Car Decisions

[03g35coupe6mt]

My " old " 2003 G35 coupe does just fine for its age

[enkei2k]

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

That's still way too much car for a 16 year old. "High powered fun" and "16 year old driver with his first car" should not be in the same sentence.

I suppose. I mean, I got my first car when I was 23? It was a 155HP 240(sx). man that car was peppy for its age. Maybe OP can find one of those instead. Those are still considered 'cool' with the whole drifting fad and what not.

What's considered high power though? 200+ 250+? I mean, lots of cars that would be of interest to a 16 year old nowadays have that much hp. I doubt they'd be interested in a Versa

[Chuck33079]

I'm not sure what the cutoff is, but it's damn sure not any vehicle running 13s stock.

Most of your recommendation was spot on, just not the turbo part. I suggested earlier a NA Impreza hatch. All of the suspension mods from a WRX/STI will bolt right up, but it's not fast enough to make doing something retarded a temptation, and it's not nice enough to draw hate in the parking lot.

That's one of the benefits of never having had a car before- whatever you get, it's the fastest car you've ever had.

[Brutal 370Z]

IMO its a waste of money to get a starter car, take the hit on it, and then realize that you want more power (which you obviously will) and then get a more expensive car.

My advise is to get the car you want now and keep it a bit longer, especially when your parents are hooking it up. 330 HP is very manageable after you get used to it. Just take it easy and be responsible. Oh and be humble...don't go around the school talking about your new car...people won't like you.

[Chuck33079]

Originally Posted by Brutal 370Z

IMO its a waste of money to get a starter car, take the hit on it, and then realize that you want more power (which you obviously will) and then get a more expensive car.

My advise is to get the car you want now and keep it a bit longer, especially when your parents are hooking it up. 330 HP is very manageable after you get used to it. Just take it easy and be responsible. Oh and be humble...don't go around the school talking about your new car...people won't like you.

I couldn't disagree with you more. There's a reason accident rates and insurance costs are so high for that age group. They are far more statistically likely to have a problem. It's a simple matter of the lack of miles driven. Inexperienced drivers should not be behind the wheel of fast cars. Just because one or two might make it out the other side without an accident or stupidity does not mean that the vast majority of new drivers don't drive poorly. If I were the OP, I'd present a lower powered, cheaper option to the parents with some kind of deal for a really cool car for a college graduation present. That way they can defer the majority of the cost, and you come off as wise beyond your years. I'd rather be a 22yo with a GTR than a 16yo with a Z.

[Felix 808]

Personally I think you are asking for nothing but trouble. Has it been done before yes, but there are so many way it would be a bad idea.

Insurance cost, lack of driving experience (no offence, but there is no substitute for experience anything new is new) the cost of repairs, high school friends that are the lest bit cautions of anything nice= scratch, dents trashed interior jelousy attacks, ect. The learning curve of driving a lowered vehicle= scrapes body damadge & such. These are all things you learn through hard experience. For a first car there are far better choices.

There will be pleanty of time to get the vehicle you "want" in life, save yourself the expense & headaches now.

YMMV

[Chuck33079]

It's the same logic in buying a 250 and riding it for a few years as opposed to just buying a liter bike. Get through the rough part of the learning curve before you magnify the consequences.

[Brutal 370Z]

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

I couldn't disagree with you more. There's a reason accident rates and insurance costs are so high for that age group. They are far more statistically likely to have a problem. It's a simple matter of the lack of miles driven. Inexperienced drivers should not be behind the wheel of fast cars. Just because one or two might make it out the other side without an accident or stupidity does not mean that the vast majority of new drivers don't drive poorly. If I were the OP, I'd present a lower powered, cheaper option to the parents with some kind of deal for a really cool car for a college graduation present. That way they can defer the majority of the cost, and you come off as wise beyond your years. I'd rather be a 22yo with a GTR than a 16yo with a Z.

There's definitely something to be said about this option. Makes logical sense.

I'm just saying that it's do-able for the OP to get his Z now if he's hell bent on it. I had one at that age and never had a problem. But I agree, it wasn't without its issues.

[Arrvaxx]

I was going to give my son my 2005 Altima SE-R and realized that was too much for him! All I had to do was think about how much fun my Altima is and how I would drive my dad's BMW 2002...bought him a Sentra.

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

A 330hp rwd car is way too much for a teenage driver. No matter how responsible you may be, you simply do not have the experience level required. A new car for a 16 year old is retarded. Even if you are the best, most responsible teenage driver in the world, you're going to park it in a high school parking lot and collect dents and scrapes. Remember, you'll be surrounded by 16 year old drivers. Get something cheap to operate and maintain. The Z/G isn't. Maybe it's ok for now while you're living at home and the parents are contributing, but at some point you need to wean yourself off the parental tit and a $35-40k car that eats tires and gets crap gas mileage isn't the way to do that.

If it's got to be a new car for some reason, the FRS/BRZ isn't a bad choice. Get used to the dynamics of a rwd car before you get one that has a lot of power. Whatever you buy, don't void the warranty with mods. The warranty will be your friend when you're in college and have little income. Take a look at insurance costs too. I don't even want to know what a Z would cost for a 16 year old.

[fonzo179]

Alright, I gotta go in on this one, I can't stay quiet anymore.

1. Even if the driver is young, if they are hell bent on getting the car, they are going to feel like crap getting anything else. I wanted the Pontiac GXP for my first car, but got the Galant instead. Fvck that sh!t.

2. According to a June 8th, 2013 poll by Reuters (sponsored by America Online), most accidents on the road are from drivers age 18-25, NOT 16 yrs old.

3. Sounds like people are getting their morals and values mixed into this forum (which is actually pretty popular for being SUPPORTIVE of Z-Car and Nissan enthusiasts) by saying things like, "...you're too young for such a powerful car." Honestly, if I heard someone say that, I'm thinking, "...I really gotta get it now. Bunch of haters ganging up on me, I'll show them."

4. I think we should support this young man by teaching him good driving habits and precautions when it comes to a high-powered RWD sports car. Chances are pretty good that if he wanted a BRZ, STI, FRS or whatever, he would have joined that forum and NEVER have posted here with us.

5. The high school parking lot issue. Simple deal for me, as I kept the Galant at home. I took the bus to avoid break-ins, burining gas money, and potential for vandalism. People whom didn't even have enemies got their cars trashed. More than enough for me to keep away.

As a learned Political Scientist, survey researcher, and social theoritician it irks me when people prefer to use their personal opinions to directly or indirectly tell someone, "...trust me, you have no idea what you are talking about. I know what you truly want, just sit down and be quiet.". Here's a easy one...did anyone bother to ask this gentlemen if he considers himself a responsible, defensive driver or not?......I didn't think so. Assumptions are an easy go-to.

[Brutal 370Z]

Originally Posted by fonzo179

Here's a easy one...did anyone bother to ask this gentlemen if he considers himself a responsible, defensive driver or not?......I didn't think so. Assumptions are an easy go-to.

Well I sort of hinted towards this. I felt that having a 350Z as my first car made me more responsible. It felt like a privilege and I treated it as such. I didn't dare f*ck up and risk losing the car.

[Chuck33079]

A lot of that is valid to a point. My rebuttal- how many of us knew kids who got a shiny fast new sports car when they turned 16? What did the vast majority of those kids do with those cars?

Also, I'd say this topic has a pretty clear line down the middle depending on which side of 30 you happen to fall on.

[flowsanity]

I was Thinking about getting A Brz but my cousin told me he was gonna get a brz. so i domt wanna copy him. I was also thinkin about a evo, but my other cousin just bought it recently. Maybe a Sti?

[Brutal 370Z]

Originally Posted by Chuck33079

Also, I'd say this topic has a pretty clear line down the middle depending on which side of 30 you happen to fall on.

LOL indeed

I think in the end it all comes down to a person's level of maturity and responsibility, not age per se. I know guys that are 30+ that have a greater propensity of driving like an idiot than any 16 year old.

[Chuck33079]

I guess the bottom line for the op is to be an adult if you end up in a z. Don't be that kid who demolishes a brand new car. Or kills himself. Or someone else. The odds are against you, but if you're responsible you can be ok. Keep the car nice. And stock. It's a handful for a new driver right out of the box.