Hi, I'm almost 15 and a half and gettin ready to get my temps...I'm looking to buy my first car... I'm wanting a 2000 Honda Civic EX....What do you think? And what do you recommend? Where do you recommend I search for one? How much do you think they will cost? Give me as much help and details as possible and I will appreciate it greatly,Thanks a lot!

 

Since you're only 15.... if you have the money to buy an EX [which when I was 15 I didn't]............ then it's a great starter car... later on you can do a lot with it. Take care of it and keep it clean, make sure you get a manual if possible you'll be happy later on in life with it.

Before you buy the car do some research too, I'd start with the blue book value of the car if you're buying from dealership or private partay. Check out http://www.kbb.com. Then go from there.

*Edit* If you buying from private party, make sure you print out a copy of the blue book value from whichever website you get it from, this way it will help you get a cheaper price.... people out there hope that buyers don't do their research.... many of them don't.... don't be one of them.


Modified by NY_Sucks at 7:33 AM 6/24/2004

 

Well... the Civic EX has the d16y8 engine in it which is highly compatible with almost all aftermarket parts. That's a good call for a starter that you can put some money into if that's what you're looking for. You can search on here in the classifieds but until you're done with you're trial status you can't post in that forum, so you might be able to luck out and find the email address of the seller. As far as a stock EX goes, you'll want to try Autotrader.com. Don't bother buying the hard copy magazine of autotrader because the website is just as good and it's free. There's a start... GO!

Edit: Get a 5spd or regret it in the long run.

 

def get a 5 speed! if not ypu'll regret that you didn't..... good luck

 

I'll second the fact about the manual tranny. My 1st car was a 1997 Honda Accord EX with the Slowmatic. Man did I regret it. Now, 1995 Honda Civic DX with the Manual tranny.

 

Also how much you think a good stock one will cost?

 

if you're buying a used one, make sure you take the car to a mechanic before you buy it to diagnose it for problems so you can subtract some money from the asking price

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eXodusX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also how much you think a good stock one will cost?</TD></TR></TABLE>

$8000-10000 depending upon the variables. Not a bad starter car, but a little expensive for a first. I'd recommend a 5th gen ('92-'95) Civic or maybe a less expensive 6th gen ('96-'00) Civic.

 

Yeah I didnt expect them to be thaaat much, I was thinking about 3 or 4 grand?? So what you guys recommend now? What kind of 5th Gen?

 

here is some advice I can not stress enough!! for your first car, don't spend more than $1000 on it. buy it for like $500, then put some work into it and keep it for a year or two. this is why... every normal person at 16 years old beats the hell out of the car, no matter what they drive. I had a 86 Olds Calais, then an 89 Chrysler Daytona... and a pile of other junkers inbetween. I beat each of them 3/4 of the way to the junkyard, then sold them. At 17, I finally bought a brand new Civic, and it's been babied ever since - never raced, never done donuts or e-brake turns. I got it all out of my system beforehand. Plus, you'll get the confidence to work on cars, and the money you save you can use to buy good tools. TRUST me on this. I don't wanna see another Civic wrapped around a tree with a wounded teen behind the wheel. good taste in cars though

 

Hey man, I have a 98 HX, which definitely isn't the fastest of all the civics, but it gets me from point a to point b and it looks good (plus the great gas mileage). Anyway, I only paid 4600 for mine about three weeks ago and it's in great shape. Keep your eyes open for something like a 96-97 EX if you're looking to stay 6th gen and EX, or you could try to find a sweet little hatch that you can fix up and call your own. You know the ladies love the little hatches. Just some ideas. You can price them on either kbb.com, edmunds.com, or nadaguides.com to get an idea of what you'll be paying.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by skunk2eg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">def get a 5 speed! if not ypu'll regret that you didn't..... good luck</TD></TR></TABLE>

definitely agree. I first wanted an automatic....wft was i thinking?

I say a good first car could also an integra, LS, GS, SE, or even better GSR. If you wanted to stick with Honda/Acura. Older nissan sentra SE-R's, 240SX's are RWD (hesitant to recommend for a first time driver). Ummm....there are other good cars out there, but i say check out the integra's.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mistamike17 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey man, I have a 98 HX, which definitely isn't the fastest of all the civics, but it gets me from point a to point b and it looks good (plus the great gas mileage). </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is another good route. If you were to get an older HX you'd save a TON of money on the cost of a car and the gas you'd save. Then later when you have more money you can keep this as a daily driver for economical purposes and get a nicer car for fun or even a track car if you want that route. If you did this though, i would NOT modify the engine if you plan on modifying your car. Kinda defeats the purpose of having an HX.

 

I know a lot of people say peoples first car is always wrecked, which is kind of true, but I've drove a lot and you would be amazed on my "skill" as people say. I'm not that expeirenced but not a bad driver, also I'm not too good on the names and such, like a HX, which is that? What do they look like? I mean for my first car, I wanna fix it up pretty good, I'm more into looks and sound of the car, speed is in the middle priority, But really just a good exhaust and stuff.. I like the "rice" sound everyone calls it..lol..But please if u could give me more details on what kind of car your suggesting, remember I'm 15 Thanks a lot tho to all of you that have responded, hopefully you will continue.

 

If speeds not a big issue, get a 5th gen VX. A lot of stuff out there for 92-95 hatches, then you can do whatever you want. If looks are your priority find somethin with paint chipped for cheap (if you plan on doin something right away), get whatever your gonna get to do to the body (no huge bumpers and wings plz), and go get a good paint job for 1500$. Yer gonna get frustrated with how fast the car accelerates tho, unless you get an EX which will run you a bit more. If I were you, go for functionality (word??? ) over fashionability (once again.... is that a word?!?!?!? ). Civics, hatches to be more precise (but I'm biased ), look real nice already.

 

go with a 92 cx hatch y0

 

dont forget insurance. i was going to get an integra type R when i was 16. the insurance was 5000 a year. 1000 less then the car every year.

 

em1 si pimpnnnnnn

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdm_loser &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">em1 si pimpnnnnnn </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah because that is in his price range. read the thread next time.

And I would say go with a nice 5th gen civic. That would be a good starter car. Even the EX models can be had for your price range. I'm partial to the 4 doors since you can haul around a lot of people and they can look very nice when done properly!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eXodusX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know a lot of people say peoples first car is always wrecked, which is kind of true, but I've drove a lot and you would be amazed on my "skill" as people say. I'm not that expeirenced but not a bad driver</TD></TR></TABLE>

I didn't wreck my first car. Took me 3 years of driving to have my first accident.

While you may not be a bad driver, you're not exactly good either. It takes a couple years of daily driving to make things a habit and almst innate rather than having to think. But get a Civic in the $3000-4000 range and tack everything on as experience. Hit up an autocross, too.

 

best tip EVER for buying your 1st car is to get a manual! ! !

its patetic how many punks can drive a stick these days


*edit* i was one of those punks that made that mistake. my 1st car was a bmw 325ix auto. looked good but slow!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dirk Lance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yeah because that is in his price range. read the thread next time.

And I would say go with a nice 5th gen civic. That would be a good starter car. Even the EX models can be had for your price range. I'm partial to the 4 doors since you can haul around a lot of people and they can look very nice when done properly!</TD></TR></TABLE>

sorry i just got exicited.