i ain't got a car yet so would an r be a good first car? (if i can afford it)

 

Honestly, no it wouldn't. R's tend to have a shorter life expectancy when they're driven daily. Some are lucky though, but even they'll admit that there is a great risk in doing so.

 

Best first car would be a 1990 Toyota Corolla/Ford Taurus or the like.

I can almost guarantee that you will crash within the first six months if you get a Type-R.


[Modified by norice, 4:29 PM 1/16/2002]

 

1979 Olds Toronado

 

get a Civic - a lot of us ITR owners have stepped up from Civics of some kind. And driving an Integra is pretty similar to driving a Civic.

 

The money you spend on insurance will kill you...assuming you don't kill yourself. Not to sound like an old fart (i'm only 25, after all), but you'd be better off getting something that you can beat around in, learn the ropes, and save your money for when you're ready. Most of the people on this board (and we're not all idiots) will confess that they probably would have killed themselves if they'd started with as fast a car as the R...Get something that handles reasonably well, is a manual transmission, and is safe enough that if you do get in an accident it won't kill you. (I had a volvo 240 DL...it was a brick, but it was actually fun to drive, had a 50/50 weight distribution (like an S2000!) and was RWD...plus, it would carry me & my friends, and our gear, pretty much anywhere.) Wait a few years till you decide what kind of driving you want to do, then see if the R is right for you. When i was 16 I would have jumped at the chance to get an R, but I doubt i'd be here now....it takes a few years to get some decent road experience...and even then, it's just the beginning as the saying goes, the more i learn, the less i know.

 

Just make sure you take a GOOD driver training course that teaches you defensive driving.

I don't recommend the R as a first car - you will kill yourself.

And learn proper grammar dammit! "Ain't" ain't a word young grasshopper.

 

Uh, no. I would definitely learn to drive something that can't get you into as big of trouble as a Type-R.

 

i dont think it would be a prob. if you like it get it. some people here thend to think everyone should get a piece of sh%t for their first car. why? i dont know. if you like it and can afford it, get it, just dive it responsibly. you wont crash it in 6 months if you dont drive like a jackass, so dont listen to the dude above. jesus, talke about turning people away from a car they like.

 

Yes, it would be a very good first car. Email me when you wreck it, I'll give you gpood $$ for the motor. I should have an EG to accept the motor by then.

 

The chances that he will crash in the first six months with a Type-R are huge irrespective of how he drives. Because US driving tests are pretty much a joke, you are pretty much on your own learning to drive in the first six months.

I still don't know how I made it through my first six months. The likelihood of crashing in the first six months is statistically huge - just ask an insurance company for a quote to get an idea of how huge.

 

I don't know what you mean by decreased life expentancy. The car has been bulletproof, but I have been lucky that it hasn't been stolen yet. Just don't clean it. Theives love clean cars. Leave your Burger King bags in the back seat. Don't ever clean your wheels. Always have some body scar or two, whether it's mismatched paint, lots of overspray, or scratches and dents. That is how you keep an R for a long time.

It is very likely that you'll hit something in your first car. Very likely. Even if it's not your fault, it takes time to know what to look out for. Just because an accident isn't your fault doesn't mean that you couldn't have avoided it. That's a skill that no regular driver's training course will teach you, only time will.

I hit stuff fairly often for two years, then I only got into accidents that weren't my fault. Only now after I've been driving legally for 10 years can I realise how much I've improved. I haven't had an accident in over 200k miles whether it's been my fault or not (knock on wood).

Do yourself a favour and drive a doodoobox for the first couple years. Consider the R a treat for then.

 

To clarify, by life expectancy I was referring to how long you'd have the car before davidnyc finds it for you.

 

it will only if you use your money on learning how to drive it at the track or autox before going crazy on the street...

tj

 

I'm with everyone else, a fast car in the hands of a new driver is a dangerous thing.

I think you'd be better off getting a Teg LS, a little more sporty than a Civic. With the money you save you can do a few things to make it nicer like wheels and a good set of springs/shocks to lessen the wheel gap and make it handle with a bit more authority. The good side is after you've had awhile and learned to drive it there's plenty of ways to make more power.

 

With having the Type R as my first car and being 16, there are a lot of responsibilities. I am lucky enough that my parents pay for my insurance, but I have to pay for my car payment. Not a bad deal if you ask me. Insurance is definitly a killer though. But I can't tell you what will and will not be a good first car for you, it's a decision that you will have to make. But what I can tell you is spend a lot of time on Honda-Tech.com and do a lot of research and find out what a Type R is really ment for (if you don't already know). As some people may say, most accidents do occur in the first 6th months. It may not be your fault, but they do occur! My first one was when the car was about 2 months old. The miledge just turned over 1000 and I was going through a green light and BAM! A Lincoln Towncar driven by an old lady hit me! She ran a red light and I was without my car for about 4 months. But I'm kind of rambling on here, so my advice to you is do what you want car wise. If you think you can handle it, then do it, but if you are going to put chrome rims, crazy body kit, and a rediculous spoiler, please don't get one...do us all a favor. Good luck!

 

My R is my first car, so what are you all trying to say (jk)........i got mine just about a month ago......first car i've had and i learned stick on this car also, now im good a driving i just want to get better at twisties. I love it, and i want to keep for a long time, no daily driven though, but for now it has to be......

 

I think you misunderstood what the others were trying to tell him. He will inevitably put himself and others in danger if he gets behind the wheel of an R as his first car. I'm only 21 and I'm REALLY glad that I started out w/ slower cars at first. I did stupid things, everyone does, and I could have got hurt, but luckily I didn't. Try not to look at it as us turning him away, but rather giving him our honest opinions (which I believe is what he asked for) while keeping in mind his age and driving experience.

 

My R is my first car and I love it! Get one if you can!

 

yea dude dont get it , 90% of the r totalled were from young kids /1st cars.
it will be too much for you at 1st . . . and youll let it get to you that you got a hott fast car and wreck it from acting stupid

 

84 Dodge Colt woud be good. You can even do an engine swap with them.

 

the R is my first car . and i plan to keep it for a loonnng time too . i take good care of her and make sure nothing bad happens. it's really great having it as a your first car, you can really get used to it and when it's time to track it, you'll know your car more than most beginners ...hopefully.

 

you somehow appreciate the R more if you have something else first-kinda like a gauge.my first car in this hobby of performance was a 95 LS.i loved it...until i drove my r for the first time...IN TRAFFIC!-hehe

 

depends on how old and responsible you are

 

Hmm it says that he's 14 in his profile. Why ask this question when you're not even old enough to drive? blahh