[akms]

I'm looking for a car I'm 11 for when I'm 16 any good teenage cars you can recommend
-thanks

[valinors_sorrow]

Hi akms, and welcome! I don't have a direct answer for you (mostly because I am not so much into cars) but I do know that the automotive market is likely to experience some big changes in the next few years from gas prices increasing. It is entirely possible that the car you'd like today will not be the perfect one in five years and the one you like in five years might not even be designed yet! So what else is an 11 year old wondering about besides cars and college (I see your other thread and think it's a bit premature too - lots of stuff needs to be hashed out first there-- like your developing interests, etc). Are you always so forward thinking?

[akms]

Yes I like to think about the future a lot college job car house but I also like to do a lot of current stuff skateboarding d&d and stuff:)

[valinors_sorrow]

Phew! For a minute I wasn't sure you were ALL kid... but you threw in just the right stuff, skateboarding and d&d LOL :p

Thinking is good, dreaming is even better... just no overplanning, okay? Be sure to enjoy where you are because where you are is the best time ever in your life! Me too! ;)

[ScottGem]

im looking for a car im 11 for when im 16 any good teenage cars you can recomend
-thanks

In 5 years the available cars will probably change greatly.

A teenage car is not usually a good buy. I would certainly not recommend buying a car much more than 5 years/50K miles old. A car that is 13 or more years old is probably ready for the junk yard. ;)

I would expect to spend between $6K & $10K for a decent used car in 5 years. Figure $10K-$15K for a new car. So you have a lot of saving up to do.

[bhayne]

A $50k 2006 car may be only worth $2k in 2011.

My advice to you is to wait as long as possible before you buy a car.

[akms]

Well the problem is I have 1k currently and I figure I'm not going to be able to save up 5k in 5 years 1k p er year that's how much I've saved up in 11 years:eek:

[Dr D]

If you live in the Rust Belt (where they put salt on the roads) you will be forced to buy something newer as ScottGem advised. It will most likely be an import. If you are lucky enough to be in a warmer climate you can find an older rust free vehicle. One of my vehicles is an 82 GMC shortbed pick up which I love & plan to keep forever. Repair parts are cheap and plentiful, and since it doesn't have the new electronics,you can fix it yourself and learn in the process. There are many trick parts available, like dropped spindles and billet grilles etc. The gas milage is not that great, but if you take care of it, you could drive it for years and get all of your money back. In case of a wreck, I'd rather be in my truck than a Honda Civic.

[thebriggsdude]

In 5 years the available cars will probably change greatly.

A teenage car is not usually a good buy. I would certainly not recommend buying a car much more than 5 years/50K miles old. A car that is 13 or more years old is probably ready for the junk yard. ;)

I would expect to spend between $6K & $10K for a decent used car in 5 years. Figure $10K-$15K for a new car. So you have a lot of saving up to do.

13 years old ready for the junkyard? Hehe have a 1980 that is far from it.


I'd buy a old car to start with (relatively good body and engine)... because it will be cheap... cheap to fix, and "won't break" as easy as a newer car... newer cars just can't take things head on (say like a deer doing 45) and only bust a turn signal. ;)

[bhayne]

An older car might be cheap to buy and cheap to fix, but if your worried about trying to save $1K/yr, at $100/ tank it will be a nice front yard ornament!

[Dr D]

I think that bhayne just doesn't like cars. On one hand he says that a 2006 vehicle might lose 96% of its value in 5 years, and on the other predicts $5.00+/gal for the price of gas. It might be time to invest in a good horse or a bicycle. Even at $5.00 gas my cost per mile will be much less than a newer vehicle.

[thebriggsdude]

Lol, at around a little over 20 miles to the gallon... with the small 267 v8... not at all a gas hog (AND ITS GOT A CARB! )... unless you go out and buy one with a 458 or something! Lol The BIG cars always had little to big engines...

[akms]

Thanks you guys but I'm only 11 what are you talking about

[valinors_sorrow]

thanks you guys but im only 11 what are you talking about

See, this is why you might want to wait a few years for some topics as your understanding and viewpoint will have changed considerably by then? ;)

[thebriggsdude]

thanks you guys but im only 11 what are you talking about

Essentially start with a old car... one that has some "beef" if you will... more steel then plastic.. something that would be cheap to fix if anything went wrong as well...
AND that old cars can get good gas mileage... not the dinosaurs with the large 454 big blocks that drank gas.. ones with very small 4 cylinders to 6 cylinders...


By the way dr. d, Mine doesn't have the 700, does have the t350 trans. Great trans!

[Dr D]

Dear AKMS: You obviously have some interest in cars. Take $12 of your savings and get a one year subscription to Hot Rod magazine ($18 for 2 yrs). It will expose you to some of the fun stuff that can be done with cars and introduce you to how they work. Since you will not have unlimited funds for your car venture, you should learn as much as you can about them. Spend some time with friends who tinker with cars, and get some grease under your finger nails. It should be fun, and will save you much money in the long run.

[akms]

I do like mechanics as my father put this computer together awe man its leaking oil again just joking but he put this together 30 years ago so he's my mechanics teacher
Also unfortunately my friends limits on stuff the do recreationaly is kick a football cross
A soccer field but their cool any way but thanks ill try and make new friends that do that junk good year to make friends just going into middle school

[kitch428]

Stop in and ask any auto technician. We get offers to buy customers cars all the time because they don't want to put anymore $ into it. Then the tech may buy/fix them and sell cheap. A lot cheaper than one just like it on the lot.

[froggyogy]

Well I suggest you look at a "CarWorks.com" so you can pick a cheap,hot, and affordable car. Oh, and make sure that your mom and/or dad are OK with you using that site. Don't worry, there's nothing inapropriet on that site.
Addviser,
Froggyogy.