I am 16 and I'm about to apply for my G1 (written test in Ontario) and I've been reading off posts and posts on AF, considering what car I could be getting and what mods I can do to it. I am looking for a car that falls in these categories:
- Descent Horsepower in stock form (200+ horsepower @ the crank)
- Less than 20,000 USD (approx 24,500 CAD)
- RWD or AWD (I really don't want a FF car for some reason)
- will last me more than 10 years
- can seat more than two people if possible
- preferably JDM but will consider others
- insurance won't be out the window (I'll be having it insured with my mom and hopefully it will lower the cost)
- Engine is ok to work with
- HUGE aftermaket compactability
- will be my daily driver

Here are the cars that I have considered:
- 89-98 Nissan 240SX
- 90-96 Nissan 300ZX
- 89-93 Nissan Skyline R-32 GTs Type M
- 89-95 Nissan Skyline R-32 GT-R
- 02-03 Subaru Impreza WRX
- 91-99 Mitsubishi 3000GT

(note: I have a feeling that the maintenence cost of all the cars above are high. Do you know any other cars that may seem suitable for me? Then post and gimme some suggestions

Well i voted for the wrx just becouse there great at stock awd,turbo,4 doors so cheaper on insurance.And if you do live where it snows the awd will help you have better traction...

But as for all those are they all have huge aftermarket support.

How do 16 year olds get to spend 20000 on their first car? Spoiled brats. They didn't work for it, so they won't care much about it, go drive it like an idiot, crash it, kill somebody spend many years in jail. Get something that you yourself could pay for, you'll love it a lot more. Get a civic or something.

wrx is the car that you're least likely to kill yourself in and that won't be ridiculously problematic for you. All of those except that and the 240 are way too much car for a 16 year old.

WRX's are really hard to work on though until you get really used to the boxer layout. The 240 is probably the easiest to work on out of the ones you listed. They don't have 200 hp though.

Hey clawhammer....I don't hvae 20,000 to spend...i'm just doing a bit of research right now. By the way, my parents only give me $30 (CAD, not USD) allowance to buy supplies and stuff. Anything that isn't necessary for school or to survive is out of my pocket, which includes snacks, movies, etc so thats not alot of money. I don't even have any gaming console, and my parents may contribute an amount of money which will hopefully get me a car to last for more than 10 years. My friends get more than $200 a month just to buy what they want....so I'm not spoiled if you know me. The fact that I don't have a license doesn't mean that I will drive fast when I get one.


Anyways back to topic... All I'm trying to do right now is to research....I just put $20,000 so that you can have an idea about the cars I could possibly get. Parents still won't let me get my license, so I won't kill anyone yet....and I'm not planning to.

well go with anything uther then the 240, wrx, 3kgt,skyline not happening, 300zx dont go there now, and a civic si rice. Im 15 and im in thesmae boat as you but i kno what i want but for you i would go with a older eclipse, they coem turbo and they arent too expenisve used and an older model. And they look pretty tight if u just put on afew modz, and i said dont get the 240 becuz they are but ass slow off stock and thats now what u want(im gettin a 240 but tats becuz i kno what im doing and it takes planning) but the eclipse is the most practical in my opinion becuz of its turbo and low price+speed= the car for you, good luck :)

I agree with ImportBoom, out of those I would go with a 240sx. I would check out eclipses, older celicas, something more along those lines. I'm also looking at these cars. A civic si is not rice. Any car can become rice, its what you do to it.

i will be 17 soon i own a 76 trans am a 77 nova 90 blazer and a 88 celica all good cars for 16 yaer olds b/c i am one duh haha

Get a 240SX, you're least likely to kill yourself in it since it only has 155 HP. The others are all way too much car for someone your age.

If you live in toronto like me don't get a 240. If you're just learning to drive stay away from rear wheel cuz I can guarantee you will spin out a few times due to lack of experience. I'd say an older Impreza would be best for you or the 1G eclipses like mentioned above.

How would you get a Skyline????????Anyways, I think a 94-99 toyota celica would be a great first car.but also the 3000gt is also a pretty good first car.

Those are all awesome cars but on a practical level i would recommend a late model civic or something. TRUST ME you will not be able to afford the combined car payment or insurance cost on most of those vehicles or the speeding tickets!!

How do 16 year olds get to spend 20000 on their first car? Spoiled brats. They didn't work for it, so they won't care much about it, go drive it like an idiot, crash it, kill somebody spend many years in jail. Get something that you yourself could pay for, you'll love it a lot more. Get a civic or something.

Is that Ignorance or Jealousy. Don't hate if some kids parents can buy them an expensive car.



On a side note, I think a great first car is a 4th Gen Nissan Maxima. Got 190HP, nice big comfortable safe car. Good overall first car, can't do too much stupid shit in it.

If you live in toronto like me don't get a 240. If you're just learning to drive stay away from rear wheel cuz I can guarantee you will spin out a few times due to lack of experience. I'd say an older Impreza would be best for you or the 1G eclipses like mentioned above.


Oh god i know what you mean :O, my corona, 1982 model, 2 liter, 5 manual, and wet weather, plus it is rear wheel drive and i had gutted the rear of the car (converting it to a track car) and god damn did it scare me, i couldnt accelerate slowly from 30 km/h without spinnin the wheels and snapping my neck when it finally got traction.

Hey, I'm 16 and have a '97 Pontiac Firebird, im loving it, but cant drive it in the winter. If you really have $20000 to spend, i'd get two cars, even if one is just a $1000 beater car. My dad has a Dodge Stealth (3000GT) and its a fun car, but definitely go with the twin turbo if you go that route. Also, get a manual, i made the mistake of gettin an auto and im regretting it. Out of the cars you listed, i think the WRX is probably most suitable for you. Good luck.

Thanks for all the input... I know that I'm not allowed to get a car until I'm 18 because my parents are like...every other parent. I'm not even sure if I'm allowed to drive, but I got my G1 on Christmas Eve. Right now, I think that my best choice would be a cheaper car, then get a nice car when I'm like 25 when insurance rates go even lower. I seriously doubt my parents would let me get anything over $20,000, so I'm still investigating. Hopefully prices will go down and depreciate even more when I get my car. :evillol: