cool manual shift car for new driver?

[billwagnon]

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?

[Moses]

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."

[Eric Coffey]

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

[jhynesrockmtn]

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.

[porsche4life]

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.

[the]

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.

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by billwagnon

....snipInternational Baccalaureate program, ....snip

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.

[the]

like this:

[ChkbookMechanic]

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.

[widgeon13]

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.

[billwagnon]

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.

[David]

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.

[Jim Richards]

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

[legion]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

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.

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.

[gprsh924]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

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.

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.

[onewhippedpuppy]

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.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

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.

Matt is wise.

[deathpunk dan]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

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.

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???

[Tim Walsh]

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.

[911boost]

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