Good first car?

I really want a manual Firebird Formula V8, but don't know if it is too much power for a first car. I have a lot of driving experience for my age, being only 16, but definetly not as much as most adults do. I know how to drive a manual, so that won't be a problem, but I just don't know if a V8 is too much for a first car. Any opinions are appreciated.

if you really want to keep that car, get a old 3rd gen or something thats a V6 to get used to the size and shape of the car..you can deffinately use the practice, the F-bodys biggest fault is the size. its MAMMOTh. not to mention its hard to see over, lucky for me my first car was a V6 camaro (85) that was so beat up ...i learned on it, i didnt get any scratches on it..but damn did i jump curbs... if youre talking about a 4th generation f-body, yeah, go for a cheap third..who knows, you might end up liking the 3rd more ;D (i liked mine a lot..) :(

I got a 96 ws6 for my first car and i was fine, granted it took me a while to get confortable and really learn how to have fun in it but she is in better condition then when i got it. If your lucky enough to have your parents buy you a car i say go for it, but if you have to buy it yourself then i would say a 3rd gen v8 or a 4th gen firebird.

Yeah, my dad is going to buy me a car fortunately. I just have to find one in the autotrader for a decent price.

yeah i would definetly go for want you want them. Hey make him get you something right cause you will eventually have to take care of him right.

oh yeah, and the girls will be all over you!

Well, you can always take one for a test drive to see if you can handle the shit-ton of power and size of the car. Also, keep in mind that the V6s do have enough power to have a little fun, so consiter that as an alternative/compromise. I have a 2000 v6 camaro manual, and it has been good to me.

Another thing to think about is insurance, which will rape you and your wallet every month for years to come.

Oh, and good luck convincing your parents on this.

you'll be fine with a V8..my first car was an '87 with the 5.0L and currently I have a '95 with the 5.7 and I have never had any trouble with it, I'd probably say the only thing I had to get used to was driving in slippery conditions with the rwd and all...oh and insurance won't be too bad if you have it insured under one of your parents instead of you :grinyes:

idk dude, i have an 88 t/a with a 5.0 and USAA is charging me $210 a month with the good student discount and being insured under my parents. i have a clean record to. well not for long anyways. just if u get a fast car like any F-body dont abuse it, ppl already know your fast. i got a reckless driving :( and now im the safest driver in the world.

Well my first car was a 91 Camaro with a 305 V8. Still got it to this day.....but its only been about a year and a half. I'm 16 too and i think my car is perfect to learn on. It has enough power to have fun when you want to, but not so much so you kill yourself when you really go at it. Now that I've had it for a while.....i really want an lt1 six speed, but I'm really glad i learned on my car. Its given me a lot of practice moving that tank around and what not. Unfortunately i like to think of myself as more mature than most people my age, so i don't have too much fun with it, aside from drifting every now and then on rainy days. Bottom line: If you want a fast car and you're mature, you've got my vote for the formula. But if you want something to learn on and still have a little fun with, go with a third gen 305. But, if you go that route, I'm sure you'll end up like me and all you'll want is more power.

Edit: So your dad is buying your car.....get a badass v8, or you'll regret it lol

Right now it's really just coming down to the cost of insurance. My dad is an insurance agent, so he could probably help find me the best deal on it. I'll probably go test drive the V8 and see what it's like.

well it sounds real good that your parents are helping you out..i started out with my lil 94 honda civic si. since my record is screwed up lol but hey i swaped and turbo charged it insurance is cheap. but now i stepped up with the big boys and i got a 74 t/a with a 455 lol..i say v8 is the way to go for power, however gas milage sucks atleast cuz mine is a 7.6 :( also it cant cut threw traffic like my civic cuz of its size

actually, I think the gas mileage is around 28 mpg highway, but I may be wrong. I know that manuals get a little bit better fuel economy too.

I started off with a V6 and i fucking love mine. Later on(over 5 years) ill get a WS6. I love my v6 and im gonna stick with her to the end :) I dont want to think when she will no longer be with me :(

yea dude..not having your car sucks a fattie. im goin on a month almost with out mine and i wanna kill myself. NO BIGGIE lol

i just bought my firebird 2-3 weeks ago. im also 16 and its my first car. and i love it, im happy its the v6 tho, and not the v8, im happy with the speed this is, if i had a v8 i think i would go power crazy. it takes a little while to get used to the hood and stuff and judge how far you are from stuff.

i just bought my firebird 2-3 weeks ago. im also 16 and its my first car. and i love it, im happy its the v6 tho, and not the v8, im happy with the speed this is, if i had a v8 i think i would go power crazy. it takes a little while to get used to the hood and stuff and judge how far you are from stuff.
Beautiful car man. I mean sure the car isnt as fast as the v8 counterpart but for a v6 after full bolt-ons they are pretty quick :)

Yes i definetly had to adjust to the length of this car but it didnt take long :)

yeah, its a pain sometimes, like pulling into my garage, i almost always have to get out, look, and have to pull it in a little more. haha.

and thanks, TMC2k1, you got a nice car also.

im 18, gotta '97 ta clean record except for one ticket (134 in a 65...) and my insurance is about $320 every 6 months full coverage with my step mom as the primary driver of it. If i was the primary it would be about $1200/ 6 months. im the primary driver of a '91 grand prix that lives in some weeds:grinyes: , and that's about the same /6 months with just liability.

I'm 16 and I got my car a few months ago. It'll smoke just about anything that's not an f-body, corvette, or exotic sports car. I dont tend to speed a lot because my car's way too loud (in process of finding better muffler) and it's quietest at 40-45. The gas pedal on the v8's are pretty stiff, and the TCS keeps it pretty well under control. TCS on = 5 foot burnouts TCS off = 60 foot burnouts. Besides, the T/A spoiler looks the best.