of the day as a young adult its my choice, & if theres lessons to be learned from it then so be it...

Plus im sure theres alot more safety features on modern larger cars, then early 90's late 80s jap cars..

Mate, I'm not having a go, but chances are you (or any other P-Plater) will crash it. It doesn't even have to be serious, you could just knock something. It happens, especially with a lack of experience. In a $5-7k car it's annoying. In a $25k car it's heartbreaking.

Plus chances are you (or any other P-plater) will flog it, and break something. I know I did, and so would have most members. Same as above, a cheaper car is in general cheaper to repair.

Although I understand why you want it. I didn't want a corolla (I actually wanted a VN! ugh), but I was glad that I did get one. I had it for 12 months then got a BA 6.

[ILLaViTaR]

God 25k.

He could get a BF fairmont or a BA XR6 for that.
Just tell him the BA's and BF's are faster. And don't have a brick of an engine.

I don't understand how people love holdens. All my mates like/have VS's and the interior looks like it was made in china.

[halo]

similar to me... bought an EA falcon, lowered, FTRs, tint, cat back, headers, cam.. cost me about 2k-2.5k all up including the mods. im saving for a nissan cefiro or toyota tourer v

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by King Nothing

Mate, I'm not having a go, but chances are you (or any other P-Plater) will crash it.

Maybe if you suck (not a personal go). If 'chances are you will crash it', that driver shouldnt have been issued with a licence in the first place. Being p-plates and not being able to drive V8's or turbo's i'd go for something like a Hilux or Patrol. You can still have plenty of fun in a fourby.

[Buddy 1]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

God 25k.

He could get a BF fairmont or a BA XR6 for that.
Just tell him the BA's and BF's are faster. And don't have a brick of an engine.

I don't understand how people love holdens. All my mates like/have VS's and the interior looks like it was made in china.

I am an older guy however I travel with my Business to peoples Homes every day & often I come across the 18 or so year old Sons of my Customers & all of them say Wow Hot Ute & know what it is, wow an XR6 etc etc.....

So I would not advise some cheap jap vehicle as I can understand the Yuck factor from your Son & instead I would take the advice given above by what I think is another Young guy, get him to get a BA or even a BF XR6.

Now he may not want the same sort of vehicle as Dad & I understand this also so if he must have a commodore try & get him a late Model like a VZ SV6 as the early ones look dated & Cheap now.

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars...RE&Make=HOLDEN


He will be safer in a larger vehicle if he does crash rather than a old Corolla etc...

How would you like to be me as my Son bought himself a GT650R Hyosung Motorbike on his L's recently & was no way I could talk him into a Car.

Good luck with it

[galaxy xr8]

I would put my vote in for what I am looking at, a mazda 6 Luxury sports, classy, economical, roomy and very sporty.

[sleekism]

Go a BA or BF XR6 Ute. Plenty of streed cred, plenty of performance and not as hopeless as a Commodore and room to throw some bikes on the back.

If he is going to flog it get an EF or EL XR6 they look the part and wont break the bank.

I should recommend an AU but only true blue Ford enthusiasts understand the AU.

[Barra05]

im relatively young at 23, my first car that i bought with my own money was a 68 mustang coupe. I started off in a handed down toyota camry which was a good starting car, and i save my money, and wanted to build my own car, so i saved for the mustang. Now after 3 years im still biulding the mustang, but ive also gone and bought a ba. I agree with the comments on a toyota if u want relaibility, but also the suggestions of a subbie.

[Josh L]

I'm a young bloke... but I'm also a young bloke that didn't quite care at the beginning, so I have had a couple of girly cars.

My first car was a landcruiser that was on gas.
I've had a couple of Nissan Exas, a *cough*mumbleVLmumble*cough*, XE ute and now the EF.

If the boy would settle for an EF/EL on gas and manual, he would definitely get his jollies off... but for insurence reasons, probably best not to go XR.

The EF/EL's where the safest car u could buy in australia in their day.

I kick myself that i didn't buy a corolla for my first car, probably would still be driving it now.

Josh.

[Airmon]

Get a shitty old Pulsar or Carolla and thrash the crap out of it. When it dies then he can go out and buy a nice car. If fuel is an issue any large car on gas would be good. For $25K he could get a BA XR6 convert it to the newer forms of LPG and have it more powerful then a petrol BA.

I did it the other way around, bought the nice car first, now all I long for is a little manual 4 banger to kill.

Tell him if he buys a nice expensive car he'll soon regret it. I do.

[Buddy 1]

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/FORD/FALCON/details.aspx?__sid=119BEF7DC5C4&Cr=2&__Ns=pCar_Pri vateSpecialFlag_Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1|| pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&State=All%20State s&distance=25&silo=1003&seot=0&__Nne=20&Model=FALC ON&R=5521666&__N=4294966463+0+4294966285+429488825 9+834+285+257&Make=FORD&state_id=0&trecs=27

Damm link is not working as it should however if you copy it & past into address bar takes you to a nice BFII XR6 with 6 speed auto for 27k & you could get it for 25k I am sure

This is what I would get if I was Him , Plenty of Cred

[Steffo]

Personally I think telling your kids to buy a small, cheap, jap crap as a first car is a horrible thing to do. Why put them in an unsafe, unable to properly avoid accidents, POS... so that IF they crash you ensure their demise?

If he has 25k, he can buy a very good, late model, safe car that's not girly and will serve him really well...

Like this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars...ake=VOLKSWAGEN

Or this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars...0&Make=RENAULT

Or this...
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars..._id=82&trecs=2

And there's lots more...

In his price range, not hard on the fuel, proper performance cars with proper (4-5 star EuroNCAP) saftey ratings, proper hardware to protect occuptants and avoid accidents, reliable, not thief or cop magnets...

[Whoosha]

Whats wrong with a late model Ford or holeden for a first car ? there good value for the $$ and get reasonable KPL. and if its what he wants chances he will take better care of it anyway, As for probabley haveing a few small mishapps along the way for me bigger would be better, and as far as small being cheaper and easy to reapair don"t count on it, a bent panel cost what it cost to buy and paint it at any size and a head light for a commy or ford is cheaper than most Jap stuff of the same age .. Both my boys thankfully went with Fords (with the threat of no parking space for others) and had no real problems along the way, my 2cents :

[TOASTED]

tx4 4wd turbo laser YEA!!!!

[TOASTED]

i reckon just let him get something he will treasure. i he loves it enough hopefully he will do all to avoid getting it banged up.my first car was my ef that i still have now. have never wrecked it.

[Ives]

Focus ST170.

[Wally]

Get a Rolla, shove on a glasspack and chrome exhaust tip on the back, a pod filter up front, some TRD stickers and it should last him long enough to make up his mind before his first crash.

I insisted my kids get a car with air bags, because the their teeth cost me more than the car and I wanted to protect my investment.