Help Buying my first car?

[carfanatic5656]

hi, im 16 and looking for my first car. i am very familiar with most cars and i have been studying them over the last couple of years. But I haven't yet found the right car for me. I'm 6'5" 235 pounds. Most cars i have tried are too small. I'm looking for a fuel efficient car that has enough headroom and leg room so i could comfortably drive. i am certain that I want a car instead of a SUV or a truck. any tall drivers out there, what cars do you recommend, my budget is $5,000. all answers are appreciated.

[Moppie]

G'day, and welcome to AF!

I have to say this, but damn your tall!
Finding a car with enough leg room is going to be a challenge.

Are there a lot of car dealers in your area?
I have a mate who's big around the middle, and we found the best thing was to just go around user car lots and sit him in different cars.

When we found a make and model he was comfortable with, we then went looking for a good one in his price range.

[Ray paulsen]

16 hmmmm

Does the NFL know you're looking for a car ?

[speediva]

Hmmmm, let's see here. My dad is quite tall, and as for me, I have a 35" inseam, so I understand the legroom issue.

Things that he and I both fit in comfortably have included the Mazda 3 (or 323 as it was previously called), Mini Cooper (While the S model is fun, insurance will kill you), Chevy HHR (although it is unlikely to be in your price range now that I think of it).

Cars you *may* be a bit cramped in: Toyota Corolla (I couldn't shift the stick shifts because my knee invariably hit the steering wheel on clutching), Scion tC (again, steering wheel to the knee when I shifted).

Now, granted, I'm only 5'10" but I actually find my Civic to be fairly good in terms of leg room, although my dad at 6'4" has a bit of a headroom issue.

Good luck in your searching, and post back when you've got more questions or maybe even a car!

[Jsaw]

I'm not sure if this will help too much. But i have a 2007 Accord and i let my buddy borrow it. He is about the same height as you but a little closer to 300 lbs. He liked it so much he didn't want to give it back.

If you are looking for something in a decent price range try something a little closer to a 98/2000 model. I found it took some time getting used to getting in and out. but it was comfortable once in and driving.

-J

[offroad]

Try the Mazdaspeed3 hatchback

[Jamesfranklin]

Buying first car is just like dream come true. I was feeling the same excitement when I purchased my first car. That time, I was keep wondering which one I should go with. Many choices were there, some inside my spending budget, some out of the same. Ultimately, I found the one which was just best for me. I suggest you should go the same way. Instead of going for an expensive or luxury car, choose the one which can solve your basic requirements.