first car question?

Question

how much did your first car cost??? if you were to go buy a first car today what would it be?

Answer 1

My first car cost $2300, and had over 150k miles on it, because that's all I could afford. Thank God now things are different.

Buy what you can afford, but remember that spending some extra cash upfront can quickly pay off if you're not constantly throwing money into maintenance.

If you're looking for a used car, look for something with a good reputation for reliability - Toyota and Honda are top of the heap right now. My first was a Honda, and even with 150k miles, I never had to do anything other than change the oil until I sold It (for $2400).

If you're taking out a loan to pay for the car, check with your bank. New cars often have lower interest rates, so ironically, it can be cheaper to buy a car that's 2-3 years old than one that's 4-5 years old for example.

Finally take your time looking, until you find something you'll be happy to own and drive.

Good luck!

Answer 2

My first car was about $2,500. I would look for something economical on gas like a Honda Civic or similar size. Mazda is pretty good too.

1. Make sure the heat and air conditioner work. 2. Check the oil...if it is low that means it is burning or leaking somewhere (big expense later) - also look where the car is parked and see if there is oil under it. 3. Go and sit in each seat and open and close the door from the inside and outside (we bought a used car once and found out later that the back doors didn't open from the inside - $400) 4. I just bought a volvo 2 years ago and took it to a certified volvo repair shop - for $75 they did a prepurchase inspection. They found a few problems with it - the dealer ended up fixing the problems, but saved me the cost which would have been more than $75 dollars. 5. Look at the tired - if there are wires showing or it looks smooth then new tires will be coming soon - if it looks smooth on either the inside or outside of the tire - that means the alignment is off. 6. Always do a CARFAX on any vehicle.

The most important thing is not to buy on impulse that's where your in trouble. If the owner seems too eager...red flag.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

$800 but then that was a while a go. My first new car was $3600.

I'm not sure there's one "best" first car, however there are certain attributes worth trying for:

1. It should run well and any problems identified both as to nature and price to repair. Run any car you are considering through one of those pre-purchase inspection services. This would be true even if you use a dealer (especially if you use one of those small roadside dealers..I got burned once by one...badly!), unless the dealer is going to give you at least a 30 day warranty.

2. You will get a better deal with cash and a private party. You can get the value of any car from Kelly online free. http://www.kbb.com. Private Party value or lower would be what you should expect to pay, minus the cost of any necessary repairs.

3. I would seek something small (good gas mileage and tires and brakes last longer saving you money), and easily repaired. Toyota and Honda have the best reliability records, but Nissan and Hundai are okay too. Ford and Chevy's little cars aren't all that great, but they are easy to fix. Make sure you check the transmission on any of the used Fords.

4. A car that may be a tad older or that has higher miles might be a better choice over a newer vehicle IF it was well cared for and service records are available or the care is obvious.

5. Steer clear from anything with a salvage title. Cars with this type of title have been totalled in a wreck and repaired. Many have serious (and I do mean life threatening) hidden problems, so unless you personally know the owner and what happened, don't buy one of these.

One clue a car may have a salvage title would be a deal that looks too good to be true, however there are owners out there who have already been suckered that don't realize their car with a salvage title is worth just a fraction of normal market price and they will try to get full price. ASK if the car has a salvage title and don't give any money to anyone that cannot physically show you the title. (don't pay first for what you'll see tomorrow..a small deposit maybe...but never hand over the money until they are ready to put the title in your hand).

As to price, it can be very difficult to find a good used car under $2000, but it is possible. Expect more repairs at this price.

$4-5K is going to yield a decent used car provided you stick to economy or mid-sized models. Something that was a luxury vehicle is only this cheap when it's been beat to death. Steer clear of collector cars (vintage) unless you personally can turn a wrench, or they'll eat you alive in repairs.

If you can pay cash, you don't have to put expensive collision insurance on it. This alone may be worth buying a "beater." Collision coverage for a teen driver can easily exceed $700 a year.

Buying used makes tons of sense, you avoid the massive depreciation a new car has the first few years, so you can get much more for your money.

Answer 4

My 1st car was an 88 Chevy Celebrity,
bought it at auction in 1991 for about $3200

I put 175K miles on it before selling it to a friend in 93 when I was seriously tight on cash.

If I were getting my first car today,
it would likely be a used Sentra or Altima.
Sedans are cheaper for insurance, and foreign cars are more reliable in the long term than American made.

Answer 5

First car was a '88 Chevy Celebrity w/a 2.5L 4 banger. Beat the crap outta it. The car started going south when I messed w/the electrical system to put in huge stereo that cost more than the car. Put one of those NASCAR huge mirrors in the car and my sister took it and threw a pop can out the window and was watching it roll in the mirror and crashed in the ditch. She also found out that you can't go 10,000 miles w/o an oil change.

Car was never the same after that one. Had a couple more crashes and then sold it for $100

1st car today........1988 Chevy Celebrity w/a 2.5L 4 banger..........

Answer 6

The first car I bought was a 1958 VW it cost $35.00 and I drove it home. For a reliable used car today you probably have to spend $3500.00. By the way the VW would not have been considered a reliable car.

Answer 7

2 grand even. it was a 94 sentra with 60 thousand miles on it. if i were to buy a first car today, probably a volvo it holds up well in collision which may happen a few times in ' the first car'

Answer 8

My first car was a78 chevy pickup..(farm truck) and it cost me about $600. If i had to get a new one today I would search for a classic like a 68 or 69 camaro

Answer 9

My first car cost nothing.. it was my mom's. If I were to buy my first car, I'd repeat the same purchase I made recently: Toyota. They are economical and endure.

Answer 10

My first new car was $4000 in 76.
I just bought a used one for $8000, because a new one like it was $22000.