cool manual shift car for new driver?
 

My son is a total genius and is getting out of high school when he is 17. He is driving on a permit now.

He works really hard - a lot harder than I did in high school, or even college, just on the school work (AP, International Baccalaureate program, band, jazz, etc.)

He's only going to be a driver one year in high school, and I'd like him to have a "nice" (cool) car. Money is always tight, but I think I could hit $2500 maybe $3000 tops. Safety is a concern of course but I know I can't protect him from everything.

I would like to get him an early Miata - I can do some work on the car, like paint or rebuild an engine. But I think there must be other cars out there too. I want him to learn to drive a manual and I want something that will make him smile. I'll own the car but it would be his to drive.

Thoughts? SmileWavy

My son just turned 18. "Cool" cars for kids are Subarus, Toyota Corollas, Honda Civics, Jeeps and pickups.

You and I might agree that Miatas are great cars because we see them on the track all the time. My son was looking for a car last year. There was a really nice black Miata for sale in my town so I took my son to show it to him. He took one look and said, "Dad. I'm not gay."

E30 (or maybe even E36) BMW? A early 90's 318i would be fun, safe, and great on gas.

Yup, you should check with him or his buddies. My son wants to sell the 66 mustang his Mom bought him to get a VR6 VW. I'm happy about it because just putting should er belts in the Stang would be hell and wrong. It's a nice original car that handles and stops like an old tractor. His crowd is into VW's, Audis and Subarus. He loves driving my 82 SC though.

DUH 944 or even cheaper 924. watch craigslist and ebay and you can score one that needs work for that budget. and it dont get much cooler than having a porsche in high school. Oh ya i graduate this year and they are spot on about vw's audi's subaru's. But a porsche is still cool.

924? He wants to reward the kid, not punish him.

There's lots of cool cars, $3K is a little light. I'd go for a 3 series BMW from the 80s, you might be able to get a decent 90s E36, too.

A nice late 80s 325is would be nice! The "is" is a cool car, BBS wheels, nice sports seats, sports suspension, a nice snappy engine and great transmission.

I took some IB programs in high school also. Great program and very difficult. Congrats to your son.

P.S 924'S' are quite fun.

like this:

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc261/viaw/Sig2.jpg

I like the E30 BMWs and the NA / NB Miatas. That whole gay talk goes out the door when you take them to a track and watch the hairdresser Miatas embarrass much more powerful cars. That and Miatas are easy to work on and have a large amount of aftermarket support.

I'd go for safe a lot more than cool. He's got the rest of his life to be cool.

I know you want him safe as well but all he needs is a car to get him somewhere.

Just a thought.

thanks guys! that would be bad to get him what I think is cool and he doesn't!

I grew up driving beater / beaten 65/66 Mustangs in the 80s but they were very cool to me.

I'm still about 2 years away from having to deal with this, but my current plan is an older BMW. I think they're safer than comparable Japanese cars and manual trannies are more available.

E30 BMW...a 325is, or to be more economical, a 318is. Then help him make it look nice and stay mechanically sound.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/...67397d.jpg?v=0

Yep, I second this.

With that budget, you'd only be able to afford an NA 944, so the extra power of the S, S2, and Turbo would be out of his reach (a good thing).

You'd be able to afford any 924, but the 924S would be my top pick as it is essentially an early 944 without the fender flairs. This is the easiest 924 to get parts for.

I disagree slightly. Driving a relatively unsafe car makes you much more aware of your surroundings. My attitude when I am driving the 924S is that if I get in an accident, I am not walking away from it. So even when i was doing stupid stuff in it (which was often) that thought of potential death was still lingering there in the back of my mind.

The same thing happened the first time I drove my dad's M3. Right before I left he stopped me and said, "Just remember, its a convertible, if you do something stupid and roll it somehow, you are probably going to die." Its an effective safety tool.

With your $3k limit, I vote E30. You can get a nice solid 325is or 318is for $3k or under. There's a decent looking and great mechanicals 318is for sale by a BMWCCA member for $2800 OBO in Wichita right now. The 318is is fun to drive, gets 30 MPG, but isn't really fast enough to get in serious trouble.

Other decent bets would be an older VW GTi or Corrado, 1st gen Toyota MR2, Mazda RX7, Nissan 240SX, Nissan 300ZX, older Toyota Supra, Saab 900 turbo. The Japanese ones would be much more affordable to drive and fix than the Germans, something to consider.

C'mon guys, a high school guy isn't going to go for a Miata. Chick cars don't attract chicks, and I guarantee you he cares much more about women than he does track times.:D

Matt is wise. :)

I had a corrado VR6 in college...the engine rebuild at 145k was $3000. Not a good choice for a budget daily driver.

However, I heartily endorse a mk2 8v or 16v GTI, or an E30 318is with the dohc M42 4 cyl. What about a crx si???

Good luck finding a decent CRX Si for $3. Most of the $3k ones have been heavily molested. Hell I only know of a few without engine swaps.

I have always thought these were cool. Even in high school....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1223309818.jpg

+1 on BMW.
Bought my son a '97 328is back in Nov 07. We've already replaced the clutch as a father - son effort.

e30.

Besides safety and the manual transmission, a big reason I'd choose the BMW is that it's a car I wouldn't mind working on as a father-son project.

As someone who drove an E36 325is for 6 years (and my father had an E36 sedan for 7 years as well), I can tell you that working on BMWs is a joy compared to old VWs etc. Generally, things come apart and go back together with ease on the 1st attempt.

This past summer, I replaced the tie rods, control arms, control arm bushings, rotors, pads, sway bar end links, rear shock mounts, and sway bar rubber mounts in just a couple of hours.

E36 and E46 3 series' are very similar from a mechanical/platform standpoint.

If you don't mind dealing interiors that fall apart, an E36 3 series represents great value.

We were in the car tonight and an old Supra was going by.

I said "What kind of car do you like? Do you like that Supra?"

He said, "That's okay."

I said, "What do you think about Miatas?"

He said, "What's a Miata look like?"

Maybe I am looking for a car for ME. :)

Get him something nobody has, like 635 CSI or L6 if you go BMW. There are good ones out there for 3K.

I paid a tad more for a 318ti for one of my stepdtrs. They are becoming cult cars with a lot of folks putting m3 motors in them to make a real sleeper. This one had been tastefully customized with m3 wheels, bumpers, euro marker lights, etc. She has enjoyed it but wants an accord when she goes off to college. But her mom's policy is I'll help you with your first car but after that you're on your own,....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1223348231.jpg

The e36 318tis are pretty cool - they're based on an e30 chassis so they are light weight and more nimble than other e36s.

No affiliation, I just happened to see it.

http://rmn.craigslist.org/cto/867762206.html

http://images.craigslist.org/1fd13b1...958f921485.jpg

I did a autotrader search in your area and a couple of jeep Cherokee's came up...

Unless he is looking for a sporty car a jeep is safe and pretty versatile.

Some mid 90'd Acura's and a Mitsu eclipse too.

Cherokee? Who's buying the gas?

An Integra is a great car, but a thief magnet. The Eclipse GSX (turbo AWD) can be a rocket for very little cash. Very fast and furious.:p

Dunno, how many MPG does the old jeep six banger get? He is a musician and going to college soon so something that can haul stuff might be handy.

And at his age he probably is more interested in "fast and furious" type cars than what we crusty old wrench heads would like to drive.:p

The Integra GSR is more of a magnet than a GS, LS, or RS would be. Not to say that they are never stolen, but they have less desirable parts (read: no VTEC engine).

As for the Eclipse; prepare for maintenance. Unless you KNOW that the PO was an old lady that bought it off the showroom floor, assume tht it has been beaten into the ground on numerous occasions.

I think it is clear that you and your son have different interests when it comes to cars. Not a bad thing, just different. I suggest you just ask him what kind of car he would want.

On the other hand my 8 year old daughter will point out every Porsche, BMW and Mini that goes by on the road. :D

1995 JEEP WRANGLER 4CYL! my first car, i loved it. bout it for about 4000, sold it for 4500 two years later. had a friggin blast offroading and driving the beast. Slower than dirt, but it was just too much fun. The top took 5 second to take off and was just a super fun car.